NARC. #195 June 2023

LANTERNS ON THE LAKE

ANTI-PLEASURE

ELEVATOR FESTIVAL

JEN DIXON COASTELLA

PREVIEWS

4 HIGHLIGHTS

Some of the best events in June, plus find out what’s on narcmagazine.com

6 JUNE PREVIEWS

Live shows from Arab Strap, Youth Sector, Melvins, Chuck Prophet, Kurt Vile & The Violators, Kelis, Ladyhawke, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Royal Blood, George Lamb, Nat Sharp, Ligeti Quartet, Panopticon and many more, plus festivals including MUNRO, Holme Festival, The Globe Summer Festival and Pop Recs Ltd. celebrate their 10th anniversary. There’s dance theatre courtesy of Eliot Smith at Hullabaloo, plus loads coming up at Dance City; there’s theatrical delights including Chop, Dissolve & Burn at Alphabetti, My Dear Aunty Nell at ARC, Bonewords at Northern Stage, Burnout at Live Theatre and Menstrual Rage take on Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew at Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre; giggle along with Raul Kohli at Bishop Auckland Town Hall and Dead Men Talking at Middlesbrough Town Hall; plus art exhibitions at Hartlepool Art Gallery, Vane, MIMA and more

28 LANTERNS ON THE LAKE

Now the sun’s finally decided to show its face, we’re well and truly in the swing of festival season, and you’ll find a plethora of musical and theatrical delights ready to take up your weekends within these pages. My own diary is filling up nicely too, as plans are afoot for the NARC. stage at Last Train Home festival in Darlington in September, as well as the return of our very own multi-venue all-dayer, NARC. Fest, alongside the Ouseburn Festival on Saturday 15th July. Line-ups are being drip-fed over the coming weeks, so keep an eye on our socials to stay informed!

There’s loads of other fun stuff on the horizon too, not least a brand new mini-documentary for NARC. TV, made by the ever-lovely Art Mouse and created in partnership with BRASS Festival – more on that next month!

Last month in my editor’s missive I spoke about the value of time and how I never seem to have enough of it, and that’s certainly a continuing theme this month. Having taken on another editing job as well as running NARC. (I’m running some North East travel guides, since you asked, which is right up my street!), my time seems to be slipping away faster than usual. Still, getting to explore the region is a real privilege, and while the sun’s shining I’ll be doing my best to carve out some time to pitch up at campsites and enjoy it. I hope you can do the same!

Editor Claire Dupree info@narcmedia.com

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David Saunders

narcmagazineonline@gmail.com

Creative

El Roboto

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Cover Image

Rob Irish

Live Photography

Iam Burn / Tracy Hyman / Victoria Wai

Contributors

Tom Astley / Caleb Carter / Jonathan Coll / Laura Doyle / Lee Fisher / Lee Hammond / Tracy Hyman / Amanda Gallagher / Emily Ingram / Gus Ironside / Lizzie Lovejoy

/ Ben Lowes-Smith / Hope Lynes / Amy McGarahan / Jay Moussa-Mann / Robert Nichols / Michael O’Neill / Ikenna Offor / Stephen Oliver / Niamh Poppleton / Lily Pratt / Helen Redfern / Kate Relton / Damian Robinson / Elodie A. Roy / Mera Royle / Steve Spithray / Linsey Teggert / Leigh Venus / Luke Waller / Robin Webb / Ali Welford / Cameron Wright / Matt Young

The

44

Reports from the front row of Goat, Aldous Harding, Steve Mason, The Early Purple, Memorials, Komparrison, Catherine Young, Songs from Northern Britain and more

48

Reviews of local singles and EPs from ZUDZ, Neuroleptick, Elephantemple, Jenny Lascelles, Detroit Tourist Board, The Band for Disease Control and Prevention, Slobo & Azere, Cat Ryan, Craig Clark, Earth Farm, Nadedja and Ami McGuinness

Featuring Steff Mundi, Gary The Hat, Josh Atkinson, Breadcrumbs and Lockheed Lindsay

51 ALBUMS

Featuring Christine & The Queens, Band of Holy Joy, Rival Sons, Django Django, Hak Baker, Dream Wife, Squid, Dayshifter, The Support Band and more

Jack Gardner from comedy collective Silly Billies talks about some of his favourite tracks

Next Issue Out 28th June

Linsey Teggert talks to Hazel Wilde and Paul Gregory about line-up changes, multiverse theory and the album that nearly never was

PREVIEWS

JUNE’S DIVERSIONS INCLUDE SHOWS FEATURING EVOCATIVE LYRICISTS, ABSTRACT ARTISTIC COMPOSITIONS, LGBTQ+ CELEBRATIONS, OBSERVATIONAL COMEDY AND AN EXCITING AND ELECTRIFYING STAGE PRODUCTION

EVENTS

ART & LIT UNTIL 1 JULY

WALK THE LINE –DOCUMENTING THE HSHAZ

Since 2020 Middlesbrough-based artist and photographer Rachel Deakin has been documenting Middlesbrough’s High Street Heritage Action Zone (HSHAZ) through cultural engagement work and photography focused on public spaces. She presents her work which captures historic buildings, alternative views, abstract compositions, colours and textures, inviting the viewer to ‘walk the line’ and notice something new.

