NARC. #218 - July 2025

BADGER

TYNE & QUEER

DUNCAN LLOYD

DURHAM BRASS

NEWCASTLE & DURHAM FRINGE FESTIVALS

Magna Carta and the North

11 July - 2 November 2025

For the rst time in eight years, see three rare copies of the Magna Carta on display. Experience artworks and interactive installations throughout Durham Cathedral that tell the story of these 800-year-old documents, which are still a powerful symbol of social justice in the world today.

Adults ­ £7.50 | Under 18s ­ Free

Book your tickets at: durhamcathedral.co.uk/magnacarta

Cameron Wright talks to the Newcastle-based noisy alt. pop duo about their bold and exciting debut album

I’m writing this exactly halfway through the year, and I’m not really sure how that happened; the last six months have flown by (don’t tell me it’s age...). It’s a particularly reflective time for me, as I also celebrate a birthday in mid-June, so taking stock of the last year and looking ahead to the next one is occasionally a sobering (and in this year’s case, exciting) experience. More on that another day, dear Constant Readers. This month has also seen us turn the magazine around in a super-tight three-week deadline, which happens now and then (bloody calendars…) and which our team handles with aplomb. This edition is packed with a raft of interesting stuff – most engaging of all are some of the events coming out of Durham and Newcastle Fringe Festivals, both of which seem to pull out the stops every year to produce a programme of music, theatre and comedy which consistently pushes boundaries and brings exciting stories and often unheard voices to the fore. I urge you to check out our features, and a handful of interviews with some of the performers, within our pages.

Festival season continues apace, and as always we’ve unearthed the best alt. music and culture events for you to get stuck into. So, dig in…

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

Amelia Read

Live Photography

George Driver / Tracy Hyman / Victoria Wai / David Wala

Contributors

Neil Ainger / Jonathan Coll / Laura Doyle / Jacob Easton / Lee Fisher / Mark Grainger / Nat Greener / Lee Hammond / Zeinab Lenton / Ben Lowes-Smith / Amy McGarahan / Robert Nichols / Michael O’Neill / Stephen Oliver / Kai Palmer / Adam Paxton / Niamh Poppleton / Kate Relton / Ben Robinson / Damian Robinson / Laura Rosierse / Elodie A Roy / Joe Sharples / Sarah Storer / Victoria Wai / Robin Webb / Cameron Wright

PREVIEWS

4 HIGHLIGHTS

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

6 PREVIEWS

Live shows from Luke Una, Fontaines DC, Marina Josephina, Cheekface, King Witch, The Enemy, LAIR, BCUC, Soweto Kinch, Des Demonas, The Weeping Willows, Joshua Burnside, Kaonashi and more, plus festivals including Summer Streets, Ouseburn Festival, Newcastle Pride, Laughing Stock Comedy Festival and Masala Festival. There’s arty goodness at Baltic with new exhibitions from Saelia Aparicio and Harold Offeh, NGCA welcome artist Jill McKnight, and culture and climate come into focus in Our Place In The Family of Things at Dorman Museum. Funny Way To Be present Edinburgh Fringe previews at The Witham, there’s an evening of female and non-binary talent at Live Theatre, plus literary events courtesy of New Writing North at Tyneside Cinema, alongside loads more!

Reports of live shows from Earth, Pixies, The Horrors, Sam Fender, Martha Wainwright, Paul Smith, Lanterns on the Lake, Foxing and

Reviews of singles and EPs from local artists including Carrie Hawkins, Nadedja, Jenna Louise ft. The Dunwells, Leon Fussell, Central Arcade, Sam George, Domineeky, Tin Ribs, Tight Collar, Jade Mia Broadhead, Stock Image and OKO OKO

Reviews of new releases from Wet Leg, Laura Jane Grace In The Trauma Tropes, The Worm, Gwenno, Kokoroko, Kae Tempest, Far Caspian, Jade Bird, Half Japanese, Poor Creature and more

Sandy Duff from Less Stress Fest, taking place in Morpeth from 1st-3rd August, picks some of his favourite tunes

PREVIEWS

JULY’S ANTICS INCLUDE PRIDE POP PARTIES, POWERFUL ACTIVISM, EAR RINGING NOISE PUNK, QUICK WITTED COMEDY AND MUCH MORE...

COMEDY FRI 4

JUSTIN MOORHOUSE

Justin Moorhouse returns after his 2022 show Stretch and Think with a brand new tour: The Greatest Performance of My Life. His comedy spans a myriad of topics – pantomimes, dreams, growing up smart-mouthed, how to act in hospitals, small talk and more. Hilarious. Unmissable. And only in Darlington for one night!

Hipp @ The Hullabaloo, Darlington www.justinmoorhouse.com

MUSIC FRI 4

TODD DAY WAIT & BAND

Nashville-based songster Todd Day Wait will be stopping off at Central Bar on his endless tour with his own unique brand of timeless country music. Local favourite Gem Andrews is supporting, bringing the best alt. country jams in what will be the finest night of honky tonk!

The Central Bar, Gateshead www.tdwpigpen.com

MUSIC

SAT 5

THE FLOW STATE

The Flow State are an eclectic new blues rock quartet bursting out of Sunderland’s independent music scene, and they’re excellent (hence why they’re previous awardees of our demo of the month). Their summer show at The Ship Isis promises soaring sonics and meandering melodies, with support from Sunderland riot grrrl up-andcomers Claudia.

The Ship Isis, Sunderland www.instagram.com/theflowstatemusic

COMEDY SAT 5

TOM GLOVER

The hilarious comedian and accidental TikTok star heads to Whitley Bay as part of his Did You Watch That Reel I Sent You? tour. He’ll be ready and waiting with his live commentary on marriage, parenting and growing up in the 90s – and you won’t be wanting to miss it. Laurels, Whitley Bay www.linktr.ee/tomglovercomedy

MUSIC

SAT 12

RITUAL ERROR

Penned as the rising stars of the underground, post-hardcore noise punk band Ritual Error will deliver an ear ringing night of chaos; channelling mid-90s punk vibes with razor sharp vocals, heavy riffs and thunderous rhythms. With support from Pave the Jungle, Tin Ribs and Zilch Patrol. The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle www.linktr.ee/ritualerrorband

EVENTS

SAT 12-THUR 26

SISTER SHACK: OUR PRIDE

The incredible Sister Shack continue their amazing work for the queer community with a year-long series of Pride events including the unmissable Bend and Shake Pride Party, Our Pride evening social plus performances, a queer ecology workshop, plus more to come later in the year.

Various venues, Newcastle www.our-pride.com

MUSIC SUN 13

JULIE DEXTER

The Cluny Jazz Club presents a very special matinee show featuring world renowned jazz singer Julie Dexter. One of the most influential vocalists of her generation, this awardwinning artist takes classic soul and her extraordinary talent transcends genres to create magical live experiences for audiences. The Cluny 2, Newcastle www.juliedexter.com

Tin Ribs by David Hall

JULY HIGHLIGHTS

FILM TUE 15

ARE YOU PROUD?

The Customs House presents a special film screening of the thought provoking documentary Am I Proud?, in association with South Tyneside Pride. Exploring the history of the gay rights movement in Britain, the film combines rare archival footage with interviews from leading voices campaigning for equal rights.

Customs House, South Shields www.customshouse.co.uk

ART & LIT

FRI 18

WHERE WERE YOU LAST SUMMER?

Exploring the hidden voices of South Asian women through incredible multidisciplinary visual artworks from Sehr Jalil and Padma Rao. Their joint exhibition explores personal stories and archival enquiries, investigating the space between colonialism and women’s activism in context of the recent unrest in summer 2024. Runs until 30th August.

Arts Centre Washington www.sunderlandculture.org.uk

ART & LIT

FRI 18

COLLECTIVE PULSE: ART IN ACTION

Cementing Pink-collar Gallery's commitment to social change by championing marginalised voices and activists, this exciting and essential exhibition platforms artists who are using their work to explore both personal and collective stories of the environment, community, neurodivergence and LGBTQIA+ experiences. This month, enjoy work by Hannah Kate Absalom, Heather MacDonald, Sullivan Alenezi and Ellen Dixon. Runs until 18th August. Hills Art Centre, Sunderland www.pink-collargallery.com

MUSIC

SAT 19

PONYLAND & PADDY STEER

Wandering Oak graces the town with yet another incredible line-up, this time bringing together Ponyland and Paddy Steer to raise the roof off The Cluny. Ponyland are bringing the psychedelia, punk and reggae sounds, while Paddy Steer presents electronica, jazz and funk – the only question is, are you bringing yourself?

The Cluny, Newcastle www.linktr.ee/wanderingoakuk

MUSIC SAT 26

PRIDE POP PARTY

What’s your dream northern line-up of LGBTQ+ artistry? We can’t see it being much different from this one, which has materialised at the end of July with two of the region’s most inimitable queer-pop legends already confirmed – attitude-laced alt. pop icons ZELA and turbulent dark pop artist Loren Heat. ARC, Stockton www.arconline.co.uk

FILM THUR 31

VENEZUELAN COMMUNES BUILDING PEOPLE'S POWER + Q&A

This powerful film platforms important voices and activists behind the resistance against imperialism in Venezuela’s communes; shedding light on the important advances made in the community. This screening will feature a mini documentary, The Great Housing Mission, plus insights from the film makers with a Q&A. Star and Shadow, Newcastle www.starandshadow.org.uk

NARC. ONLINE

Did you know our website is updated every day with new content? From exclusive features and interviews with North East artists, to reviews of live music, theatre, comedy and new albums, there’s loads more to discover…

and

MUSIC CHEEKFACE @ THE GROVE

Words: Cameron Wright

I first heard of Cheekface after their 2022 release, Too Much To Ask and fully immersed as a fan after 2024’s It’s Sorted, which somehow was both one of the most accessible, straight forward punk albums I’d heard in years, yet also one of the most exciting and Idiosyncratic releases of the decade so far.

If you phase out the social discourse and rage that drives a lot of punk, and instead replace it with a lust for life, giddiness and abundant sense of silliness, you get Cheekface. Imbedded with music references, social commentary and the mundanity of day to day life, the songs of Cheekface are as cheeky as the name would suggest. Their sense of jubilation puts me in mind of They Might Be Giants/ as a band who drown in a deft daftness while being truly interesting musically too. Cheekface’s latest venture is Middle Spoons which cranks the metaphorical

volume up further. From ArtHouse to the ska swagger of Rude World, the Los Angeles trio deserve their devout, growing and cult following.

Coming to The Grove on Thursday 17th July - their live shows are as sporadic and random as their songs - often peppering their sets with covers or returning to old favourites. This is a gig for anyone looking for a fun night of community and rock and roll. They’re supported by local faves Martha and Fresh. www.linktr.ee/cheekface

ART & LIT HAROLD OFFEH @ BALTIC

Words: Ben Robinson

This summer Baltic will become home to renowned artist Harold Offeh, bringing an exciting new project which is aimed at young people, children and their families. Starting from Saturday 5th July, Offeh will develop vibrant, playful and thought-provoking works in collaboration with the Gateshead gallery and the local community, as part of their

Neighbourly programme.

Offeh is known for his dynamic practice and methods which span performance, video, photography, learning and the social arts. He draws on two decades of experience to create engaging works that are both entertaining and challenging; and now he gets the chance to bring it to the vibrant artistic communities of the North East. Using the familiarity of pop culture from music, film and media, Offeh blends emotions and bright, bold visuals to explore narratives and issues; bringing a hint of the local culture into these pieces. He offers a fresh take on local topics by making them accessible and engaging for audiences of all ages. With a brilliant ability to combine serious subjects with a youthful approach, Harold Offeh’s new work at Baltic is set to spark curiosity and conversation, offering families and children an inspiring and interactive art experience, which will hopefully inspire audiences to get creative themselves. The exhibition runs until 1st February 2026. www.haroldoffeh.com

Cheekface by Mallory Turner

MUSIC

THE WEEPING WILLOWS @ THE CLUNY 2

Words: Laura Doyle

Love is in the air at every show The Weeping Willows play, but that’s what you get when your musical duo is made up of two people in love. Andrew Wrigglesworth and Laura Coates formed their bluegrass ensemble back in 2012 all the way down under in Australia. In a little over a decade, they’ve amassed the approval of critics across their home country, with three Aussie Country Music Awards and a Music Victoria Award for Best Country Act under their belts.

To spend every aspect of their lives together – including music making and touring the world – must be a sign of a healthy relationship. They’ve channelled this chemistry into the creation of timeless Americana music steeped in the Gothic tradition. Their lo-fi acoustic tracks tell tales of love, misfortune, good times and bad, all set to a soundtrack that could be replicated by anyone across the aeons with access to a

stringed instrument and an angelic voice. Now, the multi-awarding winning duo are on their way to the UK to strum out their eerie, Gothic-with-a-capital-G ditties for a British audience. Performing at The Cluny 2 on Sunday 13th July, the intimacy of the venue will provide the perfect ambience for an equally intimate performance from these two Australian love birds and their familiar folk songs.

www.theweepingwillows.com.au

EVENTS

DISCOVERY NIGHTS: UNPLUGGED @ DISCOVERY MUSEUM

Words: Kai Palmer

Fancy a night at the museum? Newcastle’s Discovery Museum are inviting people to ditch their phones and unwind for three hours of mindful activities on Friday 18th July. Their new after-hours events, Discovery Nights, are aimed at adults with a focus on sustainability and slow-living: perfect if you’re looking for a

fulfilling and interactive way to relax on a night.

Kylea Little, the Discovery Museum’s Keeper of History says: “We’re keen to open the museum at night to create a new community of adults who are seeking new experiences”. Behind-the-scenes tours, mindful crafting, cosmetic making, and retro board games are among the range of activities on offer to bring together a community of like-minded history-lovers. There’ll also be stalls from local, sustainable traders and opportunities to learn how to repair and repurpose old clothing. Each event will run from 6pm-9pm and will have a DJ, a bar provided by Newcastle University’s Stu-Brew, and food from the museum’s café. Themes will be based on the museum’s programme, with the first being inspired by their incredible Steam to Green exhibition and much-loved 1970s comedy The Good Life. History lovers and those interested in new, fascinating experiences make sure to get yourself down to the Discovery Museum on Friday 18th July.

www.northeastmuseums.org.uk

The Weeping Willows by Ian Laidlaw

MUSIC

THE ENEMY @ TIMES SQUARE

Words: Cameron Wright

In 2007, The Enemy released We’ll Live And Die In These Towns. This album may well be one of the biggest call to arms that Britain has had this century. It was mercilessly frank, rousing and agitated. Brought to force by three working class boys raised on The Jam, the songs throughout the album aren’t shiny or polished, but they are authentic and they are full of drive. The Weller influence is translated perfectly; seen more as carrying forward his bounce, swagger and balance of anger and dance. The gallows humour of The Jam is replicated here, as The Enemy leap forward with a tongue firmly embedded in its cheek, while never letting it subdue its gnashing teeth. The tracks are filled with an Oasis tier euphoria that could easily have filled arenas, but yet, the band disbanded in 2017. After a sold out reunion tour in 2023, the band have announced they are releasing a new album in 2025 - their first in over a decade. With Matt Terry, who produced the tracks of their seminal debut back at the helm, this is going to be massive.

Returning to Newcastle to celebrate, The Enemy bring The Rifles and Rebel DJs to Times Square on Friday 18th July. www.theenemyband.co.uk

COMEDY

LAUGHING STOCK COMEDY FESTIVAL @ SEATON CAREW

Words: Isabel Johnson

For the first time ever, Laughing Stock Comedy Festival heads to the coastline with a mighty roster of some of your favourite comedians, all ready to treat you to some family friendly fun and funniness on Sunday 27th July at Coronation Road in Seaton Carew. Laughing Stock will be headlined by one of the UK’s top names in comedy, Russell Howard, who is best known for his TV shows Russell Howard’s Good News and The Russell Howard Hour. His comedy is observational, tackling life from an innately charming, positive perspective - perfect for a sunny summer Sunday.

Joining Howard is a stacked line-up of hilarious guests including award-winning powerhouse Adam Rowe from Liverpool; master of the one-liner Gary Delaney; BBC Three Non Blondes trailblazer Ninia Benjamin; nightclub bouncer turned stand-up comedian Emmanual Sonubi; North East staple Matt Reed; TV writer - think 8 Out of 10 Cats Does Countdown - Andrew Bird; and fast-paced prop-heavy bizarre comedy duo Raymond & Mr Timpkins. How’s that for a variety?

The eight-hour extravaganza is the perfect activity for your summer calendar - and you can take the whole family if you so wish. Coastal scenes, comedy heroes and big, side-splitting, face-aching, can-barelycontain-yourself laughs. Comedy connoisseurs - this one’s practically compulsory. www.laughingstockcomedy.com

MUSIC BOO HEWERDINE &

YVONNE LYON @ THE ENGINE ROOM

Words: Amy McGarahan

On Sunday 20th July, North Shields’ atmospheric little venue The Engine Room welcomes songwriters Boo Hewerdine and Yvonne Lyon for a night filled with songs from their 2023 album, Things Found In Books.  Glasgow-based singer-songwriter Boo Hewerdine is well known for his captivating folk pop sound, while Scottish artist Yvonne Lyon’s melodic craft and lyrical sensitivity have earned her praise for her tenth solo album, Growing Wild.

