NARC. #216 May 2025

28 MARKETPLACE

Linsey Teggert talks to the Hartlepool five-piece about their playful sound and somewhat unique promotional style…

I write this missive fresh (in spirit, if not mind) from Stockton Calling, where I spent a long but satisfying Easter Saturday manning the NARC. stage, which was packed out all day with music fans hungry for talent and a line-up equally as eager to provide it. I may be slightly biased, but it’s my favourite North East festival for so many reasons; the hard-working team have a genuine passion for music and are always striving to produce line-ups to be proud of, and the punters get there early, stay to the end, and are respectful and eager – as a promoter, you couldn’t ask for more. Bias notwithstanding, our line-up was pretty amazing, and I had some great chats with pals old and new throughout the day. Lovely stuff all round. It’s events like this that remind me why I love the North East music scene; there was a genuine sense of camaraderie, mutual respect and sheer enjoyment of an event that pervaded pretty much every conversation I had and performance I saw. Lately, I’ve found it too easy to get bogged down in deadlines and the shit bits of a job, so it’s nice to be proud of something at the end of a day. After my duties were done, I managed to catch the last hour of Maxïmo Park’s absolute banger-filled set, which may go some way towards explaining why I’m still hoarse from singing. Here’s to the enduring power of music.

Editor

Claire Dupree

info@narcmedia.com

Assistant Editor

Steve Spithray

Editorial Assistants

Isabel Johnson / Mack Sproates

Website

David Saunders narcmagazineonline@gmail.com

Creative El Roboto

Advertising

Claire Dupree info@narcmedia.com

Cover Image

Rob Irish

Live Photography

Thomas Jackson / Amelia Read / Victoria Wai / Sam Wall

Contributors

Neil Ainger / Phoenix Atkinson / Susie Burgess / Jonathan Coll / Laura Doyle / Lee Fisher / Mark Grainger / Nat Greener / Michaela Hall / Lee Hammond / Paul Jeffrey / Ben Lowes-Smith / Robert Nichols / Simon Lunt / Matthew McDonnell / Ikenna Offor / Michael O’Neill / Kai Palmer / Niamh Poppleton / Ben Robinson / Damian Robinson / Laura Rosierse / Elodie A. Roy / Joe Sharples / Dominic Stephenson / Linsey Teggert / Meg Thomas / Laura Venus / Ali Welford / Cameron Wright / Matt Young

PREVIEWS

4 HIGHLIGHTS

Some of the best events in May, plus what’s online at narcmagazine.com

6 PREVIEWS

Live shows from Mekons, Gnod, Floral Image, Pixies, PUP, Michael Cera Palin, Finn Forster, The Snuts, Florence Adooni, Patrick Wolf, Lael Neale, Andy Bell, BIIG Time and more; plus comedy from Kiell Smith-Bynoe, John-Luke Roberts and Durham Comedy Festival; arty goodness courtesy of Jim Moir, Louise Goult and Radge; theatre including Unearthed Festival at Live, Beginners Guide to Widowhood at Alphabetti, Big Strong Man at Hullabaloo, Talking About The Fire at ARC and much more.

Reports of live shows from Badly Drawn Boy, David Gray, John Cale, Will Varley, Gurriers, Kamasi Washington, Jane Weaver and more

Reviews of singles and EPs from local artists including Joe Holtaway, Steve Chaplin, Park View, Katie C, Jake Diaz, Igg, Patrick Gosling, Oliver Hunt, Vultures, Cheap Lunch, Lizzie Esau and Josh Atkinson

Reviews of new releases from Andrew Cushin, Jenny Hval, Skinny Lister, Wretch 32, Nils Frahm, caroline, mclusky, Kathryn Joseph, Billy Nomates, M(h)aol, Lael Neale and more

The organisers of Sunderland’s Roulette Festival choose some of their favourite tracks

PREVIEWS

MAY’S MAIN EVENTS INCLUDE EXTRAORDINARY EMERGING TALENTS IN THE ART WORLD, NERD-TASTIC INDIE ROCK, YUMMY VEGAN DELIGHTS AND MORE…

MUSIC

THUR 8

DEATH VALLEY GIRLS

STAGE THUR 1-FRI 2

YOU KNOW MY MUM

EGO Arts present a heartfelt and poignant show devised and performed by a collection of deeply talented disabled and neurodivergent actors. Coming to Stockton as part of its debut national tour, the play is the ambitiously accessible true story of lead actor Alex, a young woman with Down syndrome grieving her mother’s death.

ARC, Stockton www.arconline.co.uk

MUSIC

FRI 2 PULSE

Uplifting sapphics, non-binary people and gender-diverse queers, PULSE explodes onto the scene, making its hard launch this month for a FLINTA crowd. This much-needed diverse and high octane club night will feature a range of tunes from techno, jungle, hyperpop and more, plus a mega line-up of MintJuulPod, symbra, melba and e-kitty. The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle www.instagram.com/pulsencl

MUSIC

SUN 4

RAILWAY CLUB

What better way to spend your afternoon than at a gorgeous musical extravaganza comprising four of the region’s best acts? Headlined and organised by the inimitable Railway Club trio (fresh off a hiatus - lucky us!), the evening will also feature ambient synth pop from Summer Night Air, rich Americana from Ruby Kelly and jazzy folk from Alan Dunne. Sea Change, South Shields www.linktr.ee/therailwayclubmusic

ART & LIT

WED 7-SAT 10

LEAD IN THE PIPES

Lead In The Pipes brings nine Newcastle University Fine Art students together to showcase their liminal, surrealist and often deeply thought-provoking artworks at Vane Gallery. The work spans a myriad of themes and mediums, so there’s bound to be something for everyone. Vane Gallery, Gateshead www.vane.org.uk

MUSIC

THUR 8

KAINOS ENSEMBLE

If you’re looking for the chance to catch a musical act for the first time ever, why not head to Newcastle for the debut of Kainos Ensemble, a contemporary classical collective aiming to challenge the way classical music is perceived. They’ll be bringing a selection of modern local works to The Lit & Phil. The Lit & Phil, Newcastle www.kainosensemble.co.uk

Mystic rockers with celestial vocals, dreamy vibes and thunderous chords make up Death Valley Girls.

Summoning Fleetwood Mac as vivid inspirations, these powerful, spell-like songs explore journeys through pain and healing, serving up a gorgeous night to get lost in their enchanting music. With support from Bella & the Bizarre.

The Cluny, Newcastle www.deathvalleygirls.bandcamp.com

MUSIC

FRI 9

SLIME CITY

Glaswegian nerd rockers Slime City will bring their brand of dorky, DIY crunchy indie pop anthems to Pop Recs, featuring fast-paced guitars, fun vocals and computer boops that’ll have you simultaneously moshing and geeking out. With support from Cazimi and Johnny D & The Space Cadets. Pop Recs Ltd., Sunderland www.slime-city.bandcamp.com

Katarina Jimack, Colonel Grunckle, 2025, glazed ceramics

MAY HIGHLIGHTS

MUSIC

THUR 15

GIGGING FOR GAZA

This special night of exceptional music sees all proceeds going to essential funding for the Amos Trust Emergency Appeal for Gaza and the West Bank. Featuring folk exotica bandits Bubamara, travel-inspired singer-songwriter Chris Milner - Journeyman and special guests performing Middle Eastern-inspired jams, uniting folks and coming together through music.

Forum Music Centre, Darlington www.theforumonline.co.uk

ART & LIT THUR 15-TUES 20 AS ABOVE, SO BELOW

Lovers of abstract paintings and collage will adore Jonny Bainbridge and Eric Mansfield’s upcoming collection of new works, As Above, So Below. Life Cycles is Brainbridge’s exploration of thoughts and the zooming in and out of life through dazzling shapes and colours, whilst Mansfield’s Ghosts interrogates ghostly people, memories and trauma. The Bottleworks, Newcastle www.bottleworks.uk

EVENTS

SAT 17

TYNESIDE VEGAN & MUSIC FESTIVAL

For lovers of tasty vegan food, exciting stalls and beautiful live music, Northumbria University’s Domain venue is the place for you on Saturday 17th May. Alongside an incredible live music stage co-headlined by singersongwriters, animal rights activists and vegan festival regulars Barbara Helen and Sweet Goose, there will be a whopping 45+ traders. Northumbria University Domain, Newcastle www.facebook.com/northeastanimalrights

ART & LIT WED 21-SUN 25

BALTIC X NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY BA FINE ART DEGREE SHOW

Three years of student-artist learning culminates in this cross-venue exhibition which will feature some of the region’s most breathtaking up-and-coming multidisciplinary artists exploring painting, sculpture, installation and more, showcasing their work at Gallery North in Northumbria University, and Baltic and Vane art galleries in Gateshead. Various Venues www.bxnu.institute

ART & LIT

FRI 23 MAY-SAT 7 JUNE

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY BA FINE ART DEGREE SHOW

Running until 7th June, Hatton Gallery proudly presents the future of Newcastle’s art scene featuring artwork created by fourth year Newcastle University Fine Art BA students. Mediums such as painting, new media, film, sculpture, photography, print, sound installation and more result in a diverse array of thought provoking work. Hatton Gallery, Newcastle www.hattongallery.org.uk

ART & LIT TUES 27

BOXED OFF

Part of The Customs House’s annual Takeover Festival, Boxed Off is an outdoor family-friendly art event which brings several artists from the region and beyond together to paint live on custom-made large-scale boxes outside of the South Shields venue. With stalls, a live DJ and six remarkable artists, what’s not to love? The Customs House, South Shields www.customshouse.co.uk

NARC. E-ZINE

May sees the launch of our newly reinvigorated E-ZINE, where you can find all kinds of multimedia delights. Keep an eye on the website for more!

NARC. TV

Check out live performances and chat from North East bands and musicians on our magazine-style programmes + ALSO THIS MONTH…

Mick Johnson from Durham music project The Heartland Collective tells us what inspired their latest track Lil' Bit Lost featuring Dave Ditchburn

INTERVIEW: BIG STRONG MAN

We catch up with Christopher Finnegan-Wright – writer, actor and founder of the dynamic working theatre company The Growth House – ahead of their show Big Strong Man, a riotous, high-energy cabaret tackling men’s mental health, as it arrives at Hullabaloo, Darlington on Friday 16th May

Artwork by Kid Acne

Artwork by John Brainbridge

MUSIC ANDY BELL @ THE GLASSHOUSE

Words: Laura Venus

Synth-pop royalty and king of charismatic vocals Andy Bell, legendary frontman of Erasure, brings his solo tour to The Glasshouse on Thursday 8th May. Celebrating the release of his brand new album Ten Crowns, Andy is back in the region promising a euphoric, uplifting evening, mixing the new and nostalgic with pulsing dancefloor energy. Ten Crowns is set to be a bold, gospel-tinged exploration of resilience, joy and identity. In these crazy times, experiencing tracks like Breaking Thru The Interstellar and Don’t Cha Know in the peerless acoustic excellence of the Glasshouse will be a perfect opportunity to leave our personal and planetary troubles behind.

Featuring collaborations with Debbie Harry and Sarah Potenza, and shaped alongside Grammy-winning producer Dave Audé, this new work shows Andy Bell at his most honest and vibrant.

Fans can expect a night of this new material alongside a career-spanning set that honours his 40 year legacy as one of Britain’s most celebrated performers.  www.andybell.com

ART & LIT HEXHAM BOOK FESTIVAL @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Laura Rosierse

This year sees the Hexham Book Festival celebrate its 19th year, bringing a series of delightful and engaging events to venues across the Northumberland town from Friday 2nd-Sunday 11th May, with appearances of familiar and new faces. Those include Jonathan Coe, AL Kennedy, Kevin Barry and LJ Ross, as well as a number of debutantes and local authors, with topics covered across the festival ranging from religion and politics, to pilgrimages, crime and archaeology. The festival promises ten days of inspiration, reflection and celebration, with a vast variety of subject matter investigated. Comedian Robin Ince will be kicking off the festival with a chat about his new book Normally Weird & Weirdly Normal: My Adventures In Neurodiversity, while Pam Ayres will join for a special matinee event celebrating her latest poetry collection. There’s political reflections and analysis led by Anthony Seldon, Sam Freedman and Simon Hart; the festival’s memoir and life-writing events are particularly broad, with speakers such as Chloe Dalton, Paul Sinton-Hewitt and James Rebanks discussing subjects including running, nature and motherhood; there’s a collaboration with Tyne Valley Film Festival to screen a preview of The Return, a thrilling new take on Homer’s The Odyssey; plus workshops will assist up and coming writers. www.hexhambookfestival.co.uk

STAGE

A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO WIDOWHOOD @ ALPHABETTI

Words: Ben Robinson

A Beginner's Guide to Widowhood details the journey of one woman’s experience of love, loss, and what comes after. As Suria and her family head off to Turkey, they grapple with a new dynamic - without her husband. This frank and touching new theatre piece comes to Alphabetti on Friday 2nd May.

The production invites the audience into Suria’s world which is filled with honesty, warmth, and an emotional look at what it means to move forward when everything feels like it has come to a standstill. From the awkward holiday activities to the private pain of a life that is now in the past, the play unpacks the challenges of grief and the resilience that grows in its shadow. Set against the vivid backdrop of Turkey, the story brings together topics of family, identity, and healing in the modern world. With staging that allows you to simply focus on Suria and immerse yourself in her feelings; A Beginner's Guide to Widowhood is both a personal reckoning and a universal exploration of how we learn to live again following loss. You can catch this must see, candid and tender play at Alphabetti Theatre on Friday 2nd May for an unforgettable evening of theatre that will make you laugh, cry and reflect upon your own life.

www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk

Andy Bell by Sean Black

MUSIC THE SNUTS @ MIDDLESBROUGH TOWN HALL

Words: Joe Sharples

Following an immense 2024, Scottish indie rockers The Snuts head to Middlesbrough Town Hall on Friday 23rd May. Last year, the West Lothian-heralding group toured the world with their third album, Millennials, including dates in Europe, the US and Japan, and a huge slot at Glastonbury festival. Millennials was released on their own record label, Happy Artist Records, and charted highly.

Helped by hits including Gloria, Millionaires and Dreams, which continue the bright, breezy guitar sound they made their name from, the album saw The Snuts take a more direct songwriting approach, which tapped into previously unexplored ideas and emotions. Later this year, they also return to the North East for the brand new Come Together Festival, and to support The Wombats in December, but be sure to catch their headline show at Middlesbrough Town Hall to see them at their very best: commanding their own space and in control of their own atmosphere, as they celebrate their 10th year as a frontrunner in modern Scottish rock music. www.thesnuts.os.fan

MUSIC

RAMLEH @ THE LUBBER FIEND

Words: Lee Fisher

Emerging from the fertile but often troubling power electronics scene in the early eighties alongside acts like Whitehouse, Sutcliffe Jugend and Controlled Bleeding, Gary Mundy’s Ramleh have gone through numerous incarnations and line-ups in the intervening forty years, including people like Whitehouse/ Consumer Electronics’ Philip Best and Skullflower’s Matthew Bower and Anthony DiFranco – a long-serving member these days. Crucially, Mundy et al have gone to considerable lengths to disassociate themselves from some of the ideas and people that blighted the P.E. scene – the Nazi imagery (and the occasional actual Nazi) –and are a much more interesting proposition as a result, whether as the Mundy/DiFranco PE incarnation or the four piece noise rock outfit that started to develop in the nineties. It’s this format of the band that plays a rare live date in Newcastle, visiting the Lubber Fiend on Saturday 31st May to promote new album Hyper Vigilance. There’s a particularly strong undercard too – local sludge beasts Louse and kindred spirits (and overlapping members) The Shits, as well as Skintern.   www.thelubberfiend.com

DURHAM COMEDY FESTIVAL @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Laura Rosierse Durham Comedy Festival is the city’s first and only festival dedicated to stand-up comedy, and will be taking place at venues across the city on Monday 26th May.

Presented by The Durham Stand Society and Dweebs Comedy, the festival’s line-up features an array of talent, from local acts to students and TV comedians including Stevie Martin (Taskmaster), Dan Tiernan (Live At The Apollo), Chris Cantrill (Alma's Not Normal), Amy Annette (Off Menu), Joe Kent-Walters (Best Newcomer Winner at Fringe 2024) and Lorna Rose Treen (Dave's Joke of the Fringe 2023).

The festival will bring together professionals, students and the inhabitants of Durham to celebrate comedy by involving Durham University’s Durham Revue and The Stand Society, as well as The Joke Clinic and Newcastle favourites Shy Bairns. Co-founder and comedian Ben Lycett says: “This is a chance to watch some of the most exciting acts from across the country work up their new shows!” Fifteen shows will be taking place across the day at venues Fabio’s Bar, The Holy Grale, and The Dun Cow. It’s promising to be a belter of a day!

www.linktr.ee/durhamcomedyfest

The Snuts by Gaz Williamson

MUSIC THINGS YOU MAY NOT KNOW @ THE GREEN ROOM

Words: Mack Sproates

Celebrate the opening of Stockton’s new independent guitar shop, Vagrant Guitars, with a cracking night of fantastic live music featuring a stunning local line-up, plus some exciting extras, all taking place at the iconic Green Room in Stockton on Friday 30th May. This will certainly be a special night for Vagrant Guitars, marking the opening of the boutique store which is guaranteed to become a keystone in Teesside’s music scene. Billed as an intimate night with premium songwriters, the line-up is terrific. Featuring Tom Blackwell, the solo artist who wraps up country, blues and gospel with emotive, gentle, raspy vocals; J.P Riggall, who will be diving into his impressive and expansive back catalogue of highly evocative songs, fuelled by his hauntingly beautiful vocals that are a shining light in the dark; the dreamy Robyn Errico will paint pictures with her enchanting, captivating soundscapes which are amplified by her stunning, celestial voice; plus tunes from “If black mirror was a band” Middle Management, there will also be a unique pop-up shop brought to you by Willoughby Records.

All this will be the perfect way to give Vagrant Guitars a warm reception into Stockton. If you’re a lover of local live music or a

supporter of indie grassroots venues, this ones for you.

www.vagrantguitars.co.uk

EVENTS

RADGE LAUNCH @ THE GROVE

Words: Meg Thomas

Join artist Meg McWilliam at The Grove in Newcastle on Thursday 22nd May to celebrate the launch of her new radical magazine, RADGE.

Meg’s work is infamous for her provocative political art which champions the causes of feminist, working-class artists through quirky design. With her unique punk collage style, McWilliam’s pieces are rife with cutting-edge social commentary; she rejects filter and faff, serving gritty yet exciting work that will make your jaw drop.

Having tackled print art, Meg is moving on to editing her own magazine which will platform North East creatives, and look to break through the pretentious arts scene and offer a place for artists to express themselves, unfiltered. Through launching RADGE, Meg aims to make space for all artists – publishing work that stands up to patriarchy and is unapologetic about it.

The reign of RADGE begins at The Grove, with a night full of fabulous chaos including drag performances, DJ sets and personalised cocktails!

www.linktr.ee/megmc

STAGE UNEARTHED

FESTIVAL

@ LIVE THEATRE

Words: Laura Doyle Newcastle’s Live Theatre are doubling down on their dedication to new work and artist development with the launch of Unearthed Festival. The institution already prides itself on being one of the few theatres outside of London dedicated to helping new-to-thegame actors and writers hone their craft within its walls, and now Unearthed will push the boat out in its championing of new talent fresh from the North East.