The Masham, Middlesbrough www.navigatornorth.co.uk

MUSIC THUR 1

ROCK ON THE HILL

Running from Thursday 1st-Sunday 4th June, self-described “anarchist DIY collective” festival Rock On The Hill takes over venues in Durham to present some of the region’s most exciting artists, spanning heavy rock, acoustic, indie and poetry. Performing across the weekend will be the likes of Labyrinthine Oceans, Elvet, Bethany Blackwell, Orchard Thieves, Void State, Mirror Image and more. Various venues, Durham www.instagram.com/rockonthehill23

MUSIC THUR 1

NICE BISCUIT

Distinct Australian quintet Nice Biscuit’s sound blends psychedelic and garage rock sounds with harmonised vocal melodies and driving instrumental grooves. Their live show promises to be quite the spectacle, with elaborate matching costumes and synchronised movements which combine to create a swirl of psych-driven sonic exploration.

The Cluny, Newcastle www.nicebiscuitband.com

MUSIC FRI 2

LAST NIGHT A DJ SAVED MY LIFE

A night of chat and dance with the authors of Last Night A DJ Saved My Life by Bill Brewster and Frank Broughton. Originating in 90s NYC, their infamous Low Life parties saw them take dancers on a musical journey through Balearic oddities, house music, leftfield disco and beyond. The evening kicks off with a Q&A before Bill and Frank take over the turntables. The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle www.thelubberfiend.com

ART & LIT

SAT 3

HEXHAM PRIDE

The Northumberland town gets its first ever Pride celebrations, with community, family and connection being at the heart of the month-long series of events. Expect a diverse programme of film, live music, author events, talks, theatre and much more, including a Folk Is Queer musical showcase, Curious Arts hosted Young People’s Takeover and Mini Pride and much more. Runs until Saturday 24th June.

Various venues, Hexham www.queenshall.co.uk/events/ hexham-pride

COMEDY

SAT 3 NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY FINE ART DEGREE SHOW

A vibrant exhibition which celebrates four years of work by Newcastle University Fine Art Degree students, spanning mediums as diverse as sculpture, painting, film, photography, sound, text, performance and textiles, and including themes of ideas of care, the natural world, motion, subversion and the otherworldly. Runs until Saturday 17th June.

Hatton Gallery, Newcastle www.hattongallery.org.uk

SAT 3

ELAINE ROBERTSON

Join North East Comedian Elaine Robertson (as seen on BBC3) as she presents her debut hour. With a surreal eye for observational comedy and keen knack for audience interaction, Elaine was a Regional Finalist for BBC New Comedian of the Year 2022 and promises a live show which will titillate and scintillate. Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle www.instagram.com/ elainerobertson

Sam Baxter

Giulia Ausenda Stanford

STAGE

MUSIC SAT 17 ABE PARTRIDGE & DAVID FORD

WED 7 BREAKIN’ CONVENTION

The international festival of hip-hop dance theatre returns to the region with an explosive showcase of the skills of some of the best poppers, lockers, b-boys and b-girls in the country, alongside showstopping international acts. Expect DJs, graffiti artists, freestyle dance sessions and plenty of opportunities to join in and learn more about hip-hop culture with artistic director Jonzi D. Customs House, South Shields www.breakinconvention.com

MUSIC FRI 9 SLIX

Innovative Scottish four-piece SLIX push the boundaries of rock and pop to create a distinctive, dreamy sound. Having gained a firm following for their catchy optimism and thought-provoking lyrics, their onstage camaraderie has been compared to the likes of early Blur and Idles. Local support comes from Britpop-influenced Porcelain. Head of Steam, Newcastle www.slixuk.com

STAGE THUR 15

THE GEET MUCKLE SLAM

Spoken word platform Born Lippy present a thrilling battle of words and wit as they bring twelve poets together to go head to head in a (mostly) friendly war of words. Expect high energy performances, superb writing, off the cuff wit and audience participation. There can only be one winner, and YOU decide!

Northern Stage, Newcastle www.northernstage.co.uk

For lovers of evocative songwriting and heart-stopping vocals, this double headline show is a real must-see. Alabama native Abe Partridge is a heralded musician, songwriter and visual artist, who joins the UK’s own David Ford, multi-instrumentalist, producer and occasional carpenter, for an evening of visceral storytelling and lyrical dexterity. Old Cinema Launderette, Durham www.abepartridge.com www.davidfordmusic.com

MUSIC SAT 17

GABRIEL MORENO

With influences which span the likes of Leonard Cohen, Bill Callahan and Nick Cave, you can assured of a night of top-notch storytelling and a passionate performance from Gabriel Moreno, who has strong links to the London alt. Americana and folk songwriter scene. Local support comes from Peter Hall and Jasmine Weatherill. The Studio, Hartlepool www.gabrielmoreno.co.uk

STAGE

NARC. E-ZINE

The place to be for multimedia diversions, including videos, playlists, sound clips and more

NARC. TV

Our magazine-style programme features performances and interviews with North East artists, filmed in venues across the region +

MUNRO FESTIVAL

Read exclusive Q&A interviews with some of the artists performing at the Stockton festival on Saturday 1st July, featuring Crystal Tides, Lauren Amour and more

NRTHRN BABY

L-R Christian Alifoe, Shem Hamilton and John Rogers

WED 21

SUCKER PUNCH

The critically acclaimed National Theatre production of Sucker Punch by leading playwright Roy Williams lands at Sunderland’s Fire Station, which tells of two best friends, Leon and Troy, who spend their teenage years growing up in a boxing gym and explores the experience of being young and Black in the 1980s in an exciting and electrifying stage production. Runs until Friday 23rd June.