The songwriters’ collaborative album was inspired by a noticeboard in Culzean Castle’s second-hand bookshop; where forgotten fragments, old notes and postcards became the spark for new songs. Hewerdine and Lyon transformed these forgotten treasures into something permanent, blending imagined lives with their own experiences in a folk-rooted collection, which will be brought to life in an intimate performance featuring two masterful voices, acoustic arrangements and a shared love for detail that unearths the extraordinary in everyday moments.  www.terns.co.uk

The Enemy

MUSIC DES DEMONAS @ THE CLUNY 2

Words: Adam Paxton

When you hear ‘DC punk band’, most fans of the genre likely have a certain sound in mind; harking back to the seminal (banned in) DC band Bad Brains. And while Des Demonas certainly have that in their heritage, they are also much more, and can be explained by

their line-up which is composed of key members of indie, garage and DC punk scenes and fronted by post-punk-politique poet Jacky ‘Cougar’ Abok. Rather than take the sound of their predecessors, Des Demonas have taken their spirit of musical adventurousness and challenging – in the intellectual sense – lyrics. It’s no wonder they are a favourite of Henry Rollins and Iggy Pop. If their recommendation isn’t enough – and it really should be – then there’s this: Des Demonas, simply put, make melodically interesting music with bite, with intellectually and politically incisive lyrics rich with

metaphor and allusion. Listen to their most recent album, Apocalyptic Boom! Boom!, and hear their rich influences, ranging from punk to indie to jazz, and knack for catchy choruses without compromising lyrical content, and you’ll understand why the Des Demonas’ show at The Cluny 2 on Sunday 20th July isn’t an experience to miss. And if Fascist Discotheque and its groove and jagged guitar refrain doesn’t get you moving and your mind engaged, I’m not sure what will. www.des-demonas.bandcamp.com

Under one Iconic Roof

This Summer

Wednesday 9 July

BBC Introducing from the Glasshouse: George Boomsma, watersmeet and Nadia Kadek

Tuesday 15 July

Jessica Pratt plus Clarissa Connelly

Friday 18 July

GemArts Masala Festival: Blossoming - Eeshar Singh with Royal Northern Sinfonia

Friday 25 July

BBC Proms: JADE & Royal Northern Sinfonia

Saturday 26 July

BBC Proms: Angeline Morrison: The Sorrow Songs

Check out all our gigs: theglasshouseicm.org/whats-on

MON 14 JULY

SONGS OF THE BULBUL

NEWCASTLE THEATRE

ROYAL – 7.30PM

Tickets: £13.00-£36.00 theatreroyal.co.uk

MON 14 JULY–2 AUGUST

DEATH MAGIC BY SOFIA BARTON

VANE, GATESHEAD – 12-5PM

Tickets: FREE

TUES 15 JULY

SARASWATI: AN OBSERVER BEST DEBUT NOVEL OF 2025

NORTHERN STAGE – 6.30PM

Tickets: £5 northernstage.co.uk

I, THE SONG

TYNESIDE CINEMA – 7.45PM

Tickets: £13.75/£11.75 conc (£7 Young Tyneside members) tynesidecinema.co.uk

WED 16 JULY PARADISE

CULTURE LAB, NEWCASTLE

UNIVERSITY – 6PM

Tickets: FREE (Registration is essential)

GemArts Eventbrite

WED 16 JULY

BAADAL DVAAR SE NAZAR

THE CLUNY 2 – 7.30PM

Tickets: £12 advance (£15 on the door) GemArts Eventbrite

THUR 17 JULY

STARTING OVER, REBUILDING FROM THE RUINS (SOUTH ASIAN FILM SHORTS)

BALTIC – 6.30PM

Tickets: £5

GemArts Eventbrite

FRI 18 JULY

BLOSSOMING: EESHAR SINGH WITH ROYAL NORTHERN SINFONIA

THE GLASSHOUSE – 8PM

Tickets: £11.30-£22.50 theglasshouseicm.org

Sponsored by:

SAT 19 JULY

BOLLYWOOD BRASS BAND

MONUMENT & HAYMARKET

METRO – 2PM, 3PM & 4PM

Tickets: FREE

SAT 19 JULY

FREESPILL: A NIGHT OF UNFILTERED DESI

SOUL FLOW. HOSTED BY TAHMINA ALI

DIVERCITY HUB – 6PM

Tickets: £5.00

GemArts Eventbrite

SUN 20 JULY

MINI MELA

BENSHAM GROVE – 11AM-3PM

Tickets: FREE

MiniMela

ART & LIT

NEW WRITING NORTH EVENTS @

TYNESIDE CINEMA

Words: Laura Doyle

The Tyneside Cinema does a combo deal unlike any other cinema in Newcastle. We’re not talking an unreasonably overpriced hot dog and drink combo here – we’re talking about cultural enrichment funnelled through the lens of the silver screen. They’ve teamed up with New Writing North this time to deliver a series of discussions coupled with an on-theme screening to spice up your summer. First up on Wednesday 2nd July, they set out to show that girls just wanna have a touch of bloody violence with their movie in The Rise of Femgore, in which femgore fanatics and authors Lucy Rose (The Lamb) and Jessie Elland (Emmerdale, The Ladie Upstairs) discuss how women have gone from sexist representations and final girls to main characters leading the charge in bloody horror. Their chat is followed by a showing of The Substance to finish off.

Music fans can join writer and radio presenter Stuart Maconie as he discusses his new novel With A Little Help From Their Friends on Tuesday 15th July, which dives into the beginnings of one of the most infamous musical outfits in the world, The Beatles. It’ll be concluded with a showing of Nowhere Boy to complete the immersive experience. For anyone with even the most passing interest in either subject, expect education and entertainment to be perfectly entwined for an enlightening experience overall. www.newwritingnorth.com

EVENTS ART CAR BOOT FAIR @ BALTIC

Words: Isabel Johnson

Art fans unite! On Saturday 12th July

Gateshead’s iconic Baltic is bringing you a one-stop shop for all your dream creative buys with their Art Car Boot Fair.

Over 50 creators will be offering up their work at the fair – think painting, ceramic, textiles, digital, anything your heart desires, really –and they’ll be announced soon, so keep your eyes peeled for extra information (though let it be known that each and every artist’s work will be incredible and worth a nice long perusal). The Art Car Boot Fair is also a completely free event, so you’re encouraged to spend the dough you would have paid on entry on some lovely new art instead, or some of the delicious food and drink that’ll be on offer while you enjoy some sweet tunes courtesy of DJ Déjà Brew – too good to be true, is it not?

The car boot fair is part of Baltic’s unmissable Summer Sizzler event programme, which also includes a zine exhibition, a pop-up shop from artist Andy Welland, risograph printing workshops, live music and a talk on the resident kittiwake population.

A wide variety of affordable artwork – and a chance to chat with the minds that made it – as well as music, food, drink, and hopefully a lovely sunny day (we have our fingers crossed for you, Gateshead)... it’s a yes from us.

www.baltic.art

MUSIC CUD @ THREE TANNERS BANK

Words: Steve Spithray

As the antithesis to fellow Leeds art/design alumni of the era that also produced legends such as Soft Cell, Scritti Politti, The Mekons and Chumbawamba, CUD were the pre-Britpop response to the doleful shoegazing bands of the post-grunge slump – fun-loving, light-hearted, romantic and downright catchy. Pretentious by being unpretentious and headed up by enigmatic frontman Carl Puttnam, the current line-up is completed by edgy guitarist Mike Dunphy and a tight, funky rhythm section of William Potter on bass and Gogs Byrn on drums.

CUD were initially lauded for their quirky Peel Session cover of You Sexy Thing in 1987, soon building a large live following with a string of ‘unstraight’ pop singles followed by 1990 debut album Leggy Mambo, which in turn led to a major label deal with A&M, a front-page NME feature, big tours, sell-out gigs and proper chart hits such as Rich And Strange and Purple Love Balloon. Nowadays the four-piece continue to tour regularly, recently going out on a co-headliner with The Boo Radleys in 2023 while continuing to release new music, albeit sporadically. The Three Tanners Bank gig on Friday 11th July is part of a short run of coastal town shows ahead of the 35th anniversary of the release of Leggy Mambo.

www.linktr.ee/cudband

Lucy Rose

MUSIC

RIVKALA @ THE GLOBE

Words: Nat Greener

Get ready for a powerful night of local talent as Rivkala and Hannah Robinson headline The Globe in Newcastle on Saturday 12th July. This show marks the debut event from rising

blogger and all-round music champion That Gig Lass; a new voice on the gig promotion scene with a deep love for all things grassroots, she’s kicking things off in style with two of the North East’s most exciting solo artists.

Rivkala brings her distinctive blend of jazz and feminist fire – expect groove, soul and uncompromising lyrical bite. Meanwhile, Hannah Robinson unveils her latest musical

direction: a reverb-drenched shoegaze set rooted in proud Geordie identity. Both artists promise intimate, genre-pushing performances that showcase the rich creativity thriving in the region’s DIY scene. Expect a night of dreamy textures, bold voices and serious local pride, what more could you want?

www.rivkala.bandcamp.com

Image by Ben Hughes

MUSIC

MUSIC AT THE CASTLE @ NEWCASTLE CASTLE

Words: Amy McGarahan

A truly special live music experience is set to take over one of Newcastle’s most iconic landmarks on Saturday 26th July, as Newcastle Castle hosts a unique, multi-room event that celebrates grassroots music. Teaming up with Sofar Sounds and promoters LLIVELY, the venue will be transformed into a labyrinth of intimate stages, offering audiences the chance to discover emerging artists in a setting steeped in atmosphere and history. Promising a rich blend of genres and moods, the line-up features rising talents including the introspective indie vulnerability of India Arkin; Scottish indie wordsmith Joe Goodall; the cinematic jazz/neo-soul stylings of Rivkala; mood pop outfit Vigilantes; dynamic alt. rockers Porcelain; anthemic indie collective Wolfred; bold jazz/alt. pop artist So Anne-So; and upbeat indie rock songwriter George Bailey.

With sets scattered throughout the Newcastle Castle’s historic rooms, the evening invites audiences to wander, discover and connect; whether through the music, the venue’s rich stories or a drink from the on-site bar. Add in exclusive merch and a crowd of like-minded music lovers, and this one’s shaping up to be a highlight of the summer! www.newcastlecastle.co.uk

EVENTS

NEWCASTLE PRIDE @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Mack Sproates

This month Newcastle Pride is heading to multiple venues across the city as a joyous celebration of unapologetic queer visibility, jam packed with interactive events, live performances, theatre shows and more, starting from Thursday 3rd July.

The Curious Arts Stage will host incredible queer artists, celebrating and informing their audiences; The Family and Youth Zone is bursting with joyous performances and wonderful activities for young people and

families while The Pride Arena is showcasing immense LGBTIQA+ talent. Alphabetti is set to spotlight some fantastic queer-led events including Queer Planet and drag king Bi Curious George, the gender-bending David Attenborough you never knew you needed, shatters heteronormative binaries and views of the natural world through stand-up and parody songs. On Saturday 19th July, The Pedro Pascal Says Trans Rights Cabaret is hosted by two queer chaotic goofs, featuring an all-star local trans line-up for a defiant night of trans hope, joy and ultimate silliness. Alphabetti is also home to the new Trans+ Zone, an event holding much needed space for trans people and supportive allies with stalls, workshops and an exciting visual art exhibition.

Community, resilience and active allyship is more important now than ever, so make sure you have fun, hold each other, stay strong and celebrate, because trans and queer people are not going anywhere.

www.northern-pride.com

India Arkin

MUSIC BANTU CONTINUA UHURU CONSCIOUSNESS (BCUC) @ COBALT STUDIOS

Words: Jonathan Coll

Bantu Continua Uhuru Consciousness (BCUC) are an Afro-psychedelic future pop outfit from

Soweto in South Africa. They blend traditional Zulu music with elements of jazz, hip-hop, and punk; a typically fascinating mix for Cobalt Studios’ eclectic range of bookings. They touch down in the Ouseburn, Newcastle on Friday 4th July for what should be a highly entertaining night mixing traditional and contemporary political psychedelic music. Bantu Continua Uhuru Consciousness are more than just musicians, using their voice as a hedonistic trance, but also as a weapon of political and spiritual liberation. They’ve blown minds and captured imaginations on every

stage they’ve played, while giving a voice to the voiceless and shining a light on the issues which continue to blight modern day South Africa. They’ve spoken in interviews about how their music is made by South Africans, but that their style would have been the same irrespective of where they grew up. They’re a band with an unbelievable sound and unique perspective. As they have said themselves “maybe let us just delete both these long preposterous paragraphs and just listen to our music with your soul.”

www.facebook.com/bantucontinua

Image by Paul Bourdrel

ART & LIT

OUR PLACE IN THE FAMILY OF THINGS @ THE DORMAN MUSEUM

Words: Joe Sharples

Opening on Friday 27th June, a new exhibition entitled Our Place In The Family Of Things arrives at Middlesbrough’s Dorman Museum. Curated by Climate Action Middlesbrough, the exhibition aims to use art as an explainer, driver and motivator for the fight against climate change.

Our Place In The Family Of Things will explore themes including our relationship with nature, climate change, climate action and ecology, and highlight the issues which threaten our precious planet more and more each day. Displaying work from local, national and international artists who have never been shown in Middlesbrough before, and with many of the featured arts curated especially for the exhibition, it promises to be an inspiring, moving and powerful line-up. An array of artistic forms and mediums will be available for us to learn more about climate action, and the vital importance of organisations such as Climate Action Middlesbrough. From climate-fiction fairytales, music inspired by Godzilla from DJ Jake Stewart, artworks from local schools and community groups plus panel-led discussions, talks and weekly workshops from writers, artists, scientists, archaeologists and musicians – there is plenty to explore in this 11-week event. As Climate Action Middlesbrough and this exhibition is funded by the National Lottery Fund, it is completely free to attend, and will be sure to educate, inspire and entertain you. www.facebook.com/ climateactionmiddlesbrough

EVENTS OUSEBURN FESTIVAL @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Sarah Storer

The popular Ouseburn Festival returns this month for a weekend of art, music and culture on Saturday 5th-Sunday 6th July, with the entire Ouseburn Valley filled with free events and activities for all ages.

Live music will take place across the Ouseburn: The Cumberland Arms welcome Spraydog and Pumice on Saturday and a ceilidh on Sunday; The Cluny plays host to the Surf Bonanza featuring The Milk Lizards, The Tridents, The Screaming Seagulls and more on Saturday; and there’s more musical fun at Little Buildings and The Old Coal Yard, plus Tyne & Queer take over the Ouseburn Woodland Bandstand.

Marketplaces will take over several areas, including behind Northern Print and under the arches, and families can take part in pony rides at Stepney Bank Stables, check out alpacas at The Cycle Hub, go on a boat trip, catch some magical story readings at Seven Stories or enjoy fairground games at shopping haven Flea Circus across the weekend. The Ouseburn’s arty side is well-represented; exhibitions and workshops include an insight into pottery at Kiln; Tyneside Art Collective showcase the work of five well-respected local artists at Brinkburn Brewery; Northern Print present their summer print space; there’s a pop-up gallery at 36 Lime Street, while up the road at 51 Lime Street festival-goers can explore a series of interactive experiences inspired by the river. www.ouseburntrust.org.uk

MUSIC

HOME SERVICE @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Joe Sharples

British folk rock group Home Service are embarking on an extensive UK tour this summer which includes four shows in the North East: Thursday 24th at the Gala Theatre in Durham; Friday 25th at the Witham, Barnard Castle; Saturday 26th in Alnwick at the Playhouse; and finally, Sunday 27th July at Sunderland’s Fire Station.

Originally formed in 1981, Home Service were formed by members of the Albion Band (led by folk legend Ashley Hutchings, and the group behind the classic folk rock album Rise Up Like The Sun). Despite a handful of line-up changes, the group have managed to retain their pulsating folk rock and indie sound, which they bring to the stage this July.

The eight piece’s current form is now fronted by popular folk singer Bob Fox, and they released their first album together last year –A Live Transmission. The eight-piece’s current line-up also includes guitarist Graeme Taylor and virtuoso saxophonist and flute player Andy Findon. It’s a triumphant fusion of brass and rock, and its the record they will be celebrating on the road.

With four gigs across the North East in four days, there is no excuse not to catch this iconic, electrifying and revered band take their music across our region and the country. www.homeserviceband.co.uk

OUR PLACE IN THE FAMILY OF THINGS - Polarpunk, Kinga Kielczynska, videostill, 2025. Courtesy Exile Gallery

STAGE LASSES: KICKING ASS AND TOUCHING GRASS @ LIVE THEATRE

Words: Mack Sproates

Local theatre maker and fan favourite Rosie Bowden is set to host the next instalment of the glorious, joyous, feel-good cabaret; Lasses: Kicking Ass and Touching Grass on

Wednesday 2nd July at Live Theatre. Bold, brash and packing a punch, this joy-fuelled night features a cracking line-up of local female and non-binary talents including Helen Chong, Lucy Harries, Hope Brown King, Zoe Allan, plus an appearance from the sunshine-filled grooviest choir, The Girls, Theys and Slays, made up of passionate lasses and non-binary folk led by Maya Torres. From gorgeous singing, stunning live performances and wonderful cabaret delights, there’s no doubt you’ll leave this show beaming and feeling reinvigorated to face the

world. Not to mention an extra special pre-show treat… Girl Dinner! A tasty community meal with lovely homemade dishes to tuck into before the show.

I am always in awe of events that hold joy and inclusivity at their core; changing narratives, feeding our minds with different perspectives and championing marginalised voices, and this is exactly what Lasses sets out to do. This will be a night of defiant, community power radiating with good vibes energy. www.live.org.uk

Unmissable live comedy

Carl Hutchinson: Greatest Hits

Friday 12 & Saturday 13 September

Edy Hurst’s Wonderfull Discoverie of Witches in the Countie of Himself

Friday 19 September

5 Mistakes That Changed History

Saturday 27 September

John Shuttleworth: Raise The Oof

Wednesday 8 October

Suzi Ruffell: The Juggle

Wednesday 15 October

Stevie Martin: Clout

Thursday 23 October

Rosie Jones: I Can’t Tell What She Is Saying

Friday 24 October

Rosie Bowden

MUSIC FONTAINES D.C. @ EXHIBITION PARK

Words: Kai Palmer

Riding high on the immense success of their 2024 album, Romance, Irish rock band Fontaines D.C. are ready to woo Newcastle with a festival-style gig at Exhibition Park on Sunday 13th July.

It’s the band’s first time in the city since their album launch last August, at the 1000-capacity Boiler Shop, which saw their fourth album played in full, as well as older tracks like I Love You and Jackie Down The Line. This time, Exhibition Park, which holds 10 times more people than Boiler Shop, will showcase how much the band have achieved with their remarkable first four albums, and how Romance has continued to peak in its first year of release, thanks to the mainstream popularity of tracks like Starburster and Here’s The Thing.

Genre-blending indie band English Teacher and post-punk four-piece Crows have been

announced as the support, and with such a talented and consistent lineup, the atmosphere will undoubtedly be faultless for the entire show.

Fontaines D.C. also released the deluxe edition of Romance in April, so lucky attendees might hear a couple of bonus tracks (Before You I Just Forget, It’s Amazing To Be Young) too, as well as songs from previous albums Dogrel, A Hero’s Death and Skinty Fia. www.fontainesdc.com

ART & LIT

MAGNA CARTA

AND THE NORTH @ DURHAM

CATHEDRAL

Words: Joe Sharples

Over 800 years ago, the most famous document in England’s history was created: the Magna Carta. Originally created in 1215 to make peace between the unpopular King John and a group of rebel barons, its main purpose was to outline the principle that the King and

his government was not above the law, alongside guaranteeing everyone’s right to justice and a fair trial. The Magna Carta was also reissued in 1216, 1217, 1225, and 1300, and only a few copies of each remain.

This summer, you can see the only surviving 1216 edition of the Magna Carta, along with issues from 1225 and 1300, at Durham Cathedral. The cathedral – which is already steeped in its own rich history – is displaying its three rare copies of the documents, in recognition of the 800th anniversary of the 1225 reissue.

It’s part of a wider exhibition running between Friday 11th July-Sunday 2nd November titled Magna Carta And The North, which will see an array of events take place including the opportunity to explore usually unseen parts of the cathedral, local storytelling, learning about the Magna Carta’s history, and panel-led discussions from experts who know it best. The last time the Magna Cartas were exhibited in 2017, almost 19,000 people went to see the scriptures over 11 weeks – make sure you are one of them this time around! www.durhamcathedral.co.uk

Fontaines D.C. by Theo Cottle

Words: Steve Spithray

Pronounced lah-eer, a local dialect for the Indonesian word of lahir, meaning birth or, roughly, ‘being born’ the travelling troupe blend psychedelic soul and funk into something sonically and socially challenging. In support of second album, Ngélar, the sextet

come to The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle on Sunday 27th July. The joyous Indonesian psyche-world group is helmed by singer/ songwriter Monica Hapsari and producer Go Kurosawa, focusing on the rituals and traditions of harvest and the ruins of what was once a dense forest in Java. It is a contextually sorrowful album.

Ngélar simply means a traveling performance, while LAIR’s ethos is primarily concerned with their geographical journey, time and all of their interactions along the way. Like the old fashioned minstrels, for LAIR how they interact and communicate to celebrating and

making sense of everything that is going on within and around them is a method, a creative process and (as an album) a culmination of this journey.

