Jem has agreed to be a visiting lecturer...

[MacRua]

THE POGUES' CO-FOUNDER PRAISES UNI
The Herald
by LIZ PARKS, HERALD REPORTER
04 July 2007 Full URL
<blockquote>
The co-founder of The Pogues has praised a new degree course at the University of Plymouth - and agreed to be a visiting lecturer.

Jem Finer, 52, who formed The Pogues with frontman Shane McGowan in 1981, has described the University's BA in Sonic Arts as a "really comprehensive and exciting course".

The band played traditional Irish folk with influences from the English punk rock movement. Their best known and best loved hit is the Christmas favourite Fairytale of New York, which they recorded with Kirsty MacColl.

"I would have loved to have been on something like that myself," said Jem, who will be among a number of well-known sound artists and musicians offering their services to the course as visiting lecturers.

They also include internationally recognised sound artist and electronic musician, Scanner, who is donating his extensive sound archive to the degree programme.

Starting this September, the course offers students the chance to learn about the possibilities of sound manipulation, using and reworking digital and analogue technologies.

They will also study ideas surrounding performance and get involved in collaborative work within and outside the university.

Programme leader Jane Grant said: "The Sonic Arts BA programme reflects the cutting edge of developing ideas and practices in sound creation.

"It offers new thinking and practices not currently delivered in traditional music, fine art or music production courses, which tend to pigeon-hole musical or sonic practices without offering a broad and open-minded approach.

"This is the most exciting time to study the art of sound and to have the support and endorsement of a musician of Jem Finer's reputation gives the course even greater credibility."

The University of Plymouth is quickly establishing itself as one of the leaders in experimental sound and music in research and the new BA course.

Course leaders are expecting a lot of interest in the BA following the recent Expo Plymouth Festival, which put sonic arts in the spotlight during a four day light and sound extravaganza.

The Sonic Arts BA course tutors are also developing a reputation for their work in many areas of sound-art and music.

John Matthias has worked with Radiohead and Matthew Herbert will be releasing an album with the Ninja Tune label later on in the year.</blockquote>

[DownInTheGround]

I always thought there should be university subjects devoted to drawing that loveable little hedgehog, and now there is one. To the enrolment office