From turbo-charged Eurodance in Newcastle to Pennine psychedelia and grime in Hull, the north of England keeps underground scenes thriving outside the glare of the mainstream. With its breathtaking landscapes and Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter associations, Cumbria seems an unlikely punk-rock hotbed, but it is the perfect breeding ground for a disaffected, underground music scene. Now, the buildings left behind by cotton and commerce have found a new lease of life, providing cheap spaces for a thriving left-field music scene. Further down the valley, the Golden Lion pub’s life as a weird music venue-cum-community centre began when it was seriously damaged by flooding. “Everyone is really accepting – there are a lot of weird people around here.”Luke Turner

Source: The Guardian October 30, 2017 06:02 UTC