With The Lubber Fiend fast becoming the go-to place north of the Tyne for anything off-piste and experimental, while this is no way the end of LAIR’s spiritual journey, it becomes a valid and essential stopping-off point nonetheless and worthy of our attendance.

www.lairggb.bandcamp.com

Image by Deby Sucha

Nick Shoulders

MUSIC NICK SHOULDERS @ THE CLUNY 2

Words: Laura Rosierse

Local promoter Jumpin’ Hot Club bring Arkansas-born musician Nick Shoulders to The Cluny 2 on Wednesday 9th July to perform his heartfelt country songs rooted in punk. The musician makes his return to the Ouseburn as part of his The Pond Hopper tour, following the release of his latest album All Bad on Gar Hole Records, the label he founded and co-owns. Shoulders delivers a balance of dazzling musicianship and punk defiance combined with gritty eccentricity and a generational connection to the roots of his genre. He’s inherited his singing style from his family’s vocal lineage and balances a sound that’s been forged by years of hard travel with a passion for the origins of country music. After a series of unfortunate events and a growing obsession with the rural musical traditions, Nick Shoulders left the Ozarks and

lived out of his van, singing on the street corners of the west while slowly being drawn into the vibrancy of the New Orleans dance and busking world. He’s toured the world, played alongside the likes of Sierra Ferrell at major festivals such as Stagecoach, and brings that experience to The Cluny for a night of heartfelt and passion-driven music. www.nickshoulders.com

ART & LIT

SOFIA BARTON @ VANE GALLERY

Words: Laura Doyle

If a picture says a thousand words, then Sofia Barton’s collection could rival the British Library. The Newcastle born-and-raised artist creates artwork that sits at the intersection of neurodivergency, identity and ancestry. The metaphorical tapestry which makes up her very being – neurodivergent, Indian-Punjabi dual heritage, queer, human – is woven into her latest exhibit, Death Magic.

Her multi-medium approach offers a rich array of visual experiences, from drawings to cyanotypes to paintings, all created to represent the multifaceted nature of any individual’s lived experiences. The highlight of this show is Barton’s collection of symbolically decorated rehals. These book rests, originating from South Asian and Arabic countries, are used to hold and elevate (physically and spiritually) revered holy books, be it the Qur’an, the Ramayana, the Japji Sahib or the Bible. With them, she explores the themes of roots, legacy and how the essence of loved ones’ remains are woven the fabric of our lives.

Death Magic is presented as part of GemArts’ Masala Festival, a week-long festival celebrating South Asian arts and culture with venues across the North East. Sofia Barton’s work will be hosted in Gateshead’s Vane Gallery from Monday 14th July-Saturday 2nd August, inviting contemplation on the delicate connections between life and remembrance. www.sofiabarton.co.uk

EVENTS MASALA FESTIVAL @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Ben Robinson

There will be a vibrant explosion of culture as GemArts' Masala Festival returns to venues across Newcastle and Gateshead from Monday 14th-Sunday 20th July, offering a feast for the senses. From music and dance, to film, visual art, literature and food, this award-winning festival is serving up a blend of traditional and modern South Asian creativity.  Expect some of the UK’s most dynamic artists alongside brilliant cultural experiences from international collaborators and immersive performances. Highlights include Songs of the Bulbul, a new dance work by Aakash Odedra, which is rooted in the music, dance and poetry of Sufism (Theatre Royal, Monday 14th); a performance of Baadal Dvaar se Nazar (A Glimpse Through the Cloud Door), an original experimental work from multiinstrumentalist William Rees Hofmann which explores tradition and solitude through the dhrupad idiom on the sarod (The Cluny 2,

Wednesday 16th); while virtuoso sasntoor player Eeshar Singh joins forces with Royal Northern Sinfonia to present Blossoming, an immersive journey of music and storytelling (The Glasshouse, Friday 18th).

Plus, there’s a reading from award-winning short story writer Gurnaik Johal (Northern Stage, Tuesday 15th); a film screening of I, The Song, which examines music, love, culture and identity (Tyneside Cinema, Tuesday 15th); Starting Over, Rebuilding From The Ruins is a screening of South Asian film shorts which looks at the diasporic experience (Baltic, Thursday 17th); Freespill offers up an electrifying evening of spoken word poetry (DiverCity Hub, Saturday 19th); and the Bollywood Brass Band perform their joyful music at Monument and Haymarket Metro (Saturday 19th). www.gemarts.org

MUSIC

JOSHUA BURNSIDE @

THE GROVE

Words: Jonathan Coll With country music experiencing a worldwide

boom that began across the pond in the United States, it’s only right that the more understated distant relative, folk music, has a similar resurgence. It’s in no small part due to the quality and depth of emerging talent, and nobody embodies this better than Northern Irish singer-songwriter based in Belfast, Joshua Burnside, who’s heading to The Grove on Tuesday 22nd July. Burnside has been a BBC Radio 6 Music favourite since the 2017 album Ephrata, which was awarded the Northern Ireland Music Prize Best Album in 2017. He’s now touring his brand new album, Teeth of Time, and it's exactly the sort of album which will translate perfectly to The Grove’s intimate back-room gig venue. It’s a record which blends poetry with dark wit; a unique instrumental style which marries a folky sound with Irish Trad. He will be ably supported by Myles McCormack, a supremely talented multi-instrumentalist who also hails from Belfast. He’s recently been selected for NI Arts Council's ACES, a scheme for Northern Ireland’s most exciting emerging artists, and is the ideal way to kick off a night of dreamy, beautiful folk tunes on the banks of the Tyne. www.joshuaburnside.bandcamp

Joshua Burnside by Nathan Magee

MUSIC RIVAL SONS @ STOCKTON GLOBE

Words: Laura Rosierse

Double Grammy-nominated modern rock band Rival Sons will be touching down at Stockton Globe as part of their UK and European headline tour on Thursday 3rd July following the release of their Pair Of Aces, Pt 1 and Pt 2 last year. The Californian four-piece are renowned for their take-no-prisoners style; marching to the beat of their own drum, the band have reignited and recharged their signature rock and roll sound over the years driven by stunning vocals, uncompromising riffs, and thunderous grooves.

Rival Sons tap back into their timeless sound, reaching beyond eras and genres on a quest to uncover universal truths and connection. The band never fit into just one box and have never stopped raising expectations without ever failing to meet them. Their unapologetic commitment to their craft is emphasised by their musical catalogue. They’ve held their own on stage supporting The Rolling Stones, AC/DC, Guns N’ Roses and Lenny Kravitz, and have courted international praise thanks to slots on high-profile TV shows with the likes of David Letterman, James Corden, George Lopez and many others. That infinite enthusiasm will undoubtedly have Stockton shake at its core when they hit the stage in July.

www.rivalsons.com

EVENTS INTERNATIONAL ZINE MONTH @ BALTIC

Words: Mack Sproates

International Zine Month returns to the Baltic, Gateshead with an exciting ‘climate hope’ themed programme of events running throughout the month, starting on Saturday 5th July.

Truly a treasure trove like no other, Baltic’s huge zine collection will be on display ready for you to check out; featuring a spotlight on zines connected to nature and urban environments. There is also a wonderful line up of zinesters running free workshops including Sofia Barton, who explores how the climate affects our local pollinators, as well as mapping how climate anxiety affects our bodies and how to foster resilience; Theresa Easton will host a collaborative workshop to create an info-zine filled with practical tips on environmental care; Jade Blood will help create and imagine future worlds in a riso zine; and I will be hosting a Climate Joy focused workshop, featuring good vibes, collaging and comics.

Exploring how zines can be used as a powerful source of activism around climate crisis awareness, this programme can help inspire any young people interested in the environment, or can be a helpful outlet for anyone who feels frustrated or overwhelmed by climate anxiety, and is looking for an arty escape. Especially at a time when the climate crisis is rarely covered in mainstream media, zines can hold essential community learning, insights, advice and most importantly, hope. www.baltic.art

MUSIC KING WITCH @ THE LUBBER FIEND

Words: Cameron Wright

Forged on the streets of Edinburgh, it didn’t take long for Scottish trio King Witch to establish themselves as a potent and explosive rock act who hark back to the glamour and venom of the 70s metal scene. Listening to latest single Sea of Lies you are instantly put in mind of Ronnie James Dio, with the theatrical majesty that courses through the vocals. Their Soundgarden influence is welcome, as sludgy beats give way to frantic guitar solos, thundering riffs and wailing vocals; it’s old school in the best way – rock music at its most dramatic and intense.

With such control over the genre, it is no surprise that in such a small span of time they have found themselves playing Bloodstock and Desertfest, as well as touring extensively across Europe. With their third album, simply titled III, on the horizon, the songs are tighter and more dynamic than ever before. If you told me that King Witch were one of the most respected and revered metal bands of the 1970s, I would believe you.

They bring their epic sound to Newcastle’s Lubber Fiend on Friday 18th July, alongside local legends Crowley, promising a night of fantastic rock ‘n’ roll.

www.kingwitchband.bandcamp.com

Rival Sons by Anne-Marie Forker

COMEDY

FUNNY WAY TO BE @ THE WITHAM

Words: Ben Robinson

Make your way down to The Witham on Saturday 19th July to catch a full day of hilarious comedy, as Funny Way To Be brings an unmissable series of Edinburgh Fringe previews to Barnard Castle. Comedy fans are

in for a treat with a packed schedule featuring some of the most exciting names on the British comedy circuit. Headlining the event on the night are Craig Hill, who performs with his camp and laugh out loud act which always leaves the audience in anticipation of another joke, and Connor Burns, an upcoming star of the circuit. Burns is also from Scottish roots and has quickly gone on to become one of the most exciting comedians on offer.

On Saturday 26th July, the laughs continue with a stellar line-up of preview performances from acclaimed comedians Eric Rushton, Sooz

LIVE EVENTS

Kempner, Marjolein Robertson and Gavin Webster. Each act offers a sneak peek at their new material ahead of the Edinburgh Fringe, with fresh jokes, sharp humour, and plenty of laughs. Whether you're a long time Fringe fan or just looking for a great day filled with entertainment; this is a brilliant chance to catch some of the best talent in an intimate preview before they take on one of the biggest arts festivals in Britain. www.thewitham.org.uk

FIRST WAVE OF ACTS

SOMEBODY’S CHILD THE COVASETTES GRANDMAS HOUSE

Sooz Kempner

MUSIC

MARINA JOSEPHINA @ THE GEORGIAN THEATRE

Words: Laura Rosierse Teesside-born and based neo soul artist and BBC Introducing One to Watch pick Marina Josephina is headed to The Georgian Theatre on Friday 4th July for her next headline show with support from Robyn Errico. Marina Josephina blends influences taken from soul, jazz, and R&B, with a modern and distinctive edge and delivers her sound passionately and with soul. Stunning vocals supported by mesmerising key-driven compositions make for beautiful tracks that are best delivered in a live setting. Her music and songs resonate across generations and combine heartfelt storytelling with aforementioned captivating compositions. Through her lyrics she explores subjects such as female empowerment, mental health, love, and loss. Recognised by BBC Introducing and celebrated for her

electrifying live performances, she is a fast rising voice within the regional music scene. Marina Josephina will be supported by darlington based songster Robyn Errico, who’s music transcends labels, delivered through glistening piano and heartfelt vocals with a cinematic edge. Exploring themes of escapism within the imagination, Errico’s fascinating, alternative sound will captivate any audience. Twinned with Marina, this will be a gorgeous evening where the two will deliver a versatile night filled with soaring and passionate music. georgiantheatre.co.uk/live-events/ marina-josephina

MUSIC LUKE UNA @ KING STREET SOCIAL CLUB

Words: Jonathan Coll

Are You Affiliated, the brainchild of local hero Man Power and his burgeoning partnership with resident DJ Rosie, has transformed a traditional working men’s club into something remarkable. The enterprising new project has

kept the spirit of the region’s beloved workies, while booking an astonishing array of performers to keep the dance floor moving. The next iteration takes place on Saturday 5th July, with dance music royalty Luke Una touching down in North Shields. He’s an artist with a glittering career spanning well over four decades, and a musical sound encompassing wild eclecticism from Balearic to Brazilian to E Soul, House, Disco and Techno and beyond. It’s a typically innovative booking for one of the most exciting parties in the region, having already hosted the likes of Caribou, Daniel Avery and Roman Flugel. Rosie will be your host all night long in the venue’s second room, bringing deeper sounds to the darker, edgier corners of the venue.

With dancers being encouraged to become club members, Are You Affiliated is one of the last vestiges of truly community-based clubbing, and their summer spectacular with Luke Una will be an excellent time to get involved.

www.instagram.com/ areyouaffiliatedkingstreet

Marina Josephina by Matthew Henderson-Newbury

MUSIC SOWETO KINCH @ THE FIRE STATION

Words: Jonathan Coll

Soweto Kinch occupies a unique place in the rich tapestry of the UK jazz music scene. Not only in his breathtakingly wide array of musical talents, but he’s also one of the few artists to hold a degree from Oxford University in Modern History; it’s an unconventional CV befitting of one of the more fascinating musicians that you’ll find performing in the North East this summer. Soweto Kinch performs as part of the BBC Proms at The Glasshouse programme, which includes a special edition of the Radio 3 jazz programme Round Midnight on Thursday 24th July at The Fire Station in Sunderland. The line-up also includes jazz trumpeter Theo Croker and the boundary pushing Joe Webb trio, alongside Newcastle-based neo-soul singer Rivkala, a thrilling local artist whose lyricism and sleazy, bluesy instrumentals are inspired by the likes of Amy Winehouse and Alicia Keys. There won’t be many places where you can see so much talent sharing one stage; and it’ll be the ideal way to kick off a typically excellent weekend of musical performance. www.soweto-kinch.com

MUSIC VIVA LA FEMME @ INDEPENDENT

Words: Nat Greener

Championing women in music from the ground up, Viva La Femme is making waves with its latest night of live performance and urgent discussion at Sunderland’s Independent on Saturday 5th July. With a vital panel featuring sound engineer Elle McCartney, promoter Milly Nicholson, We Make Culture’s Laura Brewis, music lecturer Jodie Brown and Warner intern Kaitlin Robson, the evening dives into the real issues facing women and marginalised genders in the music industry in the region. From representation to discrimination, expect open conversations and bold calls for change. But it’s not just talk – this is a night for talent too. Catch live sets from local rising stars Isabel Maria, Ruby Kelly, Beccy Young (aka This Little Bird) and Frankie Archer, who’ll also be sharing their lived experiences in music. A percentage of ticket sales will go directly to Wearside Women In Need, and the choice of venue is intentional; Independent is fully accessible and central, ensuring a safe, welcoming space for all. Viva La Femme isn’t just about one night – it’s about building community, creating opportunity, and shaking up the scene from the inside out. Come for the music, stay for the movement. www.linktr.ee/vivalafemme

MUSIC DESTINY BOND @ THE GROVE

Words: Nat Greener

Brace yourself, Newcastle – it’s about to get chaotic. On Wednesday 2nd July The Grove hosts a full-throttle collision of hardcore punk mayhem as Byker Grave and Conviction Records team up for one of the summer’s loudest, grittiest shows.

At the top of the bill are Colorado’s Destiny Bond – purveyors of righteous, razor-edged punk with a defiant political core. They’re joined by Big Laugh, bringing breakneck hardcore energy straight from the US underground. Also on the bill are Fentanyl, whose blistering urgency continues to turn heads across the UK’s heaviest scenes, plus Newcastle’s own Diall & Spit will be kicking things off with their signature mix of weirdo punk chaos, twisted riffs and raw-as-hell vocals.

If you like your gigs sweaty, cathartic and full of fury, this one’s essential. No frills, no nonsense – just pure melodic demolition from some of the most exciting names in punk right now. Bring earplugs… Or don’t. www.linktr.ee/destinybond

Soweto Kinch

MUSIC KAONASHI @ THE GROVE

Words: Jonathan Coll

Kaonashi are an experimental metalcore outfit hailing from Philadelphia, who have been pushing the audiovisual envelope since their inception in 2012. Their sound certainly won’t be to everyone’s tastes, but that was never

their intention. It’s been said that frontman Peter Rono’s vocals sound somewhat like Miss Piggy angrily shouting, and that really isn’t far from the truth. Leaving aside that slightly glib comparison, they’re a fascinating band whose latest album I Want To Go Home has deservedly earned rave reviews from the likes of Kerrang!

It’s part of a US and UK tour which sees them visit Glasgow, Exeter, London with a pit stop in Berlin for good measure, and it’s to The Grove’s credit that they’re willing to showcase the unconventional side of a burgeoning

hardcore scene when the band touch down in Newcastle on Wednesday 9th July. It’s a fantastic venue; with the event space being the ideal stage for Kaonashi’s wild, dark, mesmerising performance. It’s difficult to make any sort of direct comparisons which might convince anyone unfamiliar with their sound to head down and check them out, but they’re a band entirely unlike any other, and maybe the intrigue alone should be enough to persuade you.

www.kaonashipa.com

8th–10th August

Martin Simpson Trio

Nancy Kerr, James Fagan and Tim Van Eyken

Emily Portman and Louis Campbell

Suntou Susso and Ross Grant

Nick Hart and Tom Moore

Maddie Morris • The Wilson Family

The English Fiddle Ensemble

The Pegwells • Watersmeet

Goblin Band • The Rosie Hood Band

DIY Ceilidh • Manasamitra

Amy Leach and Alasdair Paul Cloth Eared Mule

Bertie Armstrong and Niles Krieger

saltburnfo l kf es t i va l .co m and much more!

Image by Dazey Doom

ART & LIT

SAELIA APARICIO @ BALTIC

Words: Ben Robinson

From Saturday 5th July, London-based Spanish artist Saelia Aparicio offers a bold new vision through her installation, A Joyful Parasite, at Baltic. Known for creating work in unusual spaces, she brings to life a bizarre

and captivating group of characters who the viewer gets a chance to know. The multidisciplinary artist draws on her signature blend of dark humour, mystical art and surreal storytelling. Inspired by mythology, Aparicio’s largest commission to date explores the boundaries between the human world and fantasy lands, as well as the beautiful and even the feared. Through art forms such as sculptures, drawings and immersive installations, she examines fluidity of the human and not so human world and bodies, and how they link together.

With a sharp eye for detail and a playful, irreverent tone, Aparicio invites audiences to reconsider what is natural in a time when both identity and belief are seen as increasingly flexible. Expect mutated figures, wonderful materials and unexpected narratives growing out of the art. This promises to be a bold and timely experience unlike anything else on offer, which will also be accompanied by a programme of events throughout the exhibition’s lifespan, which runs until 1st February 2026.  www.saelito.com

Three Dead Astronauts, Survey 2, Jerwood Space, London, 2021. Image by Polly Thomas

MUSIC

SUMMER STREETS @ CLIFFE PARK

Words: Neil Ainger

Under the guidance of festival director Ross Millard (The Futureheads) Summer Streets has become a staple of the Sunderland music calendar. The not-for-profit, free to attend festival returns to Cliffe Park on Roker seafront on Saturday 5th-Sunday 6th July and features an eclectic line-up of local and regional artists.

Hosted by former BBC Look North presenter Jeff Brown on the Saturday and by Frankie Francis of Frankie & The Heartstrings on the Sunday, the festival will be headlined by established local acts on both days – funksoul giants Smoove & Turrell on Saturday and returning favourite Martin Stephenson & The Daintees on Sunday.

Also on Saturday there's sets from alt. indie artist Lizzie Esau and songwriter Patrick Gosling, a BBC Introducing stage which features Vice Killer, Irked, The Early Purple, Cherry Blur, Labyrinthine Oceans and The Redroom, and The Northern Academy of Music

Education stage showcasing Ruby Kelly, Daniel Maple, Hannah Smith, Dan Taylor, Camel Island and Cydni & Maple.