The Fire Station, Sunderland www.thefirestation.org.uk

We chat with Nicola Coaker from Newcastle-based rap, R&B and hip-hop management company and record label Nrthrn Baby, who talks about the musicians on her roster and her passion for working with unrepresented artists

Image by Paul Hampartsoumian

MUSIC ARAB STRAP @ SAGE GATESHEAD

Words: Ali Welford

Poll a random sample of Arab Strap fans, and opinions would inevitably differ regarding the Scots’ finest hour. Malcolm Middleton would vouch for mid-career highs The Red Thread or Monday at the Hug & Pint. Aidan Moffat himself favours the band’s scrappy debut The Week Never Starts Round Here, while recent comeback As Days Get Dark has successfully mobilised a new generation of devotees. Under First Past The Post, though, there’s little doubt the victor would be 1998 sophomore Philophobia; the record which was, in their own words: “where everything started to come together… where sounds and themes began to take shape…”. From Packs of Three’s notorious opening refrains to New Birds’ dramatic emotional catharsis, to the wince-inducing candour of I Would’ve Liked Me A Lot Last Night, not only is Philophobia the nearest thing to a definitive Arab Strap album; it’s also the only one they’ve ever pondered performing in its entirety.

Calling at Sage Gateshead on Friday 16th June, Philophobia Undressed will see Moffat and guitarist Malcolm Middleton do just that, stripping these beloved songs down to merely the core duo and their trusty drum machine. Moreover, the promised nostalgia lap is offset with the promise of fresh songs, ahead of a new album mooted for 2024. A celebration of their past, with an eye to the future… Arab Strap play Sage Gateshead on Friday 16th June.

www.arabstrap.scot

STAGE VORTEX – RUSSELL MALIPHANT @ DANCE CITY

Words: Matt Young Olivier Award winning choreographer Russell Maliphant is set to bring his latest creation, VORTEX, to Dance City in Newcastle on Thursday 22nd June. It’s a highly anticipated performance that promises to be a mesmerising experience for audiences. Influenced by the works and process of Jackson Pollock and Abstract Expressionism, it employs Maliphant’s own blend of contemporary dance and martial arts. VORTEX creates a work which paints his own interpretation with movement, light and shadow to create a visually rich journey, with the exceptional dancers of Russell Maliphant Dance Company. Established in 1996 as the framework for the choreographer to create productions with artists and collaborators, and to work with his own chosen ensemble of dancers, the company has gone on to win plaudits and awards worldwide.

VORTEX sees the dancers become magically fluid, sinuous and expansive as their movement plays with gravity, light and shadow. Audiences can expect a visually stunning performance, with choreography complemented by the painterly use of props, scenery and light, adding a further dimension to the contorted movements on stage. VORTEX promises an immersive experience that draws the audience in. Don’t miss your chance to witness this captivating exploration as Maliphant brings his latest creation to the region.

VORTEX by Russell Maliphant Dance Company

is performed at Dance City, Newcastle on Thursday 22nd June.

www.dancecity.co.uk

MUSIC

WILLI CARLISLE @ THE GLOBE

Words: Mera Royle

The peg on which Americana star Willi Carlisle hangs his hat is forged in a cultural history. Coming to The Globe on Friday 23rd June for a headline show, Carlisle’s untouchable magic of music, stories and poems brings a telling insight into the world and art of Americana going back generations, with the celebration of new modern contexts at its forefront.

In his work, Carlisle uses the rich ballads and tunes of the Ozarks in Missouri where he lives, to express compelling arcs and diverse styles, drawing together topics such as queer heartbreak with sardonic trucker Ballards and existential talkin’ blues. He uses his emphatic talent, quick wit and passion to demonstrate a keen knack for appreciating the work of our forbearers whilst growing new ideas and telling stories relevant to our times, in a show which, at its deepest, evokes the importance of looking out for one another and connecting through the tribulations of life.

Supporting him is the local folk/swing-rock legend Rob Heron, performing solo for a rare, vibrant appearance away from his Tea Pad Orchestra. A night of acclaim and fine Americana, this pairing promises to bring a refreshing brilliance to our North East plains. Willi Carlisle and Rob Heron play The Globe, Newcastle on Friday 23rd June. www.willicarlisle.com

Arab Strap by Titouan Masse

ART & LIT SAIBA – ALL BONES TURN TO DUST @ VANE GALLERY

Words: Tom Astley

Saiba – All Bones Turn To Dust is a new exhibition by internationally acclaimed artist and academic Amy Dover, which runs from Wednesday 7th June-Saturday 1st July at Vane Gallery.

Bringing together Dover’s work during a residency living with indigenous Kuna communities in a remote Panamanian village, a liminal space between forest and ocean, this exhibition offers an eclectic mix of media, from sound sculptures to drawings, preparatory notes and prints, all of which form a mosaic that asks fundamental questions of the connections, and often brutal interactions, between human and non-human animals, the nature of conservation, and the framing of non-human animals within a human-centric cultural lens.