The 11 day festival, which runs from Tuesday 20th-Saturday 31st May, will feature a jam-packed roster of readings, performances and scratch nights to highlight the best of tomorrow’s biggest names. From the smorgasbord of new shows put on by the region’s up-and-comers, to artist and creative socials for professionals at the beginning and middle of their careers, and even a Q&A with Oscar winner and co-writer of Moonlight (based upon his original stage play) Tarell Alvin McCraney; Unearthed Festival boasts ample chances for anyone to partake in the North East’s most exciting developmental opportunities in the industry. Whether you’re a professional or a humble theatre goer, browse Unearthed’s programme to dig out a little something you’d like to experience. www.live.org.uk

Meg McWilliam

MUSIC BROTHER @ NEWGATE SOCIAL

Words: Nat Greener

Brother aren’t here for comfort... they’re here for catharsis. Emerging from the coastal shadows of North Shields, this four-piece channels the perceived bleak beauty of the North East into something slow-burning and sublime. Set to take over Newgate Social,

Newcastle on Friday 2nd May, Brother promise a show that resonates. Their sound, hovering between the spectral melancholy of The National, Nick Cave and the brooding intensity of Interpol, crafts an atmosphere that's both cinematic and deeply personal.

This is music shaped by post-industrial realism and windswept towns; their songs feel like diary entries written in the half-light, scored with guitar work that glows like embers under ash. With a debut EP on the horizon and a growing local following, their live shows offer a rare kind of emotional precision - melancholic but full of fight. Their

JOIN THE FUTURE OF MUSIC!

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lyrics are the sort that sting a little, poetic and unflinching, rooted in everyday pain and lived experiences. But there’s hope here too, however fragile: a steady pulse under all the ache. If you're into artists who sing from the edge of things—where longing meets resilience—Brother may just be your new favourite band.

Catch them now, while the rooms are still small and the stories still feel secret. It won’t stay that way for long.

www.brothermusic.co.uk

MUSIC MILKWEED @ THE LUBBER FIEND

Words: Lee Fisher

If folk in its absurdly varied iterations is all over the bloody shop at the moment, Milkweed are somewhere out on its more fascinating, experimental margins, pushing at the very definition. Even the most wonky, auto-tuned Stick In The Wheel tracks sound like Steeleye Span by comparison. Thus far, this mysterious duo have only released a trio of short-run cassettes, but this month sees the release of Remscéla, their take on the first 20 pages of the immense and complex Irish epic Táin Bó Cuailnge. In Milkweed’s music, trad instruments are twisted and manipulated, ballads are cut up and repurposed and the end result is a bewildering, beguiling mixture of Shirley Collins and Mordant Music – something they call ‘slacker trad’. For a project so wayward, the duo – simply G and R – take a strangely academic approach to their sources, and it’s clear that if they played it straight, they’d probably be an impressive folk outfit. But where’s the fun in that?

They return to the Lubber Fiend on Sunday 11th May for a show that sees them supported by fascinating, genre-defying Los Angeles musician Jack Name and relatively new local supergroup Powtes, who boast several Tyneside folk luminaries and whose lyrical content seems to be entirely based on the enclosure of fenland in the early seventeenth century. www.milkweedfolk.bandcamp.com

ART & LIT LOUISE GOULT @ BOTTLEWORKS

Words: Michaela Hall

If you are looking for something incredibly creative and unexpected to go and see, Louise Goult’s first solo exhibition in the North East is the one for you. Identity which runs from Friday 23rd - Monday 26th May at the BottleWorks gallery in Ouseburn, Newcastle explores identity and personality in contemporary embroidery.

When you think of embroidery you probably first think of tidy, small and traditional patterns on the same types of neutral materials. What this show guarantees to do is flip that idea on its head completely and give you a new perspective of the art form. The embroidery in this show is brought to life in a fresh and unique way that sees it take over fabric, paper, found items and even to form parts of three-dimensional works – this is an exhibition that is pushing boundaries. Just as embroidery pieces things together, Louise is inviting the viewer to piece their own ideas around the sense of self together while in the space. It’s a space for reflection, exploration and new experiences. Louise describes how the artwork “demonstrates the impactfulness of textile art…and emphasises its place in the world of art”.

If this sounds right up your street you can also head online to Louise’s website to book a space on an accompanying workshop on Thursday 22nd May. www.louisegoulttextiles.co.uk

MUSIC GNOD/WHITE HILLS @ STAR & SHADOW CINEMA

Words: Lee Fisher

From their bases in Manchester (sometimes) and NYC respectively, Gnod and White Hills have been giving physical form to heavy trips for almost 20 years, fellow chemical adventurers frying brains (theirs and ours) through a whole lot of gigs and a few records. (There are any number of instances of White Hill’s Dave W talking about how fucked up Gnod got him when they first started playing together). This year saw the third, perhaps definitive iteration of their Drop Out series, which started in 2009, and it’s a helluva trip, although arguably it shows just how far Gnod have progressed – always mutating into new forms and sounds – while White Hills are pretty much the same psych rock proposition they’ve always been.

They’re going out on a collaborative tour of Europe which brings them to the Star & Shadow on Sunday 4th May and is bound to be a proper face-melter. Even better, promotion ninjas Wandering Oak have added Cheap Lunch to the bill. The self-confessed ‘on-again, off-again’ Gateshead band are closing one chapter with recent EP Leap Chunk (which absolutely rips) and are now joined by Joey (from Pit Pony) on drums and Cal (from Pink Poison) on bass. So this will be your first chance to catch this new incarnation.

www.starandshadow.org.uk

Milkweed

MUSIC PATRICK WOLF @ THE GLASSHOUSE

Words: Laura Doyle

Patrick Wolf has been through enough, and with any luck the release of new album Crying The Neck marks a change in his fortunes. The break in recording is understood, but that doesn’t mean the eclectic singer-songwriter hasn’t been sorely missed. Crying The Neck is not only his first full-length release of new music in over a decade, but it also documents the period of personal turmoil it follows, featuring loss both familial and financial. Its lead single Dies Irae, or “Day of Wrath,” catalogues one of his final days with his late mother before her passing, honouring her with an anthemic and heartbreaking neo-classical tune which balances mournful vocals and orchestral instrumentation with electronic beats. It’s only right on an album so personal that there are even more personal touches, be it revisiting older material and recontextualising it within Wolf’s more recent experiences, or collaborating with his own sister Jo Apps on the most personal tracks. To be able to hear these tracks straight from the Wolf’s mouth would surely be all the more impactful - and that’s exactly what you can do at The Glasshouse on Saturday 10th May. If the only way out is through, then Patrick Wolf is taking us all for quite the emotional journey - but we’re all going to come out the other side kicking.

www.patrickwolf.com

COMEDY JOHN-LUKE ROBERTS @ THE STAND

Words: Cameron Wright

John-Luke Roberts is one of those wonderfully sacred, rare instances of a comedian lauded by his peers but often overlooked by the general masses. He was named as one of the top 50 funniest comedians of the 21st Century by the Guardian in 2023, formally trained as a clown under Philippe Gaulier and has collaborated with a plethora of acts including Bill Oddie, Tom Allen, Paul Fieg, Mark Watson and Josie Long.

The Newcastle-based comic has lived a thousand lives during his career, and his absurdist style has raised eyebrows throughout. With 10 solo shows across 15 years, John-Luke has been fine-tuning his bizarre and word conscious brand of humour and it is masterful to see a wizard at work. This being said, his 2020 show It Is Better failed to draw any major audiences, and although you could blame an international pandemic for this, the comic is bringing the piece back to the stage at The Stand in Newcastle on Monday 12th May. If that wasn’t enough, he is also providing a compilation of routines from across his nine previous shows, making sure that a decade’s worth of nonsense is cascading down throughout the evening.

For anyone with a penchant for alternative comedy, this is the holy grail. Expect Vic & Bob antics coupled with Simon Munnery’s bizarre ramblings and Zaltzman’s world play – but all delivered in the colourful and dangerous packaging that is unmistakably John-Luke Roberts.

www.johnlukeroberts.co.uk

MUSIC BUTTERFLY EFFECT FESTIVAL @ PEALIE’S BARN

Words: Cameron Wright

Darlington label Butterfly Effect has been curating a catalogue of local music and emerging artists for almost a decade, and on Saturday 31st May they return with their second festival, taking place at Pealie’s Barn. Expect a day’s worth of fantastic, entertaining and exciting new music, with an eclectic and diverse line-up ranging from the bittersweet folk adventures of Elaine Palmer to the pounding rhythms of electronic headliners

Analogue Blood. Also in attendance will be Hartlepool’s Scruffy Bear, kicking off the night of fun with their groove-driven rock odyssey, soulful vocals and wailing guitars. Also performing are local favourite Faithful Johannes, who will deliver and thoughtful poetic sounds; Teesside trailblazers Dossers will fire through politically conscious punk; there’s lo-fi punk from Mouses; alt. rock icon

Melanie Baker brings her insightful and often humorous vibes to proceedings, and hotly tipped songwriter Robyn Errico is set to dazzle. Plus, there’s sets from Midnight Library, Last of the Fallen Angels and The Frozen Low.

The festival celebrates the North East and all the fantastic branches of music that form its unique identity.

www.butterflyeffectlabel.com

Patrick Wolf by Furmaan Ahmed

MUSIC

MICHAEL CERA PALIN @ ZEROX

Words: Cameron Wright

Prepare yourselves for tongue in cheek, jaunty pop punk, because that’s exactly what Atlanta based gritty emo trio Michael Cera Palin will be bringing to Newcastle’s Zerox with a mighty punch on Sunday 4th May. Their indie

tracks are bursting with life, and it is the emotional dexterity found in the lyrics and the distinctive weeping vocals that make the group as engaging as they are.

With endearing percussion and a familiar Atlanta sound, the trio tip toe across Midwest emo territory before diving deeper and deeper as their songs progress, until they’re quite literally bawling with anguish. Having released several EPs since 2016, the trio finally released their debut LP We Could Be Brave on 7th March, and it sees them hone in on their idiosyncrasies beautifully. Exploding with

emotions, the band describe their sound as “Music for People Who Suck At Parties”though I would have to disagree. The rhythmic percussion and euphoric, uplifting choruses make for tremendously infectious tunes which really sparkle.

This is indie emo music at its finest for people hunting for something fresh; it holds all the much loved traits of the genre, but with a chaos and sonic self-destruction that is utterly endearing and new. Now is Michael Cera Palin’s time.

www.michaelcerapalin.zone

Image by Fatsoma

Wednesday 4 June Cat Power Sings Dylan ‘66

Saturday 21 June

Altern-8

35 Year Anniversary Tour plus DJ Nex, Tokyo Acid Cru and DJ Mudfoot Blaps

Tuesday 24 June Ani DiFranco

• Royal Court at Live! led by David Byrne & Ishy Din

• Masterclasses with Alistair McDowall, online Q&A for writers with Tarrell Alvin McCraney

• Fail Friday artist gathering with Luca Rutherford

PLUS - Readings • Scratch nights! • Creative parents mornings! • Cutting edge performances!

Wednesday 25 June Father John Misty plus Loren Kramar

Friday 27 June New Worlds

Bill Murray, Jan Vogler and Friends

Vanessa Perez and Mira Wang

Tuesday 15 July Jessica Pratt Check out

STAGE MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN @ HORDEN METHODIST CHURCH

Words: Nat Greener

This May running from Wednesday 14thSaturday 24th May, East Durham becomes the epicentre of a powerful theatrical collision between local grit and global ambition. Mother Courage and Her Children, Bertolt Brecht’s blistering anti-war classic, lands at Horden Methodist Church in a bold new adaptation by Billy Elliot’s Lee Hall - performed by Ensemble ‘84, a new County Durham company born from a 24-week training programme for local residents.

Directed by Mark Dornford-May and featuring South Africa’s acclaimed Isango Ensemble, this production bridges continents and working-class histories, transforming Brecht’s 1939 epic into a contemporary meditation on resilience, survival, and sacrifice. Led by Isango’s Paulina Malefane in the title role, the cast draws strength from both the mining heritage of the North East and the legacy of South African resistance, creating a show that pulses with political urgency and raw emotional power.

This is a rare chance to witness a world class international collaboration rooted firmly in County Durham soil. It is theatre that holds a mirror up to conflict and asks what we are willing to trade for survival - and who gets left behind.

For anyone who believes the stage still has the power to provoke, transform, and connect, Mother Courage is an unmissable experience - a timeless must watch performance that is bound to stay with you. www.ensemble84.com

MUSIC

BIIG TIME @ KU BAR

Words: Phoenix Atkinson

BIIG TIME are an indie rock secret that’s about to be blown wide open. With their new shoegaze-inspired, emphatic single Better Than Nothing, they come to Stockton’s KU Bar on Tuesday 20th May to celebrate.

The band is made up of Johnny Took, guitarist of DMAs, and brother Matthew Took, singer of PLANET, who have reunited to create a heartfelt and emotional performance. Their stand-alone debut single, It’s You, enticed listeners with a West Coast garage rock sound back in 2020, and follow-up Bigger Than Nothing presents a shoegaze stomper. “Bigger Than Nothing is our first release since our first and only single It’s You back in 2020!” The band affirm. “It’s quintessential BIIG TIME. Harmonies the whole way through and distorted guitars. Lyrically it’s full of tongue in cheek self-deprecation and floating in and out of the feeling of not being good enough for people and situations around you.”

The band’s debut record, 200K, is released this month, and the band explain it features “a collection of gems that we have written over the years”. www.facebook.com/biigtimeau

MUSIC PIXIES @ O2 CITY HALL

Words: Simon Lunt

Speaking from experience, I can personally guarantee that any Pixies concert delivers a raw energy that is largely unrivalled. Their unique cocktail of Iggy Pop-esque angst, Talking Heads-inspired art pop and Black Flag existentialism (to name just a few of their inspirations) never disappoints live. The only ‘inspired by’ list that would be longer than the Pixies would be the list of notable bands they themselves have influenced.

Touring their tenth studio album The Night The Zombies Came, and gracing Newcastle’s O2 City Hall on Friday 23rd May, you can expect to experience intense versions of latest single Motoroller (inspired by Black Francis’ scooter ride in Berlin) interspersed with offerings from god-level LPs such as Doolittle and Surfer Rosa. It would be fair to say that you can expect a slightly harder and darker sound than the last couple of releases but the arrangements, guitar genius and performance will also hit hard.

Pixies are a rare example of a band who have continued to innovate across multiple decades without losing the core of their sound and appeal. During that time they have seemingly honed the ability to craft perfect set lists which have been and continue to be a benchmark for alternative rock groups everywhere.

www.pixiesmusic.com

BIIG Time

MUSIC

DAY SLEEPER @ THE ENGINE ROOM

Words: Laura Doyle

Lethargy isn’t usually a characteristic widely celebrated, yet Edinburgh has produced a musical ensemble that seem to be quite happy touting their penchant for sleepiness. Day Sleeper have, in the mere two years of

being a band, managed to somehow distil the feeling of grogginess one gets from sunlight streaming through the window after failing to be roused from a multitude of alarms. Think slow-moving soundscapes, light synth-driven electronica, and subdued vocals dripping in gloom. This House Won’t Fold is only their second EP (not counting the companion to their debut EP Everything There Is, Everything Else). Yet still, it shows a marked evolution of their sound while still maintaining its sonic bleary-eyedness. They’re journeying southward for a string of shows this spring,

including a stop at North Shield’s The Engine Room on Wednesday 14th May, supported by hometown (and Sam Fender) favourites Hector Gannet. The folkish bunch, headed by modern maestro Aaron Duff, have been going from strength to strength since their inception in 2017, and this support slot with fellow up-and-comers Day Sleeper is but another string to their ever-increasing bow. The whole evening promises to be a must-see (and a must-hear) for anyone interested in skilled lyricism and moody tunes. www.daysleeper.bandcamp.com

MUSIC

THE SLUGS @ THE LUBBER FIEND

Words: Cameron Wright

It’s almost as if The Slugs don’t want a fan base. The ramshackle aesthetic of the two-piece is as delightfully and painfully raw as you can get, with Liberty and Phoebe teasing their upcoming album launch party with a hand drawn poster, with names and dates etched onto the canvas.

The sound on the album isn’t a far cry from what their unprocessed style would have you believe; it is fantastic. With simple instrumentals crunching along with dissonant vocals droning over the top, the tracks each feel completely devoid of production value and it’s utterly endearing.

First listen brings to mind artists such as The Shaggs, whose brash sound inspired the grunge movement, and although The Slugs feel more deliberately primitive than The Shaggs, their sound certainly still retains that utterly charming energy. With songs about dinner, shoes and even an unexpected ABBA cover, the album A Song For Every Feeling lives up to the title as the tracks feel as sprawling and spontaneous as the instrumentals that dance behind them.

The Slugs may not be for everyone, but I guarantee it will only take one listen to decide which side of the line you fall on, and I for one am utterly smitten by what they’re doing. Decide for yourself at The Lubber Fiend on Monday 19th May, and witness a rare opportunity to see something fresh birthed.  www.theslugsband.bandcamp.com

MUSIC INDUSTRIAL SUNDAY SERVICE @ DISGRACELAND

Words: Steve Spithray

Let me give you a list of names that encompasses the full technosphere of the avant-garde and exploratory sonic creativity all the way from the dusty far reaches of the left-field to the fertile grounds of the inner paddock. A list that includes internationally recognised harsh techno pioneers to local experimental house DJs; from propulsive electronics and Berghain veterans to community driven scenesters and purveyors of dystopian ambience; plus a DJ at the sweet spot where UK garage and house music collide... Let me also tell you that all these names will appear at one event on one day in one of the region’s hippest micro-venues where Berlin squat culture meets North East social discourse, from a promoter who, over the last couple of years, has placed themselves firmly at the zeitgeist of all things racket and tumult, and the rituals that take place there.

Industrial Sunday Service All Dayer comes to you from Middlesbrough’s Disgraceland on Sunday 11th May from midday to midnight. And the list of names? Well, the line-up includes, from the top, Rainy Miller, Wes Baggley, Richie Culver’s Quiet Husband project, Abby Harris, Burning Pyre, Jon Cornbill and 6J Jacob. With these sorts of line-ups Industrial Coast is really spoiling us. www.instagram.com/industrialcoast

MUSIC TIME IS OUT OF JOINT @ THE SHIP ISIS

Words: Isabel Johnson

Sunderland’s favourite haunted pub is back again with yet another stellar event, and this time the haunting in question will come from Time Is Out Of Joint, an immersive musical experience taking place on Friday 16th May. Produced by the ever-intriguing North East musician and composer John O’Hare – with live music from his project a.b.a.d.e. – the evening promises a deeply fascinating and thoughtfully crafted spectacle of audio-visual artwork.

The evening will explore a myriad of themes, perhaps most dominantly the concept of time, and the culture of Britain. O’Hare poses the wonderment of why human nature drives us to return to the past so often, even whilst dreaming of a new future. Expect the unexpected – a.b.a.d.e. is known for a real skill in startling listeners with unexpected noise and loop-based interpretations on folk tales, hauntology and everything in between. If you’re seeking something unique, you can trust that Time Is Out Of Joint will be unlike anything else happening in the region this month. One of the freshest new minds in music guarantees one of the freshest new ideas within the audiovisual space, and this is certainly not one to miss. www.johnoharemusic.com

The Slugs

MUSIC CATCH THE SPARROW @ THE CUMBERLAND ARMS

Words: Joe Sharples

Catch the Sparrow (singer-songwriter Suze Terwisscha van Scheltinga) is bringing her new album No Sweeter Sorrow to The Cumberland Arms on Friday 2nd May to celebrate its release in exquisite style. Born and raised in the Netherlands and trained as a jazz vocalist, Catch the Sparrow’s love of folk brought her to the North East of England, where she has since experimented with both genres, from her jazz-inspired debut Painting The Roses Red to the more folk-driven Winter Flowers EP.

A talented storyteller, Catch the Sparrow’s new album employs this skill beautifully into reimagined folk ballads and stories. Expect a colourful cast of scorned wives, sheltered princesses, free-spirited poets and crossdressing adventurers, as her music sheds a new light on timeless tales. Catch the Sparrow is bringing her unique melodies to Newcastle on the day of their release, so it’s sure to be a heartfelt, inspired evening, as she explores the themes of loss, longing, and loneliness in a ‘quintessential heartbreak album’.