On Sunday, Northern Royal Sinfonia play Mozart and Bartok amongst others, there's a rare solo performance by Paul Smith of Maxïmo Park as well as folk pop favourites The Cornshed Sisters, plus there’s hip-hop artist Kema Kay, witch-pop singer Shannon Pearl and electro folk melancholy from Me Lost Me. The line-up is completed by folk legend Nev Clay as well as Johnny Seven, The Turner Brothers, Isabel Maria, Aukestra, The Young Musicians Project and Houghton Area Youth Band. www.summerstreetsfestival.com

ART & LIT

JILL MCKNIGHT: PAST AND FUTURE PACT @ NGCA

Words: Isabel Johnson

Sunderland-based artist Jill McKnight prepares to unveil a new exhibition of sculpture, works on paper and video material

at Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art’s Collection Space. Inspired by Sunderland’s industrial heritage, the exhibition opens on Saturday 26th July and runs all the way until Saturday 6th December, so you’ve got plenty of time to hop on over to Sunderland and have a look.

McKnight produced the art whilst working as an artist in residence for AA2A and DePOT between 2023 and 2024, using the art and design facilities at the University of Sunderland as her homebase. Her work commonly strives to amplify working class, feminist and artistic voices, and this collection of art is no different, exploring her home city of Sunderland 30 years on from the mass closures of many of its heaviest industries. The work is not only visually fascinating and delightful to view, it’s also copiously researched, rooted in truth and real stories; McKnight used research from Sunderland Antiquarian Society, the National Women Against Pit Closure 40th Anniversary Commemoration, and museums in Sunderland, as well as online groups, relatives, friends, residents and students. It’s deep, thoughtful work, and it deserves to be looked at.

www.jillmcknight.com

Shannon Pearl by Adam Kennedy

INTERVIEWS

BADGER

CAMERON WRIGHT TALKS TO THE NEWCASTLE-BASED NOISY ALT. POP DUO ABOUT THEIR BOLD AND EXCITING DEBUT ALBUM IMAGE BY

AMELIA READ

“I love the fact that my brain can’t figure out if they are techno, rock, electro, industrial, doom, post-punk. It’s fucking ace.”

When you have Sleaford Mods smothering you with this kind of praise, you know you are making something worth creating, and that’s exactly the situation noisy alt. pop duo Badger have found themselves in.

The duo have crafted a swirling blend of sound with a plethora of influence and ideas, which melt into their biting debut album, A Gifted Kind of Stupor. The long-awaited release feels perfectly

formed and fully conceived, with vivid imagery smashing against heavy industrial beats and broody music electronics. With a sound so chiselled and crafted, it is no surprise that this debut has been a long time in the works. “This is the definitive version of each of these tracks, we’ve been gigging some of them relentlessly for nearly a decade,” admits Simeon Soden, one half of Badger. “We’ve finally reached a point where we can put them to bed, the original versions we’re sketches of what they’ve now become.”

MUSIC

Lyricist and frontman Chris Maltby expands, saying: “Gigging a track always develops them, breathing new life into it. You are learning where the spaces sit and where they can grow.” The tracks are potent, not dissimilar to the minimalistic angry tangents of Sleaford Mods, but with a mounting sense of discontent. A track like Where Seagulls Dare is dazed, lost in the multitude of ever escalating sounds. “I don’t know if a song is ever truly finished, people grow and develop, as should their relationship with the song. But right now, in this moment, the songs are a perfect capsule of where we are and what we are.”

Tracks like Sadboy and Narcasm have been there since the birth of Badger, born in the moment where the band fully understood the direction they wanted this journey to take. “We didn’t know what we wanted to be at first, it was a synth pop band at one point, until the penny dropped. There wasn’t so much an inciting incident, it just felt right on the right song.” The wash of sounds is fundamental to what allow Badger to be such a unique act, as engaging as they are polarising. “Promoters don’t know where to put us, it’s a difficult pitch to try and explain.”

Simeon confesses with a smile, before Chris doubles down: “We get to a point about halfway through a gig, where half the audience walk away and half the audience lock in, understanding it. We’d always rather that – it’s better to be divisive than dull.”

AT THE HEART OF THE TRACKS I’M CALLING FOR CONVERSATION, IT’S ENCOURAGING OPINIONS INSTEAD OF GIVING ANSWERS

Former flatmates, and both well connected in the local music scene, Badger formed as the pair spitballed ideas during a hungover morning. When the songs started coming the duo put their creative success down to “a gentleman’s agreement of sorts” they confess with a nostalgic chuckle. “Neither of us are too precious, and sometimes it’s alright to kill your darlings. We’ve known each other long enough to tell a shit song that it’s a shit song. For every 100 tracks we write, 10 see the light of day – but you can guarantee that they are 10 that we are happy with.”

Coming from an IDM background, it’s Simeon’s expansive palette that keeps the tracks erudite and acerbic. “We may have started with just bass drums and lyrics – and they are often the tracks that drive a message home the most effectively – but I can’t help myself building and expanding some of the tracks. Shifting dynamics, layering in trombones or synths – it’s utilitarian – whatever we have in our arsenal we can find a way to use! There’s no hard and fast rules, it’s whatever we want.”

Between the volatile rising instrumentals the other cornerstone of Badger is the lyrics. Having dropped out of a creative writing degree, Chris is reluctant to delve too deeply into critical analysis, stating: “I always struggled with the degree as it was entirely subjective, as it should be, but trying to craft something objective wasn’t what it was about, and that’s not what Badger is about. Reactions and opinions can be so knee-jerk and reactionary these days, and these lyrics aren’t. I think at the heart of the tracks I’m calling for conversation, it’s encouraging opinions instead of giving answers.”

Where some outfits may be delivering a grand philosophy, Chris steers away from political lectures and hones his storytelling on snapshots of his reality, painting out his observations and leaving the morality of it all in the hands of the listener. A track like Poison Apple is constantly shifting perspective, tearing into similar situations from a myriad of angles, trying to understand it. “It’s what I see, ultimately,” continues Chris.

It’s no secret that Badger have amassed an audience avid for their sound, and have supported and performed with Sleaford Mods, who have undeniably influenced their sound. Something amongst the growing adversity and tenacious confusion in our current climate has allowed Badger to give a sense of understanding with their music, and their anger resonates with a crowd. It’s bold, it’s exciting and it’s clearly impacting.

Badger host an album launch at Newcastle’s Zerox on Friday 11th July, with a host of exciting local talent including the heartfelt ambiance of Summer Night Air, the relaxed yet challenging existential poetry of SQUARMS and the raging, energetic anarchy of Spelk. It’ll be a phenomenal way to celebrate this milestone in one of Newcastle’s most interesting bands' journeys. www.linktr.ee/badgerhq

DUNCAN LLOYD MUSIC

STEVE SPITHRAY TALKS TO THE MAXÏMO PARK GUITARIST ABOUT HIS AFFECTING NEW SOLO ALBUM AND HOW IT MANAGES TO COMBINE HIS TWIN PASSIONS OF MUSIC AND PAINTING

When I recently looked back on a review I had written for Duncan Lloyd’s last full-length solo offering, 2019’s Outside Notion, I was taken by how affected I must have been upon listening, and his latest, Unwound, his fourth, is no different. It’s striking how eclectic Duncan’s musical output is; from Maxïmo Park to his Nano Kino project, but even from Outside Notion to Unwound.

I wondered what leads to these subtle differences and whether it was a conscious decision to make another solo record. “These songs have a link and a theme throughout that it made sense to write them. There is a Maxïmo mindset and certain parameters that we may not go beyond. Nano Kino is very organic but with the solo stuff I can definitely feel when it is more of a personal thing and makes sense as a [solo] record…” The first time I listened to Unwound I made a note on my phone that it has a number of long instrumental segments and a question that I wanted to ask Duncan was if he is a reluctant singer? “Possibly, yeah! I think a lot more musically. The music side is more fascinating the way it unfolds – I get a bit more obsessed with that side of things. I’m not an extrovert of any kind so when I do live shows it’s very much about the song itself. I’m more comfortable being a writer than being a performer. I’m a bit more of a musical hermit!” Being such an obviously learned guitar player, I was surprised to learn how democratic the writing is in terms of the instrumentation he uses. “Bass and

I THINK A LOT MORE MUSICALLY. THE MUSIC SIDE IS MORE FASCINATING THE WAY IT UNFOLDS

guitar, also beats. I’m interested in the rhythm of things but I also write with keyboards so a blend but the guitar is easiest for me!”

After previous solo releases on Warp Records, Duncan is now signed to Reveal Records. “Tom [Rose, Reveal Records main brains] approached me to help distribute the album. He was just like, ‘create what you want to create’. It’s very free in that way.” Delving into Unwound it’s obvious that the solo platform allows Duncan a lot more freedom of expression. “I have a lot more musical space, or I’ll do instrumentals and I can determine the arrangement in terms of it being a musical thing or a personal lyrical thing…” Duncan also created the artwork for the record, an ongoing theme with his solo output. “I studied art and have been painting more regularly over the last few years. A lot of the paintings are made alongside making [music] so sometimes there is a connection. The next single’s artwork is a bit more abstract which goes back to instrumental sections of music.” I was suddenly reminded of the long intro to Unwound’s opening track, Gothic Pill, and how its overt, to me at least, influence transports me back to a time uncomplicated by adulthood and unhindered by life’s more challenging narratives.

So, are there any plans to tour the album, I wondered. “We are looking at some dates after the festival season, but we are just working out how we would do it and whether it would be more intimate, either just myself or a smaller group.”

Duncan Lloyd releases Unwound via Reveal Records on Friday 11th July.

www.duncanlloyd.bandcamp.com

RO ROBERTSON

MACK SPROATES CHATS WITH THE SUNDERLAND-BORN ARTIST ABOUT THE BLURRING OF BOUNDARIES, BINARIES, BODIES AND THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Artist Ro Robertson presents their first major solo exhibition in their hometown of Sunderland with The Ribs Begin To Rise. Exploring the connectivity and boundaries between the body and environments, Ro’s work is deeply rooted in their memories and experiences of growing up, tied with the industrial history of Sunderland – all through a Queer feminist lens.

“I am inspired by the natural landscape and the interconnected nature of the rock cycle and water cycle, and what it teaches us about existing without rigid and binary restrictions,” Ro states. With a fascinating practice of sculpture, drawing, painting and performance, their work is bold and soothing; paintings are washed in gorgeous sea-like colours, contrasted with striking steel and welded sculptures.

The experience of creating The Ribs Begin To Rise sounds like an empowering and emotional one. Ro conveyed: “I draw on a wide range of memories and experiences. When I was younger I experienced some negative responses to being visibly Queer and I feel like I am returning to a more progressive Sunderland which feels great. The experience has been very connecting.”

While researching some of the places key to Sunderland’s industries, including the site of the ship yards at Deptford, Sunderland Port and the banks of the River Wear, they made some lovely discoveries along the way. “Nature has reclaimed large areas of the riverside since the closing of the shipyards and I’ve been exploring wildflowers and rewilding as a metaphor for

THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IS TO MAKE THE TIME AND SPACE DAILY TO BE CREATIVE EVEN IF IT’S ONLY A SMALL ACT – CREATIVITY NEEDS TO BE NURTURED ON A DAILY BASIS

transformation and reclamation.” They continued: “I went for a drink at a pub called the Saltgrass with my Dad, which is very close to what was the Laing shipyard. I learned that the pub was called that because the area was covered in an extremely salt tolerant grass before the shipyards were built. I love how a simple grass outlives eras of huge human ambition.”

Ro’s love for the natural environment is so endearing to hear. “The double meaning in my title relates to taking breath, and we can’t take breath without taking care of our seas, rivers and natural environments.” Alongside this, Ro has some fascinating ideas around Queer theory and the environment. “There are no binaries in nature,” Ro relays. “In Les Feinberg’s Queer and Trans novel Stone Butch Blues, there is a line that says ‘I lay in nature and it found no fault with me’, which connects with how I feel about being in the natural landscape and the sea.”

Finally, I asked Ro for advice they’d share with young or aspiring artists, to which they cited dedication, determination and DIY ethos as key. “I’ve had to keep going during times when I wasn’t sure I would ever get to work in the way I wanted to.” Ro explains. “It was vital for me to have a strong artist-led and Queer community around me to try things out and share ideas. When there wasn’t any real opportunity I used to create it – I’ve run a studio and put on shows. The most important thing is to make the time and space daily to be creative even if it’s only a small act – creativity needs to be nurtured on a daily basis.”

The Ribs Begin to Rise opens on Saturday 26th July running until Saturday 6th December at Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art. www.rorobertson.studio

Image courtesy of Here Now Films

DURHAM BRASS FESTIVAL

IF YOU LIKE…

BRASS

It’s in the name, after all. Durham Brass Festival spotlights the very best in traditional and contemporary brass, pulling in artists from across the UK and beyond. This year, festival-goers can experience the Fairey Band, hailed as ‘the world’s finest brass band’, delivering a breathtaking musical and visual interpretation of Pictures At An Exhibition on Sunday 20th, where bold brass meets stunning animations of Mussorgsky’s masterpiece. Later, they’ll switch gears for Acid Brass, blending acid house anthems with classic brass band energy.

On Saturday 19th, NETOA Wurlitzer and Stanhope Silver Band take the stage with a mix of popular and classical pieces, while throughout the weekend, expect Das Brass and New York Brass Band bringing a New Orleans-style remix of the hits, Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band dropping Bollywood and Bhangra vibes, and Always Drinking Marching Band and Young Pilgrims turning up the energy. Meanwhile, Diddy Sweg promises something truly interstellar.

INDIE

Durham Brass Festival has never been afraid to mix things up, and this year’s collaborations are proof of that. Indie icons Bill Ryder-Jones (formerly of The Coral) and Barry Hyde (The Futureheads) both step into the brass world for special performances.

On Tuesday 15th, Bill Ryder-Jones headlines the Gala Theatre, where his 2024 album Lechyd Da will be reimagined for brass in a special commission with the NASUWT Riverside Band. The night before on Monday 14th, Barry Hyde brings

MUSIC

WORDS: DAVID SAUNDERS

Durham is known for its cathedral, university and religious figures like St Cuthbert and the Venerable Bede, but thanks to its industrial heritage it’s also synonymous with brass bands. Celebrating that deep-rooted tradition while embracing new sounds, Durham Brass Festival returns from Sunday 13th-Sunday 20th July with a week of headline performances at iconic venues, workshops, school concerts and free street band shows.

Organised by Durham County Council with support from Arts Council England, the festival has grown into one of the region’s most popular cultural events and this year’s edition is set to elevate its status even further. www.brassfestival.co.uk

his concept solo album Miners’ Ballads, inspired by the coal mining heritage of the North East, to life with the Durham Miners Association Brass Band at Redhills Durham Miners Hall.

SPOKEN WORD

On Friday 18th, Redhills Durham Miners Hall hosts BBC Radio 4’s The Verb, led by Ian McMillan (who’ll share a poem or two), featuring UK Poet Laureate Simon Armitage and LYR performing Firm As A Rock alongside Easington Colliery Band. With brass arrangements by Simon Dobson, this event blends soaring vocals, harmonics and spoken word, reflecting on Durham’s ‘Category D’ villages, where 121 communities were stripped of funding, leaving lasting hardship.

LOCAL BRASS COLLABS

The festival will be demonstrating the incredible versatility of brass at its Brassed On event at the Gala Theatre on Saturday 19th. The show pairs North East artists with brass ensembles to create something unique and exciting and is brought to you in partnership with BBC Music Introducing and NARC. Performing are singer-songwriter and Cornshed Sister Liz Corney, electronic alt. rap duo Faithful Johannes and Neocia, and fusers of pop, orchestral, jazz and rock, Amateur Ornithologist.

Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band

Bill Ryder-Jones by Marieke Macklon

Diddy Sweg

TYNE & QUEER MUSIC

ISABEL JOHNSON TALKS TO TYNE & QUEER’S BECK ABOUT THE NON-PROFIT ORGANISATION’S INCLUSIVE ETHOS AND THE AMBITIOUS PLANS FOR THEIR OUSEBURN FESTIVAL STAGE

One thing the North East is really good at is putting on a world class gig – and one of the brilliant minds behind many of these world class gigs is Beck, founding (and now sole) operator of music promotion and non-profit organisation Tyne & Queer.

Not only is Tyne & Queer one of the best named companies you might ever find, it’s an incredible operation which platforms the typically under-represented voices of disabled and LGBTQ+ individuals.

“Me and Josh [Beck’s partner] started Tyne & Queer back in 2022. I spent a lot of time researching and learning about accessibility in local spaces and music venues driven by a need to make the arts more inclusive. From the start, mine and Josh’s goal was to create a platform that celebrates and uplifts queer and disabled artists – people like myself – by giving them a space to share their work and fully express who they are.” Since its formation, Tyne & Queer has brought some of the nation’s most exciting acts to venues across the region, platforming established and upcoming artists.

“I’m disabled, autistic and queer. We started Tyne & Queer because we didn’t see many spaces in the music scene that really made room for people like me. Queer and disabled voices get left out way too often – whether it’s on stage, in the crowd, or just how events are run. It can feel pretty isolating. For me, it’s not about ticking boxes – it’s about making sure people really feel safe, seen and respected.”

With so much success, and the kind of ethos which makes you feel warm and fuzzy inside – though it should be the standard – I was curious to know what Beck feels the most proud of concerning Tyne & Queer. “A personal highlight has been meeting so many amazing, creative people. I’ve been lucky to build a supportive network and gain opportunities I never imagined. I’ve had guidance from the Byker Grave team and the

IT’S NOT ABOUT TICKING BOXES – IT’S ABOUT MAKING SURE PEOPLE REALLY FEEL SAFE, SEEN AND RESPECTED

Wandering Oak team, and from Wipe Out Music and the Singing Light crew, who’ve shown me real kindness in a tough industry. It’s just nice to know I have the support of so many people, it means the world to me.”

Beck also shares some of their favourite local artists: Georgina Gale, Du Blonde, Melanie Baker and their longtime friend Evan, to name a few. They’ll be platforming even more favourites at Ouseburn Festival this year, where Tyne & Queer have their very own stage.

“I’m really excited to be putting on a stage at Ouseburn Festival this year. We’ve been working together for two years now, and it’s been a really natural, supportive relationship,” Beck continued. “Our stage this year will be at The Cluny and the Ouseburn Bandstand. It’s my first time producing a full two-day festival, so it kind of feels like a big moment for Tyne & Queer. You can expect a proper mix of the best queer and disabled musicians from around Newcastle doing what they do best. This one is a little bit less loud than normal (sorry), but should be a mint two days.” Ever busy, Tyne & Queer have lots of other stuff coming up, so I urge you to keep your eyes open for them.

Tyne & Queer’s stage at Ouseburn Festival runs at The Cluny on Saturday 5th July and the Ouseburn Bandstand on Sunday 6th July.

www.instagram.com/tyneandqueercic

PØRTERS

KAI PALMER CHATS WITH THE NEWCASTLE ALT. ROCK BAND ABOUT FINDING SATISFACTION IN CREATIVITY ON THEIR DEBUT EP

“It’s nice that everyone’s competent. You can lock us in a room for five minutes and there’ll be nice noises coming out of it.”

After the release of their exhilarating first two singles, The Thrill and Recover, “nice noises” is a humble understatement from guitarist and vocalist Kieran Taylor. PØRTERS have built up quite a momentum in the lead up to the release of their debut EP, Motion Without Direction, on 10th July, and it’s set to have a mix of bluesy rock, sweet harmonies and energetic vocals.