The work offers a fascinating look at this complex world, and does so with compassion, detailed knowledge and a determination to rebalance the speciesism that Dover finds prevalent in depictions of her subject. This collection does not hold back, and viewers will find a visceral, even confrontational, exhibition, that provokes deep contemplation about the prejudices and relationships to the natural world.

Saiba – All Bones Turn To Dust is at Vane Gallery, Gateshead from Wednesday 7th June-Saturday 1st July.

www.vane.org.uk

MUSIC HOLME FESTIVAL

Words: Amy McGarahan

Returning for its second year, Holme Festival will be transforming a secret location in County Durham into a magical playground for a weekend of music and wellness. Taking place from Friday 30th June–Sunday 2nd July, Holme Festival promises to be full of partying, dancing and relaxation.

The festival will kick off with a spectacular drag show, and Saturday evening will see Newcastle trio The Glamour Ghouls perform a spooky, yet sensuous burlesque set. For the music lovers and ravers, Holme Festival will play host to some of the North East’s most well regarded DJs, with a colossal sound system powering the party. The line-up includes Pad Thai HiFi, Cosmifrica, DJ Mayonnaise, Dynamite Disco Club, Cole Newton, Cass Lamb, Random Mat, Diz, Richard Finch, Becky Woodcock and more. If you’re looking to find your Zen, there is a healthy roster of wellness sessions, led by yoga and meditation teacher Hanna Truu. If a night’s sleep in the tranquil camping meadow doesn’t do the trick, Hanna’s nourishing and energising workshops will set you up for a jam-packed Saturday of dancing and absurdity!

All food on-site is vegan; expect burgers, smoothies, coffees, and treats… and a fully loaded woodland bar! The top secret location is to be confirmed nearer the time… Holme Festival takes place in County Durham from Friday 30th June–Sunday 2nd July. www.holmefestival.com

COMEDY DEAD MEN TALKING @ MIDDLESBROUGH TOWN HALL

Words: Jonathan Coll

Podcast Dead Men Talking have carved out a niche within the murky underworld of dark humour and their so far meteoric rise has taken them to the top of iTunes charts and on a nationwide, headline tour. Hosted by award winning comedians Freddy Quinne and Rob Mulholland; the duo were enjoying burgeoning solo comedy careers before their joint love of edgy humour brought them together in a podcast studio.

Their usual live show treads a fine line between the podcast format in which they’ve made their name and more conventional stand up routines. Audiences should expect a comedy roast, with the three panellists vying to deliver the hardest, most brutal roasts to their fellow panellists and willing participants from the audience.

If you like your comedy to be slightly nearer the knuckle, then this all takes place on Thursday 22nd June at Middlesbrough Town Hall, with guest roaster Fin Taylor. But be warned, it’s an invitation not to be taken lightly and nothing is off limits!

Dead Men Talking come to Middlesbrough Town Hall on Thursday 22nd June.

www.deadmentalkpod.com

Amy Dover, Under A Strange Sun - A Monkey I Met in Panama, 2023, pencil on cotton

MUSIC KURT VILE AND THE VIOLATORS @ BOILER SHOP

Words: Emily Ingram

Picture the scene: it’s a balmy Tuesday evening, you’ve just clocked off from a stressful day at work and now you’re looking for the perfect way to zone out into another dimension with your fellow music-goers. Luckily for you – and anyone else in need of an early week pick-me-up – Kurt Vile And The Violators are set to play Boiler Shop on Tuesday 20th June. Vile’s latest offering, a 15-track psych-country affair entitled Watch My Moves, has many of the hallmarks we’ve come to know and love about him. It also has a refreshing dose of maturity – the singer-songwriter has come a long way since his 2009 debut, growing into his lonesome raconteur image in the process. The album is a slow trip, by way of erudite monologues, hazy guitar and simple, toe-tapping melodies, into the foggy recesses of Vile’s subconscious, and seeks to tackle a lot of the big questions. Those attending this particular tour should expect reflection in all its forms, from tracks awash with simple joie de vivre (Goin’ On A Plane Today) to lo-fi melancholy and heartbreak (Wages of Sin). Kurt Vile And The Violators play Boiler Shop, Newcastle on Tuesday 20th June. www.kurtvile.com

MUSIC CALUM HOWARD @ COBALT STUDIOS

Words: Michael O’Neill

For the uninitiated, Cobalt Studios’ beloved Fresh Thursdays are an unparalleled opportunity to experience some of the finest emerging talent from the region and beyond accompanied by a homecooked, plant-based meal, and a comfortable and inviting atmosphere. It’s an incredible alternative to the traditional live music environment in which most fledging artists cut their teeth, and an especially innovative approach for artists who deal in more left-field musical approaches. Take for instance, this upcoming instalment on Thursday 22nd June: headlining is renowned composer, producer, sound designer and music facilitator Calum Howard. He’s had quite the run so far, having collaborated with the likes of Minor Victories, Du Blonde and Ruth Lyon, as well as recently producing releases by Me Lost Me and Ceitidh Mac. His solo sets find him mining hidden gems from his back catalogue and also previewing unreleased music, which fuses elements of electronic music with cinematic and contemporary classical sounds, with improvisation and experimentation in equal measure. Support comes from Rhythm Section artist Contours, whose trail-blazing output merges delay-soaked balafon and homemade instruments with mechanical polyrhythms that glide on a sea of synth-soaked symphonies, which has earned him plaudits from the likes of Giles Peterson and Mr. Scruff. Calum Howard and Contours play Cobalt Studios, Newcastle on Thursday 22nd June. www.calumhowardmusic.com

MUSIC QUATERMASS III @ THE LUBBER FIEND

Words: Matt Young

Indulge in a day of psychedelia and pop-art rock on Saturday 17th June at your friendly neighbourhood Lubber Fiend. From the people behind World of Twist, Earl Brutus and The Dials comes a ubiquitous yet fresh incarnation; Quatermass III employ an age-old technique of providing infectious danceable rhythms, catchy hooks and lugubrious vocals all while keeping an eye on the cosmos and the grooving crowd out front.