Accompanied by folk singer and fiddle player Sam Baxter, whose arrangements are a prominent feature on the forthcoming No Sweeter Sorrow, this showcase is the perfect

opportunity to hear Catch the Sparrow’s newest release in a beautifully intimate setting. A must see for fans of folk, jazz, and intimate storytelling. www.catchthesparrow.nl

MUSIC MURO @ THE LUBBER FIEND

Words: Phoenix Atkinson

Revered hardcore punk outfit Muro come to The Lubber Fiend on Tuesday 20th May, hot on the heels of their third album Nuevo Dogma, which was released in 2024. Muro are a band committed to DIY attitudes, with Nuevo Dogma having mixed influences from plenty of places, and the record having been hand-assembled by the band. They have named many different influences from all over the world, and their eclectic inspiration definitely comes through when they are performing live. The blistering punks from Bogota will feel right at home at The Lubber Fiend, a venue similarly committed to DIY ethics that has been consistent in its mission of bringing great music from all around the world to the heart of Newcastle, with a strong belief in equality and making excellent performances accessible to all. Muro are the band to be listening to, interesting and eclectic, with commitment that is rarely seen these days. www.thelubberfiend.com

STAGE BLACKBIRD IN THE SNOW @ LAURELS

Words: Ben Robinson Blackbird in the Snow tells the tale of two elderly comedians who have both wound up in the same hospital, needing the same heart surgery - decades after they first worked together. The only problem is that nowadays they hate one another. This earnest, bittersweet comedy play comes to Laurels in Whitley Bay, opening Tuesday 6th May. One half of the double act had a glittering career and the other continued on the struggling local circuit; but can time heal wounds which have been left unspoken? In this triumphant and moving piece of theatre, a story unravels that will warm the heart and move anyone who watches. With heartwarming humour, tender moments, and a brilliant story showing the complexities of friendship - Blackbird in the Snow explores what happens when years of built up pride, regret and memories collide in a shared hospital room. As the clock ticks down to their surgeries, the old friends must confront the feelings of a life gone by.

This powerful play is a celebration of second chances, and the timeless magic of British humour. Don’t miss this heartfelt story of love, loss, and laughter at Laurel’s in Whitley Bay, running from Tuesday 6th May - Saturday 17th May.

www.laurelswhitley.co.uk

Catch The Sparrow

MUSIC

SPELL SONGS @ THE GLASSHOUSE

Words: Joe Sharples

Spell Songs is a folk ‘supergroup’: a musical evolution of both ‘The Lost Words’ & ‘The Lost Spells’ books by acclaimed author Robert Macfarlane, and award-winning illustrator Jackie Morris, to create an all-encompassing experience of music, poetry, and art. The ensemble is made up of a renowned line-up of musicians: respected folk stars Karine Polwart, Julie Fowlis, Seckou Keita, Kris Drever, Rachel Newton, Beth Porter and Jim Molyneux, who will all be taking the stage at The Glasshouse on Saturday 17th May. Joining them will be Jackie Morris – conjuring nature with watercolour and ink to provide a sublime artistic display, complementing the kora, electric harp, cello, Indian harmonium and more to be heard by the group. Not only will this be a rare opportunity to see the collective live, but also a special evening for Jackie – who will be reunited with our beautiful kittiwake colony, whom she first discovered in June 2022, leading to dedicated sketches, artworks, and a poem performed for BBC Radio’s Tweet of the Day. Spell Songs’ performance will embody the ecological ethos of the ‘Lost’ books, and, with layers of musical and linguistic influences spanning from Orkney to Senegal, it promises to be a magical evening of folk, art and more - so make sure not to miss out on this special night. www.thelostwords.org/spell-songs

MUSIC

LAEL NEALE @ THE CUMBERLAND ARMS

Words: Laura Doyle Lael Neale has never known anything other than going her own way. From her origins in rural Virginia, to her career-building years in the urban chaos of Los Angeles, Naele has funneled her lived experiences into the creation of transcendental minimalist drone pop - and will be swinging by The Cumberland Arms on Friday 30th May. Post-2020, Lael Neale found herself ricocheting between her birth state and her found home; the contrast between rural solitude and the hustle and bustle of one of America’s largest cities providing a lot of the inspiration for her latest record, Altogether Stranger. Her DIY ethic imbues all of her music with an ethereal, lo-fi quality that makes it sound like a lost record of a bygone artist, rather than a freshlydropped LP. Its handycam-style film which accompanies new single Tell Me How To Be Here adds to the otherworldly feel, as if we, like Neale, are strangers looking in on a place that’s meant to be familiar. The chanteuse performs at The Cumberland Arms on Friday 30th May, supported by American Midwest folk troubadour Entrance, and Wandering Oak’s own soulful soloist John Nellist. Treat yourself to a night of transatlantic eclectic pop mysticism and fill your heart and head with dreamy tones. www.laelneale.com

MUSIC

PUP @ NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY SU

Words: Cameron Wright

I remember seeing Pup in Newcastle in 2019. What I remember vividly was the energy from opening to close; Stefan Babcock, the band’s frontman, spent the entire concert lunging at the audience, violently close to chucking himself into the crowd. Sprinting from east to west across the stage, he whipped the intimate crowd into a frenzy within moments. The Canadian punk outfit is nostalgic in a way that very few performers are. They hail back to the cheeky glory days of pop punk, but with a genuine familiarity with all the building blocks that came before. The brazen sparkle in the band’s eyes as they rush through one of their more tongue-in-cheek numbers can be replaced instantly by an audacious swagger and malice as they nosedive into some of the most anarchic choruses you’ve heard bellowed at you.

For a fresh example of this, look no further than their latest single, Get Dumber, with formative punk trailblazer Jeff Rosenstock. Uniting forces, the track is one of the most all-guns-blazing performances you’ll hear this year and immediately cements both acts as the punk tour de forces that they are.

Performing at Newcastle University’s Student Union on Monday 12th May, fresh off a tour supporting Jimmy Eat World and SUM 41, Pup will prove why they’re a raw live experience that needs to be heard to be believe. www.puptheband.com

Spell Songs by Elly Lucas

MUSIC

JERRON PAXTON @ THE CLUNY

Words: Cameron Wright

Things Done Changed is Jerron Paxton’s latest project - and lick by lick within it, Paxton draws you into his world, and it is utterly infectious. As the grooves from his acoustic guitar paint a vivid painting of a world almost a century ago, it is hard not to imagine his ear pressed to an old radio, raising himself on the sounds of Robert Johnson and Blind Lemon Jefferson.

Blues is pure: it is a lifestyle and it is born deep inside you. It sweats out of each and every song on Paxton’s album, which is evidently one of the most passion filled projects of the year. Things Done Changes is a tender and honest homage, performed by the brightest light of the genre - chock-full of character, warmth and a wave of charisma that washes over you with every song and every note that Paxton performs.

Returning to Newcastle’s Cluny 2 on Wednesday 14th May, this is a night showcasing one of the greats, offering you the chance to witness immeasurable talent and unfathomable prowess over a genre that has long been pushed out. The phenomenal mastery of the strings, the earnest storytelling and the personality are all evident of a seminal talent.

www.jerronpaxton.com

COMEDY

KIELL SMITH-BYNOE & FRIENDS @ NORTHERN STAGE

Words: Cameron Wright

Kool Story Bro is the sell-out sensation about… well, just about anything. The improvised phenomenon latches onto a series of stories ripe from the audience and spins them into a hysterical and unique narrative night after night.

While Kiell Smith-Bynoe (the chameleonic star of Taskmaster, Ghosts and Stath Lets Flats) may be the eye-catching lead here, it’s the onslaught of improv talent he brings with him on his roadshow that really cements the performance at Northern Stage on Thursday 8th May as one that cannot be missed. With a rotating line-up that comprises of the incomparable Emma Sidi, hilarious Steen Raskopoulos, Starstruck star Lola Rose Maxwell and Afterlife’s Graham Dixon to name a few, the night is in safe, chaotic hands from beginning to end.

Rounding out the star-studded cast is a special guest host, each night tasked with plucking the anecdotes from the crowd and beginning to thread the ever-expanding yarn of the night. Guest hosts have included Guz Khan, Lily Allen, Matthew Baynton, Munya Chawawa and Rose Matafeo.

With the stars in line, the confident prowess of ringleader Kiell is what keeps the night moving and achieving time and time again his ambition of “making improv kool again”, thanks to a hilarious plot and a multitude of twists and turns. www.koolstorybro.co.uk

MUSIC FINN FORSTER @ CLUNY 2

Words: Nat Greener

There’s something undeniably grounded about Finn Forster - an artist who has turned the grit of growing up in Middlesbrough into a set of anthems that feel both lived in and larger than life. On Thursday 29th May Finn returns to Cluny 2 in Newcastle with the launch of his new EP, bringing his mix of heart-on-sleeve storytelling and indie pop hooks to the renowned venue basement that is fast becoming a rite of passage for rising North East talent.

With nods from BBC Radio 2 and Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch, not to mention a win at the Drake YolanDa award and a support history that includes Bastille and The Lottery Winners, Finn Forster is a star who is rising and rising fast. But beneath the accolades is an artist who writes with grace and regional honesty, spotlighting the emotional hinterlands of young adulthood.

Expect earnest vocals, candid reflections and choruses designed to be belted from the belly. This EP release is more than just a milestone, it’s a moment for fans to connect with an artist who wears his Northern roots with pride. If 2023’s sold out headline tour was a statement, this is the follow-up that proves he’s here to stay.

www.facebook.com/FinnForsterMusic

Jerron Paxton

MUSIC FLORAL IMAGE @ ZEROX

Words: Simon Lunt

Beth Orton, Roger Taylor, erm, Cathy Dennis – the Norfolk music scene might not be as historically prolific as Manchester, London or the North East but there is gold in them there fens. Psychedelic quintet Floral Image’s debut album Gone Down Meadowland gleams brightly, draws upon inspirations from the Norfolk landscape and is being toured across the UK and Europe as I type.

Their Newcastle leg at Zerox on Sunday 25th May is on the home straight and it is likely that you’ll discover a finely tuned performance, particularly as the band had already whittled down the songs for their self-produced album from over 30 they concocted during an intensive six month period living in one another’s pockets. Mitch Forsyth drives the percussion skilfully and your experience will be augmented by mind bending visual displays. Coupled with a blend of ferocious and delicate guitar work and Fergus Nolan’s poetic lyrics and vocal range you’ll be whisked away with some sophisticated arrangements and pulsating tunes. Floral Image put on a show that has a mixture of structure and freedom that will help take your mind off the controversies surrounding the pedestrianisation of Norwich city centre.

www.floralimageband.bandcamp.com

EVENTS

TEES ZINE FEST @ NAVIGATOR NORTH

Words: Mack Sproates

Fancy some lovely DIY arty vibes? Then soak up the brilliance of Tees Zine Fest, returning to Navigator North in Middlesbrough on Saturday 24th May.

With a whole host of talented local makers and zine stalls, the Fest will also include excellent zine libraries to explore and interesting workshops to get stuck into, plus a community table where you could showcase your own zine.

With community and inclusion at its core, Tees Zine Fest rightfully places Middlesbrough on the map for the underground zine scene, serving as a brilliant way to connect with others in the local DIY, punk arts scene, in a friendly like-minded space.

I love the never ending possibilities of zines; there are so many different ways to capture an individual's voice, whether that be through poetry, collage or just pictures of your cat; zines can really make a difference in helping shed a light on topics that are not usually spoken about in mainstream media, celebrating voices that might go unheard, and can be unapologetically truthful and raw. Pick up a zine that might open your mind to something new and beautiful, or leave with the inspiration to start your own… Either way make sure you pop by Tees Zine Fair on Saturday 24th May, followed by a Makers Market on Saturday 30th May at Navigator North, Middlesbrough. www.facebook.com/teeszinefest

MUSIC JEFFERY LEWIS AND THE VOLTAGE @ GOSFORTH CIVIC THEATRE

Words: Matthew McDonnell

Adolescence being the often painful chrysalis that it is, how reassuring it is that Jeffery Lewis seems able to distil such complex and overwhelming feelings into such simple and sweet songs. Like many that arose with the popularity of outsider music in the 90s, Lewis has an earnestness and sincerity to his songwriting that feels universally comforting. Not only this, but coming off the back of several sold out shows, it’s clear Jeffery Lewis is still a mainstay of the anti-folk, slacker rock scene. Perhaps a somewhat redundant title considering Lewis has been consistently performing and releasing music under various guises for over 25 years.

His newest album, Even More Freewheelin’, while more cleaned up than his early work, still has that rough and tumble charm that has become so synonymous with his sound. Now that Lewis has a full band behind him, his songs will really get a chance to spread their wings and fly, adding some extra colour and dynamics to his otherwise very intimate and stripped back sound. Join Jeffery Lewis and the Voltage at Gosforth Civic Theatre on Monday 12th May for a performance set to be nothing short of electric (sorry, couldn’t help myself).

www.jeffreylewis.bandcamp.com

Floral Image

STAGE THIS KIND OF BLACK (REQUIEM FOR BLACK BOYS) @ ARC STOCKTON

Words: Ben Robinson

Reece Williams brings his powerful and unmissable stage show to ARC Stockton in May. The play, also written and produced by

Williams, delves into what life was like growing up in Manchester’s Moss Side estate in the 1990s. Told through a blend of spoken word, theatre, and storytelling; the show paints a clear picture of a community which has often been misunderstood by the media. Williams confronts the harsh realities of poverty, violence, and systemic neglect that shaped his upbringing, whilst managing to bring a bold and unique perspective. The production also dives into the joy of community through the music, the friendships, and the resilience of a community that refused to be defined by its portrayal. Williams’ voice is honest and emotive, with moments of humour and

tenderness that cut through the grit of his words.

The intimate performance is a testament to the power of words from someone who has lived through an experience. It’s a must-see for anyone interested in the intersections of race, class, and identity, and how these display in the stories we carry with us. So make sure you catch this important theatre piece at ARC Stockton on Wednesday 28th May and Thursday 29th May.

www.arconline.co.uk

EVENTS

RESOUNDING

DIASPORIC SONIC WORLDS @ THE NEW BRIDGE PROJECT

Words: Mack Sproates

The New Bridge Project continually provides diverse, impactful and relevant events and exhibitions in our region, and Resounding Diasporic Sonic Worlds opening Saturday 10th May illustrates this superbly.

This magnificent programme of events, which runs until 19th July, will feature an eclectic mix of artists and collectives exploring ideas around music and resistance in communities and their diasporas (meaning the dispersion or migration of people away from their original homeland), and those who's hometowns are in affected areas of conflict.

The exhibition aims to “challenge histories of colonial and racial violence” with multiple ways for you to engage; from listening events, documented memories and archival works to film screenings and the physical art work itself,

providing a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the cultures and experiences of minority groups who are continually oppressed under capitalism.

The exhibition features a plethora of vital voices and powerful collectives such as Majazz: Palestinian Sound Archive, Sara Nacer, Christopher Silver, True Form Projects, Nesh Dadgostar, Arthur Larie and Bastien Massa, Liza Prins and Marie Ilse Bourlanges, Andrea Zarza Canova with the Shieldfield Youth Programme. RDSW will certainly be an incredible and unique experience to help inspire radical change within the world, and an important reminder of coming together in the face of crisis and conflict.

www.thenewbridgeproject.com

MUSIC FLORENCE ADOONI @ COBALT STUDIOS

Words: Joe Sharples

For fans of contemporary African sounds, Florence Adooni ought to be top of your list to see this spring. Born to Frafra parents in

Kumasi, Ghana, her music bridges the gaps between Northern and Southern Ghanaian cultures, to create a sound which blends soul, Gospel and high-life. Adooni is a key contributor to the Frafra gospel scene but, with an upbringing in the Southern Ashanti capital of Kumasi (nestled in the heart of the Ghanaian rainforest), her sound takes a distinct deviation from the traditional Frafra gospel sound, creating a unique collision of cultures. This has deservedly earned her the title The Queen of Frafra Gospel, and her recently released album An Ordinary Exercise In Unity has been hugely successful in the Frafra gospel scene, throughout Ghana, and across the world – in particular the track Mam Pe’ela Su’ure. Adooni now embarks on a huge tour, enlisting the help of some of the finest Kumasi high-life talent to truly bring her music to life. Bringing energy, charm and an abundance of talent, she plays Newcastle’s Cobalt Studios on Sunday 25th May; there is surely no better way to spend your Bank Holiday Sunday. www.florenceadooni.bandcamp.com

Florence Adooni by M Weissenfeldt

TALKING ABOUT THE FIRE @ ARC

Words: Phoenix Atkinson

Talking About The Fire is a new production taking place at Stockton’s ARC on Thursday 15th-Friday 16th May tackling an important but strangely absent topic of conversation.

Created by Irish theatre director Claire O’Reilly

alongside seven-time Fringe First winner Chris Thorpe, Talking About The Fire invites audiences to engage in a direct conversation about the state of nuclear threat in the world today and how we can work together to regain agency on the urgent issue of nuclear proliferation. It is both a show and a conversation - drawing on several years research with senior arms-control advisors, UN diplomats and activists working to develop the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), as well as officials representing nuclear weapons

states - the production looks at where we are, where we live, and why it is key that we keep talking about this urgent subject.  Thorpe’s ability to hold an audience has been highly applauded by critics, and this show has been received as remarkably important, in both the message of the piece and the warm, personable performance by Thorpe, which keeps audiences engaged and actively participating in the discussion. www.chinaplatetheatre.com

Image © Rebecca Lupton, Ivan Pieri Gonzalez & Ahmed El Hassan

MUSIC JP HARRIS & THE TOUGH CHOICES @ CLUNY 2

Words: Cameron Wright

With country music topping the charts, selling out arenas across the globe and bringing pink cowboy hats to an all time high, the renaissance is very much upon us. With big names extending country to the masses, it is easy to forget where it started; the essence of country music has always been struggle and it’s always been storytelling. Country, at its heart, is earnest reflection on imperfection. Singer-songwriter JP Harris exposes the fascinating ugly underbelly of country music and shines a light on the darkness of society, carrying the torch for the independent, underground country scene. What you see is what you get, and what you get are sparse, honest tales of the everyman, the troubled man.

With his new album JP Harris Is A Trash Fire, you see beautiful, delicate instrumentation ornamenting poignant confessions, told with a candour and a grit. The Nashville native is equipped with a resonant voice and a powerful cadence that delivers his every track with an authentic authority. Bringing his band - The Tough Choices - to Cluny 2 on Saturday 31st May, JP Harris is one for all the folk fans in need of something new that harks back to old.

www.ilovehonkytonk.com

MUSIC

MEKONS @ THE CLUMY

Words: Lee Fisher

The Mekons have been battering at the gates of Capital for nearly fifty years, from scratchy punk origins to country punk innovation, through a dozen labels and twice as many albums, now scattered across the globe but reuniting every few years to fire another broadside at the forces of evil.

There aren’t many relatively obscure bands to be so hugely adored by the faithful, and to be hugely lauded by both writers from Lester Bangs to Greil Marcus to Jonathan Franzen, and fellow musicians like Craig Finn and –especially – Will Oldham, who even formed a tribute act called Chivalrous Amoekons. Bangs even described them as “the most revolutionary group in the history of rock ‘n’ roll”, and he OD-ed before they’d even made their best records. Joe Angio’s 2015 documentary Revenge Of The Mekons is a heartwarming, life-affirming must-watch, the band dealing with cancelled gigs and low sales with bonhomie, wry wit and a pint.

The last couple of months have seen a brilliant new album, Revenge, on another new label, Fire Records, and now our dynamic octet are taking to the road again for a lengthy tour of Europe and the US, including eight UK dates. They fetch up at Newcastle’s Cluny on Monday 12th May and it’s bound to be a rousing affair, because it always is. www.mekons.bandcamp.com

COMEDY

BIG STRONG MAN @ THE HULLABALOO

Words: Isabel Johnson

What do you get when you combine side-splitting comedy with real, gritty topics in an interactive cabaret extravaganza? You get Big Strong Man: an impossibly hilarious exploration of Northern culture and masculinity delivered via an endless list of mediums. Expect storytelling, song and dance, lip syncs, parodies, improv, karaoke, charity shop suits and… a bear? Believe it or not, that’s the condensed list.

