International Festival of Electronic Arts, Music and Moving Image:: March 5-14, 2010 :: Newcastle Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Sunderlands , The Sage Gateshead 8 / 6 concessions, tickets available direct from www.thesagegateshead.org or +44 (0) 191 443 4661 ::

This year the curatorial theme is energy: a universal force that connects, transforms and renews life. Exploring energy from scientific, technological, environmental and spiritual perspectives we present work that resonates across the Festival centres in Newcastle, Gateshead, Middlesbrough, Sunderland, and beyond.

It’s a packed and diverse programme with 24 exhibitions, 20 performances, 10 screenings, 14 talks, 3 symposia, 4 club nights, 2 residencies and even our very own café. We are thrilled to include legendary and inspiring artists, filmmakers and musicians such as: Kenneth Anger, Bruce Conner, Felix Gonzalez-Torres, Liliane Lijn, Alan Moore, Charlemagne Palestine and Iain Sinclair, who have all innovated in their respective fields.

On March 14, 2010 from 3-6pm, there will be a premiere of new commissions by three international sound artists: Kaffe Matthews, Lee Patterson and Jana Winderen. Each artist visited Northumberland to make field recordings of its river network using underwater microphones. The resulting works convey the dramatic energy, ecology and destructive power of our rivers and environment. Field recording locations ranged from the river Coquet, to the lesser-known river Till and one of its tributaries the river Glen.

Kaffe Matthews is a leading figure in the field of live electro-acoustic composition and has recently undertaken a residency in the Galapagos working with sharks and conservation scientists. Lee Patterson’s work explores hidden sounds within everyday objects and natural environments from wind turbines to peanuts. Norwegian artist, Jana Winderen makes work that reveals the complexity of the marine world and other unseen sound sources. She is published by Touch. Followed by a Q&A with the artists and Mike Harding (Touch).