Quarterlight, on the other hand, are a punkier prospect founded by former Penetration guitarist Gary Chaplin who blend sounds and images in a form of organised chaos to uncompromising effect.

Gordon King, author of When Does The Mind-Bending Start?, as well as guitarist in Quatermass III, will be doing a special Q&A about his new book which is about life and times of World of Twist (one of his former groups) prior to the live music on the night. Manchester’s most underrated group? Legends? What makes them and their legacy special? Ask any of these questions and more before he twists his fingers into intricate chords for the headliners. Top tune spinning duties for the evening are handled by another legend, DJ Bob Stanley of Saint Etienne, who will keep the energy high and the party going with his expansive record collection and impeccable musical taste sound tracking long into the night.

Quatermass III, Quarterlight, Gordon King Q&A and DJ Bob Stanley play The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle on Saturday 17th June. www.quatermass3.bandcamp.com

Kurt Vile

ART & LIT JONNY HANNAH: SHIPBUILDERS & FISHERFOLK @ HARTLEPOOL ART GALLERY & MUSEUM OF HARTLEPOOL

Words: Lizzie Lovejoy

Come and celebrate the hidden histories of Hartlepool as they are revealed in an exhibition of illustrated works by award winning and world renowned artist Jonny Hannah. This

body of work showcases the depth of local memory, exploring strange stories from curious characters of the recent and distant past, as the mixed-media creative presents a vision of the town unlike any ever presented before. With the Tall Ships returning to this beloved Northern coastal town in July, this exhibition comes at the perfect time. Hartlepool natives may have noticed Jonny Hannah’s appearance at the most recent Hartlepool Folk Fest as he gathered tales through chats and created lino prints. These conversations have informed the creative work he will be showcasing this summer.

Both the Museum of Hartlepool and Hartlepool Art Gallery will showcase varied stories of  shipbuilders and fisher folk; of colossal crustaceans, spectacular ships and local legends which Jonny Hannah brings to life

through paintings, prints and cut-outs. As well as The Darktown Museum of Hartlepool Paraphernalia (or museum objects that don’t actually exist), visitors will be presented with Jonny’s selection of objects and artworks from the collection of Hartlepool Borough Council. Whether you’re there for a casual visit, or ready to welcome the ships in a celebration of local pride, witness Hartlepool heritage on display as you’ve never seen it before in this exhibition throughout the summer.

Jonny Hannah: Shipbuilders & Fisherfolk is at Hartlepool Art Gallery and Museum of Hartlepool from Saturday 24th June-Saturday 4th November. The Tall Ships events run from Thursday 6th-Sunday 9th July.

www.culturehartlepool.com

Suede by Dean Chalkley

Shipbuilders & Fisherfolk, artwork by Jonny Hannah

STAGE JUST ENOUGH MADNESS/BURNT OUT @ DANCE CITY

Words: Kate Relton

Bringing together a rich and vibrant collection of influences and experience, Dance City plays host to an emotional and thought-provoking double bill of dance in Just Enough Madness

and Burnt Out on Friday 16th June. Through movement and autobiographical spoken word, Burnt Out sees Glasgow-based dance artist Penny Chivas explore the impact of the devastating Australian bush fires in 2019/20. Known as the Black Summer, this period provides the backdrop for Chivas to deliver a powerful political message about climate change, while giving a voice to the emotional fallout from the trauma suffered by so many. Accompanied by a soundscape of sirens, wildlife and helicopters, Burnt Out is performance as climate activism. Complimenting Chivas’ performance will be

Payal Ramchandani’s Just Enough Madness, which showcases her heritage through South Indian classical dance, Kuchipudi. Aiming to represent the mind through movement, Just Enough Madness uses Indian mythological narratives to tackle contemporary mental health issues. A piece that hopes to change the perceptions of mental health, grief, motherhood and loss, Ramchandani questions our definition of feeling ‘normal’.

The double bill of Just Enough Madness and Burnt Out will be performed on Friday 16th June at Dance City, Newcastle. www.dancecity.co.uk

MUSIC A DIFFERENT THREAD @ THE CUMBERLAND ARMS

Words: Mera Royle

The power and purpose of music sees a reinvention in the hands of A Different Thread. This Transatlantic duo capture a stunning blend of 70s folk revival, country and Appalachian blues in their sound, creating an ambiguous integration that shines as both dark and happy, sad and beautiful.

Made up of musicians Alicia Best from North Carolina and Robert Jackson from Birmingham, the pair have been performing together since they first met busking in Ireland in 2016, and have created a feat of wonderful music which they now carry with them on their UK tour. Their exciting stop for Newcastle dwellers is at The Cumberland Arms on Thursday 8th June, where the pair prepare to share their hearts with audiences in a fantastic expression of loss, love and wanderlust.