Big Strong Man follows four men (whether they are big and strong is for you to decide at the end) who embark on the rather difficult task of rebuilding Northern masculinity in one evening. With each big decision they make on the matter, something happens… will it be a song, a parody, a story? You’ll have to embark on the mission with them to find out – and for doing so, you’ll receive the great honour of deciding which of the funny foursome will take home the title of Big Strong Man and save the North. Very big stuff.

As for where to catch the biggest, strongest, most unique night of comedy you may ever see, Big Strong Man heads to The Hullabaloo (inside Darlington’s iconic Hippodrome venue) on Friday 16th May. Kick off the weekend in style, I dare you.

www.growthhouse.co.uk

JP Harris & The Tough Choices

INTERVIEWS

MARKETPLACE

LINSEY TEGGERT TALKS TO THE HARTLEPOOL FIVE-PIECE ABOUT THEIR PLAYFUL SOUND AND SOMEWHAT UNIQUE PROMOTIONAL STYLE… IMAGE BY

ROB IRISH

It may have taken Hartlepool’s Marketplace seven years to release their debut EP in October of last year, but since shifting up a gear, the indie pop five-piece are on a roll and ready to present their second offering. No one could accuse the band of being all mouth and no trousers. Well, maybe the latter... “The initial idea for the promo for this EP was meant to be very Kraftwerk – shirts and ties and stuff – it was all meant to be very ironic anyway,” explains vocalist and guitarist Evie Rhodes. “I was panicking in the group chat and saying I didn’t know what

trousers to wear, and our manager David was like, ‘If you don’t have any appropriate trousers, just go trouserless.’”

It’s a strong look: leather jackets, shirts, ties, sunglasses and stoic expressions and then, short shorts. It’s reflective of the tongue-in-cheek title of their new EP, Marketplace Mean Business, and the playful, not taking themselves too seriously attitude of the band.

“I think we’ve always been a bit silly in the way we perceive ourselves and put ourselves out on social media,” says vocalist

MUSIC

and bassist Joel O’Beirne. “The music has evolved with that, we were originally a bit rockier and took ourselves a bit more seriously, but now we’re just having fun and being ourselves and I think that shows and is easier for the audience to relate to. We’re just trying to have the best time possible.”

Despite the lack of recorded releases up until recently, Marketplace have been winning over hearts and stages for several years now, gathering acclaim for the irresistible spirit of their live performances, all bouncy energy and youthful exuberance. It may sound trite, but they really do exude the sort of sincere joy that is rare to come by, representing everything that genuine indie pop is meant to be.

Describing themselves as “disorganised”, the quintet credit funding from Help Musicians and their manager David Macnab (from fellow Teesside band Llovers) for helping them get their act together. “That funding put a fire under us to get stuff sorted,” recalls Evie. “We’d been sitting on a lot of the songs on our first EP for about two years before we released it.” (That EP was called Marketplace Have Made An EP! as a cheeky jab at themselves for taking such a long time to release anything).

“With the application for funding you have to create a timeline of when certain things will be done by, otherwise you don’t get the second half of the money to finance the rest of the tracks and fund the campaign for the release,” explains Joel. “David

WHEN WE DO STUFF, IT FEELS SO MUCH BETTER TO BE ABLE TO SAY ‘WE’RE FROM HARTLEPOOL AND WE DID THIS!’

offered to help us – we’d had no masthead up until then – so he took charge and pulled us together. Now we’re just a well-oiled machine and David is the driver!”

The band have certainly managed to keep that momentum going with their second EP. Opener Contact Sports is toe-tapping, jangly indie pop with soaring harmonies, while Ode to Monty swoons with warmth. Closer Gooey Eyes sees Marketplace add a shoegazey element to their sound with bursting synths and Evie’s gorgeous vocals. There’s a romantic theme tying the EP together, whether that’s online relationships (Reddit Man) or the uncertainty of a budding relationship (Contact Sports), but in true Marketplace fashion, they couldn’t resist presenting one of these love songs with tongue firmly in cheek.

“We wanted to write an earnest love song, but though we’re sincere we find it hard to be serious,” says Evie. “Our drummer Ross sent a demo over and said I should write a love song about celebrity gardener Monty Don, so Ode To Monty was born.”

Despite the satirical subject matter, the track comes across as genuinely heartfelt, such is Marketplace’s knack for crafting a stellar pop song.

Since kicking things up a notch, the band have got some incredible experiences under their belt, including playing in Paris and recording at the infamous Abbey Road studios as part of a project with York St John University and BBC Introducing.

“We’ve been a band for a long time now, and I feel like if we were somewhere down South, we’d have been given more opportunities and things would be different,” states Joel. “Being from Hartlepool, we’re all proud Northerners and it’s given us so much more drive. When we do stuff, it feels so much better to be able to say ‘We’re from Hartlepool and we did this!’ For me, being from a small town has given me more drive and pride.”

“I’ve been thinking about us being 17 and starting the band,” adds Evie. “Imagine if you told us then that if you just stick at it you’ll be going to Abbey Road! It makes me so excited for what else could be on the cards.”

Marketplace release new single Reddit Man on 9th May, Marketplace Mean Business EP is released on 6th June. The band play Independent, Sunderland on Saturday 24th May. www.linktr.ee/marketplaceband

A STONE’S THROW FESTIVAL

IF YOU LIKE…

AN EXCITING, TALENT-PACKED LINE-UP

Usually, when a promoter says their festival line-up is their biggest and best yet, you can be forgiven for taking it with a pinch of salt. However, with this year’s bill, the good people at Notion Live Events have knocked it out of the park. Headlining are by post-punk powerhouses Shame, Bristol alt. folk riser Katy J Pearson, Australian psych fuzz favourites Psychedelic Porn Crumpets, thrilling rockers Man/Woman/Chainsaw and indie stalwarts Swim Deep. They’ll be joined by a plethora of sensational soundmakers, including Brògeal, ERNIE, Home Counties, Pit Pony, DEADLETTER, Lizzie Esau, Amelia Coburn, Callinsick, Cortney Dixon, False Heads, Humour, Jordan Langley, Josh Webb, Look Terrified, Make Friends, Pearly Gates, Projector, Samxemma, Scustin, Slate, Skinner, Stannington, Sun King, The Manatees, Tight Collar, White Flowers, Balancing Act, Cherry Blur, Cosmorat, Ellur, Jasper Hodges, Porcelain, Punchbag, Robyn McLeod, Tapwaterlucy, TV Death, Weston Looney, Ben Harwood, Citrus, Isabel Maria, Katie Grace, Swindled, Zak Younger Banks, and many more.

NORTH SHIELDS

Aside from being home to Britain's oldest surviving coastal battery, Clifford’s Fort, lots of grand Georgian architecture and a swanky redeveloped Fish Market, North Shields also boasts an array of standout venues that will house the artists at this year’s festival. These include The Exchange 1856, King Street Social Club, Salt Market Social, Three Tanners Bank and The

MUSIC

WORDS: DAVID SAUNDERS

Good things come in threes, and that is never more true than when referring to A Stone’s Throw Festival, with its third edition taking place on Sunday 25th May (with opening party shows on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th May, including a free entry event at The Engine Room on Saturday afternoon). One of the newer kids on the block festival-wise, this multi-venue event showcases all the vibrancy and loveliness of the Tyneside coast, which has been a hotbed of musical activity in recent years, as well as bringing the finest local and touring talent to North Shields. www.astonesthrowfestival.co.uk

Engine Room. Ferrying you to each venue (allowing you to check out the sites as you go) are Go North East who are offering frequent bus rides for ticket holders.

A LAUNCH PARTY WITH THE HORRORS

Who better to kick things off than one of the UK’s most innovative and exciting UK bands of the past 20 years, The Horrors. The critically acclaimed band aren’t afraid to roam between genres since bursting onto the scene with their zeitgeist-shaking garage-goth debut Strange House, before shaking things up a bit with their more atmospheric Mercury-nominated follow-up Primary Colours. They’ll be opening proceedings at The Exchange 1856 on Friday 23rd May with their dark, dense and sometimes unsettling, soundscapes.

…AND ANOTHER ONE WITH LANTERNS ON THE LAKE

What’s better than having a former Mercury Music Prize nominee opening up proceedings at a festival? The answer? Two! The festival have booked the finest purveyors of dreamy, melancholic indie rock (and local heroes) Lanterns On The Lake, who are launching the show at King Street Social Club on Saturday 24th May. And if that’s not special enough, this will be the band’s first North East show in almost two years. According to frontwoman Hazel Wilde it’s the ultimate hometown show with the venue being a mere three-minute walk from her front door.

Katy J Pearson by Seren Carys

SHAME by Pooneh Ghana

Psychedelic Porn Crumpets

SUNDERLAND SHORTS FILM FESTIVAL

NEIL AINGER FINDS OUT HOW THE SUNDERLAND FESTIVAL IS HELPING TO PUT NORTH EAST FILM ON THE MAP, ONE SHORT AT A TIME

IT’S SUCH A PLEASURE TO BRING SUCH A DIVERSE SELECTION OF STORIES FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND AROUND THE WORLD TO SHARE WITH OUR AUDIENCES

Sunderland Shorts Film Festival is a week-long celebration of film, boasting a bumper programme across multiple genres and venues. Now in its 10th year, there is arguably more than ever to celebrate when the festival returns this Spring. I spoke to festival director Chris Allan to see what’s on offer for the festival's 10th anniversary spectacular.

“At our screenings you get all the qualities you’d hope for with a trip to the cinema, with engaging stories, skilled direction and great performances, but the twist in a short film screening is that you get a selection of several different films bundled together. If you’re interested in seeing some of the best new films around, simply pick a genre screening for a type of film you’ll enjoy, or take a look at one of our shorts showcases where you get a selection of films of different types. This year the festival is absolutely packed with over 180 short films and music videos, so there’s really something for everybody.”

“The calibre of films we receive continues to go from strength to strength,” says Chris, regarding how the festival has grown over the last 10 years. “This year we’ve got Oscar nominated and BAFTA winning films on show alongside first-time filmmakers with incredible stories to tell. It’s such a pleasure to bring such a diverse selection of stories from across the country and around the world to share with our audiences.”

Alongside the genre-based screenings, highlights of the packed programme include a Field Music music video retrospective

hosted by David and Peter Brewis; the emotional story In The Veins, which uses archive footage to look at the region’s mining heritage; and the touring Northern Exposure programme which showcases the best short films from the North of England.

As Sunderland Shorts has grown so has the city of Sunderland, and developments such as Culture House (who are delivering this year's festival for the first time) and the Crown Works Studios will really open doors for filmmaking in the region.

“We’re really excited that the festival is now part of The Culture House family! There's so much enthusiasm for this new development in Sunderland, and we are really excited to work together to develop a year-round offer of film programmes and events. Whether that's a filmmaking programme run from the media studio for young people who have never tried something like this before, to providing space for year-round screenings, we want join up the dots of the creative and cultural endeavours happening here and hope it will provide more for audiences to enjoy alongside the festival.”

Chris is further motivated by the growth of the film and television landscape across the North East. “What we can't wait to see is not only the fantastic productions that come and utilise the studios, but the opportunities it gives to creatives here in the region. We’re really passionate about shining the spotlight on filmmakers and creative talents from here in the region. This year we’ve got more local work up on the big screen than ever before with animation, comedy, documentary and drama all made right here in the North East.”

Sunderland Shorts Film Festival takes place from Monday 12th-Sunday 18th May at The David Puttnam Media Centre Cinema, Pop Recs Ltd., and Omniplex Sunderland. www.sunderlandshorts.co.uk

L-R: Field Music by Andy Martin, In The Veins

CAMERON SCOTT MUSIC

STEVE SPITHRAY CATCHES UP WITH THE NEWCASTLE-BASED COASTAL FOLK SINGER ABOUT HIS MOOD-DRIVEN NEW ALBUM

When I was an art student I used to spend hours studying Cornish bays and beaches, cynically reinterpreting them as immature red, blue and green watercolours for marks. Despite this clinical quest for grades, I always found some kind of melancholic solace in the tranquillity of a place I hardly knew, of a place where romance was no longer dead but the sadness was as authentic as the fishing boats. When I caught up with Cameron Scott to talk about his bucolic coastal folk album, Minack, he was keen to tell me why it is, in his words, “the saddest album you’ve never heard.”

“Songwriting for me is about processing emotions. I'm a reactionary writer, I don't dabble in laboured narratives, more so esoteric metaphors that are like splashes of paint to create an overall image. My songs are moods.”

Given that I had sketched out my art class preamble prior to getting Cameron’s responses, his answers were comfortingly prescient. “I never decide to write a song, they just come from above. I usually get this angsty premonition a day or so before it happens and then it flows. Why is my music melancholy? I suppose that's the emotion I find hardest to express in the real world but it's also the deepest emotion.”

Citing influences such as Nick Drake and Tim Buckley, there are more contemporary influences on Minack such as Bon Iver and Michael Head, but Cameron told me he didn’t spend too

THE UNIVERSAL THING OF RELATING TO A PIECE OF MUSIC IS USUALLY ON AN INTANGIBLE MOOD LEVEL THAT YOU CAN ONLY CAPTURE LIKE LIGHTNING IN A BOTTLE

much time dwelling on these things. “I just naturally slumped into folk. I don't think there are any more genres left to be done. Culture seems to be eating itself, everything has gone meta, as in referencing a reference to art that's already existed. It feels as though art is reaching a singularity. It's stagnating – no more originality (like coastal towns?)”

Ah, yes the ‘coastal folk’ concept of the album will be evocative to many and I wondered if there was a thought process in terms of trying to connect with listeners or if it was a more organic process? “There's never an effort to connect with listeners. That's writing for someone else – I think that's very dangerous. The universal thing of relating to a piece of music is usually on an intangible mood level that you can only capture like lightning in a bottle. That's what connects with the listener in my opinion.”

So, does being by (or reminiscing about) the sea provide a natural burst of creativity like it seemed to for me all those years ago? “I suppose it does. I feel like the seaside in the UK has this innate rundown melancholia to it in the present day, as if it was once the thriving place of a bygone generation, that does give me a lot of inspiration – that desolate nostalgic emotion.”

However, and how. “Minack will certainly be the saddest thing you'll have heard from me – I promise to lighten up with future releases! I've got two albums written. I've been working on them for a few years, I just need to get round to recording them. This won’t be the last you've heard from me…”

Cameron Scott releases Minack on Sunday 25th May with a one-off acoustic show at Little Buildings, Newcastle on the same day.

www.linktr.ee/cameroscott

GIFT

IF YOU LIKE…

WORKSHOPS

One of the unique things about GIFT is the community spirit fostered through connectivity and mutual support, and this is evidenced in International at FABRIC’s Senior Producer Hannah Slimmon’s practical workshop designed to demystify international touring. There’s also opportunities to learn new skills alongside Newcastle-based Kuchipudi dancer and choreographer Payal Ramchandani, who will teach attendees the basics of the vibrant and expressive South Indian classical dance; the workshop is part of Payal’s solo production Just Enough Madness, which touches on themes of motherhood, mental health and miscarriage grief.

Multidisciplinary artist and dance theatre maker Patrick Ziza runs a fun-sounding introduction to dandyism, which encourages free expression, in the How To Become A Dandy In A Day workshop. In Voicing The Peat Bog, resident artists Jo Hellier and Yas Clarke will run a workshop teaching vocal scores in preparation for the performance of their experimental opera, Bog, in which three performers take an ecstatic and erotic journey through the matter that makes up a peat bog.

PERFORMANCE

Canadian interdisciplinary artists Mia & Eric present In A Strange Place, a meditative multi-channel video installation which delves into the future of our forests using improvised and abstract slow-motion choreography performed by 150 foresters, ecologists, activists and conservationists. Magician and theatre artist Vincent

STAGE

WORDS: CLAIRE DUPREE

Gateshead International Festival of Theatre celebrate their 15th anniversary this year, and return with a raft of unique and interesting events at venues across Gateshead including The Glasshouse, Gateshead Central Library, Shipley Art Gallery, St Mary’s Heritage Centre, Cafe Under The Spire, Station East and Orbis Community, from Friday 2nd-Sunday 4th May. This year, collaborations between artists in the UK and Canada have culminated in thought-provoking events which cover topics ranging from the climate emergency and environmentalism to mental health, identity and community engagement. The festival has gained a reputation for thinking outside the box, encouraging cross-discipline collaboration and professional development for artists, all while continuing to challenge audiences to engage with performances that wouldn’t otherwise be presented in the North East. Festival founder and director Kate Craddock explains: “GIFT has developed a reputation amongst artists as a place to experiment and test out new ideas in front of a supportive festival community, echoing the Festival’s ethos of exploration, exchange and experimentation and I’m excited to see the programme embraced during its anniversary year.” www.giftfestival.co.uk

Gambini presents Close Up, a unique short performance taking place in a Gateshead cafe in which the line between reality and fiction become increasingly blurred.

Teesside artist Scott Turnbull’s surprising and surreal production Unexpected Item In The Bagging Area enters the audience into a world of division, fear and singing sausages. And Hannah Walker’s Nightwalker is a WIP audio experience which explores the night’s strange and beautiful qualities while examining the significance of women’s lives and freedom at night.

GETTING INVOLVED

Canadian artists Maribé – Sors De Ce Corps and Montréal Danse’s Radiomaton is an immersive installation which blends dance and digital arts, encouraging participants to step into a photobooth-like cabin and mimic gestures and speech to explore themes of truth, media influence and the role of the body in perceiving and transmitting information. Manchesterbased artist Kate Daley will hand-make a book containing a work of collective fiction during a week at Gateshead Library, with the narrative shaped by responses given to her by people visiting the library. And if your ‘to do’ list keeps getting longer, head along to Work Party For Cheats hosted by Bristol-based artist Rachael Clerke, a communal space which supports attendees to use their skills to resolve unfinished tasks by swapping, stealing and cheating their way to fruition.

In a Strange Place by Mia & Eric

Voicing the Peat Bog by Jo Hellier and Yas Clarke, image by Yas Clarke

Rachael Clerke by Ruby Turner

SCOTT TURNBULL

MACK SPROATES UNCOVERS RETRO 50S FUTURISM AND KITSCH NOSTALGIA WITH THE SURREALLY FUNNY TEESSIDE THEATRE MAKER

“One of the things that I often do after I've come up with an idea that makes me laugh my head off, is I start doubting it and think ‘Is that funny?’ And what I need to start thinking more is ‘Why is that funny? Why did that make me laugh?’ And then keeping hold of it, because often I discard it instead of actually realising it’s funny, because you’ve found it funny, so laugh again.”

And what a laugh it was chatting with theatre maker, artist and one of my all time favourite humans, Scott Turnbull, discussing his latest creative adventure Unexpected Item In Bagging Area; a multi-art form comedy theatre show heading to GIFT Festival and Stockton’s ARC this month.

Unexpected Item... takes place in a 24-hour garage named The Doghouse, which Scott notes could be a metaphor for theatre… and Stockton. “It’s a failing business. And the audience are customers. You start getting dragged into the world of the play...” A world brimming with kitsch nostalgia, Scott relays, exploring “old 50s sensibilities, like a Western or a Coen Brothers movie, but with all the spooky futuristic beats in.”

Alongside co-performer, the brilliant Tessa Parr, this show sees Scott expanding his creative highways by working with a much larger creative team and new performance outlets including clowning, camera experimentations, physical theatre and poetry as well as Scott’s classic brand of overhead projection to explore this quirky narrative. There is also a magnificent soundtrack composed by musical creative collaborator Jeremy Bradfield. There’s some interesting ideas behind the varying vibes, styles and tones of the music used in the show: “It's almost like retro 50s futurism. Jeremy has a theremin, and over the top of slide lap steel guitar, it fuses those two worlds together. You've got the old and the new.”