“We’ve all got a similar music taste and starting an alt. rock band was something that we all wanted to do,” says vocalist Maria Winter. Alongside fellow bandmates James Hughes (bass/ vocals), Nick Gladdish (keys/vocals) and Tom Furniss (drums), the band members have had their own musical projects, so a profusion of experience, talent and passion have seen the Newcastle-based band hit the ground running.

It’s their impressive genre-blending that recently saw them coined as a collaboration between Royal Blood and Blondie. “I was over the moon with that,” says Kieran, with Maria adding: “It was quite unexpected, and it’s such a compliment, but now that it’s been said we can see it a lot more.”

Refusing to stay confined to one genre, the band are blurring the lines and playing around with three or four. “It’s nice to keep things unexpected, even with this EP, because we’ve got such a range of tracks,” says Maria.

Packing so many different sounds into just four songs (and the band’s first full release, at that) shows they’re confidently crafting music that will be unmistakably their own, as Kieran states. “The tracks have a good range of chunky instrumental parts and then the sweetness of the vocals and harmonies. It’s a

YOU CAN LOCK US IN A ROOM FOR FIVE MINUTES AND THERE’LL BE NICE NOISES COMING OUT OF IT

nice balance that suits a lot of people.” He also highlights the EP’s opening song, Where (although the band say the track’s official name is still up for debate). ”It's just so different, it doesn’t even start with guitars, it’s so airy and the harmonies are this big wall of sound. It’s a really good opening.”

It’s uplifting to see how happy they are with their debut, and their delight is radiating into high anticipation for us listeners. Their ebullience is also down to the fact that they’re doing exactly what they want to be doing, as James explains: “It’s nice being able to work with your mates! We’re just in it for that reason. If we end up playing small venues around Newcastle –as long as it’s for people who love us – it doesn’t matter.” It’s always good to have goals though, and when asked about the band’s ultimate aim, he’s cheerfully optimistic: “the good answer is, hopefully Glastonbury pyramid stage!”

Judging from the raving reviews they’ve already received, there’s no doubt they’ll be in high demand and it’s exciting to see what else is in store for them. “Once the EP’s out, we’ll be back in the studio,” promises Kieran, meaning those already gripped by their music won’t be left waiting too long.

www.linktr.ee/weareporters

DURHAM FRINGE FESTIVAL

IF YOU LIKE…

COMEDY

Let’s start with the obvious. Durham Fringe has 19 stand-up acts ready to bring big laughs across five days. Discover rising stars like BBC New Comedy Award finalist Jake Donaldson (Friday 25th-Sunday 27th) and Phil Green (Saturday 26th), fresh from sell-out runs at Edinburgh Fringe, plus Cal Halbert, one half of The Mimic Men (Britain’s Got Talent), brings razor-sharp impressions throughout the festival. There’s also local loveliness from the likes of Felt Nowt comedy and Silly Billies Comedy (both Wednesday 23rd-Thursday 24th), and Kelly Rickard (Friday 25th-Sunday 27th) to name a few, and you’ll also find plenty of comedy theatre including the legendary Durham Revue, the group that brought you Ed Gamble, Stevie Martin, Nish Kumar and other greats (Friday 25th-Sunday 27th).

THEATRE FOR ALL

Durham Fringe’s 26 productions deliver something for everyone. A modern-verse translation of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew hits Palace Green (throughout), while shows such as The Bodysnatcher (Wednesday 23rd-Friday 25th) and Whispers (Saturday 26th-Sunday 27th) brings Gothic chills to the festival. For fresh stories, there are exciting titles such as unhinged dark comedy Queen of the Quack (Saturday 26th-Sunday 27th), sex-focused exploration VANILLA (Friday 25th), and the dark musical The Rubbish Puppets (Wednesday 23rd-Thursday 24th), all of which push theatre in exciting new directions.

EVENTS

WORDS: DAVID SAUNDERS

From Wednesday 23rd-Sunday 27th July, Durham Fringe Festival takes over the city with its most exciting edition yet. Across five packed days, nine venues will host over 110 acts and 270 shows spanning theatre, music, stand-up, magic, circus, spoken word, cabaret and more.

This year’s festival spreads across Gala Theatre’s Studio, The City Theatre, Assembly Rooms Theatre, Durham University’s Department of Music, Fonteyn Ballroom, Vane Tempest at Durham SU, Cafedral, Fabio’s Bar, and the Palace Green Stretch Tent. In this day and age of outpricing the average person from enjoying cultural events, Durham Fringe are bucking the trend. Tickets are kept budget-friendly and are just £10 (£7 concessions) or less. For true Fringe explorers, the Discover Offer lets audiences book three shows for £24 and family tickets (two adults and two under 16s, or one adult and three under 16s) are available for just £24 – so you can your gang can check out the 42 acts suitable for families and the 14 shows specifically aimed at children. www.durhamfringe.co.uk

MUSIC AND MAGIC

Sound and spell makers from the North East and further afield are set to captivate audiences. Entertaining the ears are BBC Introducing’s One to Watch for 2025 Isabel Maria (Saturday 26th-Sunday 27th); indie rockers Jam Tub (Thursday 24th-Friday 25th); Sam Slatcher and his Stockton and Darlington railway-inspired folk songs (Wednesday 23rd and Friday 25th); pop punk driven post-hardcore band OCHISIA (Sunday 27th); and multi-award winning singer-songwriter Amity from (throughout), plus and loads more. On the magic side of things Durham-based magician Tom Bolton blends illusions and music for something truly original (throughout); Tim Lichfield tells the tale of how he was introduced to the wonderful world of magic in his family friendly show, The Wonder Years (Wednesday 23rd); Tim will also be joining forces with Andy Larmouth for their brand new show Wonderstorm (Wednesday 23rd and Sunday 27th); Kane & Abel take you inside the mystical, magical and hilarious world of life as a twin (Thursday 24th-Friday 25th); teenage trickster Brooklyn-Ellis Carr wows audiences with his Box Of Tricks (Friday 25th-Sunday 27th); and Neil Smith performs his comedy magic show Trickhead (Saturday 26th-Sunday 27th).

Rubbish Puppets

Tom Bolton

Queen of the Quack

LUKE CONNELL

DAMIAN ROBINSON TALKS TO THE ACADEMIC COMEDIAN ABOUT WHY LEARNING IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS LAUGHING COMEDY

IT’S NICE TO THINK THAT COMEDY CAN OFFER A WAY FOR PEOPLE TO LEARN AND LAUGH AT THE SAME TIME. I THINK THEY’RE TWO OF THE MOST IMPORTANT STATES WE CAN BE IN

Taking an interesting and unique approach to comedy, Northerner Luke Connell has developed a reputation as being a shining light when it comes to creating new ways to make people laugh. Developed through a combination of alternative comedy and interesting storytelling, Connell’s recent work has seen him combine history with slapstick in the creation of a new brand of academic comedy, as much to his own surprise as perhaps anyone else’s. “My background is in medieval French literature,” Connell told me. “Which isn’t always the greatest source material for comedy. But there’s something in storytelling that’s quite adjacent to comedy in the concept that you’re building narratives, and developing plots, whilst trying to engage an audience. Once you’ve captured an audience it’s then trying to maintain their interest. So if you add humour into that then you start to see how comedy can be created out of various sources.”

Whilst it was an academic background that built up Connell’s knowledge base, it was evenings on the stand-up circuit that helped him develop his comedy chops and find places where humour could creep into his tales from the Middle Ages. “A lot of my confidence with comedy was built up at The Stand Comedy Club where I was part of the monthly show Nerds Just Wanna Have Fun. I think that show helped me to consider the art of comedy as well as to start to understand which material worked and what could make people laugh. At first I was

nervous with comedy but with practice I feel more confident.” And with confidence comes writing and production presumably, with Connell working on various comedy projects including the upcoming show Bloody Marvellous: A Comedy Show about the Middle Ages. Playing both the Newcastle and Durham Fringe Festivals, as well as dates up and down the country and a spell at the Edinburgh Fringe, Bloody Marvellous… is an attempt to provide a comic tour of the medieval world using props, songs and games. “The show’s focus is on a number of things from the Middle Ages including creatures like sea-centipedes and manticores and characters like Eilmer the flying monk. These images come from what people believed in the Middle ages, yet it’s interesting to consider how then, like now, not everyone believed the news or the stories even when they were presented as facts.”

Working on the show has seen different audiences find humour in different places, something which Connell looks forward to exploring as the show tours further. “Some of the images in the show are surreal, they’re funny in themselves which can make people laugh, yet other times people find humour in how we’re still very similar after all of these years. For me it’s nice to think that comedy can offer a way for people to learn and laugh at the same time. I think they’re two of the most important states we can be in.”

Luke Connell Bloody Marvellous: A Comedy Show About The Middle Ages will be performed at Newcastle Fringe Festival (Tuesday 22nd July, Newgate Social) and Durham Fringe Festival (Thursday 24th July, Cafédral). www.linktr.ee/lukeconnell

LET’S TRIM OUR HAIR IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SOCIALIST LIFESTYLE

LAURA DOYLE TALKS TO THE MULTIMEDIA TRIO ABOUT THEIR NEW EP (AND HAIRCUTS...)

Figuring out where one concept ends and another begins within the music of Let’s Trim Our Hair In Accordance With The Socialist Lifestyle is an art form in itself. The collective came together in 2013, first as a duo comprising Oliver Lewis and Joe Millar, Newcastle University friends who found a band name before they even considered any sort of musical inspiration. The duo became a trio with the addition of Middlesbrough-based visual artist Graham Williamson, transforming the outfit into the fully-fledged multimedia project you can peruse today. Let’s Trim... have four – or maybe five, depending on who you ask – albums to their exceptionally long name, the most recent of which being the tricky double album Automatic Writing/ Enemies of the Roman Order. Four years in the making, and combining two seemingly polarising album concepts of clairvoyance and ambient country soundscapes, their first release post-COVID explored “our sense of reality and connection to the unseen, how we define sanity and our place in the world – and musically too.”

“For our Hélène Smith concept album, we did tons of research; I even spent an inordinate amount of time developing a theory about how her techniques could help us communicate with ‘Goldilocks zone’ exoplanets,” says Joe.

Now, they revisit this release with a new EP, Madeline. Taking one song from each disc of the double album and coupling them with previously unreleased b-sides to round off the release. “We’re not really a backwards-looking band,” explains Graham. “The Madeline EP really came from wanting a succinct final statement, a distillation of the double album before we move on. Every now and then I’ll listen to an old album and enjoy it as a snapshot of where we once were.” With an unreleased back catalogue that rivals some artists’ live

I DO HAVE A GOLDEN RULE THAT WE ALWAYS GO FOR WHAT IS BEST FOR THE SONG

repertoires, narrowing down what makes the cut the first time around, let alone a second, is quite the process. “It’s often shaped by the circumstance of recording. We have very limited resources which limit what we do, but we try to embrace that, work at the outer edges of the limitations and vary how we record. Often that means tracks that made sense for one album won’t easily carry over. Sometimes though, ideas linger. As a band I like to think we are quite democratic, we will follow any member’s ideas through to conclusion if they believe in it.

Naturally, sometimes things don’t fit,” Oliver says diplomatically. “It’s about the gut feeling of excitement and how long that lasts over multiple listens,” adds Joe. “Plus, more analytically, how much we can develop and enhance an idea. I do have a golden rule that we always go for what is best for the song, with no thought whatsoever to practicalities or personal cost –otherwise we would have been way more ‘sensible’ and never followed through on stuff like adding a horn section and turntable to Ghost Light, turning The World Turned Upside Down into a multi-part epic, or doing those abrupt song tempo changes on Tributary.”

We’re sold – it’s time to do a deep dive into what may be the most eclectic mix of songs an artist has ever created. There’s only one thing left to do, and it’s to trim our hair accordingly in a manner in keeping with a socialist lifestyle. The cut in question?

“I’d like to make the case for the ‘90s floppy centre parting as a socialist hairstyle,” concludes Graham. “In a truly equitable society, the workers will be allowed access to Camdenite decadence.”

www.letstrimourhairinaccordancewiththesocialistlifestyle. bandcamp.com

BLACK RAIN MUSIC

STEVE SPITHRAY TALKS TO THE SUNDERLAND ROCKERS ABOUT HOW THE REGION’S BLEAK INDUSTRIAL PAST FED INTO THEIR AGGRESSIVE BUT ECLECTIC DEBUT ALBUM

“We’re really determined to put our best foot forward with anything we do with the band and try to leave people walking away pleasantly surprised; whether that be with our merch, live performances or anything else.” Artists are always bemoaning the lack of royalty revenue from streaming, so how refreshing to see a new band taking that particular bull by the horns. “We’ve gone all in on the physical music front [so we] will have vinyl, CDs and cassettes available in addition to the usual streaming platforms.” Black Rain bassist Scott is in effervescent mood when we caught up to discuss their highly anticipated aggressive post-punk debut album. In a world of bland manufactured noise, Black Rain offer a stark unrelenting take on a classic sound.

“We never actually set out to create an album,” Scott continued (the band is completed by vocalist/guitarist Josh and drummer Mick). “But we’ve had such a positive reception since our first gig last Spring that we felt we needed to get something down on record. Once we settled on the idea of recording it snowballed from a couple of singles to an EP to the album as it is now.”

The eponymous album comprises studio recordings and live mixes, which is a little unusual, so I asked Scott how the concept came about. “The initial idea was to put the studio recordings out as an EP. The live recordings then came into play thanks to Phil Jackson at The Bunker in Sunderland. As well as producing the album, Phil recorded a gig we played there earlier in the year, and completely nailed the sound on the live recordings…”

Indeed, it’s difficult to pigeon-hole Black Rain’s sound given that it blends classic elements of post-punk with more contemporary structures and effects. “It was very much a happy accident,” Scott told me of how the trio’s sound developed. “There is no generic formula that dictates who should be doing what in any of our songs. We all bring our own influences and thoughts to the table, chuck them in the melting pot and fettle away until we’re happy. Sometimes we can develop an initial idea into a finished song within a week, and in other cases we have worked on something for months before we are happy with it.”

With a succession of interesting live dates already in the diary, including supporting Sanctum Sanctorium at the Fire Station in Sunderland on 14th September, this year is shaping up very nicely for Black Rain, which left me just one more thing to ask Scott. The band’s album press release states that they are ‘channelling the North East’s bleak industrial past while capturing the tension and rebellion of the present’ which is quite the statement to make. “I wouldn’t say that the album is political per se, but our lyrics definitely centre on real life experiences and emotions, so there is certainly some commentary on the political goings on of the last few years as well as internal reflections on what life has thrown at us, and how things have turned out vs hopes and expectations – all the cheery stuff!” And the final word from the bassist: “Musically it pretty much does what is says on the tin; too punk to be goth and too goth to be punk.”

Black Rain’s eponymous debut album is released on Monday 14th July. They play Diego’s, Sunderland on Saturday 26th July. www.linktr.ee/black_rain

NEWCASTLE FRINGE FESTIVAL

IF YOU LIKE…

HOMEGROWN TALENT

The region’s glittering comedy talent is wellrepresented, with shows from familiar faces including Consett’s Ian Younghusband, whose comedic storytelling aims to challenge perceptions around disability (Alphabetti, 23-24 July); the perennially funny Matt Reed presents a gloriously offbeat show, Jumble Tales (Newgate Social, 24 July); one of our faves Si Beckwith offers his new show Debt Midler, which deals with debt in his typically heart-on-sleeve style (Alphabetti, 2 Aug); and Lauren Pattison hosts a series of comedy and variety events at Newgate Social throughout the festival. There’s also music courtesy of anthemic alt. indie band Wolfred, supported by Weathership, Diago, Joe Holtaway and Aleksandra Karpiuk at Old Coal Yard (2 Aug); and Teesside songwriter Katie Doherty and her band The Navigators play Alphabetti (26 July). Spoken word fans will enjoy a night of poetry and prose with Neela Moon Collective (Dance City, 25 July) and self-proclaimed ‘gobby lass’ Lizzie Lovejoy (Alphabetti, 2 Aug). Thought-provoking theatre comes courtesy of Gemma Webster-B and Victoria Zakis-Smith’s show Letters To Grief, which takes a reflective look at a subject matter that comes to us all (Cumberland Arms, 24 July); Arun Graves-Kochhar and Isabelle Sander’s Foot In The Door fearlessly explores motherhood, ambition and identity through three compelling stories (Alphabetti, 25-26 July); and Newcastlebased puppetry company Made By Racoons offer a powerful visual journey of resistance and hope in Tales From Our Revolution (Alphabetti, 23-24 July).

EVENTS

WORDS: CLAIRE DUPREE

Newcastle Fringe Festival is a fine example of the benefits of having a grassroots ethos; having received no external funding, the 10-day programme relies on the hard work and knowledge of the team involved, and having grown the festival to include over 110 performances across eight venues in the city, it’s clear they’re a passionate bunch. The festival are committed to ensuring anyone can access the events, and have pledged that 10% of all tickets will be sold under a ‘no questions asked’ remit.

Taking place from Tuesday 22nd July-Saturday 2nd August (Tuesdays to Saturdays), the venues taking part include returning favourites Alphabetti Theatre, Prohibition Cabaret Bar, The Old Coal Yard, The Cumberland Arms and Dance City, plus newbies The Lubber Fiend, Newgate Social and Artisan at The Biscuit Factory. For the full low-down of this year’s extensive programme visit their website, and check out some of our recommended highlights below… www.newcastlefringe.co.uk

BIG NAMES

The Fringe is no stranger to household names too. Poet Carol Ann Duffy is joined by virtuoso musician John Sampson for an evening dedicated to the wonders of nature, while internationally acclaimed playwright Inua Ellams presents a spontaneous performance which dives into his rich archive of storytelling (both Old Coal Yard, 31 July). There’s comedy aplenty too, with confessions and chaos from Ola Labib (Dance City, 25 July); trailblazing comic Dane Baptiste confronts his younger self in new show Don’t Do What Dane Does (Newgate Social, 22-23 July); Susie McCabe’s work in progress show Best Behaviour recounts the absurdities of her own life (Cumberland Arms, 23 July).

TOURING UP & COMERS

Take an opportunity to discover your new favourite performer, from Kathryn Haywood’s yoga and sex-themed show (Cumberland Arms, 30 July), to Toussaint Douglass’ joyfully absurd Purple Drizzle (Old Coal Yard, 24 July), and Canadian potty-mouth Katie-Rose’s deliciously dark Dirty B*tch (Cumberland Arms, 30 July). There’s taboo-breaking shows courtesy of Glasgow-based artist Beth Knight, who uses nude self-portraits to overcome the shame she has held about her body (Artisan, 29 July); Ample Aggression take a foray into queerness in politics and celebrity culture in their show World Leader Pretend (Alphabetti, 30 July) and Joe Dennis’ Tides offers an insight into the wonderful yet challenging world of autism (Alphabetti, 23-24 July).

Tales From Our Revolution

Inua Ellams by Danny Kasirye

Ola Labib

NO WORRIES IF NOT COMEDY

LAURA ROSIERSE UNCOVERS THE IMPORTANCE OF CARE AND WHAT'S IN STORE FOR THE POWERFUL, UPLIFTING AND JOYOUS UPCOMING COMEDY COLLECTIVE

WHAT BINDS US IS OUR BELIEF THAT COMEDY IS NOT MERELY AMUSEMENT, BUT COMMUNION. TO US, LAUGHTER IS A LANGUAGE OF SURVIVAL

At roughly the same time, about three years ago, four females started bringing their jokes to the stage; they quickly became friends and created a group chat discussing the trials and tribulations of being female stand ups. All have grown massively since and are now gearing up for a performance at the Newcastle Fringe. I spoke to the collective, which goes by the name of No Worries If Not, about their past, present and future plans.