Both Best and Jackson are renowned for their travels, and themes of moving and change are a common part of their music, and rumour has it this could be the last time to catch them in the UK before they relocate to the States. With breathtaking harmonies, soulful textures and lyrics that perfectly capture those indescribable feelings of the human experience, this makes for a must-see performance, so intrinsically relatable yet reputably unreplicable.

A Different Thread play The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle on Thursday 8th June. www.adifferentthread.com

MUSIC OFF THE STAGE FESTIVAL @ THE SHIP ISIS

Words: Hope Lynes

Music lovers in Sunderland can get ready for cracking all-dayer, as Off The Stage Fest comes to The Ship Isis on Saturday 17th June, bringing a host of exciting North East artists and bands. Hosted by the Off The Stage Podcast, James Berry and Conor Michael turn their passionate podcast which interviews local artists into a live event at the Vaux Room. Focusing entirely on acoustic performances, this stripped back, initmate experience is both unique and an opportunity to catch a showcase of the up and coming talent emerging through the region. There will be a range of genres

to enjoy, including addictive indie rock from headliners

The Neolectrics; the Pagan Viking metal of LN; the pop punk of Failed To Ignite; there’s intimate storytelling from abstract guitar duo Black Moss; acoustic blued duo YUMA; the personal meditations of Philip Jonathan; alt. pop rockers Fire Lady Luck, and more. With a pay-as-you-feel policy, gig goers are encouraged to donate what they can to support the performers and the event.

Off The Stage Festival takes place at The Ship Isis, Sunderland on Saturday 17th June.

www.linktr.ee/offthestage

MUSIC YOUTH SECTOR @ THE ENGINE ROOM/MUNRO

Words: Jonathan Coll

Youth Sector are an emerging art rock five-piece emanating from one of the country’s musical and cultural hotspots, Brighton. According to the band themselves, they’ve been “combining beeps with boops” since 2018 and have been on a thrilling musical journey ever since.

Their debut EP, Mundanity, would follow in the summer of 2020; four fun, snappy tracks lamenting the frustrations of modern living. Having taken much of their musical inspiration from Parquet Courts and Talking Heads, their sound is similarly tuneful and interesting, but with an added twist of upbeat, positive melody. More recently, the band have leaned into a post-punk sound, with April’s release containing three excellent tunes – keep an ear out for The Ball and Benign Fire In A Small Room, as they represent the band’s best work yet.

This all bodes well for their forthcoming live shows at The Engine Room in North Shields on Friday 30th June and at Stockton’s MUNRO festival on Saturday 1st July, where their soaring synth lines and funky guitar tones will be on full display. They’ve been known to take to the stage in matching outfits, their obvious chemistry elevates the live renditions above anything you’ve heard on record.

Youth Sector play The Engine Room, North Shields on Friday 30th June and MUNRO festival, Stockton on Saturday 1st July.

www.youthsectorband.com

A Different Thread

FILM RISE ABOVE IT: THE STORY OF STONE

FOUNDATION @ THE FORUM MUSIC CENTRE

Words: Tom Astley

On Tuesday 6th June, Darlington Film Club present a screening of Rise Above It: The Story of Stone Foundation at The Forum Music Centre. The Midlands soul band celebrate their 25th anniversary by teaming up with director Lee Cogswell to produce a documentary detailing the band’s quarter-century of musical connections. Cogswell’s previous directorial work includes a similarly chronological account of soul-influenced band The Style Council. And the connection to Paul Weller runs deeper, with the Modfather collaborating with Stone Foundation, initially on a single track, which blossomed into a full album –2017’s Street Rituals – on which Weller co-wrote, played piano and guitar, as well as contributing his signature smoky vocals to the excellent track Your Balloon Is Rising.

As well as the 90-minute documentary, the night will include a question and answer session, and an acoustic set from co-founders and songwriters Neil Sheasby (bass guitar) and Neil Jones (vocals and guitar). Seeing Jones and Sheasby strip back the lush soul-influenced orchestration of their tunes, that deliver foot-tapping horn sections, percussion, subtle tremolo electric guitars and grounding, groove-laden bass riffs, will be worth the price of admission (seven quid) on its own.

Rise Above It: The Story of Stone Foundation + Q&A and performance takes place at The Forum Music Centre, Darlington on Tuesday 6th June. www.facebook.com/darlingtonfilmclub

MUSIC KELIS @ SAGE GATESHEAD

Words: Cameron Wright

Throughout her career, Kelis is at her best when she is experimenting, and each of her records are a testament to her creative talent. 20 years after its release, who can resist screaming along to the iconic opening lines from 00’s anthem Milkshake. And who isn’t forced onto the dance floor by the infectious grooves of Millionaire?

The singer-songwriter has always explored genre, tinkering with new sounds in a way that leaves each record feeling energised and eclectic. Bouncing from harsh, industrial pop to slick neo-soul, albums like Kaleidoscope and Wanderland are full of fresh, funky innovation that has seeped across the genre as a blueprint, influencing the next wave of R&B stars. All of which makes Kelis’ gig at Sage Gateshead on Tuesday 20th June a real must see.

Supporting Kelis on her venture into the smooth and sultry world of modern soul is none other than local legend Dylan Cartlidge. The Teesside star has been building his suave, soulful melting pot of music with beautiful results, which has seen him recently feature on the 2022 Black Thought/Dangermouse album. Cartlidge’s summertime sense of sunshine and optimism will be an endearing addition to what is sure to be a wonderful night of talent.

