Noise Delimiters: New Developments By Wendy Richards

The following was passed onto me, the source of which is Hamish Birchall of the Live Music Forum, a man who has reached the upper echelons of the musician's union and is reputed to be one of the most informed people in the country regarding entertainment liscensing: 'How badly does the government treat live music? Here's a quick test. One of the two statements below is false. Which one?

1. The government has made it a potential criminal offence merely to have a piano in a bar for the public to play. 2. The government is planning new law requiring all music venues to fit noise limiting devices. Answer: Statement 2. But this has not stopped a petition based on statement 2 above shooting into the top 10 on the Number 10 website with nearly 20,000 signatures: http://petitions.number10.gov.uk/NoNoiseControl/ Yesterday the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural affairs (DEFRA), responsible for noise legislation, denied any such plan. And, a few days earlier, when I spoke to the petitioner, Warren James, a professional guitarist based in Coventry, he was unable to recall where he had heard about this new legislation. While musicians sympathise with Warren's feeling about noise limiters, the petition text reveals a fundamental lack of knowledge about existing law. For many years, using entertainment licensing, local authorities have had the power to require venues to fit noise limiters. This continues under the present regime. So the government doesn't need to introduce a new law. But under the current legislation it would be potentially unlawful for local authorities to impose a blanket requirement that all venues fit noise limiters, or to impose unnecessary or disproportionate conditions. Government licensing guidance implies that noise limiters may fall into the latter category (see p22, para 2.34, Licensing Guidance issued under s182 of the Licensing Act 2003 download PDF from DCMS website: www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/publications/3667.aspx

Music News - The Day The Music Died By Rich Blackstar
	A new piece of Big Brother bureaucracy will force licensees to reveal a mass of information about performers. Publicans and managers of other small venues in London are forced to comply with a new piece of bureaucracy called Form 696, which is sure to spread nationwide before long. Calling it a 'risk assessment', the police Read more...

Music News - Stop The Government Turning Down The Volume By Steve Dickinson, The Welly, Pure Techno, The Adelphi, and Nigel Holmes
	The British government wishes to introduce laws making it a legal requirement that anyone applying or re-applying for an entertainment license must have a noise control device fitted to the venue. For those of you who don't know what these evil devices are, they're a cut-off device that switches off power to the sound system if a band or performer is too loud. Read more...

Music News - Introducing The PaperShakers By Michelle Dee
	They made their debut at the Sesh 2nd December and they definitely caught my eye. The PaperShakers had brought a roomful of people with them and caused quite a stir. Certainly one of the best first gigs I've seen since I started reviewing. Expect lots more to come out of this exciting new music act. Catch them 21st December at Adelphi Hull. Read more...

Music News - The Warren And Hull Youth Council Presents Love Music Hate Racism At Hull City Hall
	Last week saw the British National Party's membership list published on the internet; member occupations included teachers, doctors, nurses and a small but significant number of police officers who since 2004 have been unable by law to belong to the BNP. The Hull postcode was there, highlighting the number of people in the region who belong to the party and reinforcing Read more...

Music News - 11th November 2008 - HYRMC 01 at The Albemarle Music Centre Hull
	This piece was put together by way of a simple questionnaire being sent out to various Conference delegates. The conference was the first of its kind in Hull and was the largely put together by Hull College music tech students and Purple Worm Records' Mik Newton and Karl Martin. Responses are from Michelle Dee, Tico from R'EYA and Mike Brookebeatz music tech student, producer and re-mixer. Read more...

Music News - Coastival 2009 ... Yorkshire goes to the Seaside!
	The final line-up is today unveiled for the Battle of the Sands, a major music contest to be staged in Scarborough later this month. Ten local bands will fight it out at the Spa Ocean Room in Scarborough on Sunday 30th November. At stake will be the chance to support the main headline act at Coastival 2009 - Yorkshire goes to the Seaside! in Scarborough next February. Read more...

Music News - Hull & Yorkshire Region Music Conference
	The first annual HYRMC (Hull & Yorkshire Region Music Conference) will take place on Tuesday 11th November 2008 attracting a huge number of music industry attendees. Venue. Albemarle Music Centre, Ferensway, Hull (next to the St. Stephens Shopping Centre) Registration 9am - All delegates must register to gain entry into Conference Hall. Cost £10. Read more...

Music News - Paul Heaton To Play Hull University
	This Sunday 9th November see's Paul Heaton with new band, playing live at Hull University. He will be playing tracks from his critically acclaimed album The Cross Eyed Rambler. The album delivers a rockier upbeat sound and has been receiving rave reviews in the press. I'm told we can expect some very new songs including House Party, Someone Caught the Wind and the Detroit Spinners Read more...