There’s a curious magnetism of surreal and silly, dark humour vs touching remarks on the human experience, which oozes

IT’S ABOUT FINDING YOUR VOICE, AND SAYING WHAT YOU WANT TO SAY. I DO IT BECAUSE I LIKE MAKING PEOPLE LAUGH. IT'S KIND OF AS SIMPLE AS THAT

from the wacky and wonderful universes that Scott creates. Amongst the chaos and the bizarre, there’s comfort in the familiarity of a Teesside twang and Mighty Boosh-esque characters in his work, which makes his humour so accessible. We discussed the importance of setting his work in his hometown: “Stockton is just another small, post-industrial town that needs heroes to be able to provide them with a different narrative. There’s intelligent, funny, wonderfully charismatic and dark individuals who can be heroes.”

Arriving at the end of our conversation, Scott pulls out a crumpled piece of tracing paper from his pocket, with some Turnbullian cartoon hieroglyphs scrawled across it, explaining that it's storyboards for the show which he is still ironing out. We talked about the importance of doing what you love: “You've got to try and figure these things out along the way. How can you make art and be happy? It’s about finding your voice, and saying what you want to say. I do it because I like making people laugh. It's kind of as simple as that.”

Unexpected Item In Bagging Area will be a delight for fans of absurd comedy and experimental theatre, so make sure you catch the work-in-progress at GIFT Festival on Saturday 3rd May or the full show at ARC in Stockton from Wednesday 21st-Friday 23rd May.

www.scottturnbullpresents.com

Image by Matthew Henderson-Newbury

LURCHER MUSIC

CAMERON WRIGHT TALKS TO THE HARTLEPOOL PUNKS ABOUT THEIR BLISTERING DEBUT EP

Lurcher’s debut single, Stone Island, sets the scene perfectly: with crunching guitars and pounding drums, this sonic middle finger hits the ground running as it lambasts any and everyone who would listen. “I guess outside of creatives or people following their passion, it’s just a fuck you to everything powerful and everyone shit,” quips the band. With the opening lyric “Can you feel my hatred for these cunts” you instantly know where you stand and what is coming. Lurcher is made up of drummer Jonathan Mudd, bassist Christoph Crinson, guitarist Alex Featherstone and vocalist Spen White, who met through working the kitchens together in Teesside. To occupy shifts they would swap varied music recommendations, inadvertently laying the foundations for what was going to become the band. “It got almost competitive,” Spen chuckles, “we were constantly trying to hunt for something the other lads wouldn’t have heard of, something that would blow them away. I remember my first shift, I walked in and they had Brian Jonestown Massacre playing, and it snowballed from there.”

The interview plays out exactly how the music feels, as the members constantly swap anecdotes and goad each other into increasingly silly stories. There’s a palpable sense of community between them, as the friends chuckle away throughout the conversation.

Lyrically, Stone Island fires acerbic one liners at you throughout the track, angry punchline after angry punchline. It’s striking and aggressive, walking the fine line of delivering a point of social discontent while keeping a tongue firmly planted in the cheek. “It’s all those little grumbles you have, those little phrases you say when someone fucks you off. As soon as we penned the

OUTSIDE OF CREATIVES OR PEOPLE FOLLOWING THEIR PASSION, IT’S JUST A FUCK YOU TO EVERYTHING POWERFUL AND EVERYONE SHIT

line “fire up the twat-mobile” we knew the direction we wanted to take it.”

As the band’s debut single, you are let into their world perfectly, and it’s one we all know; full of anger and frustration, but also hope. “It wasn’t the first song we wrote, but it was definitely the song where the penny dropped and we fully understood the sound we wanted, we locked in as a band here.”

Pulling influence from The Fall and Television, the symbiotic balance of rage and humour make for a sound that feels genuine, humane and relatable. The songs are infectious and dynamic, full of charm and full of swagger. Lurcher are pulling from an array of influences to create something distinctly British, as evidenced on another track, Mecca (Bingo), which pays homage to League of Gentlemen. “We’re all big film and TV fans, and it’s definitely drawn into the band. We were discussing the other day, why do films get less funny when they’re shot in high vis? There’s something innately more charming about the rough around the edges approach.”

This ethos forms the foundation of their upcoming EP, With Love, which is lo-fi, rough and raw. “This EP is us telling the people around us what they need to hear, the second EP will be more abstract, looking toward new pastures, knowing that life can get better.” They show me their band notebook, talking me through their goals and ambitions and how they intend to evolve their sound and grow across EPs, quickly skipping past all the doodles of fighting dogs and aliens.

Lurcher’s sound is as authentic as it can get; it’s friends making a noise and creating a scene. It’s utterly Northern in its boisterous nature; self-effacing and honest, exciting, fresh and exactly what music should be.

Lurcher release With Love on 30th May. www.linktr.ee/lurcher.hpool

VICE KILLER

DAVID SAUNDERS CHATS WITH THE COUNTY DURHAM ALT. INDIE OUTFIT ABOUT HOW LIFE WITHIN AN EXCOLLIERY SHAPED THEIR DEBUT ALBUM

THE SONGS ARE FOCUSED ON GROWING UP, WORKING THROUGH DIFFERENT RELATIONSHIPS, IN SOME WAYS MOVING ON

Throughout history, music has served as a powerful tool, holding up a mirror to the communities we live in and reflecting their stories to the world. County Durham alt. indie outfit Vice Killer continue this tradition, weaving the experiences of the area they grew up in into their songs and their upcoming debut album, A Miners’ Capital.

The band, who started writing songs in late 2020, take their musical inspirations from artists that shared their backgrounds, with Lindisfarne being one of the biggest influences, as lead singer and songwriter Thomas Low Gilling informs me: “Alan Hull was very poetic and very down-to-earth with his lyrics, no matter what generation you are from you can relate to his words. I feel as though our music has that same feeling, a song that tells a story and makes you feel part of it.”

Their album reiterates concepts and topics from their previous EP Keep On Fighting On, which includes lyrics about political issues, modern takes on life within an ex-colliery, as well as stories for dreamers. It also reflects on the history and culture of County Durham and the wider North East. I ask Thomas how the past informs their music and what lessons can be learnt from the history of where they are from?

“I feel as though, as the generations go by, we will slowly forget the history and culture of County Durham. I’ve heard the stories first-hand from the days of the miners. My family and all the lads I’ve worked with would speak of the work and strikes. I

MUSIC

hear how proud they are of being a part of that. I just loved hearing about it, and wanted to reignite some fire by writing this album. I’m proud to write an album named A Miners’ Capital 40 years on from those strikes. Because we were the miners’ capital.”

A Miners’ Capital is a ten-track offering, recorded and produced by Chris McManus at Blank Studios, that combines the crunchy indie sound of bands such as Arctic Monkeys and Bloc Party with the more pensive, shinier sounds of artists like Vampire Weekend and The Smiths. Thomas’ melodious, soulful vocals, paired with snappy rhythms and unrestrained, infectious guitar riffs (as well as some guest piano and organ from Josh Ingledew on the title track), come together to craft an album that is as rich in style as it is in substance.

Thomas elaborates further on some of the sounds within the record. “The album matures when it gets to tracks such as A Miners’ Capital and Follow Those Little Glass Stones, taking more of a soulful rock sound of the 70s. We wanted to end the album on a bit of a rollercoaster, 70s Makeover is quite that, I feel. It’s got elements of Humbug by Arctic Monkeys, string arrangements inspired by The Beatles, and the sound of Scott Walker.”

Aside from the catchy elements of the album’s sonics, I finish by asking Thomas what he hopes listeners take away from the album. “A sense of pride, no matter where you come from, there’s always a story worth listening to. We hope this record allows you to disconnect from the moment, and to revel in the nostalgia of the miners’ capital.”

A Miners' Capital will be released on Friday 2nd May. The band headline Independent, Sunderland on Saturday 31st May. www.linktr.ee/vicekiller

Image by Nostalgia Kid

THE BENCH

NEIL AINGER TALKS TO JOURNALIST AND PLAYWRIGHT JEFF BROWN ABOUT HIS NEW PLAY

“It's a boy-meets-girl story, but I'm hoping it appeals on so many more different levels than that,” says Jeff Brown on his new play, The Bench. Touring the region throughout May and June, The Bench is described as a moving and humorous play about love, loss and football. “Everybody tells writers to write about what they know about, and football's been my life since I was a kid, really. Forty years of reporting on it, fifty years of following it.”

Jeff Brown is a mainstay on TV screens in the North East and Cumbria for more than 20 years as part of BBC Look North, and has established a career as a journalist spanning more than forty years. Jeff’s has been reporting on news and sport in the region for almost all of his adult life, until stepping down last year in favour of pursuing other projects. “I wanted to leave while I still had the health and the energy to do other things. I knew this was going to take up a lot of my time, and it really has.”

Originally developed in 2018 at a scratch night at The Peacock, Sunderland, the play tells the story of Vicky, a single mum living on the breadline, caring for her sick mother and struggling with the pressures of day-to-day life, and Adi, a young footballer, born in Africa and raised in France, who is struggling to get his career off the ground while also finding himself the subject of racism. The two characters, from completely different backgrounds and facing vastly different challenges, have a chance meeting on a park bench and find they have more common ground than they may have expected.

IF IT CAN HAVE A LASTING IMPACT BEYOND JUST THE PEOPLE WHO COME TO SEE IT IN THE THEATRE THEN THAT WOULD BE REALLY HUMBLING

“I'm a patron of Sunderland Carers. I have been for about the last four or five years now and I was a carer myself in a way, for my mum who had motor neurone disease for the last 18 months of her life. I know what carers go through and the problems they face,” explains Jeff, in regards to the inspiration behind the themes of the play. His career as a sports journalist; interviewing, reporting on and telling the stories of countless footballers obviously serves as appropriate inspiration for the character of Adi, his experiences at a professional football club, and the pressing issue of racism within the game.

Not satisfied with simply representing the issue within the confines of his play however, Jeff has admirably arranged to take the anti-racism message into local schools. “When we decided we were going to take it out on the road, we got in touch with [North Shields based anti-racism campaign and charity] Show Racism The Red Card and they were really keen to get involved. Between The Gala Theatre, Durham, who are co-producing, and Show Racism The Red Card, they've produced an education pack based around scenes from the play which is going to be taken around a number of schools in the area. When I started writing it, it was something I did because I enjoyed it and I thought it was an interesting piece. But with the way it's developed, if it can have a lasting impact beyond just the people who come to see it in the theatre then that would be really humbling.”

The Bench does not require a knowledge or even an interest in football, and focuses on shared experiences, life’s ups and downs and the universal struggle of finding one’s own place in the world. The play stops in at 17 venues for 29 performances across the region between Thursday 22nd May and Saturday 21st June.  www.carolewproductions.com/the-bench

Image by Wycombe 89 Media

THE LATE SHOWS

IF YOU LIKE…

HISTORY AND HERITAGE

The Late Shows have outdone themselves on the history and heritage front this year, with indispensable landmarks and incredible activities to introduce all attending into the rich history of the North East. Head into The Victoria Tunnel under the Tyne for a taster tour to explore its Victorian engineering and wartime shelter stories; learn sustainable fashion skills with Gateshead Libraries’ Arts & Heritage; get a torchlit tour of Newcastle Cathedral’s churchyard and learn all about its local legends and historical figures; at Seven Stories there is a celebration of Mr Benn by David McKee; or head to Tyneside Cinema for some film history through archive exploration, chats with heritage guides and family-friendly animation activities.

LIVE MUSIC AND ART

On the live music front Vane Gallery offers up an atmospheric and danceable live set by Berlin artist Jorn Ebner; be sure to touch down at Cobalt Studios for what’s always a rip-roaring night, where a pop-up theatrical piece comes from Patrick Ziza and attendees can try their hand at DJ’ing with L.A.D.S. The Newbridge Project has a Diasporic Sonic Worlds exhibition while at The Biscuit Factory comedian, actor and artist Jim Moir’s (Vic Reeves) latest headline exhibition opens while The Cumberland Arms x Toffee Factory present Into The Woods with David Lynch. At Gateshead’s Station East there will be an open mic night while The Soundroom opens its doors for The Late Shows visitors

EVENTS

WORDS: LAURA ROSIERSE

The Late Shows, one of the biggest cultural events in Newcastle and Gateshead, returns on Friday 16th and Saturday 17th May with over 70 participating venues across the region. The late night free culture crawl’s line-up features a diverse range of music and performance venues, art studios, galleries, and museums, opening up some of the region’s most important creative spaces to the public. Facilitated by North East Museums, and sponsored by Creative Central: NCL and Stagecoach, participating businesses open their doors for the curious, creatives, professionals and enthusiasts.

The Late Shows aims to champion sustainability within the creative industries and to involve the community, highlighting grassroots and performance arts creatives within Newcastle and Gateshead. All venues are walking distance from one another, however some free buses will be offered sponsored by Stagecoach for those that are a little too far for your feet to manage. Here’s just a little taste of what to expect from a huge programme... www.thelateshows.org.uk

to take a look into its rehearsal rooms and how it has been enriching people’s lives through live music and visitors can also discover Newcastle’s oldest artist studio building at Lime Street in Ouseburn.

PROGRAMMES AND WORKSHOPS

Elsewhere, there are further programmes and workshops including Shieldfield Art Works, where visitors can enjoy arts and crafts, garden, enjoy ice cream and lemonade, contribute to the new arts program or just kick back and relax; experience Ouseburn Farm after dark and play farmyard games, create comics, collages and enjoy a sustainable shopping spree at the Make & Mend-Along; there is art print making at Biscuit Tin Studios and zines at the Star and Shadow Cinema; enjoy Green Heart Collective’s showcase of marvellous creations made from transforming unwanted men’s shirts; contribute to a large-scale collaborative artwork and explore the Great North Museum: Hancock after dark; or enjoy watching the inner works of printmaking business Northern Print.

Newcastle Cathedral Torchlit Churchyard Tours, image by Seth M

Patrick Ziza

Victoria Tunnel by Wild Intrigue

STAITHE

ISABEL JOHNSON TALKS TO THE POWER PAIR ABOUT THEIR DEBUT ALBUM, A SELF-PRODUCED LABOUR OF LOVE EXPLORING CONFESSIONAL AND OFTEN HOPEFUL THEMES

The debut album. It’s not a small feat by any means, and it takes a village – often, it feels, an army – to make a great one. Yet, in the freshly soundproofed laundry cupboard at Bridie Jackson and Nick Pierce’s home in Newcastle, there is no village. There’s Bridie, there’s Nick, and there’s Flowers, which turns out to be one of those great debut albums.

Having informally begun collaborating in the 2020 lockdown via a series of themed online concerts, this album has been a long time coming for Staithe. And for such a talented pair, it only makes sense that Flowers is entirely their own brainchild, with no outside noise daring to tiptoe its way into the music. “It’s been a labour of love because we’ve done every single bit of it ourselves, and that’s been very tough and very intense, but just completely wonderful,” Bridie muses. “I’m so happy that we decided to do it this way, because you kind of get to know the bones of it in a different way when you’re involved in every aspect.”

The album’s title was inspired by the idea of ‘getting your flowers’, in the sense of finally finding something rewarding after a long period of hardship or unappreciation. Bridie heard the phrase for the first time a few years ago and immediately fell for the concept. “I thought it was such a good phrase, and it totally captured how I was feeling at that moment in time,” she shares. “I’d been through some really complicated difficult

things and I felt like I’d come out of the other side calmer and happier than I’d ever been, with more empathy than I’d ever had.”

As a general rule, the album is incredibly confessional. “It’s wrestling with some pretty gnarly stuff, but I like to think that it ends in a much more hopeful place.” This emotional arc is even reflected in the album’s cover art; it begins at the darkest point of night, but if you turn the cover over it looks instead like the earliest hours of daylight.

Sonically, the album demonstrates sheer power in the softest of ways, seamlessly flitting between tenderness and intensity. For an album with such a magical feel to it, it might come as a surprise to know that Bridie and Nick haven’t actually been producing music for all that long. “Bridie’s laptop broke just before lockdown, so she had to buy a new one. But the new laptop came with Garageband on it, so we were able to spend lockdown learning how to use that,” Nick says. “More recently we’ve upped our game a bit in terms of understanding how to record and mix our work properly.”

There’s so much to consider when creating a record, and the fact that Staithe have not only written and played on the whole thing by themselves, but learned entirely from scratch how to produce it is something of a miracle. Though it’s a miracle derived entirely from Bridie and Nick’s hard work, and pure unfiltered talent for doing the thing they love, and this is why Staithe certainly do deserve their flowers.

Staithe release Flowers on Thursday 15th May, when they play a sold out show at Summerhill Pavilion, Newcastle. They also play Wylam Institute on Saturday 17th May. www.staithe-music.com

Image by Kelly Briggs Atkinson, set & art direction by Lady Kitt

DOGS ON THE METRO

Tapping into an experience shared right across Tyne & Wear, Live Theatre’s compelling new production, Dogs On The Metro, is a story of lost youth and people watching. Two friends, Jen and Dean, navigate a pivotal event through the lens of back-and-forth Metro journeys through the region as key memories are unravelled.

Hopping on the Metro, sitting back and observing the chatter, laughter and occasional bicker is an integral part of many people’s daily routine, and most will have a story or two about it (for good or for bad). South Shields playwright Emilie Robson knows this all too well: “I use the Metro a lot and there’s never a dull day. There’s always some sort of character. The people watching is unparalleled.” This is where her play, which won the North East Playwriting Award last year, gets its foundations. Main characters Jen and Dean are played by Sarah Balfour (Dead Canny) and Dean Logan (Gary & Sewell), from South Shields and Wallsend respectively, ensuring that the tale is told through familiar voices that are authentic to the story’s North Eastern roots. “I couldn’t picture people that are better suited for those parts,” Emilie says.

This is the first play the writer penned in their own Geordie tongue. “When I started embracing my dialect and the North East, that’s when all my success came.” Which just goes to show how creatives flourish when able to tell stories that are true to themselves and embrace identity.

The award-winning writer compares the story’s themes to those

KAI PALMER TALKS TO SOUTH SHIELDS PLAYWRIGHT EMILIE ROBSON ABOUT HER AWARD-WINNING PLAY WHICH AIMS TO PUT YOUNG PEOPLE’S VOICES AND VULNERABILITIES CENTRE-STAGE WE’VE STILL GOT A LONG WAY TO GO IN TERMS OF COMMUNICATION, EDUCATION AND MAKING SURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE FEEL EMPOWERED

present in shows such as Netflix’s Adolescence, which depicts a tragic loss of a teen’s youth as a result of a culture that fails to communicate with young people effectively, and equally fails to teach them how to communicate with each other.

Emilie reflects on where society is at right now. “We’ve still got a long way to go in terms of communication, education and making sure that young people feel empowered, have the right language and can advocate for themselves.” Emilie is absolutely right: perpetrators of toxic masculinity, such as Andrew Tate, are still far too prominent and prove society still fails to break down archaic systems of prejudice, continues to spread misogyny and teaches young people to blame others for their problems rather than looking inwards.

Dogs On The Metro aims to combat the views of those like Tate by including what Adolescence sadly lacks: a distinct, female perspective on gender attitudes and consent. The play has been praised for its sharp and witty dialogue which, paired with an eye-opening narrative told through familiar, friendly voices, is sure to have audiences captivated whilst leaving them with something to think about.

Most of all, Emilie hopes that the play is widely accessible. “I hope it feels quite true to life. It’s conversations that people might remember from their own childhood, and conversations people might overhear on the Metro with young kids today. I wanted it to feel like how young people speak.”

