Tusk, the annual festival held on the banks of the River Tyne, has announced initial names for it’s 2019 programme. We’ve described Tusk as "one of the finest – and friendliest – expressions of underground and experimental music culture in these islands" and at its core in 2019 will be a Tusk-commissioned collaboration between Moor Mother and the London Contemporary Orchestra, which will also go on tour after the festival. Ceylon Mange, a collaboration between Karen Constance, Dylan Nyoukis and Bill Nace of Body/Head will also play at the festival, which takes place at the Sage Gateshead from the 11th to 13th October 2019. Oh yes and the mighty MAGMA are on the bill.
Brilliantly-named group Acrid Lactations will bring what we’re told is their "unfiltered utterances and spontaneous concrète" across the river from Newcastle, while local artist Faye McCalman will join fellow locals MIR8 for their first gig in the north east. Get on the case quick, people – 50 early Birds are £60, then full weekend tickets are £70 and you can buy them here. Keep an eye on the Tusk website for more information.