Music News - Yo-Yo Moving To Asylum Hull University
	One of The UK's biggest Indie Club Nights - Yo-Yo comes to the Asylum Night Club at Hull University - Launch Party Saturday 15th November 2008. In a ground breaking move seeing The Asylum Night Club open its doors to non NUS every Saturday night for the first time, from Saturday the 15th of November it will be home to Hull's world famous Indie Night Yo-Yo with DJ Priya. Read more...

Music News - The Holloways Return To Hull
	After successful shows by The Blueskins see review (1742444828_michelleadelphi09apr08.html ) and The Slow Club, York based promotions company CRS Events present The Holloways for the 5th November. The gig at the New Adelphi Club on De Grey Street in Hull, forms part of the Holloways Read more...

Music News - Yo-Yo Plays Host To MTV2 Gonzo Show At Fibbers In York
	On Friday 17th October Yo-Yo Indie Club Night hosted MTV2s Gonzo TV Show with Zane Lowe at Fibbers in York. The show was filmed in front of 250 people and features art rockers Foals, Esser, Zane Lowe and Yo-Yo Dj's Andiyo-yo and Dj Jodof. Gonzo is one of the UK's biggest music shows and takes to the road every year with Read more...

Music News - Hull Youngster Reaches Idol 2008 Regional Finals
	Idol 2008 is the music and dance competition for singers, vocal groups and now for dancers and dance groups to enter. 2007 was the competitions third year, with over 10,000 applicants. This makes the competition the largest talent contest outside a certain ITV show, searching for the cream of the UK's talent. Helena Richards from Hull has now made it through to the regional finals, previously battling through competitive Read more...

Music News - Glenn Williams and The 'Ullbilllies Chart Success
	Glenn Williams and The Ullbillies are now at number 37 in the European Country Music Radio Airplay Chart after spending the past 8 weeks at number 49. Also, you can download Glenn's first two albums Something Old Something New and Turkey In The Straw for free from the Music Page on his website, www.lazyswede.co.uk. Both albums have Read more...

Music News - Last People On Earth To Play Reading And Leeds Festivals
	Resident at Grapevine, DJ Paddy has just been confirmed to perform at Leeds and Reading Festivals this year with his band The Last People On Earth. They will be performing on the BBC Introducing Stage alongside other up and coming groups from across the region. Last People On Earth recently signed to Teahouse Records Read more...

Music News - ZHAIN: From Hull to Hollywood
	ZHAIN again take the long road from Hull to Hollywood to play a series of shows in Los Angeles over the Independence Day weekend. The band will be showcasing songs from their forthcoming album, Crash Landing. ZHAIN return to the U.K to recommence their Crash Landing Tour with shows in London and Somerset immediately Read more...

Music News - Echoes Of The Silk Road Featuring Quentin Budworth (Hayokee) and Poet Amanda Lowe
	Hayokee frontman Quentin Budworth and the poet and writer Amanda Lowe want to take you on a musical journey inspired by the Traders, Warriors, and Pilgrims that travelled along the fabled Silk Route sharing stories and cultures. Initiated by the Han Dynasty around 114 BC the Silk route or road was instrumental in linking the Middle East to China. Read more...

Music News - Electric Angel - The Last People On Earth's CD Launch
	Tea House Records are proud to present their first release Electric Angel by psych-prog-party band The Last People On Earth. Having been the north's best kept secret for the last five years, this is their first album to gain a full national release (their first 2 long players were gig only affairs). The album was recorded in a string of late night sessions Read more...

Music News - Tuesday 20th May 08 - Black and White Tango To Support Acclaimed Smiths Bassist Andy Rourke At Faversham in Leeds
	Alt. Indie classicists Black and White Tango invite you to join them on 20th May at Faversham in Leeds. We're playing with The Troubadours (Q Magazine top 10 bands 2008) & Andy Rourke (The Smiths). The Guardian and NME are going to be there so it would be cool if as many people as possible could come with us. Press "Black and White Tango outside the box Read more...

Music News - Hull Pride Looking For Bands
	Hull Pride is putting its stage line-up together, and want bands to come forward to play. With turnout expected at 10,000 its going to be a huge open air event on Saturday 9th August, not clashing with anything else in the city that day. West Park is one of the largest open air venues in the city, and we have it for one day! Read more...