Kelis and Dylan Cartlidge perform at Sage Gateshead on Tuesday 20th June. www.iamkelis.com

MUSIC THE MIXER @ THE FIRE STATION

Words: Claire Dupree

An experimental and intriguing event featuring an array of highly talented musicians comes to Sunderland’s Fire Station on Friday 30th June. Entitled The Mixer, the event is spearheaded by the internationally-renowned Ligeti Quartet, who present two unique and adventurous sets; a minimal performance of Steve Reich’s seminal avant garde piece Different Trains, which uses ‘speech melody’ as a tool for melodic development and was one of the first classical music compositions to include digital sampling; while for their second set, they’ll perform music by award-winning artist Anna Meredith.

The supporting cast is no less exciting, and includes some of the region’s most respected artists; The Peter Brewis Trio will debut songs from the Field Music songwriter’s new album, Blow Dry Colossus, which focuses on contemporary instrumental music and synth-based compositions; plus there’s an interesting collaboration from The Futureheads’ Ross Millard, who’s fast becoming a sonic innovator with musical and theatrical projects under his belt, and composer, improviser and saxophonist Faye MacCalman. Ross explains of their collaboration: “I’ll be playing the electric guitar and Faye will be on her saxophone and together we’ll be looking for patterns, motifs and rhythms in an improvised ten-minute piece.”

The Mixer featuring performances from Ligeti Quartet, The Peter Brewis Trio, and Ross Millard and Faye MacCalman takes place at The Fire Station, Sunderland on Friday 30th June.

www.thefirestation.org.uk

Kelis

MUSIC LABYRINTHINE

OCEANS EP LAUNCH @ INDEPENDENT

Words: Mera Royle

Creating dreamscapes with soaring guitar lines and gritty vocals is the effortless feat of Labyrinthine Oceans, as this electrifying quartet gears up for their latest EP release, The Deep End.

Having formed in 2022 by members which

span the North East, Labyrinthine Oceans have featured at various festivals and received favourable airplay from the likes of BBC Introducing, where they’ve drawn attention from listeners across the country. With growing public interest, the band is ready to kickstart their summer with The Deep End, a musical collection of dreamy, grunge-driven sounds, encapsulating their eclectic influences, which they’ll launch at Independent on Saturday 3rd June. Facing difficult topics head on is key, with lyrics of loss and mental health marked by the grit-tinged vocals of Julia O’Neill. Daniel Jackson’s flying guitar solos, Toby Flynn’s bass and the jazzy percussion of Jack Stead

Artists in Residence Shows

weave together to create their driving funk, merging 90s alt. sounds with psychedelia and classic rock. Must-listen tracks include the single, Eight, described by the band themselves as “Frankenstein in nature” for its two-songs-in-one sound. The track moves from a gentle, rocking flow into a powerhouse of empowering electric textures, led by Jackson’s expressive and thrill-filled guitar lines. This is a genre-defying EP, solidified in melancholia with the bliss of love and passion at its heart.

Labyrinthine Oceans launch The Deep End on 2nd June, they play Independent in Sunderland on Saturday 3rd June.

www.facebook.com/labyrinthineoceans

MUSIC CHUCK PROPHET & THE MISSION EXPRESS @ THE CLUNY

Words: Tom Astley

Renowned for his 40 year career as a songwriter in Nashville, Chuck Prophet, backed by his own band The Mission Express, will bring his signature sound to The Cluny on Saturday 10th June. And he will have some back catalogue of work to pick from in what promises to be a stellar set list.

Prophet’s songwriting incorporates elements from across the spectrum of Americana. Shades of country and blues, rock ‘n’ roll, Springsteen and Tin Pan Alley, Dylan and Motown can all be heard within his well-crafted sound. All these influences support a lyricism that is equally well-read, dropping names and references that draw a map from sea to shining sea.

Prophet first strapped on a six string with neo-psychedelic desert rock band Green On Red, whose album Gas Food Lodging, which Prophet first contributed to, is an excellently bleak portrait of mid-80s American heartland. His arrival into the band saw a more overt country inflection to their sound, which Chuck has maintained in his myriad musical endeavours. Live, the band perfectly rip through guitar-driven rock, and promise to light up The Cluny’s stage. If there’s tickets left, get one. Get two, and invite someone. They’ll thank you for it.

Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express play The Cluny, Newcastle on Saturday 10th June. www.chuckprophet.com

FILM MINI GREEN FESTIVAL @ STAR & SHADOW CINEMA

Words: Laura Doyle

If you’re not worried about the state of the planet, it’s time to wake up. If you already are, then you probably also already know about the Great Big Green Week, a nationwide event that seeks to bring attention to the ever-growing threat of climate change and environmental issues. Representing the North East on the national programme is the Star & Shadow Cinema, the host of their own Mini Green Festival on Saturday 10th June.

This day-long festival is jam-packed with activities for the environmentally curious: outdoor entertainment and stalls provide a breath of fresh air (literally), while appropriately themed workshops are perfect for those seeking a more tactile experience. The real star (pun intended) of the show, however, is the roster of eye-opening documentaries screened. S&S aren’t just about the valiant cause of climate change. No, they’re going all in with social improvement, as per the community hub’s raison d’etre. Crude Reality – brought to you by Stop EACOP – shows the harm that a proposed oil line through the heart of many East African communities would cause, while Offshore takes a deep dive into the potential for renewable energy and its impact on industry, workers and the communities it serves. With many more stories on the bill, the Star & Shadow reminds us to make space for them to be told.