Dogs On The Metro runs from Thursday 1st May-Saturday 17th May, so there’s plenty of time to get down to the Live Theatre and experience what Emilie says will offer a “real bittersweet and nostalgic feeling and offer bit of reflection for everyone.” www.live.org.uk

Image by Matthew Henderson-Newbury

NIAMH CASEY

LAURA ROSIERSE TALKS TO THE ALT. FOLK SONGWRITER ABOUT BEING UNAFRAID TO TALK ABOUT BIG FEELINGS ON HER DEBUT EP

Teesside-born, Newcastle-based alternative folk artist Niamh Casey shares her debut EP Memories Of My Chaotic Existence this month, on which she opens up about love, family and friendship. She’s been working on the EP for a very long time and is excited to finally release these open-hearted alternative folk pop songs into the world.

Niamh started writing from a very young age and brought the songs she’s written over the years together on her debut EP. “My music is very raw and very personal to myself. In trying to find a name for it I didn’t really want to use the word diary so I settled on Memories Of My Chaotic Existence, because my life is quite a chaotic mess,” she reveals. “Each song is a memory of what happened, the highs and lows of relationships, about friendship and family. I’ve written these songs at different points in my life, from aged 16 to nearly 25 now.”

Her family has always supported her and been a great inspiration for her music. “I wrote one of the songs on the EP about my dad. He's a big music lover and he showed me loads of music growing up. I’ve not stopped singing ever since I was a kid, so ever since then my mum and dad wanted to put me in music school where I learned how to play the guitar and the piano, and found the release of writing and being able to get all my thoughts out on paper. I found it very hard to express emotions and talk about them, writing about them helped.”

On Memories Of My Chaotic Existence we clearly hear those that have inspired Niamh from a young age: “People like Adele inspired me, my writing style is similar ballad-wise, I love a

I FOUND IT VERY HARD TO EXPRESS EMOTIONS AND TALK ABOUT THEM, WRITING ABOUT THEM HELPED

ballad. Influences also come from Lizzy McAlpine, Abby Powledge and Noah Kahan has also been a big inspiration.” Writing songs might come naturally to musicians, but finding the right people to give them that shiny finish isn’t always the easiest of tasks; Niamh was lucky to run into the right person to work with her on her sound when she was just 17. “All the material written is just me in my room, a lot of them were written in my early twenties, when it came to the recording process I worked with Paul Worthington at Salt, I could give him my word vomit and he just comes back with it straight away, he’s been a really big help on this EP.”

Niamh hopes listeners connect to her music on a deeper level, as she doesn’t sugar coat any of the challenges she has gone through, and hopes those harsh truths will make those listening feel okay with what they’re feeling too. Above all, Niamh’s emphatic about her end goal. “To write a big album full of belters!”

Niamh Casey releases Memories Of My Chaotic Existence EP on 30th May.

www.instagram.com/niamhcaseymusic

LISTINGS

THE BEST OF THE REST… EVEN MORE ALTERNATIVE MUSIC, THEATRE, COMEDY, ART AND FILM TAKING PLACE THROUGHOUT THE NORTH EAST THIS MONTH

THURSDAY 1ST MAY

ANATOMY OF A MURDER

The truth proves elusive for a former prosecutor who is enlisted to defend an Army officer accused of murder // Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle

LIVING IN SHADOWS + OUTRI

English alt pop and progressive rock band with elements of jazz are set to headline, joined by bass and synth maestros OUTRI // The Globe, Newcastle

THE FANS MUSEUM COLLECTION

Come and see highlights from the collection of Women’s Football from fans all around the world. Runs until Tuesday 6th May // The Word, South Shields.

FRIDAY 2ND MAY

IST IST

Post-punk band based in Greater Manchester // Independent, Sunderland

SATURDAY 3RD MAY

FEATURED // Lubber Fiend 3rd Birthday

A birthday celebration featuring Warm Exit, Fruit Tones, Ardent, Yeavering Bells, Stannington and Soft Hell by DJ Peanut // The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle

MIDNIGHT CALLERS: DJ PAUL SMITH

The Maxïmo Park frontman plays his eclectic record collection until midnightfrom Depeche Mode to Destiny’s Child, the only rule is that you have to be able to dance to the darn thing // Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle

ROULETTE FESTIVAL

Always championing local and grassroots talent, Roulette Festival promises an unforgettable line-up of incredible artists, from intimate acoustic performances to electrifying thrash metal bands // Independent, Sunderland

SUNDAY 4TH MAY

BOMBAY TALKIE

While researching the Bollywood film industry, a British author falls in love with a famous Bollywood actor // Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle

HORATIO GOULD: RETURN OF THE SPACE COWBOY Tribal elder of Gen Z, Horatio explores the crisis of young people seeking purpose in life that isn’t just rock climbing // The Stand, Newcastle

LUBBER FIEND 3RD BIRTHDAY #2

A second part to the Lubber Fiend’s birthday celebration, this time featuring Alicia Carrera, DJ_2button and Silent Era // The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle

MONDAY 5TH MAY

SIDES

Alex Joynes’ new People’s Play Award winning play: in Uncle Del's sandwich shop, changes are afoot. An unlikely trio are thrown together, and will learn about love, belonging and the art of making a perfect panini // People’s Theatre, Newcastle

TUESDAY 6TH MAY

NEWCASTLE COLLEGE CREATIVE DEGREE SHOWS

Showcasing the next generation of talent, 10 different creative arts degrees will install their work, covering subjects from animation and illustration via fashion and photography, showing until 14th June. // Newcastle Arts Centre, Newcastle

THURSDAY 8TH MAY

BATTLESHIP POTEMKIN

Considered to be one of the greatest films of all time, a classic of Soviet cinema, emotional, gripping and a technical masterpiece // Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle

EVOLVE DANCE FESTIVAL

This two-day festival and programme of performances and events celebrates the immense talents of BA Students in Professional Dance in the North East, who have also almost entirely curated and designed the full festival. Also on Friday 9th May // Dance City, Newcastle

FEATURED //

In The Frame

Join local filmmakers and creatives for a night of regional films, industry insider talks and networking // The Studio, Hartlepool

THE F WORD: CHRIS CLEVERLEY

Chris Cleverley delivers boundary shattering dream folk - alongside floor spots from up and coming folk musicians // Black Swan Arts Centre, Newcastle

PHANTOM BAGMAN

Launching Newcastle’s newest indie jazz ensemble, Phantom Bagman fuses smooth eclectic jazz with a fresh edge. Featuring vibrant performances by Maria and James. // The Globe, Newcastle

FRIDAY 9TH MAY

ACID MOTHERS TEMPLE

Wandering Oak brings the Japan-based prolific psychedelic rockers to Newcastle, plus support // The Common Room, Newcastle

SATURDAY 10TH MAY

CVC

The inimitable next-gen-yacht-rock six piece bring their Thriller-esque guitars and Bee Gee-tight vocal harmonies to Sunderland, with support from Patrick Gosling // Independent, Sunderland

THE HEARTH ARTS CENTRE SPRING FAIR & OPEN STUDIOS

The famous Hearth Spring Art Fair and Open Studios is back this spring with an impressive line-up of artists and makersruns for two days // The Hearth Arts Centre, Newcastle

NATHAN CATON: MY BIG FAT BLASIAN WEDDING Award-winning comedian recounts his tale of getting married, which should’ve been the happiest day of his life… but turned out to be one of the most stressful (and expensive!) // The Stand, Newcastle

SUNDAY 11TH MAY

FEATURED //

Rita Hayworth Double Bill

A Hollywood icon double bill featuring the glamorous Rita Hayworth, in her films Gilda & The Lady From Shanghai // Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle

SUNPLUGGED

An all-acoustic festival happening in Sunderland, featuring Shannon Pearl, James Leonard Hewitson, Lily Brooke, Ruby Kelly and more // The Ship Isis & Museum Vaults, Sunderland

MONDAY 12TH MAY

LUCY KRUGER & THE LOST BOYS

The Berlin-based art pop and tender noise ensemble arrives in Newcastle, with duo support from Melanie Baker // The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle

WEDNESDAY 14TH MAY

JEAN-LOUIS HUHTA

Jean-Louis has a rich musical history ranging from punk, grindcore, hip-hop, techno and experimental sound, and is accompanied by Shlinga, Sir Racha plus a short film by Rachel Deakin // Middlesbrough Town Hall Courtrooms

THURSDAY 15TH MAY

GODZILLA MINUS ONE

After the second world war Japanese policy is examined through the life of a kamikaze pilot. Plus there is a big, angry monster attacking Japan // Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle

KONTEMPORARY KOREA

Showcasing two of the freshest voices in K:Dance, Kontemporary Korea explores the play in between the mundane and virtuosic. // Dance City, Newcastle

FRIDAY 16TH MAY

LAUREN HOUSLEY & THE NORTHERN COWBOYS

The Americana Award nominated country soul artist brings her Raisin’ The Vibe tour to Newcastle, with support from Kari McLeod and Elaine Palmer // The Cluny 2, Newcastle

NOISE POLLUTION

A night of three high energy metal and grunge bands, featuring Noise Pollution, Volta and Initium. // The Globe, Newcastle

RED EYE PARIAH

The indie alt. rock four-piece bring their Tequila King tour to Sunderland // Independent, Sunderland

SATURDAY 17TH MAY

586 RECORDS PRESENTS…

Domenic Cappello and Justin Mills bring the finest techno, electro and house to Newcastle // Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle

SUNDAY 18TH MAY

ABI CLARKE: ROLE MODEL

After posting a video online that suddenly led to thousands of followers, Abi Clarke lived the modern day dream - yet the debut stand-up show folks are waiting for may not exactly be what they expected… // The Stand, Newcastle

TOKYO STORY

A constant fixture in critics’ polls, Tokyo Story is Yasujiro Ozu’s most enduring masterpiece and a beautifully nuanced exploration of filial duty, expectation and regret // Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle

THURSDAY 22ND MAY

MY NEIGHBOUR TOTORO

When two girls move to the country to be near their ailing mother, they have adventures with the wondrous forest spirits who live nearby // Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle

UNIVERSITY OF SUNDERLAND’S FACULTY OF ARTS SHOWCASE

A two day showcase of short performances created by talented final year students exploring reimaginings of Greek Mythology through puppetry, physical theatre, dance, music, comedy and more. Also on Friday 23rd May // The Fire Station, Sunderland

FRIDAY 23RD MAY

GRACE PETRIE

Folk rock cult hero and queer icon Grace Petrie returns with her razor sharp lyrics, joyful welcoming atmosphere and the protest song firmly back in her heart. With support from Jasmine Kennedy // The Glasshouse, Gateshead

WE ARE FUGAZI FROM WASHINGTON DC Commemorating 20 years since the hardcore punk band’s last live performance, this crowd sourced ‘non-documentary’ features rare archived footage and recordings paying tribute to Fugazi’s prowess as a live act. // Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle

SATURDAY 24TH MAY

ADHD UNMASKED

A dopamine filled evening where ADHD takes the stage, featuring a fun and interactive Q&A live conversation hosted by coach and speaker Hester Grainger // Whitley Bay Playhouse

CRASH TEST DUMMIES

Celebrating 30 years since the release of God Shuffled His Feet, the Canadian rockers bring their mighty tunes to the North East // The Fire Station, Sunderland

KRAKEN WAKER & MORE

Four bands who played Bloodstock 2024 reunite, including Space Pistol, Kraken Waker, Froglord and Hammer // Trillians, Newcastle

NICK MOHAMMED

Show Pony is the new outing for the Taskmaster and Last One Laughing star Nick Mohammed, who is back as his alter ego, Mr Swallow // Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle

SUNDAY 25TH MAY

UNDER THE CHERRY MOON

Prince directs and stars in this romance about a gigolo on the make. Winner of five Razzies - that's not a ‘wrecka’, but it's something! // Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle

TUESDAY 27TH MAY

OLIVER HUNT

The heartfelt, storytelling driven singer-songwriter comes to Newcastle, with support from Crane House and Isabel Maria // The Lost Wanderer, Newcastle

WEDNESDAY 28TH MAY

FEATURED // Narrative Shift

Produced by poet and creative Amy Langdown in collaboration with Helix Arts, Narrative Shift is a celebration of work created by LGBTQIA+ and disabled participants, featuring an exhibition and performances // Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle

THURSDAY 29TH MAY

JOSH GLANC: FAMILY MAN

Featuring wonderfully silly songs and surreal stand-up, expect joy and tender humour from this exciting emerging Aussie comedian // The Stand, Newcastle

THE CONVERSATION

A surveillance expert is tasked with recording a conversation and comes to believe the people he's listening to will be murdered // Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle

FRIDAY 30TH MAY

STAND-UP @ SPACE BAR

New comedy night featuring talents from across the region including Michael Legge, Kelly Younghorn, Alex Mitchell - bringing big belly laughs alongside arcade machine fun // Space Bar, Sunderland

FRESH FOR THE FRINGE

Mark Watson presents a dynamic double bill of hilarious talents exploring all sorts of comedic art forms - from clowning, sketch comedy, stand up and more // Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle

WORMTOWN

Writer and star of The Gallifrey Cabaret Reece Connolly brings their mythical and mysterious play WORMTOWN back to the region, performed by a cast of exciting emerging actors // The Customs House, South Shields

SATURDAY 31ST MAY

THE REGULARS

Set in London's iconic Prince Charles Cinema, this comedy drama follows a day in the life of its hapless employees, exploring life behind the counter, also includes directors’ Q&A // Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle

REVIEWS

DECIUS, GALAXIANS @ COBALT STUDIOS, NEWCASTLE (28.03.25)

Words: Lee Fisher

Off to Cobalt we go, to be surrounded by the young and the beautiful. You’ve just got to grit your teeth and style it out. Galaxians were up first – I’m sure I really enjoyed them a few years ago, but I’m afraid they were horrible tonight. I don’t think it’s new vocalist Beccy’s fault – there just seems to have been a shift towards a particular strand of eighties electronic soul/funk, the sort of thing the young men who used to want to fight me adored. Imagine Ain’t Nothing Going On But The Rent stripped of any charm.

After some intriguing performance art, it was time for Decius, a semi-supergroup emerging from the ever-fertile Brixton Windmill scene. The three musicians line up behind their consoles like a seedier Kraftwerk, pumping out the kind of really in-your-face beats that make your chest vibrate and your eyeballs flutter. Then Lias appears in his sexy/alarming fetish suit – all sheen and zips – and unleashes a series of seriously unsettling vocals, mostly falsetto, mostly maniacal, whilst working the stage (and the floor) like a terrifying hybrid of Alan Vega and Lux Interior. Decius live is a much tougher proposition than I expected, and you can see why some of their tracks have been killing it at Berghain. Me? I just worry about whoever has to launder that suit.

BADLY DRAWN BOY @ THE BOILER SHOP, NEWCASTLE (20.03.25)

Words: Damian Robinson

Walking on stage decked in all black (including trademark black beanie) the first half of tonight’s show sees Damon Gough jump straight into a rendition of debut album The Hour of the Bewilderbeast. Supported by a four-piece band, Gough’s set is as gracious as it is celebratory, and he weaves in and out of the now 25-year-old album, pushing more of the rhythm segments to the front of the mix in this live setting. Taken as a whole, complete with the short burst of instrumentals between the more accomplished songs, tonight’s showcase demonstrates just how strong Gough’s songwriting is, and why the album became so established in music culture. Pissing In The Wind and Disillusion steal a

remarkable first half.

A second half of ‘greatest hits’ provides extra evidence of Gough’s songwriting qualities, with his gentle introductions putting even greater meaning behind songs such as A Journey From A To B, In Safe Hands and Something To Talk About, all of which shine and sparkle in deeply emotional ways. The finale of 2005’s Promises, dedicated tonight to Gough’s brother Simon, provides yet further evidence of the artist’s ability to write well-crafted songs that directly connect with others. In terms of songwriting, stagecraft and humility, you can’t really get much better. Excellent.

DAVID GRAY @ THE GLOBE, STOCKTON (21.03.25)

Words: Susie Burgess

With all the passion and excitement of a Friday night in Stockton, The Globe’s audience eagerly greeted David Gray as he launched into the opening chords of After The Harvest. Riding the crowd’s electric wave of energy, Gray brought tour support Talia Rae back on stage to perform their duet Plus & Minus, followed by a rousing rendition of My Oh My that drew raucous applause.

Worthy of its title, the Past & Present tour featured a two-hour setlist blending classic hits and newer releases. Gray’s stirring vocals haven’t lost their charm, infusing his songwriting with lyrical emotion as he accompanied himself on piano, guitar or tambourine. Sharing heartfelt anecdotes, Gray’s storytelling provided vulnerable context to lyrically beautiful tracks like Last Boat To America, which added depth to his performance, making each song resonate even more.

Ending with Babylon, Gray ignited the crowd, who stood from their seats and sang along. The encore delivered The First Stone and The Other Side before teasing the crowd with a cover of Fairport Convention’s Who Knows Where The Time Goes? As the final notes of Sail Away echoed through the venue, it was clear that David Gray had once again proven his timeless appeal, leaving the audience both nostalgic and exhilarated.

Badly Drawn Boy by Amelia Read

BBC INTRODUCING: LIZZIE ESAU, MARKETPLACE, HELS PATTISON @ THE GLASSHOUSE, GATESHEAD (16.04.25)

Words: Damian Robinson

As always, the BBC Introducing nights at The Glasshouse are shows to look out for, presenting a chance to see upcoming artists as they hone their craft, build their confidence, and showcase their potential. With support and introductions from host Shakk, opener Hels Pattison does a fantastic job of setting the standards early on. Fresh from touring with The Pale White, Pattison’s style of folky/country rock is tight and wellexecuted, with recent single Merry-Go-Round standing out in a set full of strong songwriting.

Hartlepool’s Marketplace take up the baton next, with a frantic, Madness-esque, style of show. With jangly guitars and a definite 90’s Britpop throwback indie/pop sound, the differentiator for Marketplace is their ability to take themes of heartbreak and regret and turn them into fun and upbeat sounds. Credit in particular to singer Evie Rhodes who manages to balance charismatic movements next to difficult to hit, but well-delivered, vocal melody lines.

Headliner Lizzie Esau is the final act of the night, complete with fairy wings and some serious intent. Mixing a glam-rock pulse with more downtempo moments of dream pop, Esau produces a strong set, drawing out more of the darker and grungier moments of her songwriting into a mesmerising show packed with droning guitar lines and call-andresponse elements. 2024 release Spilling Out The Truth showed the potential of Esau, but seeing most of it performed live provides evidence that she is no longer one to look out for, but one to watch.

HOUSE OF ALL, IRKED @ THE CLUNY, NEWCASTLE (23.03.25)

Words: Dominic Stephenson

This was the second time I'd caught Irked's DIY din in as many months and they get tighter with every outing. Vocalist Helen makes several forays into the crowd and howls chants back at the rhythm section which thudded and jabbed on stage. Serrated riffs groaned and wailed over stingers new and old, including brand spanker Hardest Man In Billingham, with the five-piece duly garnering a reputation as a lean, mean noise machine.

After being obsessed with The Fall for the last half decade, a band

comprised of ex-veterans of the iconic institute was always going to be a fascinating prospect. Powered by the dual drumming engine of Paul Hanley and Simon Wolstencroft and joined by once elusive member Karl Burns for tracks from third LP House Of All Souls, the old vanguard also consists of founder/vocalist Martin Bramah, revered bassist Steve Hanley, with Phil Lewis (Blue Orchids) on guitar duties. Bramah's Mancunian cadence loomed over roaming guitars on A Creature Came Slinking, while Harlequin Duke from the debut album taps into the group's more ominous impulses and muscle memory. Anchored by Hanley's Herculean bass, the rumbling clangour of For This Be Glory from the middle release is closer to The Fall's more abrasive moments, but the ‘Fall family continuum’ are certainly no rehash – the almost psychedelic melody of Murmuration one of a few instant classics. The all-band chants on Born At Dawn And Dead At Sunset evoked their most poignant work to date, while spacey riffs shimmered on closer The Good Englishman.