Music News - Beverley Young Musician Wins Prestigious Prize
	A Beverley teenager has won the first ever Beverley & East Riding Early Music Festival's Young Composers' Competition and will have his piece performed by the acclaimed vocal ensemble, The Tallis Scholars, in Beverley Minster (23 May, 7.30pm) as part of this year's Festival which is co-ordinated by the National Centre for Early Music. Keryn Tatman, 17, from Beverley Grammar School, Read more...

Music News - Comedy Festival Anthem Wanted!
	Do you have a wicked sense of humour and appreciation of music? Do you like the sound of being credited with writing an official festival anthem that will be celebrated at a number of events across the city on an annual basis? If so, it's time to get creative as organisers of Hull Comedy Festival are inviting musical and comedic talent to write and record an Anthem for Hull Comedy Festival. Read more...

Music News - Local Hull Band Track Features on XFM
	Stickpin's song Ghost Girl (inspired by the film Stir of Echoes, and songwriter Katherine Horrex's anger at minimalist display of vengeance) has been chosen as one of the 4 featured tracks of week on XFM where it is currently receiving airplay. Weekly featured tracks compete for a position in the XFM playlist and you can listen and vote for your favourite Read more...

Music News - Beverley Young Composers' Competition: Finalists Announced
	The Beverley & East Riding Early Music Festival has short-listed six young musicians from Beverley, Hull and York to take part in its Young Composers' Competition on Tuesday 22nd April. Delma Tomlin, Director of the Festival said 'we are absolutely delighted to announce that the following young composers have Read more...

Music News - Park&Ride's Comeback Tour By Paul Monkman (Friend and Foe)
	There have been many tales of resurrections in the history of human kind. Some are more questionable than others, like that of Lazarus or Ellen Ripley, while others are arguably a matter of personal taste, Take That and the Spice Girls certainly come to mind, but at the start of April Hull is set witness one of its very own. That's right, folks, Read more...

Music News - Saturday 12th April Live and Unsigned 2008 National Final Beckons For Hull Band The Riffs Pics By Dr Gonzo Photography
	The Riffs from Hull have now made the regional finals, previously battling through rounds of auditions and a semi final live show to reach the regional final competition of Live and Unsigned 2008. At this moment, The Riffs are one impressive performance away from making it to the grand national final, taking place in London, in a bid to be crowned the UK's best 'Live and Unsigned' band or solo act of 2008. Read more...

Music News - Off Shore Music Radio
	Offshore Music Radio, the hugely successful world-wide internet radio network is to promote Steve Larkman's song Chasing Rainbows to their listeners all over the world. Steve lives in Hull and is a regular visitor to and is a regular performer in the Bridlington area at the Revelstoke Hotel, The New Inn and many other venues. Read more...

Music News - Hull Wins Again At Live And Unsigned In Sheffield
	Two acts from Hull came out top at the Live and Unsigned Music Competition. Last week was the semi-final stage in Sheffield. Helena Richards, age just 13 and indie rock band The Riffs won in their two respective categories. Both are now looking forward to the Final 12th April also in Sheffield. Helena Richards, only just age 13, from Hull the country.Read more...

Music News - Saturday 1st March 08 - Local Band Make it to Live and Unsigned Semi-Finals
	Up against 10,000 other entrants in the Live and Unsigned national talent competition for bands, local band The Riffs have made it through to the semi-finals this weekend in Sheffield. The overall winner receives investment and a single release. The Riffs are Christian, Moggy and Baz from The Beards (Baz is in The Dirty Dreamers Read more...

Music News - Helping to Fight the War: One Song at a Time
	In a bid to assist the ongoing wars in the Middle East, local indie band, Ellerker are releasing a single dedicated to the British soldiers, with all of the profits going to the Army Benevolent Fund. Too many soldiers are feeling terrible physical and mental effects from the war: these troops will be feeling the effects for many years to come and need assistance through the fund. Read more...

Music News - Ipanema (Wiz - Mega City Four) - Charity CD Release
	The unexpected and tragic death of Darren "Wiz" Brown on 6th December 2006 was a shock to many people. He was a greatly respected and extraordinary musician and writer who touched the lives of many through his work with Mega City Four, Doughboys, Serpico and Read more...

Music News - Sara Sanchez and Martin Knight Talk To Michelle Dee About Ricky Martin, The Favours and The Future (Includes Exclusive Acoustic Live Video)
	Just like a Christmas card that got lost in the post here is an interview I did with Sara Sanchez and Martin Knight from The Favours, I hope you find it no less welcome. It is a crisp winter's night in Hull. We are sipping mulled wine and eating hot mince pies in the glow of the festive lights of the Christmas tree. I started by asking Sara about her week in November 07 in which she Read more...