Sounds of the North East: Big Beat Manifesto showcase their new exhibition

A showcase of just a snippet of the incredible talent that the North East has to offer, Big Beat Manifesto has made its fleeting return for the second time to the NCA. From the 26^th September to the 4^th October, they provided an insight into the photography and videography scene here in Newcastle in their compelling exhibition: Sounds of the North East.

This week, the stark yet impressive fourth floor of the NCA gallery was transformed into an energetic space brimming with the vibrant spirit of Newcastle’s creative culture through the profound lens of nightlife photography. The exhibition shifted its focus to the economic and political struggles that creatives must overcome in the industry that has been increasingly ignored by government funding in recent years. Grassroots venues like Cobalt and World Headquarters are at the forefront of this, expressing the difficulty of surviving off of ticket sales alone.

Despite these struggles, the creators highlight the power of collaboration and community in these tough times, a concept reiterated in its neighbouring exhibition of Susie Davies’ exploration of the 90s rave scene in our beloved Ouseburn Valley.

While a far cry from the gritty scene in the 90s, the organisers demonstrated this musical talent by collaborating with some of the toon’s biggest DJ collectives, sharing a club-level sound system. Shy Bairns, Profound Sound and Granville Collective, among many others, delivered these beats at the exhibition’s closing party on the 4^th. The gallery was transformed into a nightclub-style venue, demonstrating a microcosm of the unique energy of Newcastle, which can often be overshadowed by the rave scene in other cities like Manchester and Bristol.

Big Beat Manifesto has successfully reiterated the importance of our grassroots music community and local talent, championing the rights of those who have dedicated much of their lives to feed our beloved creative scene.