“We are Alex Redman, Kelly Rickard, Kelly Edgar and Kerris Gibson, four ladies of wit, modest means, and considerable timing. Together, we are No Worries If Not; a comedy assemblage of vivacity. Picture a girl band formed not to sing, but to speak through the means of humour. We wear too much lipstick, speak far too plainly, and shall not be discouraged from doing so.” Explains Kerris.

Having come together through a mutual wish to share a stage together at the Newcastle Fringe Festival, the four linked arms and instead of waiting for an offer, built a stage themselves. “No Worries If Not is both an act of artistic rebellion and a reunion of great minds. We adore each other’s work not only out of friendship (though we do adore one another), but out of profound admiration. Our goal is simple: to bring forth joyful, shameless and finely-crafted stand-up.”

Alex, Kelly, Kelly, and Kerris create from different perspectives, having lived different lives, but share in sensibility and will only

partly live up to the expectation many have of female comedians; there will be jokes about periods, but there will be so much more than that. “We have each lived different lives, weathered distinct storms, and developed voices as varied as our hairstyles. What binds us is our belief that comedy is not merely amusement, but communion. To us, laughter is a language of survival.” They aim to bring their audience together and have everyone feel seen and understood. When talking about the way they came together and formed the collective, they emphasised the importance of women entering the stage: “When one woman stands on stage and dares to be wholly herself, she leaves the door open behind her. When we gather together it sends a message louder than any heckle: we deserve to be here.” No Worries If Not highlights not just the importance of hilarious women sharing passion and laughter, but also the importance of taking care of each other (“We fix each other’s make-up before a gig”) but also taking the stage not just for themselves, but for those that will follow after them.

The title No Worries If Not came from a simple and taught politeness, yet their stage presence is less polite, and very much a contradiction. “The delightful and disobedient duality of being deeply apologetic while also daring to stand out. We adore the noble art of being a bit too much. Expect mischief. Expect sparkle. Expect four women so polite we may spend the full hour insisting the others go first…” They are bold and utterly magnetic, fitting right in within the North East comedy scene.

No Worries If Not perform at The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle on Wednesday 23rd July as part of Newcastle Fringe Festival. www.newcastlefringe.co.uk

STEVIE WHAT?

Some songs are written to connect and heal us, others are written to tell stories, and some are written in an attempt to piece together the hazy memories of the time you dramatically fell down a wormhole into another dimension and became a holiday salesman on the planet Pokitaru, from the 2002 Playstation 2 game Ratchet & Clank 1.

For Stevie What?, it is predominantly the latter. Having tumbled through the galaxy, the songs presented to us see Stevie trying to battle his sudden amnesia and piece together moments from his ordeal, slowly trying to make sense of the whole experience. Forgetting his own name, but remembering the core values of package holiday salesmanship – his performance is about more than just the aliens and interactions he has on the way, but it is certainly to be experienced live.

Having originally been conceived as an EP, Stevie now brings to Newcastle Fringe Festival a theatrical retelling of his journey: “It came together piece by piece, it started as just performing the songs and slowly more props got added and the memories became more vivid.”

Within the fully fledged theatrical performance, Stevie reveals everything he can from his time in another dimension, the best way he can. “It wasn’t until I first donned the suit that I realised that a full theatre production was the right way to tell my story. Once the suit was on, it became clear what needed to be done.” The unexpected and unknown seems like a firm theme in

QUESTIONS

Stevie’s newest project. “There’s a lot of questions about what it is or what it could be, and I've never been one for answers. Questions are good, uncertainty is good, having people a little confused and unsure is all part of the process. I don’t want to say that it’s a night of music or comedy, because it is and it isn’t any of those things.”

Somewhere in the middle of it all, we have Stevie’s experience. Now aided by theatrical props and visuals, with a couple of cameos sprinkled throughout, the show is centred around the songs which piece together the world he was thrust in. “It is funny, the songs that make me the most emotional, and the songs that I think connect with people, are the songs that dig deepest into the Pokitaru lore. It’s definitely interesting that the most impactful tracks are often the most detached from reality.”

Talking music, the performer admits: “I think the dream would be to be referred to as Mac Demarco in space.” The influence is clear in the layers of guitars which soak the tracks, with other influences including Connan Mockasin and Paul Cherry. The track titled ? serves as a reliable introduction to the universe that Stevie What? explores throughout the show. The sound is minimalist, with synth-drowned beats and a very nonchalant delivery, harking back to the Japanese shibuya-kei scene. The lyrics are dry and simple, as the narrative hooks you in. With an EP dropping in August, Stevie’s Fringe show at The Lubber Fiend on Tuesday 29th July is the quickest way to access the recollections of possibly the only human to have traversed the galaxies in such a way. www.instagram.com/stevieewhat

Image by Caroline Jones

LISTINGS

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

TUESDAY

1ST JULY

FELT NOWT EDINBURGH FRINGE PREVIEWS

Featuring Seymour Mace, John Gibson and Elaine Robertson, Deage Paxton, Anja Atkinson and Jake Donaldson running between 1st-3rd July // The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle

MOLDER

Byker Grave and The Lubber presents death metal riffs with Molder, Kontusion and Vacivus // The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle

WEDNESDAY

2ND JULY

ART FOR UNITY II

Work from over 50 artists — including Palestinian, white working-class, and Jewish voices — exploring themes of cultural identity, solidarity, and creative resistance. Runs until 6th July // Baltic, Gateshead

BILLY OCEAN

Returning to his natural environment with a string of headline shows throughout the UK, with a set hand-packed with greatest hits and crowd favourites // The Globe, Stockton

HIPPODROME DANCE SHOWCASE

Darlington Hippodrome’s Youth Dance groups and Monday Movers present an evening celebrating their work, with original choreography by the tutors of The D Project // Darlington Hippodrome

TWILIGHT CAFE

A late evening cafe with a European style atmosphere that is a welcoming space to relax in a cosy, alcohol-free environment. // Star and Shadow Cinema, Newcastle

THURSDAY 3RD

JULY

FEATURED // Palestine Comedy Club Benefit

A benefit where all proceeds go to help bring the Palestine Comedy Club to the Edinburgh Fringe for the first time. Featuring Nicola Mantalios, Kelly Rickard, Dave Johns and more // The Stand, Newcastle

REBIRTH: A POETIC CONVERSATION

REBIRTH is a poetry conversation between a mother and a daughter, who began exploring how they related the one to the other during separation in lockdown // The Lit & Phil, Newcastle

STAITHE

The delicately immersive, minimalistic duo head to Darlington, joined by pop singer-songwriter Isabel Maria // Angel’s Cut, Darlington

FRIDAY 4TH JULY

LUCIEN ANDERSON: BRIEF CANDLE, SPLENDID Torch

A series of wall-based sculptural works that touch on Anderson’s interest in the fundamentals of society and human survival, pulling in references to film, history and fiction. Runs until 3rd August // Slugtown, Newcastle

FEATURED // Marketplace

The inimitable indie pop quintet head to Sunderland for their rescheduled headline show, with support from Club Paradise and Lottie Willis // Independent, Sunderland

SATURDAY

5TH JULY

HOT OFF THE HEADLINES

Art of Dance presents Hot Off the Headlines, where every step tells a story and the spotlight shines on headline-worthy moments of dance, drama and delight // Customs House, South Shields

SPRAYDOG

Cult 90s scuzzy slacker pop stalwarts Spraydog are celebrating the launch of their seventh studio album, Anything Loud In Your Head. With support from Pumice. // The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle

SUNDAY 6TH JULY

EIGENGRAU

Post-math rock band with support from Midnight Jazz Club and Dutch Elm // The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle

TUESDAY 8TH JULY

LIVE WRITES

Live Theatre’s brand new writing showcase and development event for theatre creatives of all experiences to flourish in a safe and supportive space, with live feedback, networking and championing of the amazing artists of our region // Live Theatre, Newcastle

WEDNESDAY 9TH JULY

AN EVENING WITH LISA JEWELL

A celebration of the release of Don't Let Him

In by the queen of the psychological thriller, Lisa Jewell, who will be interviewed by award-winning writer Trevor Wood, author of the Jimmy Mullen trilogy // The Exchange 1856, North Shields

GEET NORTHERN SHOW

Comedy cabaret with everything from short sketch plays, stand-up comedy, burlesque and music // Alphabetti, Newcastle

HOLIDAY MYSTICS

A chaotic four-piece described as a modern-day Fleetwood Mac with the indie grit of Wolf Alice // The Cluny, Newcastle

THURSDAY 10TH JULY

WOMEN’S SONIC WORLD – QUEERNESS, LIBERATION AND DISSENT

Join curator, researcher and programme committee member Ellie Armon Azoulay for a tour of Resounding Diasporic Sonic Worlds // The New Bridge Project, Newcastle

FRIDAY

11TH JULY

LIVING THE LIFE OF RILEY

Living the Life of Riley is a heart-warming, heart-breaking and hilarious tale of a family, trying to negotiate their way through teenage tantrums, autism and Grandma // Playhouse, Whitley Bay

MOMENTS IN TIME

Delve into a world of wonder, self-reflection and transformation as magician Sean Alexander, aka The Confusionist, takes centre stage // Customs House, South Shields

FEATURED // The Underground Radio Show

Alumni from BBC’s Grin Up North, sketch comedy troupe Sun of a Gun are bringing comedy sketches, songs and Olde Worlde news and adverts in an intriguing location // Victoria Tunnel Entrance, Newcastle

THE UPPER STRATA

Dive into the indie-sci-fi universe of The Upper Strata, a duo who blend music and storytelling for an immersive odyssey // The Cluny, Newcastle

SATURDAY 12TH JULY

RARE BREED

Teesside alt. metal outfit Rare Breed take to the stage for their first hometown headliner of the year supported by No Ripcord and Mascaras Lies // The Georgian Theatre, Stockton

SUNDAY 13TH JULY

TOM HINGLEY

The rugged front man of Inspiral Carpets will drag us down to the depths of Manchester folklore // The Waiting Room, Stockton

TUESDAY 15TH JULY

JOOLS HOLLAND AND HIS RHYTHM & BLUES ORCHESTRA

Jools continues to dazzle, involve and impress audiences with his Rhythm & Blues Orchestra and their exuberant live performances // Darlington Hippodrome

JULIAN LAGE

The musician releases his new album, which spans a wide range of American music, and delights in the deliberate crossing of wires between gospel hymn and rural blues, California singer-songwriter sunshine and skronky jazz // The Exchange 1856, North Shields

VIVA LAS VEGAS

Film screening: A race-car driver preparing for the Grand Prix spends his time in Las Vegas working as a waiter to pay for his new engine and soon strikes up a romance // ARC, Stockton

WEDNESDAY 16TH JULY

BACK TO 1985

To commemorate the 40th anniversary of Steve Cram breaking three different world records in the space of only 19 days, join him, host Jeff Brown and other special guests at this special event where you’ll relive the World Records on the big screen // Gala, Durham

ESTHER MANITO & HAYLEY ELLIS: TOUR PREVIEWS

Hilarity Bites present tour preview shows from two of the funniest stand-ups on the circuit, Esther Manito (as seen on Live at the Apollo) and Hayley Ellis (co-host of The Worriers podcast) // The Hullabaloo, Darlington

SCOTT BENNETT

Scott Bennett tells the amazing true story of how his daughter fell ill with a rare genetic condition. Yes, it’s a story about an ill baby, but it’s a very funny one with a happy ending // The Witham, Barnard Castle

THURSDAY 17TH JULY

CARL AUSTIN-BEHAN OBE

To commemorate the 25th anniversary since the lifting of the ban on LGBTQ+ people serving in the armed forces, Out North East welcomes Dr Carl Austin-Behan OBE DL to their Summer of Pride // Customs House, South Shields

FRIDAY 18TH JULY

HILARITY BITES COMEDY CLUB

Michael McIntyre’s comedy roadshow star Paul Tonkinson, joined by Raul Kohli, Ant Dewson and host Danny Deegan // Bishop Auckland Town Hall

NEGATIVES

Five piece heavy metal band, with support from Perpetua and Culturist // The Grove, Newcastle

TWIN ATLANTIC

A soaring Scottish rock outfit that traffics in all the elements of alternative music, with support from Fright Years // KU, Stockton

PULSE 002

A night of rhythm and riot, the inclusive queer club night is back in time for Pride Weekend with DJs EMpTy, Kitty, Hornmaster5000, with all profits going to The Big Gay Fund // The Lubber Fiend

SATURDAY 19TH JULY

ANARCHISTS AGAINST APARTHEID

A fundraiser night in support of Palestine with a whole host of rad and rebellious talent including Gaydar, Nadine Hurley, Elijah Oak and Ellen Moss // Star and Shadow Cinema, Newcastle

SUNDAY 20TH JULY

THE 11TH ANNUAL CLUNY RUBBER DUCK RACE

The race is on as The Cluny offers 350 ducks ready to win for charity. With best dressed duck competition and prizes. // The Cluny, Newcastle

TUESDAY 22ND JULY

HARVEST FROM THE DEEP

Exhibition by local photographer Pete Robinson documenting the North Shields fishing industry. Runs until 30th August // Old Low Lights Heritage Centre, North Shields

KIRSTY HALL

Part of Newcastle Fringe, Kirsty will perform her multi-media show What Is Home? 2.0, consisting of music, spoken word, art and more // The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle

THURSDAY 24TH JULY

GOLD: A JOURNEY THROUGH LAYERS

Abstract art exhibition by Thiago Ponsancini, a tribute to the country that shaped his childhood memories, Brazil. Runs until 28th July // Bottleworks, Newcastle

WANT MORE?

WEATHERSHIP

Alt. rock Teessiders launch their new single, For The Dark Is Beautiful, support from Nice Guy // Cafe Etch, Middlesbrough

THE ZIPHEADS

The Zipheads set off on their new album launch tour playing the signature styles of rock ‘n’ roll infused with punk, surf, reggae and more // Trillians, Newcastle

FRIDAY 25TH JULY

CATCH 22 COMEDY CLUB

MC Matt Reed, Rob Deering and more bring big laughs to an intimate, buzzing setting // ARC, Stockton

GHOST STATIONS

Alt. rock duo, supported by Seaton Point, Corran Sands and special guests // The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle

SATURDAY 26TH JULY

FEATURED // End Credits

Through their diverse musical upbringing, the 2025 BBC Introducing Ones To Watch come together to create a genre bending blend of songs // The Georgian Theatre, Stockton

SUNDAY 27TH JULY

AGATHA CHRISTIE DOUBLE BILL

The Star and Shadow presents two star studded mysteries: Murder on the Orient Express and Death on the Nile by the queen of curiosity Agatha Christie // Star and Shadow Cinema, Newcastle

THURSDAY 31ST JULY

AN AFTERNOON OF OPERA WITH RACHEL ABBOTT

Timeless melodies in an elegant and evocative recital // The Old Coal Yard, Newcastle

REVIEWS

Paul Smith by Tracy Hyman

SAM FENDER @ ST. JAMES’ PARK, NEWCASTLE (14.06.25)

Words: Jonathan Coll

As the final chords of Hypersonic Missiles were heard and fireworks lit up the Newcastle skyline, the second of Sam Fender’s weekend of St. James’ Park gigs came to a close. The latest iteration was every bit as incredible as you would have expected, with surprises in the form of a rendition of Thin Lizzy’s Boys Are Back In Town and Olivia Dean joining for Rein Me In. The crowd was as raucous as you could imagine, but the softer notes of Spit Of You were a particular highlight. It was nestled within an outrageous closing stretch which included People Watching and Seventeen Going Under, underlining his Glastonbury headline credentials, before a heartfelt nod to the crowd and a triumphant encore.

The line between gig and football match has never been more blurred and, ultimately, if you’re still surprised at this point then you’re equally likely to be startled by finding a fork in your kitchen. The crowd is a swaying, joyful mass of black and white stripes, and that’s no bad thing. Stadium gigs can often succumb to a somewhat soulless and subdued atmosphere; a feeling that you could be anywhere in the world watching any artist at all. That’s never going to be the case at a Sam Fender show at St. James’ Park. It’s so unapologetically Northern and unmistakably Geordie.

STOCKTON (16.06.25)

Words: Robert Nichols

A solo homecoming gig from the Maxïmo Park frontman had the Georgian Theatre crowd cheering for extra time. The man in the cool Panama hat proved once again what a consummate songwriter and quite exceptional performer he is. Twenty years on stage, as he told us, and he can graft as well as craft. We are so lucky to have this talent in our midst.

Talking of talent, Melanie Baker gets better and better every time I see her. Another habitual hat wearer, it was one of the qualities she told us she shares as well as a humdrum name with the headliner. Many of the audience shared Melanie's horror experience that she described in a song about a domestic slug infestation; it’s not all bad news though,

because since releasing the wonderful but sad All My Plants Have Died Melanie has developed green fingers.

Enter Paul Smith, not the comedian he told us but such a personable host. Songs from his own albums were interspersed with Maxïmo Park adaptations. Thus we switched between an intimate starter, While You're In The Bath, to Maxïmo Park's Stream of Life. “You can hear the words without the band,” Paul pointed out. Each number was also accorded a little explanation or accompanying story. Extra material was drawn down from that wonderful folk-infused collaboration with Rachel Unthank. War artist Paul Nash inspired The National Urge and the very moving ode to Stockton World War One victim Robert Kay were amongst the standouts. There was just time on the clock for a Maxïmo medley. If only he could start all over again.

BETTY BOO, CATLEA @ KU, STOCKTON (13.06.25)

Words: Steve Spithray

KU have really pulled some rabbits out of hats this year with their live programming, so tonight was the turn of legendary Brit-rap pioneer Betty Boo with a personal appearance-style reworking of all the old hits plus a handful of newer tracks from a string of recent EPs, which turn out to be as good if not better than the original material. It was also nice to see a proper tour support in the form of Ohio’s Catlea, with their sugar sweet and personal indie pop to warm up the early KU crowd. As Betty Boo (and wingperson/backing singer/dancer Rita – think Catherine Tate meets Ab Fab) takes the stage, things immediately ramp up as they launch straight into old favourites Doin’ It To Def and 808 – albeit to a backing track that often seemed to catch them off guard between songs as the next track kicked in. Sure, it’s under-rehearsed, ropey at times and they play Doin’ The Do twice (of course they do!) but the set flows with little let up in quality, along with Betty’s distinctive neo-psychedelic projections on the back wall which help to keep the performance interesting. So, newer tracks like Barbarella and Boomerang are as well received as the hits, and a surprise Hear’Say cover (Betty co-wrote Pure And Simple, fact fans) wraps things up very nicely.

PAUL SMITH, MELANIE BAKER @ THE GEORGIAN THEATRE,

FOXING, GLEEMER, BINARIES @ THE CLUNY, NEWCASTLE (13.06.25)

Words: Damian Robinson

It’s an early start from local art rockers Binaries, as the trio blast through some interesting cuts from recent debut album Disaster Patterns. As happy to be on this evening’s line-up as is imaginable, Binaries’ set is a strong demonstration of their potential and songwriting skills. A quick hand-over sees second act, and tonight’s primary support, Colorado’s Gleemer up next. Steeped in downtempo, grungy layers of guitars, Gleemer are both heavy and intense as they plough through walls of pedals and drones in search of tuneful melodies and Placebo-esque vocal styles.