JOHN CALE @ TYNE THEATRE & OPERA HOUSE, NEWCASTLE (25.03.25)

Words: Michael O’Neill

Almost 60 years after his profound virtuosity graced The Velvet Underground & Nico, the iconic John Cale needs little introduction. After spending the latter half of the 20th century innovating and revitalising the possibilities of sound, he initially spent the beginning of the century being uncharacteristically quiet. However, in the two-and-a-bit years since he last graced a North East stage, the living legend has celebrated his eighth decade by releasing two quality LPs back to back.

Cale returned to Newcastle fresh from the release of 2024’s Poptical Illusion, once again backed by the incredible three-piece band that accompanied him on his last tour. Once again, the setlist reached for more obscure corners of his songbook, with no Velvet Underground or Paris 1919 cuts making the cut. However, it still made for a brilliant showcase of Cale’s masterful command of the craft, with his gloriously distinctive voice still full of power and presence. It was great to see him wielding a guitar once again to dust off Gun (from 1974’s opus Fear), segueing brilliantly into a cover of The Modern Lovers’ Pablo Picasso (one of many crucial punk blueprints produced by Cale), making a profound testament to the talents of one of our greatest avant-garde pioneers.

Lizzie Esau by Sam Wall

JANE WEAVER, MEMORIALS @ POP RECS LTD., SUNDERLAND (03.04.25)

Words: Robert Nichols

Jane Weaver's first ever live appearance in Sunderland was one to remember. The second night on the tour and a performance to savour, it is pop but not as we often know it. This is popular sounds taken in different directions, and the Pop Recs crowd fully enjoyed being transported on these journeys.

Supporting duo Memorials play in front of a flickering film screen of constantly evolving colours and shapes. Their music is also constantly shape-shifting through psychedelia into folk and improv jazz. They mix and match instruments, vocals, keyboards and saxophone on the one hand, as well as drums, guitar and samples in the other two hands. Impressive.

Jane Weaver casts off with her 2024 single release Quantify, before plunging deep into songs drawn mainly from last year's long player release Love In Constant Spectacle. A dreamy, misty psychedelia of elevating, invigorating synths and guitars overlays an at times mesmerising pattern of interweaving drums and rigid, repetitive bass. All the while Jane herself stands centre stage, the conductor of mood and atmosphere, her voice oozing like golden syrup from a tin. It is a captivating ride, leading us by the hand through a Perfect Storm into Romantic Worlds. By the closing message of I Need A Connection it feels like we are stepping out together into some astral realm. Absolutely awesome.

WILL VARLEY @ THE CLUNY, NEWCASTLE (28.03.25)

Words: Michael O’Neill

In anticipation of May’s upcoming (and gloriously titled) LP Machines Will Never Learn To Make Mistakes Like Me, Will Varley returned to The Cluny to preview the LP alongside a rich selection of his fantastic songbook. Having seen him deliver some immaculate solo performances over the years, I was initially concerned that the power of his incredible voice, and the intimate qualities of his heart-on-sleeve songwriting, would be dulled somewhat by the presence of a full band.

How wrong I was! The fantastic three-piece provided an evocative bed of chiming guitar and wonderfully powerful bass and drums. That being said, it remained a testament to Will’s profound gift as a performer that, once the band left the stage for a brief suite of solo-acoustic songs, no energy or momentum was lost.

Despite having seen him in many sold out venues before, it’s deeply clear that Will takes none of this for granted and is still as determined to prove his worth as one of this century’s most accomplished and powerful singer-songwriters, with the marvellous quality of the new songs from Machines… making it clear that he’s still a long way away from phoning it in.

ELAINE PALMER, BOO HEWERDINE @ ST MARY’S CATHEDRAL, MIDDLESBROUGH (28.03.25)

Words: Robert Nichols

Picture the scene: Boo Hewerdine performing in front of an altar and asking Canon Paul Farrer to cast his eyes across the pews to judge a dancing competition down the aisles of a cathedral. “I am very judgemental,” confirmed Canon Paul.

The sweeping bowl of the late 20th century RC Cathedral of St Mary’s is in so many ways a wonderful venue for two very distinguished performers. Elaine Palmer delivers music from the two separate strands of her life and work: the North York Moors folk and US South West Americana. The fusion is a rich and near unique blend. We bounce 5,000 miles from tragedy at the bleak and yet beautiful Freeborough Hill to the kicking country of Blackened Heart, Arizona desert-style.

Boo Hewerdine told us he once was not believed when telling shop staff that he wrote theirfavourite song, Patience of Angels. It was typical of his witty and often self-deprecating inter-song patter. Boo’s set featured other material made famous by Eddi Reader, or plunged back to his younger days as lead vocals with The Bible. Bell Book and Candle was leant an extra poignancy surrounded by flickering flames, and throughout Boo’s voice soared to the crown of thorn rafters. A consummate performer and composer and such an uplifting evening.

Jane Weaver by Victoria Wai

GURRIERS, THEATRE @ THE CLUNY, NEWCASTLE (01.04.25)

Words: Dominic Stephenson

A very sold-out gig saw a queue winding out of the door before the tour support had even started, a rarity for a Tuesday night at The Cluny. Limerick newcomers THEATRE are hastily earning a following for their engrossing live shows, stirring intoxicating folk rock and crystalline shoegaze that's driven by ghostly vocals and steely guitars. With obvious nods to compatriots Just Mustard and Limerick celebrities The Cranberries, and with still no releases to their name, their debut will be eagerly gobbled up.

Irish firebrands Gurriers have enjoyed a meteoric ascent, reflected in the bulging crowd that was a mix of those still too young to order a drink and seasoned gig-goers. It took mere minutes from marching onto the stage for their cross-generational flock to be a mesh of flailing arms and legs, the double whammy of Close Call and Nausea ushered in by dirge sirens and scratchy guitar lines. We were treat to a sliver of acerbic new numbers, with the lazy comparison being to both Fontaines D.C. and IDLES, and while there's no denying they channel both heavyweights, the Dublin five-piece have forged their own marque of brawny indie punk. They split the tempo for the apparitional Prayers, before going acka boosh on Sign Of The Times and inciting feral scenes not seen in The Cluny for some years. They weren't done yet with the buzzsaw riffs of No More Photos, anti-fascist blaster Approachable, and a slice of catharsis washed over the enormous Come And See. A dizzying exercise in chaos from a band destined for bigger audiences and rooms.

PROUD MARY, HAYLEY MCKAY @ KU, STOCKON (04.04.25)

Words: Damian Robinson

It’s local favourite Hayley McKay who opens up tonight, producing a fine blend of poppy and folky Americana. A cover of Leaving On A Jet Plane shines in a tight set, though it’s her own originals Saviour On A Hill and recent single Adrenaline which truly demonstrate McKay’s country songwriting chops and lush harmonies.

Proud Mary’s swaggery walk on stage demonstrated immediately the band’s confidence and attitude. Filled with a genuine solid rock and blues heart, the five-piece start with intent, kicking off early with

powerful performances of classics Don’t It All Look Ugly, Very Best Friend and Rain On Me. Given the tightness of the show – guitarist Paul Newsome is particularly impressive tonight – it’s hard to tell that this is the first night of the current tour, and by the classic Mexico mid-set, the band are in top gear. New song Dust And Diamonds is a set stealer and tees things up nicely for an encore including Give A Little Love and Salt Of The Earth which, given the momentum and confidence of the band, is a real shame to end. Hats off also to Greg Griffin on vocals; though obviously not as well known as the likes of Ashcroft and Gallagher, he's in the same league when he gets going. Excellent.

KAMASI WASHINGTON @ THE GLASSHOUSE, GATESHEAD (05.04.25)

Words: Ikenna Offor

Suffused with a resolutely retro yet innately timeless cosmicality, Kamasi Washington’s performance tonight is no mere gig – it’s a vibed-out spiritual happening of seismic proportions. Launching into the meditative Lesanu, the LA maestro’s sax instantly conjures vast sonic dimensions, each phrase stepping deeper into the cosmos. Asha The First sees pater familias Rickey Washington called into an almost familial dialogue, their push-pull interplay warm and searching.

Peppered with Patrice Quinn’s gossamer vocals, Joshua Crumbly’s exquisite bass solo on Lines In The Sand preaches its own sermon, thick with resonance and conviction.

The rhythmic twofer of Brandon Coleman’s keys and Tony Austin’s drums transform Road To Self (KO) into a percussive whirlwind, while DJ Battlecat’s Get Lit medley packs groovy West Coast wallop, its irresistible bounce pinging like astral transmissions. Returning for Street Fighter Mas, Washington effortlessly ignites the room – its funk-driven swagger reminding everyone of his consummate ability to make jazz both playful and urgent.

On Together, Ryan Porter’s trombone soars with gospel-like reverence, before Washington brings the set full circle with Prologue, a clincher that somehow feels like both a decisive ending and an unambiguous beginning rolled into one. By the end, Washington and his band haven’t merely played – they’ve indubitably transported all present to heady ethereal heights. This is music as revelation, as revolution, as a vision of boundless possibility.

Gurriers by Thomas Jackson

TRACKS

(PLEASE TRY TO GET IN TOUCH 8-6 WEEKS AHEAD OF THE MONTH OF RELEASE)

STEVE CHAPLIN LOOKAROUND EP

Words: Michaela Hall

Hexham-based songwriter Steve Chaplin is back with Lookaround – a masterpiece of storytelling and poetry. This project includes four separate tracks that explore the artist’s personal perspective on four parts of the nation; North, East, South and West. This intriguing approach allows us to feel like we really know Steve and get invited to share his secrets and experiences.

The music is peaceful, with seductive rhythms and tones that encourage us to listen to the next memoir of a place. The songs open up conversations about our own associations with these different parts of the country and as a listener you have the space to let your mind wander and compare your own perspectives – an opportunity to listen to the title and look around.

Released: 01.05.25

www.stevechaplin.bandcamp.com

JOE HOLTAWAY

DELIUS RAKAUSKAS

Words: Michaela Hall

If you’re looking to find your inner peace and step into Zen, Joe Holtaway’s new track Delius Rakauskas is guaranteed to transport you into a new realm of calm. The seven-minute track immerses the listener in a story with gentle vocals, allowing your brain to breathe, and designed to let imaginations run.

If you’re left wanting more, good news – from Joe’s website you can access a range of podcasts and events to take part in that explore peace, activism, social justice, change and of course, music and creativity. He even hosts daily quiet spaces on Zoom. And you can combine this with also experiencing his music in person at Northumbria University’s Student Union at the upcoming Tyneside Vegan Festival on Saturday 17th May.

Released: 26.05.25 www.joeholtaway.com

KATIE C

THE POETS MIGHT DISAGREE EP

Words: Simon Lunt

Katie C’s first EP looks to brighten your day with an unapologetically upbeat pop opener, an observational piece about an idyllic place called Daisy Street, where I can only assume the council tax would be astronomical and the only thing spoiling the utopia.

The second of the four tracks, Only You, changes pace and is a more reflective, breezy and chiming Fleetwood Mac-esque muse on a partnership “against the world together”, further cementing Katie’s glass-half-full outlook.

The tempo drops on Moving, painting a picture of “itchy feet” and a world of possibility before finishing with her love letter to Harry Styles in Dear Harry, which takes the form of a stripped-back chamber pop piano number.

Released: 02.05.25

www.linktr.ee/katiecmusic

LIZZIE ESAU BUGS

Words: Joe Sharples

Bugs is the latest from Lizzie Esau, and it’s a grungy, introspective track which utilises her well-honed and recognisable sound to explore the mind of a tortured artist. This is most prominent through her evocative imagery around a “head full of bugs”: creating a slightly uncomfortable yet tortuously beautiful soundscape.

Driving basslines and vocal harmonies are also present in abundance, which further bring home the messages behind this song, supported by its stellar lyricism and imagery. A burner of a bridge and explosive final chorus hammer home Esau’s message and excellently translate the emotions behind the piece into a stirring single. Esau remains a rising force in the North East and wider grunge rock scene, and Bugs is only sure to propel that further.

Released: 02.05.25 www.linktr.ee/lizzieesau

Image by Unscripted Photography

Image by Storm Hudspith-Walker

VULTURES

MORE/LESS

Words: Niamh Poppleton

North Shields’ Richie Harrison dives head first into his Vultures project with the release of his hypnotic and otherworldly single More/Less. Although written in 2023, the track will eventually become part of his first EP as Vultures: The Riot Act 1715.

In a vocal and musical likeness to Bo Burnham, he blends whimsicality with a compelling message about the mindset of the masses. The track opens with a drum pad beat blended with synthesisers to create a vivid and disorientating feel. The lyrics discuss the nature of a hedonistic lifestyle, juxtaposing “more thrills” and “less work” to proclaim a cautionary tale of the internal and psychological repercussions of overindulgence. A wonderfully surreal experience, More/Less sets the stage for a captivating EP from Vultures.

Released: 24.04.25

www.instagram.com/vulturesband316

CHEAP LUNCH

LEAP CHUNK

Words: Niamh Poppleton

Impassioned. Intriguing. Impeccable. Newcastle-based Cheap Lunch’s second EP Leap Chunk is a three-track blend of psych and death metal, punk anger, existential dread and gloom. An eclectic fusion between Iggy Pop, The Hives and Pantera, the EP is endowed with fury. The dynamic two-part single Ah Satan/Dry confronts external societal pressures. Ah Satan, a Tarantino film-esque personification of anger, smoothly transitions to Dry’s melancholically serene musing on others’ success. Elsewhere, Shamanic

Dose is a powerfully prophetic 11-minute journey, opening with Radioheadinspired filmic calm, eventually shifting into frantic drums and guitar, in a skilful commentary on the impact of ritual on mental health. Closing track, Doomserf, plays with heavy drumbeats and guitars, seamlessly switching between both ends of the vocal spectrum, artfully culminating in guitar audio decay. Released: 30.04.25 www.cheaplunch.bandcamp.com

IGG HUSTLE CULTURE EP

Words: Steve Spithray

Igg says he makes ‘meta boom rap’ which is apparently characterised by dense drums, layers and layers of vocals and samples, found sounds and abstract lyrical themes. The Blyth rapper sets out his, erm, hustle on the title track of his Hustle Culture EP, where the layered rhyming gives the aural illusion of a number of vocalists, set to a loosely dramatic bass-driven beat. Elsewhere, the alt. rap of Power, Strength, Energy & Abundance will bring to mind Richmond’s Ceiling Demons without veering too far from the classic 90s influences the vocal layering evokes (think Wu Tang Clan and Cypress Hill), while on Kill Switch (faster, darker) and I Am Building Igg really lets loose with the vocal experimenting.

Released: 09.05.25 www.iamigg.bandcamp.com

PATRICK GOSLING THINKIN’

Words: Steve Spithray

Top tier funky slacker rock. Slick and bouncing with enough fizz and buzzy melodies that the melting smiley emoji would be enough on its own as a review, but this is a serious publication after all.

Thinkin’ by Patrick Gosling is the South Shields singer-songwriter’s first new track of the year, soldering his trademark intricate lyricism and clever, catchy musicality onto a stupidly contagious riff. The unexpected Beatles harmony at the two minute mark is completely unnecessary but totally sublime, and the attention to detail in the production (the clean guitar soloing lower in the mix is great too) makes deep-diving into local releases all the more worthwhile. Absolutely class and already a contender for track of the year.

Released: 02.05.25 www.patrickgoslingmusic.bandcamp.com

JAKE DIAZ

GOOD OLD DAYS

Words: Laura Rosierse

The warm guitar-driven intro of Jake Diaz’ latest musical offering immediately set the tone for this soft-hearted yet uplifting new release. His soaring alternative blues rock single, Good Old Days, is the artist’s latest and playful new release that impresses through strong vocals, surprising hooks, great guitar play and softly thumping drums.

Swaying back and forth between rhythms and captivating listeners via rich and vibrant musical notes, Diaz leaves quite the impression with the short and sweet track. With influences that range from Jimi Hendrix, The Clash and The Smiths, to The Libertines, Stone Roses and Bob Dylan, it’s clear that the virtuoso guitarist and songwriter is setting out his classic sound to sit on the shoulders of giants.

Released: 03.05.25

www.instagram.com/jakediazwright

PARK VIEW THE PRETTY SOUNDS EP

Words: Simon Lunt

This five-piece indie pop outfit don’t hang about, as the two opening numbers – That Feeling and Lights – dive straight in, with the later in particular triggering toe-tapping muscle memory from the noughties.

Sleeping On Your Feet showcases a different side to the band with an acoustic, lugubrious song providing some light and shade in this otherwise upbeat five-track EP. Call It Fate draws upon some classic rock guitar work and has hints of Embrace, thanks to a deliberately clean production demonstrating the tightness of the band.

Final track Pretty Sounds is ideally named as it sums up what is a very pleasant journey, which will have you inspired to revisit old favourites such The Wombats, Interpol and perhaps as far back as Travis.

Released: 16.05.25

www.linktr.ee/parkvi3w

JOSH ATKINSON HEAVEN SENT

Words: Joe Sharples

Singer-songwriter and guitarist Josh Atkinson is back with new single Heaven Sent. From the first introduction of bright, acoustic guitars strums, it’s cheery, bluesy and folk-inspired throughout.

Josh is an excellent songwriter, and his talent for pairing instrumentals to suit his vocal style and talent is evident throughout this piece; it’s a lovely, Bob Dylan-esque, acoustic guitar-led folky love song. The chorus is free-flowing, with delightful lyricism weaved into the backings, and designed to perfectly complement the feel of the sound beneath. The final 30 seconds or so nicely rounds off Heaven Sent with a teasing big build-up cushioned nicely by the plucky, catchy riff heard throughout the piece: a proper, self-assured, singer-songwriter tune, and a great offering from the North East based talent.

Released: 09.05.25 www.instagram.com/joshatkinsonmusic

OLIVER HUNT HOLDING OUT FOR YOU

Words: Steve Spithray

Another complete gem of an under-the-radar local release is this ukulele-led, fiercely DIY indie folk canticle from Geordie Dylan, Oliver Hunt. Holding Out For You blends traditional musical themes with contemporary lo-fi vocals about escapism and longing that almost crack under the weight of their sentimental optimism, completed with gentle violin accoutrements. A musical soliloquy (referencing the Tyne, and skilfully rhyming with tide and time) to the people that matter to the singer and the miniature of his locale, with help from Grandma’s house for recording purposes and an Auntie for those fiddle embellishments. Lovely, wholesome stuff. Oliver is playing The Lost Wanderer, Newcastle on Tuesday 27th May too, if you needed this to be any more authentic.

Released: 01.05.25 www.linktr.ee/oliverhuntmusic

ALBUMS

3.5 / 5

ANDREW CUSHIN

LOVE IS FOR EVERYONE (LAB RECORDS)

Words: Cameron Wright

Andrew Cushin is undeniably the flagship star of Newcastle’s bustling music scene. In the wake of Sam Fender’s astronomical success, it left us all wondering what’s next and who can share the torch? If it wasn’t obvious when his debut album was signed to Pete Doherty’s label, or when lead single Where’s My Family Gone was produced by and featured Noel Gallagher, then it is certainly evident now in the wake of his newest release that Andrew Cushin is the real deal.

Love Is For Everyone is the second release by the North East artist. Off the back of his US tour and a stint supporting Louis Thomlinson, it was clear to me even back in 2023 when he played Newcastle’s O2 City Hall that his songs were made for bigger venues.

That very ethos is immediately apparent from the opening track, the album’s namesake is such a clear cry for the arenas; it is as euphoric as you could hope, with a huge chorus that would set a crowd alight. Tracks like Something Ain’t Quite Right are heavily indebted to the aforementioned musicians that clearly shaped Cushin’s palette, yet still showcase enough of the star’s own personality to not feel like a direct replica.

Without the blaring guitars that punctuate the following tracks, or the very prominent, simple drum patterns at the front of the mix, this could easily be a pop album. It has that innate ability to very quickly connect and communicate.

