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SPARKS WILL FLY WHEN SCIENCEFEST RETURNS TO NEWCASTLE

Newcastle ScienceFest is a playful, experience-led festival, taking place over 12 cultural venues. Running 12 - 17 March 2011, the programme is an imaginative mix of special events, installations and film screenings. Bdaily will give you a taster of some of the highlights over the coming fortnight…

US-based performance group, ArcAttack! will get the party started with an electrifying UK premiere. The group, (semi-finalists on America’s Got Talent), make music using giant singing Tesla coils which produce electrical arcs up to twelve feet long, each one acting as an instrument - the sound is reminiscent of the early days of the synthesizer. During the show, two of ArcAttack’s performers wear chain mail suits allowing them to ‘catch’ the arcs - what follows is a truly stunning, (if slightly unnerving!), performance that is not to be missed! The death-defying show has won the group cult status in the US with Hollywood A-listers among its fans. (A recent show saw Lord of the Rings actor, Elijah Wood, dance for the group).

The festival’s opening weekend (March 12-13) will see the city’s Centre for Life and Discovery Museum join forces to host the third UK Maker Faire*. Maker Faire is a two-day, family-friendly event that celebrates the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) movement and the best of human imagination and creativity. Play with classic synthesizers, see live 3D printing, learn to solder, play musical Tesla coils, become a guerrilla knitter, turn a beer can into a pinhole camera, use a Wii balance board to control a robot and much more… Highlights include a fire-breathing dragon and Titan the Robot. It’s perfect for creative people of all ages.

ArcAttack! will perform in Discovery Museum’s Great Hall on Saturday 12 and Sunday 13 March at 12.30pm, 2.30pm, 4.30pm.

*Maker Faire tickets can be bought on the day from either Centre for Life or Discovery Museum. Tickets cost: Adult: £5, Child: £3, Family: £10.

Look out for other featured events on Bdaily over the next two weeks. To see the full programme visit www.NewcastleScienceFest.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by marketing .