They’re a great warm-up for Foxing, whose five-piece live outfit perfect the Pixies-esque loud-quiet-loud idiom. Strong interplay in both antics and vocals between singer Conor Murphy and lead guitarist Eric Hudson are at the heart of tonight’s success, with Conor singing as if his life depended on connecting with the audience, and Eric enjoying a backseat role until moments of heavy guitar bombast and showcasing; the two work so well together. With a set mostly built from 2024’s self-titled album, tonight’s show enjoys both ferocious and more melancholic moments, with a busy Cluny suggesting that Foxing continue to attract fans of indie, math and art rock alike.

LANTERNS ON THE LAKE, THE EARLY PURPLE @ KING STREET SOCIAL CLUB, NORTH SHIELDS (24.05.25)

Words: Zeinab Lenton

The best folk songs evoke a landscape; they have a sense of a specific space and place, and often one that transcends time, or renders it somehow irrelevant. Opening up the evening, a spare and delicate support performance from The Early Purple brings fields, forests and the gentle rustle of wind through Northumberland hedgerow into a North Shields working men’s club. Matt Saxon’s voice is soulful and tender, his guitar clear and true. Saxon’s revelatory cover of Björk’s Joga, devoid of the original’s electronica, brought out the deep yearning in the lyrics, heavy on the heartbreak. The Early Purple's music is for dawn and dusk, and for the magic, questioning hours in between. Recent breakout track The Greek Key is beautiful and delicate, a song about enlightenment, and The Early Purple are a revelation indeed. Lanterns On The Lake take to the stage to the rapturous applause of an audience that is both expansively, warmly ‘hometown’ and from further afield. When Hazel Wilde asks where the audience are from, the cries of

those who have travelled to see them – shouts of “Glasgow”, “Bristol”, and even “Paris” – are testament to the long-lasting appeal of the band. This sense of triumphant homecoming gives the band a comfortable space for their first live performance in many months. No sense of rustiness is apparent in spirited performances of favourites such as Another Tale From Another English Town, Every Atom and Baddies. More recent tracks such as String Theory and Rich Girls sound fresh and full of verve, and new tracks are woven into the set seamlessly. As Hazel Wilde remarks, the King Street Club is so close to home, she feels like she could “nip back and put out the washing” in between songs. By the time the final chords ring out, it feels less like a gig and more like a gathering of old friends – proof, if it were needed, that music this rooted in emotion and place will always find its way home.

BUTTERFLY EFFECT FESTIVAL @ PEALIE'S BARN, NORTHALLERTON (31.05.25)

Words: Robert Nichols

An 18th Century farmyard proved a wonderful venue for dedicated vinyl label Butterfly Effect to serve up some of the best emerging talent from our region. Fast forward to the nighttime and everyone was bopping away to the electronic dance and guitar-driven techno of Analogue Blood. Earlier, Dossers blasted away any cobwebs with their no-holds-barred punk. Ste from Mouses had gone solo, perched on high above the indoor barn playing a high-velocity cover of Pink Pony Club for his daughter before ripping into Mouses classic Poison. He was joined by the Ceiling Demons front men, who had earlier brought some of their own firebrand art rap along the B road from nearby Richmond. Elaine Palmer delivered a vibrant set of kicking county from up on the same high perch. The feisty Blackened Heart and the folk tragic Freeborough Hill sparkled like the jewels daughter Elena was making by the merch stand.

The wonderful Robyn Errico swept us along on her magic keyboard carpet ride to Sedona, Arizona and back. The mighty Melanie Baker's head fell off last night, apparently, allegedly, which means she would have missed the whispering rapper Faithful Johannes. Such a shame. A first listen for me at the pop voices of Last of the Fallen Angels and all new Midnight Library. Real treats. Same applies regarding Scruffy Bear, who packed a rockin' punch. Frozen Low turned the tempo down and made it moody.

A moody, magical, magnificent festival.

Foxing by George Driver

KAHIL EL’ZABAR’S ETHNIC HERITAGE ENSEMBLE @ COBALT STUDIOS, NEWCASTLE (07.06.25)

Words: Damian Robinson

It’s a sold out show tonight at Cobalt to welcome in Kahil El’Zabar’s Ethnic Heritage Ensemble; a mouthful title for a collection of jazz musicians based out of Chicago, regarded as some of the finest jazz artists on the planet. Initially a drummer-led collective, the past few years have seen the outfit add strings to their sound, something that they integrate in places tonight as they slide across a laid-back, loose set-list and some inspired playing.

A challenge with watching jazz as a fan is to understand what is genuinely improvised in-the-moment, as opposed to what has been regularly played live as an improvised technique, meaning that tonight as the collective sync in and out of tempos and improvisations (to a room full of whoops, hollers and encouragement) it’s a challenge to pick out the spontaneity within the excellence. Nevertheless, with Chicago drummer Kahil El’Zabar at the centre, it’s clear that the collective focused on their African polyrhythm heart and Afrobeat textures. Measured with drops in tempo, and soaring bombast, the sound is focused on the heart of the score - the groove - on top of which horn and musical sections fade in and out as El’Zabar conducts and gives focus. It’s soulful, free-form jazz in its most powerful form.

MARTHA WAINWRIGHT @ THE FIRE STATION, SUNDERLAND (03.06.25)

Words: Victoria Wai

Martha’s performance at Sunderland’s Fire Station was a special celebration for the 20th anniversary of her self-titled critically acclaimed debut album, performed in two parts. It also became extra special as the second half started with a dedication to former Sunderland professor and avid gig-goer Peter Smith, who sadly passed a few days before; Martha dedicated a new song, Wake Up In Makeup, to him. The night kicked off with Far Away, which is also the twenty-year-old album’s opener and locked us into a comforting vibe; there is just something about Martha’s vocals that wrap around you like a blanket, no matter the subject matter, as GPT and These Flowers follow. Martha is a brilliant storyteller, not just in song but in stage banter, as backstories are given throughout and we even get a reading from her

memoir, Stories I Might Regret Telling You, before she dives into a cover of her brother Rufus’ song, Dinner At Eight. The whole night felt like having a cosy night in with a close friend as her stories and lyrics are so honest; even getting the guitar tuned into a weird key and forgetting a second verse was endearing.

Martha Wainwright draws in some of the most attentive crowds and the audience appreciation comes at the right times; we would have been happy ending the night with Factory but the cheering got louder and even a semi standing ovation won us the treat of the real perfect ending, a performance of Bloody Mother Fucking Asshole and a note to how perfect this and the whole set sounded in the acoustics of The Fire Station.

THE HORRORS, THE SAFEST PLACE @ THE EXCHANGE 1856, NORTH SHIELDS (23.05.25)

Words: Michael O’Neill

Masterminded by wunderkind guitarist Johnny Bond, support band The Safest Place are a phenomenal breath of fresh air; the witty wordplay and stage presence of frontman Louis Adams is anchored by a glorious wash of sharp riffs, walls of synths, and a powerful rhythm section which bashes out waves of pummelling drums and gloriously melodic bass.

It was a perfect scene-setter for a brilliant headlining set from the latest permutation of The Horrors; secretly one of the most interesting and unpredictable British bands of the century so far. Latest album Night Life takes the industrial synth pop aesthetic honed on 2018’s V to new frontiers, and its dark and foreboding sound translates marvellously to the stage, with a setlist that takes in highlights from the album alongside classics from their kaleidoscopic songbook. Frontman Faris Badwan remains a commanding presence, with new members Amelia Kidd (synths/keys) and Jordan Cook (drums) both being dynamic additions to the line-up. Guitarist Joshua Hayward remains one of the most unorthodox and fascinating sonic architects, and bassist Rhys Webb is a master of groove and melody. All in all, a glorious start to a weekend of sonic splendour courtesy of A Stone’s Throw Festival.

Martha Wainwright by Victoria Wai

METROLAND @ LIVE THEATRE, NEWCASTLE (27.05.25)

Words: Jacob Easton

The surrealist Geordie troupe who make up Metroland – and have been included in both The Guardian and Rolling Stone's top picks of Edinburgh Fringe 2024 – sold out Live Theatre as part of the Unearthed Festival, and what a homecoming it was.

Like a dream, you never really noticed the beginnings or the transitions; you lost the track of time, everything blended into this fusion of nonsense, and it was beautiful.

Unpretentious and playful, the show didn’t have separate ‘acts’ or an overlapping structure to be analysed, the whole thing was a play and everyone in the room was in it, from the first warm-up hip thrusts, to perfectly timed phone notifications during sensitive moments of improv. But whilst there was a good deal of nonsense and the night felt very loose at times, it was clear that there was a serious collection of talent on stage. Because as funny as a daft sketch might sound, it still needs the quality of performance to bring it, to set it up and deliver it. And they did, all of the lads are accomplished actors, and some have even graced the Live stage before.

That’s Metroland: fun, daft, crazy, but incredibly talented. Like jesters with pHDs. They deserve their growing reputation and we’re all looking forward to being bemused by what comes next.

EARTH, MAUD THE MOTH @ THE CLUNY, NEWCASTLE (20.05.25)

Words: Lee Fisher

Maud The Moth does a lot right – her voice is clearly a remarkable instrument, she has a sense of the dramatic, and she’s tapping into a lot of influences I appreciate (Virginia Astley, Kate Bush, Rev Kristin Hayter) – but I’m afraid her set still managed to leave me cold. It might be my fault.

Apparently it’s been six years since Earth last touched down in Newcastle and people were understandably excited. They kicked off with Even Hell Has Its Heroes and while they sounded great, it was just too damned quiet. Knowing what the Cluny PA is capable of, this is a

shame. Earth need to be a physical experience, not just an aural one, and your chestbone needs to rattle. Never mind: volume aside it was a great set, with classics like Old Black and Land Of Some Other Order appearing alongside a handful of really fine new tracks that bode well for a future release. Scalphunter’s Blues was especially impressive – some gorgeous intertwined bass and lead, and Adrienne picking out details with bells and a gong. In some ways, she’s Earth’s secret weapon: it takes remarkable control to play that slowly and her body moves in waves and flourishes as if to mark out where the unplayed beats would be. A brilliant closing double-whammy of Bees Made Honey… and An Inquest Concerning Teeth and we’re done. Wonderful stuff, despite sounding a bit timid.

PIXIES, BIG SPECIAL @ O2 CITY HALL, NEWCASTLE (23.05.25)

Words: Damian Robinson

Some 40 years into their career, the Pixies remain the absolute definition of what a live guitar band can be. Intense, relentless and stubborn, tonight’s Pixies show demonstrates a performance where the artist is in clear control – they decide what to play and when to play it – we get the new stuff (Primrose), the classics (Here Comes Your Man, Debaser), and we get them in the order Frank wants us to have them. There’s no negotiation. There’s no new-one, old-one, agreement. In return we get them punctual (dead on 9pm), fit (Joey’s guitar work is sensational), and intense (we might get nine words from Francis all night in the seconds between each of the 30-ish songs).

As a musical act, and as a live show, they set the standard other bands should follow. So when we look at the potential of openers, noise duo Big Special, both with their songs - Shithouse and This Here Ain’t Water stand out tonight - and their stage craft (you’ve never heard as many air-raid sirens outside of the Hoppings) the British act couldn’t be on a better tour, or have better mentors around them. Mixing up their sounds from dark stoner rock to Britpop and tech-bounce, they are incredibly charismatic on stage, Big Special have substantial promise; if they learn from their tour-mates, they could go far.

Pixies by David Wala

TRACKS

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

DOMINNEEKY ALIVE

Words: Isabel Johnson

Contrary to the title’s suggestion of something more… hardcore, Carrie Hawkins’ shiny new single is actually a perfect, punchy piece of pop music that will stick in your head for days like a delicious piece of bubblegum. Superhardcore is the follow-up single from the Sunderland-based songwriter’s debut album Square One, and it’s all about the “misunderstood and downtrodden youth of Sunderland and elsewhere”. It’s got witty lyrics, effortlessly cool processed vocals, fascinating albeit simple pop production, and altogether a sort of unputdownable charm which makes its four-minute span fly by. Listen at your own risk, because once you start you quite literally can’t stop. Songs like this are what they invented the loop button for.

Released: 05.07.25

www.instagram.com/carriehawkinssongs

CENTRAL ARCADE MATTER

EP

Words: Joe Sharples

Central Arcade cite a long list of inspirations for their new EP; from the foot-tapping, infectious indie guitar of Cold Truth Reigns to the more acoustic ballad feel of Find A Lover, there’s elements of great indie bands in just the first two tracks, from legends like the Cure to modern trailblazers such as Wunderhorse. Notably, the clean vs. fuzzier toned outro guitar solos in Find A Lover and Hold Me, although both blues-rooted, offer a nice textural contrast, whilst eponymous track Matter provides a more relaxed and soulful end.

Demonstrating vocal, instrumental and lyrical skill – and impressive diversity of each over just four tracks – Central Arcade prove that good, classic indie rock is still very much alive and kicking in the North East.

Released: 11.07.25

www.instagram.com/central.arcade

Words: Adam Paxton

Alive is a fun song, and clearly born out of extreme diligence and skill by Dominneeky.

The positivity and vibrancy of the production mixes with the unique vocals and passionate delivery as the track progresses and becomes increasingly layered, resulting in a playful but sophisticated track, with tight rhythms that positively scream summer. Or gym. Or anything else you’re excited for, for that matter.

Add to that the almost chanted refrain of “You’re alive” and you have a recipe for feeling good whenever you listen to this song. Whether you’re low on energy and need a pick-me-up, or high energy and need something to match. Outright positivity is too often mistaken for lack of depth, to which this song stands in joyous protest.

Released: 11.07.25

www.domineeky.net

OKO OKO STARS EP

Words: Mack Sproates

The debut EP by Northumberland-hailing OKO OKO is a magical melting pot of sonic psych pop and folky loveliness. Capturing the feeling of what I’d imagine it’d be like looking into a crystal ball and dancing around the stars, lyrically it unravels sweet little tales to get wrapped in.

Stars mixes funky rhythms with plenty of reverb on guitar; Something I Already Know showcases ethereal blends of vocals which harmonise beautifully with gentle, dreamy keys; Who Knows Where picks up the pace as a more upbeat and groovy number, with a nice sprinkle of brass. A joyous, immersive fairytale of an EP with all the twinkly trimmings, it’s so easy to get lost in the mystical world of OKO OKO.

Released: 01.07.25 www.instagram.com/oko_okoofficial

CARRIE HAWKINS SUPERHARDCORE

TIN RIBS

DISASTER CAPITALISM

Words: Adam Paxton

Beginning with the characteristic sandpaper driving bass, then quick-fire lyrical brilliance – “concrete ribs from a life in retail” is a personal favourite – the quality never drops on Tin Ribs’ new track. The change in tempo for the chorus helps it hit harder, the brief stutter and moment of silence working to really make it stand out from the rest of the song, with unabashedly half-rapped lyrics serving a nice contrast. To delve into the political satire would require way exceeding my word count; suffice to say it’s as creative as the rest of the track, its roots in Naomi Klein’s Shock Doctrine only a launch pad for new ideas. Listen to Tin Ribs. The music is great and you may see our dystopia differently.

Released: 04.07.25

www.facebook.com/tinribsband

LEON FUSSELL

THE TENTH OF NEVER

Words: Kai Palmer

With over two decades of experience in the North East music scene, Leon Fussell is back with a fierce track, The Tenth of Never.

Beginning with a punky, electric guitar intro reminiscent of Blondie’s menacing One Way Or Another, and a rhythm of claps, the song is exciting even in its first few seconds. Layering on the vocals ensures that the track feels full-bodied: there’s no emptiness to fall back on, contrary to the loneliness detailed in the lyrics as Fussell groans: “Some things don’t last forever”.

That contrast, along with the song’s pop elements, seem to represent the importance of keeping yourself intact while dealing with an unravelling relationship, and Fussell’s musical creativity spectacularly exemplifies that sentiment.

Released: 04.07.25 www.youtube.com/@leonfussell

JADE MIA BROADHEAD BYGONES EP

Words: Niamh Poppleton

Newcastle-based folk singer-songwriter Jade Mia Broadhead’s debut EP Bygones is a reflective and profound collection of tracks.

Accompanied by acoustic guitar, Jade’s distinctive voice is characterised by soul-deep longing, which flows beyond the confines of the music. Bygones, the titular track, is lyrically infused with 90s pop culture references. It serves as a retrospective commentary on society, warning of the dangers of becoming trapped in a realm of nostalgia. The other two tracks are increasingly introspective. I’ll Never Fall In Love Again traces the mistakes of a broken relationship and the process of finding self-love, while Thank You is a love letter to Jade’s past self before transitioning. Poignant and significant, Bygones is an exceptional addition to Jade's catalogue.

Released: 04.07.25

www.linktr.ee/jademiabroadhead

WHITE NOISE

TIGHT

COLLAR

Words: Niamh Poppleton

The enthralling debut single from Newcastle-based four-piece band Tight Collar draws upon the wrath and indignation of a generation. White Noise paints a world in which businesses struggle to enforce power due to widespread neglect and opposition of corporate authority.

Drawing on the violent insurrection and anger of the punk movement, rage meets hopelessness as the enraged vocals explosively confront the listener, accompanied by quick drums and a rapid yet simultaneously softly-plucked guitar. In a novel musical experience that has a commanding feel, the instrumentation of the track seamlessly blends together post-punk sounds with subtle indie influences.

With music mirroring a message of the mayhem it seeks to criticise, White Noise is dichotomous commentary at its finest.

Released: 18.07.25

www.linktr.ee/tightcollar

TRACKS

NADEDJA LIQUID (HUMAN)

Words: Isabel Johnson

Some songs are real. Some songs are ethereal. It’s incredibly rare that an artist manages to pull off both - yet Nadedja does just that in Liquid (Human). It’s a showcase of Nadedja’s dreamiest, richest work yet, but it also has a sense of being deeply rooted in truth, with blade-sharp lyrics detailing vulnerability and unreserved love. Liquid (Human) gives you that welcome head-in-the-clouds feeling while also gently reminding you that your feet are on the ground, and that’s a deeply impressive feat. Written alone and co-produced with Bob Mackenzie, this song feels like a very clear mood-board of Nadedja’s sound as an ever-evolving, ever-incredible artist, and it deserves the prime spot on your sparkliest playlist.

Released: 02.07.25

www.nadedja.com

STOCK IMAGE SELL BY DATE

Words: Steve Spithray

Starting with a vibey crowd noise reminiscent of Blurred Lines might be intentionally risqué, but Stock Image’s Sell By Date soon gives way to a crisp darkwave synth riff. Our protagonist objects to everything from having a cool film collection he watches alone, the end of a relationship and being the last to leave a party, all on the basis that he is past his sell-by date. All is not lost though, in verse two he’s been talking to a woman who seems nice before he blows it by saying his favourite show is Miami Vice. Some humour in the storm, it’s that kind of track. As a loungecore metaphor for death, it’s pretty unremarkable but still, obliquely in that respect, really rather good.

Released: 02.07.25

www.linktr.ee/stock_image

JENNA LOUISE FT. THE DUNWELLS BETTER WITH US

Words: Amy McGarahan

Darlington-based singer-songwriter Jenna Louise joins forces with folk pop band The Dunwells on Better With Us; a radiant, harmony-rich love song built for heart-on-your-sleeve romantics. With Jenna’s emotive vocals at the core, the track features an anthemic chorus, tasteful keys and acoustic warmth.