Although the majority of the album could be argued to sound akin to a tribute of the 00s indie scene, this would be dismissive of some of the stronger tracks such as the swaggering Alright! or A Song For You, in which Cushin bucks this trend and shows his own personal take on the modern songwriter genre.

The most explicitly out of character track on the album is Standing By My Side, and for me is the stand out of the record. It still feels anthemic and made to fill a room, but it showcases a tenderness that the rest of the album can neglect, and really places an emphasis on both the songwriter and the vocalist that Cushin has grown into.

With an upcoming slot at Mouth of The Tyne Festival in July, joining names like Rick Astley and Ocean Colour Scene, and an outstore on behalf of Reflex Records at KU, Stockton on Friday 2nd May, the future looks bright for Andrew Cushin.

Released: 02.05.25 www.andrewcushin.com

ALSO OUT THIS MONTH

Andy Bell - Ten Crowns (Crown Recordings, 02.05) // Léa Sen – Levels (Partisan Records, 30.05) // Shanti Celeste – Romance (Peach Discs, 16.05) // Chaos In The CBD - A Deeper Life (In Dust We Trust, 09.05) // Death And Vanilla - Whistle And I'll Come To You (Fire Records, 23.05) // Robert Forster – Strawberries (Tapete Records, 23.05) // Deradoorian - Ready for Heaven (Fire Records, 09.05) // Car Seat Headrest - The Scholars (Matador Records, 02.05) // Alan Sparhawk - With Trampled By Turtles (Sub Pop, 30.05) // Matt Maltese – Hers (The Orchard, 16.05) // Thalia Zedek Band - The Boat Outside Your Window (Thrill Jockey Records, 23.05) // Loscil - Lake Fire (Kranky, 02.05) // Sparks – MAD! (Transgressive Records, 23.05) // Das Koolies - Pando's (Strangetown Records, 09.05) // The Kooks – Never/Know (Virgin Music Group, 09.05) // PUP - Who Will Look After The Dogs? (Little Dipper/Rise Records, 02.05) // Ezra Furman - Goodbye Small Head (Bella Union, 16.05) // Morcheeba - Escape The Chaos (100% Records, 23.05) // Tune-Yards - Better Dreaming (4AD, 16.05)

5 / 5

KATHRYN JOSEPH

WE WERE MADE PREY. (ROCK ACTION)

Words: Ali Welford

Maintaining a 100% hit rate of heart-stopping stunners, Kathryn Joseph's fourth full-length reprises the creative partnership with fellow Scot Lomond Campbell first explored on 2022's for you who are the wronged. And yet, while many would have welcomed more of the same, WE WERE MADE PREY. stands utterly apart not only from its predecessor, but every other record in a near-perfect catalogue.

Brutal and beautiful by equal measure, Campbell's sonic wizardry enriches the stark magic of Joseph's songwriting like never before, breaking silence and riddling her unique quivering hammerblow of a voice with coagulating distortion. With each number landing harder than the last, this electrifying synergy may even have culminated her most distinguished triumph to date.

Released: 30.05.25

www.kathrynjoseph.co.uk

3.5 / 5

LAEL NEALE

ALTOGETHER STRANGER (SUB POP)

Words: Matt Young

Lael Neale perfects her spectral frequency on Altogether Stranger. Written in early-morning solitude and soaked in L.A.’s uncanny glow, this compact nine-track marvel is an extremely adventurous work.

Swapping folk austerity for motorik rhythms, mellotron ghosts and omnichord lullabies, Neale’s lo-fi spirituals move like cosmic hymns, shimmering vapours full of both awe and detachment. Her lyrics remain razor-sharp yet dream-washed, decoding the surreal mundanity of modern life, navigating liminal zones where technology blurs into memory and cities sprawl like mirages.

Producer Guy Blakeslee enriches the sonic palette without sacrificing Neale’s raw, hand-made intimacy. Previously, Star Eaters Delight widened her world, Altogether Stranger opens a portal. It's a quietly radical, profoundly moving document from an artist who never quite belongs.

Released: 02.05.25

www.laelneale.com

Image by Eddie Whelan

4 / 5

M(H)AOL

SOMETHING SOFT (MERGE RECORDS)

Words: Matt Young

M(h)aol have evolved with explosive clarity on Something Soft. Where Attachment Styles, their debut, was raw and revolutionary, their latest effort sharpens that edge into something more intimate and ferociously alive. The band’s chemistry is undeniable; the rhythm section of Hyland and Keane is locked in like a heartbeat, pulsing beneath vocals that flit between defiance and deadpan wit.

Tracks like Pursuit and DM:AM walk tightropes of tension, while 1800-Call-Me-Back and I Miss My Dog crash with catharsis, balancing irony and heartbreak. It’s their most technically and nuanced nimble work yet, but no less snarling. Something Soft isn’t gentle, it’s blistering and beautifully human. A sonic group chat for the disaffected, M(h)aol has made one of 2025’s most vital records.

Released: 16.05.25 www.mhaol.bandcamp.com

CAROLINE

CAROLINE 2 (ROUGH TRADE)

Words: Lee Fisher

From the first play of opener Total Euphoria, it was clear they’d done it again. A pure, clear guitar line turns into a lurching, almost shoegaze passage, violins and faltering drums and gorgeous overlapping vocals, before a blast of cleansing, euphoric noise rips the song apart and the voices come to the fore, that collective, almost hymnal, quality caroline have. And so it continues – there are moments of avant garde noise, stark gentle folk, gleeful fuzz, those singular voices over and over. Sometimes the tracks are more like moments than songs, Polaroids made of strings and voices. And at its heart, Tell Me I Never Knew That, the unlikely/inevitable/perfect collaboration with queen Caroline Polachek, which is so fucking beautiful it makes me cry. Released: 30.05.25

www.caroline.band

SKINNY LISTER SONGS FROM THE YONDER (XTRA MILE RECORDINGS)

Words: Lee Hammond

It’s rare these days to find a record that actually feels hopeful, but Songs From The Yonder is just that, packed with songs of love, optimism and resilience. It’s cut from familiar cloth though, opening with the rousing Yorkshire Belle in Skinny Lister’s familiar and well-honed shanty punk sound. Both Tumbling Into Something and Everything are the more subdued moments on the record, but follow those same hopeful themes.

Brave The Waves, Drinking Song and Set Us Straight are the highlights on Songs From The Yonder, these driving tracks will inspire instant sing-alongs. They all have that typical Skinny Lister chant-along feel to them and will definitely enhance their already brilliant live set. This is a genuinely uplifting record!

Released: 09.05.25

www.skinnylister.com

4.5 / 5 4.5 / 5 4 / 5

WRETCH 32

HOME? (AWAL)

Words: Jonathan Coll

Wretch 32 became a household name following the release of his second studio album back in 2011, with Traktor and Unorthodox becoming sounds of the summer, and Don’t Go earning him his first number one single. However, the Tottenham-based poet’s recent work has been some of his most intriguing. His 2021 project Little Big Man partnered with homelessness charity Shelter and showed Wretch at his introspective best. His new album, Home?, continues this artistic evolution and insightful social commentary. The record features some of the biggest names in the grime scene with Ghetts, Kano and Little Simz turning in exceptional verses. This is a very different Wretch from the one which first hit the public consciousness. He’s come a long way from those early pop bangers and this album is well worth your time.

Released: 02.05.25 www.wretch32.com

MCLUSKY THE WORLD IS STILL HERE AND SO ARE WE (IPECAC)

Words: Lee Fisher

And then somehow 20 years have passed and everything is much worse and here are mclusky, picking up exactly where they left off (like the second [Rec] movie), roaring out of the gate with Unpopular Parts Of A Pig like, I dunno, vaporwave never happened. It’s not entirely business as usual – there’s an unlikely skank to Cops & Coppers, The Digger You Deep has a stoner rock riff, Not All Steeplejacks is taut, lurching, menacing. But mostly it’s what you expect and love from mclusky: Falko’s worldview is as disappointed and furious – and furiously funny – as ever; they have killer riffs for days; new-ish boy Damien Sayell has slotted into the rhythm section beautifully. Mclusky make me want to smash stuff up, but gleefully.

Released: 09.05.25

www.mcluskymclusky.bandcamp.com

JENNY HVAL IRIS SILVER MIST (4AD)

Words: Ben Lowes-Smith

Jenny Hval’s writing has always had a very sensory quality to it, and this is perhaps exemplified in her debut novel Paradise Rot. On Iris Silver Mist, her ninth studio album, the impetus for this aesthetic comes from a different place; during the pandemic, with music on hold, Hval immersed herself in fragrance to accompany her listening at home. Indeed, all five senses are vivid in the music; opener Lay Down begins underground and is imbued with a the carnal earthiness that would suggest. The tactile intimacy of the record is typified on All Night Long, its smoky, meandering melody gradually filtering into the consciousness and feeling at once familiar and alien. Another exhilaratingly unique listening experience from one of our finest outliers.

Released: 02.05.25

www.jennyhval.com

4

/ 5

KARA-LIS COVERDALE FROM WHERE YOU CAME (SMALLTOWN SUPERSOUND)

Words: Elodie A. Roy

Canadian experimental composer Kara-Lis Coverdale has recorded four albums in 10 years. This is her first release for Oslo-based label Smalltown Supersound. It is a slow, stark record – 42 minutes of dark whispers and mournful prayers. If forests were to sing, perhaps they would sound like this – austerely beautiful. Working in collaboration with cellist Anne Bourne and trombonist (and composer) Kalia Vandever, Coverdale has crafted an organic, vibrant sound which, however, never truly becomes warm. The album pays homage to the analogue days of electronic music, with one of the tracks recorded at the iconic GRM electro-acoustic music studio in Paris and another one at Elektronmusikstudion EMS in Stockholm. Only the last pieces of the album hint at the lusher, playfully anarchic style which made Coverdale so special. Released: 09.05.25 www.kara-liscoverdale.com

NILS FRAHM NIGHT (LEITER)

Words: Paul Jeffrey

Just over a year ago, Berlin-based contemporary composer and virtuoso musician Nils Frahm unveiled Day, a six-track album that peeled back the exquisite velvety electronic soundscapes of Music For Animals, to reveal a selection of meditative piano compositions. Night, recorded at his Funkhaus studio, embodies the theme. Darker in feel than its predecessor, it moves delicately between perfect glacial notes with a reverb-drenched whisper that wrenches both heart and soul. It conjures images of the musician, lit only by the glow of a wood burning fire, teasing beguiling melodies from his instrument for no other reason than the camaraderie it offers. With Night, Frahm once again shows himself to be an unadulterated master of affecting restraint. Released: 09.05.25 www.nilsfrahm.com

AMINÉ

13 MONTHS OF SUNSHINE (10K PROJECTS)

Words: Ikenna Offor

Monikered after a mid-century Ethiopian tourism slogan, Aminé’s latest offering is no mere course correction – it’s a spiritual homecoming that draws from his heritage and personal history with intentionality and grace. Where 2016’s Caroline introduced a buoyant, hook-happy MC, this is Aminé grown up: reflective, exacting, even elegiac. Threaded with warm familial voicenotes and awash in grooves that stretch from funk house (New Flower) to disco soul (Raspberry Kisses) and indie pop (Images), this is the Portland MC’s most emotionally honest work yet: equal parts memoir, tribute and future-facing meditation. Aminé, now 30, seems less interested in spectacle than significance – case in point, History is both a celebration and reckoning, dusted with joy, memory and the hard-earned clarity that often follows heartbreak. Released: 16.05.25 www.instagram.com/amine

BILLY NOMATES METAL HORSE (INVADA RECORDS)

Words: Mark Grainger

It's been a minute since Billy Nomates, aka Victoria 'Tor' Maries, became a target for armchair arseholes during her solo Glastonbury performance.

That's just one of the things that has changed for Metal Horse; the third BNM album is the first to feature a full performing band. More striking is how the spiky post-punk of previous releases has been streamlined, polished into a more country and pop-tinged sound. Instead of losing its power though, Metal Horse takes its chance to showcase Maries' musicality and ear for a lyrical refrain. It's a warmer, more careworn piece than 2023's Cacti, but it feels more like an evolution than a compromise. The guitar shimmers, the piano chimes, and Maries' voice soars in the exact middle of it all.

Released: 16.05.25 www.billynomates.bandcamp.com

ARCADE FIRE PINK ELEPHANT (SONY MUSIC)

Words: Ali Welford

Be it due to sexual misconduct allegations levelled at Win Butler or the general malaise that's characterised their output post-2010, album number seven was always going to be a tricky one for Arcade Fire to navigate. Pink Elephant certainly suppresses one trend: their previously insurmountably conviction that bigger means better. Unfortunately, this comparative restraint often feels like a peek behind the curtain, the results of which –though occasionally pretty – often sound half-finished in their meandering quest for transcendence. Even I Love Her Shadow – a live anthem in waiting, and by some measure the most convincing track here – fails to lift off, owing to the record's bafflingly flat production quality. Another misfire. Released: 09.05.25 www.arcadefire.com

L PSLEY

I'M A HURRICANE I'M A WOMAN IN LOVE (HER OWN RECORDINGS)

Words: Ali Welford

Holly Låpsley Fletcher's first album as a fully independent artist sees a warm embrace of the poppier leanings its three predecessors only tentatively hinted at. A propensity for sonic shape-shifting is likewise on full display – and while overly saccharine opener Hurricane is a notable stumble, the overall hit/miss ratio is a healthy one. Even so, it's in the lyrical department that this record truly excels. Woman Like That's pulsing synths embellish a bittersweet reflection societal norms and body dysmorphia, while the chiming folk pop gem Church (and its de facto spoken word intro, The Vision) wearily yet beautifully embodies the broken social contract afflicting Britain's youth. Those 'prime years' we're promised may be finite, yet as Låpsley's race by, her lyrical gaze and artistic autonomy only grow stronger.

Released: 02.05.25

www.lapsley.os.fan

MIXTAPE

WORDS: ADAM WILLIS & MARCIA HIDSON

Roulette Festival is all about grassroots music, and supporting local talent has always been a priority for us, especially as we’re all musicians ourselves. On Saturday 3rd May, we’re returning to Sunderland’s Independent to shine a spotlight on some of the best acts of the North East’s grassroots scene. This Mixtape features a selection of artists who will be tearing it up across our three stages.

www.linktr.ee/roulettefestival

PATRICK GOSLING BY MY SIDE

South Shields singer-songwriter Patrick Gosling showcases his dedication with By My Side, a heartfelt track years in the making. The song captures the deep emotional connection between two people, even as the world falls apart around them. Gosling’s soaring vocals glide over an ethereal, guitar-driven instrumental, delivering an emotionally charged performance. Catch him headlining our main stage with his band.

DEAD WET THINGS SKINT

Chaotic, analytical and anarchic, Skint is from Sunderland-based four-piece Dead Wet Things’ EP Make Bad Decisions, Ruin Your Life, Live The Dream, and it’s an aggressive, intense track that captures the harsh reality of having nothing. The self-proclaimed ‘Council Estate Force’ are known for their electric live performances and should not be missed as they headline our Red Stage.

SLATE LABEL BEFORE WE DIE

Hailing from South Shields, Slate Label bring huge energy and commanding stage presence. Before We Die embodies their signature sound, from ripping drums to powerful vocals, evoking both nostalgia and hope. The track opens with a silky bassline before the full band delivers a massive punch. Catch them on our Green Stage.

THIS LITTLE BIRD THE OCEAN

This stunning piano and vocal performance comes from one of our Terrace Stage acts, This Little Bird. Recorded in 2024 during the Sunderland Summer Sessions at The Bunker – a cornerstone of the grassroots music scene – The Ocean tells a poignant tale of reluctance in love after past mistreatment. Underneath its somberness, however, optimism shines through, making it a thoroughly captivating listen.

POST ROME FLORAL SHIRT

2000’s indie is back! Melancholic vocals interlaced among a bed of hopeful arpeggiated guitars. Post Rome beautifully captures the feeling of understanding you need to let go, a toxic love that neither can break away from, becoming more of an accessory for the other, to only be remembered during times of struggle. Dreamy bell synths echo the vocal melody, echoing dreams of true love and what could have been.

CAMEL ISLAND LITTLE HEART

The pressures of love are not easy to handle, especially during our younger years. Camel Island show the chaotic mix of confidence, fear, joy and beauty that come along with love. Raw, distorted guitars are simultaneously as smooth as they are jagged, and fade into calming acoustic guitar during the first chorus, while uncertain vocals soar, then

decrescendo, further adding to the ambivalence. Recorded at Birdland Studios, Camel Island aims to blend Supergrass, The Police and Blur into a potent indie rock package, their anthemic choruses becoming permanent residents in the minds of all who listen.

LABYRINTHINE OCEANS LOST TO THE OCEAN

Last year’s headliners have been hard at work, writing and releasing non-stop. lost to the ocean is an atmospheric, immersive journey, weaving shimmering guitars, ethereal vocals, and a reverb-soaked soundscape. Mimicking the ebb and flow of the sea, the shoegaze four-piece craft a track that pulls you in, evolving from a calm guitar intro to an energetic solo before gently drifting back down again. You can listen to this track and three others on the band’s most recent EP lost to the ocean.

RUBY KELLY ST ELMO

Set against the haunting backdrop of a famous ghost town, Ruby masterfully crafts an Americana-inspired track that tells the story of an outlaw on the run, willing to risk everything for love. The pacing is flawless, allowing the narrative to unfold beautifully. It begins with a brooding intro, setting a moody atmosphere, before the driving drums and bassline kick in, propelling the song forward. Ruby’s vocals are captivating from the start – powerful, soulful and impossible to ignore.

Study for an Audio & Music Production Degree at University Centre

Middlesbrough

Courses include:

❱ Fd Audio & Music Production

❱ BA (Hons) Audio & Music Production (Top-up)

Our Industry Masterclasses have featured Grammy-winning engineers who have worked with Metallica, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Adele, Super Bowl Half-Time Show performers who have collaborated with Shania Twain, Britney Spears, and Slash, Game Audio Sound Designers for Creative Assembly, Foley Artists who have worked on The Witcher, Civil War, Wonka and more.

Our courses are delivered in state-ofthe-art recording studios and control rooms, editing suites, and venues. We are an Avid Pro Tools Authorised Learning Partner, delivering industry-standard qualifications alongside our higher education programme designed with industry in mind. Our teaching rooms are equipped with industry-standard software and hardware.

What will I study?

Areas of study include:

❱ Music Production

❱ Live Events Production

❱ Recording and Mixing

❱ Audio for Film, TV and Games

❱ Composition and Songwriting

❱ Sound Design and Synthesis

❱ Popular and Experimental Music

❱ Career Development

❱ Pro Tools and Ableton Live

Niall Coates

Niall

Niall progressed to a career in industry and is now a seasoned Games Dev Sound Designer. He has worked on major game titles such as Total War: Warhammer III and Jurassic World: Aftermath, alongside games on STEAM like PHOGS! and other puzzle games.

“I wouldn’t have been able to get by in industry without the core skills I learnt on my course, from software knowledge to plugins, recording skills, and presentations.

“One of my favourite things about seeing one of the games I’ve worked on come out is seeing people’s reactions to what you’ve worked so hard on.”

Our course team is comprised of active industry professionals. Our course has been designed in collaboration with industry, with Tees Music Alliance, Middlesbrough Town Hall, The Middlesbrough Empire, ARC, KU Bar, Butterfly Effect Records, and more on board, to offer real work-related learning opportunities for our students!

Find out more course information and apply online today!

Northumbria University

FineBA Art

Graduate Exhibition

Wed 21 May:

Exhibition Preview

Wed 21 – Sun 25 May 2025

13:00-17:30 (Shuttle Bus Provided)

Opening Celebration

18:00-20:30

A cross-venue exhibition:

Gallery North

Northumbria University, Newcastle, NE1 8QE

Vane

Orbis Community, Gateshead, NE8 2AP

Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art

Gateshead, NE8 3BA

Free drop-in

baltic.art/nugradshow