US-based hackers Mitch Altman, Jimmie Rodgers and Ken Murphy will be in Newcastle to set up the Hardware Hacking Area for Maker Faire in mid-March and taking the opportunity to visit loads of UK hackerspaces whilst they're over here.

They'll be bringing different kits with them, of the likes of TV-B-Gone, Brain Machine, Open Heart and the Atari Punk Console. Also expect bugs!

Choose something to make and, during an informal workshop session (about 4 hours) Mitch, Jimmie and others will help you to build it and get it working. It doesn't matter if you haven't soldered before - we can teach you!

If you do have a soldering iron, however, it would be really useful if you could bring it along because we only have a limited number at fizzPOP.

We're keen to accommodate children who want to get involved, please get in touch with us if you'd like to bring a young' un along and we'll sort out something appropriate.

After the making has wound down, we'll be hanging out for a bit to give people a chance to chat. All are welcome: feel free to join us, even if you didn't take part in the workshop itself.

After that we'll be going somewhere for a meal. Shortlist at the moment is currently Cafe Soya in the city centre or Diwan Balti in Moseley/Balsall heath

For more details, please see the blog post on the fizzPOP website: http://www.fizzpop.org.uk/events/make-cool-stuff-with-mitch-altman-jimmie-rodgers-and-ken-murphy/