The folk-infused arrangement gives the sentiment space to shine; this is a song that wears its joy proudly. Inspired by real-life moments and written with weddings and first dances in mind, it strikes a balance between Jenna’s personal life and a universal experience. Better With Us is the perfect soundtrack for new chapters; full of love, hope and the reassuring promise of something lasting.

Released: 27.06.25

www.jennalouisemusic.co.uk

SAM GEORGE

ALL THE PEOPLE YOU BECAME EP

Words: Claire Dupree

Breathy vocals and breezy, funky rhythms kick Sam George’s debut EP off in tantalising style. The Newcastle songwriter’s versatility shines through, as opening track Nothing Will Cure It veers from impassioned soul to rocky breakdowns in the blink of an eye.

Sam’s influences – from mid-70s Bowie and Marvin Gaye to songwriting supremos like Dylan and Cohen – are worn lightly, ensuring his own style shines through. Tracks like Age Is On My Side and The Fraud are fine examples of Sam’s storytelling style.

On occasion the vocal style can be a little overdone, but there’s enough variation here to keep things interesting. Catch Sam live at Alfie & Fin’s in Tynemouth on Friday 18th July.

Released: 18.07.25

www.instagram.com/samgeorge_music

ALBUMS

WET LEG MOISTURIZER (DOMINO)

Words: Steve Spithray

For one reason or another negativity seems to follow Wet Leg around, making it easy to forget that their 2022 self-titled debut album was a lavish slice of indie layer cake marking the Isle of Wight five-piece out as our Parquet Courts. Follow-up Moisturizer is not exactly more of the same but follows in the New Yorkers’ penchant for going off on tangents without sounding radically different. So, while lead single Catch These Fists is there for the middle-aged ‘industry plant’ naysayers as a kind of Chaise Longue reprise (with that Take Me Out riff and oh-so-catchy middle eight), elsewhere Moisturizer delivers a more subtle caravan of knowingly lo-fi and archly realised indie-isms topped off with the band’s already trademark musical and lyrical inventiveness. Second album burnout rumours aside, Moisturizer is literally brimming with ideas. Davina McCall is a country-inflected ode to the TV presenter that is suitably absurd but still within the band’s already broad alt. parameters. Similarly, Mangetout, on the surface, seems to focus on the pitfalls of fame - or more relatably, social media - but with enough loaded innuendos and metaphors lyrically to keep everyone guessing, while musically the spiky, fuzz-laden guitars bounce effortlessly from quiet to loud and grunge to pop. In fact, while the thematic overarch on Moisturizer may hint at some of the rumours relating to the band, it’s just as easy to focus on the daydreamy Pokemon, scratchy eroticism of Pillow Talk, grungy escapism of Don’t Speak or 11:21, which could well be their 505. Which means, at this stage, it would be simpler just to list the pros of each song.

However, with a slew of new post-Wet Leg bands waiting in the wings (I see you The Pill) they should look no further than cutely melodic second half highlight Pond Song to see how it’s done, and why Wet Leg 2.0 is still Wet Leg just different. Or at least different enough. But, and here’s the unfortunate crux, haters still gonna hate.

Released: 11.07.25

www.wetlegband.com

ALSO OUT THIS MONTH

Lord Huron - The Cosmic Selector Vol 1 (Mercury Records, 18.07) // Half Japanese – Adventure (Fire Records, 11.07) // Gina Birch – Trouble (Third Man Records, 11.07) // We Are Scientists - Qualifying Miles (Groenland Records, 18.07) // Duncan Lloyd – Unwound (Reveal Records, 11.07) // Rise Against – Ricochet (Loma Vista, 18.07) // Autocamper - What Do You Do All Day? (Safe Suburban Home, 11.07) // Rival Consoles - Landscape From Memory (Erased Tapes, 04.07) // Above & Beyond - Bigger Than All Of Us (Anjunabeats, 18.07) // MF Tomlinson - Die To Wake Up From A Dream (PRAH Recordings, 11.07) // Night Moves - Double Life (Domino, 25.07) // Midnight Rodeo - Chaos Era (FatCat Records, 11.07) // Merpire - Milk Pool (04.07) // Nina Cobham - Basis Of A Primary Promise (AWAL, 10.07) // We Lost The Sea - A Single Flower (Dunk, 04.07) // Mark Stewart - The Fateful Symmetry (Mute, 11.07) // Jessica Winter - My First Album (Lucky Number, 11.07) // The Shipbuilders - This Blue Earth (Shipwrecked Records, 11.07) // Tony Njoku - All Our Knives Are Always Sharp (Studio Njoku, 11.07)

4 / 5

JADE BIRD

WHO

WANTS TO TALK ABOUT LOVE? (GLASSNOTE RECORDS)

Words: Laura Rosierse

Indie pop artist Jade Bird brings a versatile collection of hook-laden alternative pop tracks with fantastic and frantic guitar riffs on Who Wants to Talk About Love? The album opens unapologetically loud with pop rocker Stick Around, which sets the tone for the rest of the journey in her trademark punchy style. She continues this tone on this writer’s personal favourites Dreams and Glad You Did, emotive musical odes to love and heartbreak respectively. There’s a fine line between the two which Jade balances like it’s a walk in the park. She doesn’t beat around the bush by making Who Wants To Talk About Love? a journey filled with poetic and lyrical pockets of, sometimes heart wrenching, joy.

Released: 18.07.25

www.jade-bird.com

4.5 / 5

ADVENTURE CLUB (POLYVINYL)

Words: Lee Hammond

Born out of an artist residency in Greece, Adventure Club finds Laura Jane Grace in a reflective space. This is a record packed with heartfelt tracks that explore addiction, being who you want to be and railing against the system. The latter is particularly evident on opener WWIII Revisited, which is a call to arms that sets the tone for the record. Your God (God’s Dick) fosters a similar tone against those forcing their beliefs onto others. Where Adventure Club really shines is on Active Trauma and New Years Day, both particularly raw as Grace laments never being able to outrun the past. This record is punctuated with driving tracks, but it’s the lyrics that really make it shine.

Released: 18.07.25 www.laurajanegrace.com

LAURA JANE GRACE IN THE TRAUMA TROPES

Image by Eddie Whelan

4.5 / 5

GWENNO UTOPIA (HEAVENLY RECORDINGS)

Words: Ben Lowes-Smith

On previous albums Le Kov, Tresor and Y Dydd Olaf, Gwenno has sang in Cornish and Welsh, about what she has described as her ‘childhood records about formative identity’. Utopia places the lens in a less retroactive context, addressing adult concerns with a beautiful, specific impressionism. Cornerstones as diverse as William Blake and the number 73 bus populate Gwenno’s rich lyrical patchworkin stories of chaos, experimentation and self-discovery. The music here is tasteful and widescreen too - lush, textured and cinematic and incorporating Walian auteurs H. Hawkline and Cate Le Bon. Though oscillating between ballads and uptempo songs, the record has a tremendous and consistent groove not unlike Serge Gainsbourg at his creative apex. This is Gwenno’s best record by some distance. Released: 11.07.25 www.gwenno.info

KOKOROKO

TUFF TIMES NEVER LAST (BROWNSWOOD RECORDINGS)

Words: Ben Lowes-Smith

The London jazz septet’s second record embraces their Afrobeat sensibilities and turns attentions to the matters of the heart. A more energetic and summery sound than previous releases. Lead single Sweetie is a gorgeous, brass-led pean to beauty, incorporating hip-hop and neo soul influence. There is space for slower jams too, Closer To Me is a textured laconic hymn to longing and loss. Incredibly tasteful funk is present on Da Du Dah, and there are striking elements of gospel on My Father In Heaven. Despite the eclecticism of the cornerstones touched on, Kokoroko assimilate them tastefully and expertly, resulting in Tuff Times Never Last being an uplifting and galvanising listen, at once expansive, experimental and familiar. Released: 11.07.25 www.kokorokomusic.co.uk

4 / 5 3 / 5

REBECCA SCHIFFMAN BEFORE THE FUTURE

Words: Elodie A Roy

Before The Future is Rebecca Schiffman’s fourth studio album, and her first collaboration with Lost Sound Tapes who will release the cassette version. It was recorded shortly after the singer-songwriter relocated from New York to Los Angeles and is a luminous, anachronistically light-hearted album. Schiffman’s songs are autobiographical and disarmingly candid, capturing the shifting colours, experiences and energy of young adulthood (and, more precisely, motherhood) reminiscent of the cool, whimsical mood of the anti-folk scene of the early 2000s (Jeffrey Lewis, Kimya Dawson, Adam Green). Schiffman’s singing often recalls the sparse, timorous manners of Moe Tucker. Before The Future is simultaneously vague and direct –eight slow paced songs flickering like dreamy home movies. It is a quietly addictive record, a family album, fascinating in its everydayness. Released: 25.07.25 www.rebeccaschiffman.com

THE WORM PANTILDE (PRAH RECORDINGS)

Words: Robin Webb

From the offset Pantilde’s sound of innocence and space is a doorway to time travelling avant-garde folk experimentation that is both charming and naive. Cornish performance artist Amy Lawrence creates a delicately off-kilter minimalism reminiscent in sound of Japanese kabuki theatre with open atmospherics, flute passages and subtle percussive intervals. The title track has a performative spirit reflecting pagan absurdist traditions in a travelling clown provoking, introverted thought and circumspection, here they can also fix your pots and pans. It’s followed by a liberated and delightful The Clown Is Free a flight of prancing bird-like flute play. I imagine this won’t be to everyone’s liking but I found it a truly wonderful escape from convention.

EDITRIX

THE BIG E (JOYFUL NOISE RECORDINGS)

Words: Robin Webb

An intricate album that finely portrays some talented musicianship, inspired by King Crimson, Horse Of Lords and My Disco, their remit for the recording of this album was for the disparate members to gather after sharing their inspirations and perform virtually live, the result is a sound that touches on those influences and their trademark metal, thrash, math rock and to my ears Stereolab, particularly in Wendy Eisenberg’s vocal delivery. The dissonant motorik title track The Big E, the anti-horror juggernaut commentary on the Palestinian suffering that is Jackhammer and Slight Return, with its six minutes of cool rock and blistering crescendo are distinct highlights that keenly show how they see this insane world in minutiae but create grandiose expressions of rage.

Released: 25.07.25

www.editrix.bandcamp.com

www.kaetempest.com 5 / 5 4 / 5 4 / 5

Released: 04.07.25 www.linktr.ee/listentotheworm

KAE TEMPEST S/T (ISLAND RECORDS)

Words: Robin Webb

It’s a dignified fifth album from the firebrand wordsmith who has worked with multi -instrumentalist Fraser T Smith as well as Young Fathers, Neil Tennant, Connie Constance and Tawiah on tracks full of confident commentary. It’s a biography for these times as a non-binary trans man; a journey of extraordinary lows, highs with fierce perseverance, signposting times of passage, of realisation in a prescient conversation with an earlier self as in Know Yourself or for a future time of societal and personal reflection in Statue In The Square, or in the sweet closing refrain of Everything All Together. Breathe is the standout, recorded in one take, a freestyle thumper encapsulating all they are about. Wonderful.

Released: 04.07.25

4 / 5

POOR CREATURE

ALL SMILES TONIGHT (RIVER LEA RECORDS)

Words: Robin Webb

Ruth Clinton of Landless along with John Dermody and Cormac MacDiarmada of Lankum are Poor Creature producing a debut album of reinterpreted traditional Irish folk songs. Featuring completely new arrangements built from the instrumentation and rhythms; organs, beats and voices intertwine resulting in songs of poignant intimacy that not only reflect the times of love and loss when they were written but act as commentary on our modern global predicament where climate becomes the reason for no longer living like this. Produced by longtime friend of Lankum John ‘Spud’ Murphy it has a sound not too distant from the immutable This Mortal Coil with a fresh ethereal Celtic twist as in their beauteous version of An Draighnean Donn.

Released: 11.07.25 www.riverlea.bandcamp.com

PANIC SHACK

S/T (BRACE YOURSELF RECORDS)

Words: Stephen Oliver

The debut from the South Wales outfit has managed that elusive capture. With the help of producer Ali Chant, they have managed to encapsulate the sheer energy of their live shows. Polished, punky and full of sass and attitude, the musical momentum propels this release. Sufficient diversity in style makes each track unique.

Lyrically, the band's lived experience makes it relatable. Strong and proud feminism flies over the spirited pounding rhythm and ferocious guitars to draw easy comparisons with their contemporaries, such as Amyl and the Sniffers, but this is a vital release in its own right. The surprise is that single The Ick is missing. Despite that, this charming album is an enjoyable statement of intent from a band in the ascendancy.

FAR CASPIAN

AUTOFICTION (TINY LIBRARY RECORDS)

Words: Kai Palmer

Far Caspian’s music is always bathed in serenity, but Autofiction brings gladdening strums of coffee shop soft rock (Lough, Window) paired with a soothing, electric buzz (Here Is Now, The Sound Of Changing Place) without breaking that warm, familiar zen. Joel Johnson’s vocals are louder than on previous albums, but remain hazy, even when addressing past struggles on lines like “your mind changed from a fear to a song” (Lough), showing his intentions to focus on elevating the mind by not allowing the candid lyrics to be too hard-hitting. Think about life, sing about it, then got lost in the music’s tranquillity: that’s how Autofiction feels. It’s the perfect way to process experiences without getting too stuck on the negatives.

Released: 25.07.25 www.farcaspian.org

THE REDS, PINKS AND PURPLES THE PAST IS A GARDEN I NEVER FED (FIRE RECORDS)

Words: Robert Nichols

ALLO DARLIN’ BRIGHT NIGHTS (FIKA RECORDINGS)

Words: Mark Grainger

Nostalgia is a word I always associate with Allo Darlin’. Their knowingly twee, always earnest first three albums always struck me as coming from a place of nostalgia, of a yearning for and memory of the moments (big and small) that make up a life and build a memory. Allo Darlin’ are back following a breakup and some time apart, and it’s like they never went away. They still have the same keen eye for the little details that would otherwise sink into the background (Cologne’s revellers puking into bins for example), and an ear for melodies so careworn and warm, they’re the musical equivalent of a lingering, sloshy hug at the end of the night.

Released: 11.07.25

www.allodarlin.com

www.mkenneymusic.com 4.5 / 5 4 / 5 4.5 / 5

Released: 18. 07. 25 www.panicshack.com

Bathe in the hallowed afterglow of a former golden age of shoe-gazing indie pop courtesy of the sublime, glittering guitar strumming vehicle of US songwriter Glenn Donaldson. Influences abound including Chameleons, Husker Du and plucking those Byrds 12-strings again. There is a very contemporary and yet timeless messaging in the lyrics, whether questioning if the world needs another band or warning that you are never safe from yourself. Often very literal, never shy of coming forward. Littered with wonderful fuzzy distorted guitar leads and floating above the mix the infectious breathy singing of Donaldson. Melodic, mithering. A collection of songs that didn't fit into the previous eight albums but shine brightly when watered together in this garden of delights. Your toxic friends.

Released: 04.07.25

www.theredspinksandpurples.bandcamp.com

MADELINE KENNEY KISS FROM THE BALCONY (CAR PARK)

Words: Kate Relton

Kiss From The Balcony bears all the hallmarks of Kenney’s previous work with her unassuming presence, and layer upon layer of textures and sounds that leaves you discovering something new at every turn. The album was originally conceived as an EP, and there are moments where this is obvious losing the connecting thread, though each track shines in its own way. They Go Wide gives the most space to Kenney’s boundless voice, soaring through the track in an ethereal way not a million miles from Kate Bush. The album finishes on All I Need, which feels like a safe return to indie singer-songwriting, but with the occasional flairs of harmonic interest that mark Kenney out as a unique voice in the noise.

Released: 18.07.25

MIXTAPE

WORDS: SANDY DUFF

This Mixtape has been inspired by the Less Stress Fest line-up, and the festival itself was inspired by this music. The event takes place at West Benridge Farm near Morpeth from Friday 1st-Sunday 3rd August. There’s a great scene up here right now, but I still felt something was missing, a celebration of our subculture that strays from the predictable genre themed format and gives all the elements equal value whether you’re playing on stage, painting on boards or serving up scran. www.lessstressfest.eventbrite.co.uk

PRACTITIONER

WELL BEHAVED BOYS

The Berlin-based producer and label boss released this new track on the Portobello Innocent EP early this year. All five tracks are cracking but the deep driving sound of this one really hits the spot. Really excited to have him back in the UK.

LFO LFO

This 1990 classic came on the other day as I was driving back from Balter Festival with techno tinkers Bass Generator and DJ Smurf and we all agreed it sounds as fresh and exciting now as it did when it first dropped. Gez produces as the G-Man these days and his DJ sets are as epic as they are impeccable.

HIDDEN AGENDA

BIG LAMP

Mark and Nos helped mould the emerging sound of drum and bass in its early days with groundbreaking releases on Metalheadz and many other pivotal labels. This track is a particular favourite of mine and always takes me straight back to hazy days at their Westgate Road studio.

FIRST THING I DO IN THE MORNING

I first heard this track on a Keb Darge compilation called Legendary Deep Funk Volume 1. It’s such a funky track with beautiful lyrics delivered sweetly, but with a hint of sass, by the sensational Joyce Williams. Can’t wait to hear what rarities Keb brings to Less Stress Fest this summer.

DAN SWIFT I WONDER

One of the dopest emcees kicking around Tyneside for me, he crosses seamlessly from hip-hop, grime, house, breaks and even footwork and his new EP Dawg And Pigeon is full of fire, just like this track, and really personifies that eclectic vibe I love. We are doing a few projects together this year but there’s always a chance he might be at Less Stress too.

PALM SKIN PRODUCTIONS TRICKLE UP

Been a fan of Palmy since first hearing his production on seminal label Mo’Wax back in the day and pretty much everything he’s done since has blown my socks off, from the improvised live vibe of The Bays to the huge sound of festival favourites Afro Celt Sound System. This track dropped back in 2023 and was an instant hit on Method Radio.

DARQWAN

SAID THE SPIDER (VIP)

Oris sent me this on white label back in the Ammunition days, it’s an absolute beast of tune and I’ve ripped up a few systems dropping it, most memorably in Durham warming up for Mary Anne Hobbs who literally came bouncing into the booth asking, “where you get this from!?” Last time we played together was in 2014 and I don’t think Berlin has recovered yet!

MELBA VENUS

The Stereo 45 crew were very much on my mind when I was thinking up Less Stress Fest. It’s been a pleasure to play and party with them, and to watch them grow as a collective and as individual creatives. This track by Melba just sums up their energy for me and their live sets on Hit The Breaks are amongst some of my favourites. Hopefully next year we can make the dates work!

DAN WAINWRIGHT

A STILL SUNSET BY THE LAKE IN THE WOODS

Felt like the perfect track to close the mix with. Sun kissed and chilled out… the Less Stress vibe! Dan will be bringing a combination of his eclectic electronica, folksy groove and a healthy dash of acid to the Les Salon Eclectique stage programmed by Method Radio stalwart Rich B.

JOYCE WILLIAMS

MUSIC AT THE CASTLE

26 JULY 2025

Saturday 12 July Free Entry

Pop-up shows and events

Live DJ Deja Brew

Summer Sizzler Raffle

Art Car Boot Fair

Doughnuts & Coffee

Baltic Summer Sizzler

Risograph Printing Workshops

Two brand new exhibitions

Andy Welland Pop-up Shop

Zine Workshops