Mini Green Festival takes place at Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle on Saturday 10th June.

www.starandshadow.org.uk

MUSIC GEORGE LAMB & FRIENDS @ THE FIRE STATION

Words: Mera Royle

Lockdown was an experience of peculiarity, one which can be reflected on as a sometimes harrowing, but overwhelmingly uneventful time. For some artists, this period of thumb-twiddling resulted in cases of astute creativity, to affirming results. Local star and songwriter George Lamb, whose lockdown-created album Family And Friends granted him esteemed recognition, and an award for Album of the Year from Radio Severn FM, is one who can attest to this. It was formed, in Lamb’s words, because “there was literally nothing much else to do”. Now, in a truly unique event, Lamb prepares to recreate Family And Friends in a performance of the album at prestigious Sunderland venue The Fire Station on Saturday 10th June. This special, one-off gig brings live the must-listen album tracks, from the hair-raising thrill and instrumental electricity in Feels Like Groundhog Day to the whimsical, folk-inspired Make Most The Of Everyday.

Joining Lamb on stage is a collective of many of the region’s stars, including Paul Wilson on keys, John Taylor on bass, Jim Bullock on harmonica and not one but two drummers, Ian Hamilton and Barry Race, who perform alongside Archie Brown, Phil Caffrey, Dave Ditchburn, Dean James, Veronica Kelly, John Lamb, Moira Lamb, Philip Lamb, Pat McMahon, Helen Moran, George Pallas, Shannon ‘Pearl’ Powell, George Shovlin, Terry Slesser, Dave Smith and Emma Wilson. In a stunning show of music, love and connection, Lamb brings to light the positive creative effect of our slow pandemic past. George Lamb & Friends play The Fire Station, Sunderland on Saturday 10th June.

www.georgelambmusic.co.uk

Chuck Prophet & The Mission Express by Lauren Taback

MUSIC UNKNOWN MORTAL ORCHESTRA @ BOILER SHOP

Words: Caleb Carter

On the cover of Unknown Mortal Orchestra’s statement double-album, V, a child reaches out towards a leopard, fangs-bared, mouth as large as the child’s head. The laminated glass between soft flesh and hungry tooth is barely

visible and the elastic of a COVID mask chews at the boy’s ear: the safety lines of our day are wearing increasingly thin. And yet we reach. At their own unassuming, earworm pace, this is the proximation with peril and its edges that Unknown Mortal Orchestra have vowed to tour in their upcoming live show, which drops in to Newcastle’s Boiler Shop on Monday 19th June. With an angstier, more experimental (or dangerous) swing born from a pandemic that put all festivity into perspective, the musicians’ stoned pop-prog has otherwise lent into its effortlessness, now scratch at a subterranean undergroove only in the vindication of dance which – in these days of

re-communing – is a kind of rebel against cynicism. Rather than the easy salt breeze of past tours, dancing to the songs of V might feel like bliss in spite of an eroded ignorance. Matured, fuzzier. Like streetlamps buzz awake to keep ward over the obscure, the world keeps stepping on only in a slightly different hue due to its closeness with darkness. Not to worry, this is the very essence of UMO’s intoxication.

Unknown Mortal Orchestra play Boiler Shop, Newcastle on Monday 19th June.

www.unknownmortalorchestra.com

Image by Juan Ortiz Arenas

ART & LIT GAIL HENDERSON @ MIMA

Words: Michael O‘Neill

Abstract artist Gail Henderson has, across her career, carved out a unique place for herself in the region’s artistic community thanks to her singular approach to self-portraiture, which finds her visualising her psychological reality through intricate and experimental approaches. Her latest work, Periskepsi, is to be exhibited at Middlesbrough’s iconic MIMA until October. This latest addition to her body of work follows past successes with the likes of Sibilia 2012 and Salmacis 2012, which were both acquired for the Middlesbrough Collection through the Tees Valley Response Collecting scheme. Although abstract from a distance, she considers her works to be “bodily autobiography”, channelling her experiences, thoughts, feelings and emotional recovery from her experiences with depression and emotional disturbance into profoundly impacting works, which have optimistic undertone, celebrating the powerful healing qualities of artistic expression. The result is a fascinating, thought provoking and extraordinary approach to the form; with her intricate works offering a profound insight into the complexity of the human condition in a refreshingly cerebral and vivid way. Periskepsi will be a vital contribution to a brilliantly unique and fascinating body of work from a truly singular artist.

Gail Henderson: Tees Valley Response Award

Self-portrait, Periskpesi is at MIMA, Middlesbrough from Thursday 1st JuneTuesday 31st October. www.mima.art

MUSIC THE GLOBE SUMMER FESTIVAL 2023

Words: Lee Fisher

Although it’s only happened twice – either side of the pandemic – the Globe Summer Festival has become something of a highlight of the city’s musical calendar, Friday 30th June-Sunday 2nd July will see some of the best local talent and some acts from further afield. As with previous years, the festival is loosely themed: the Friday focuses on folk and global acts, Saturday the more indie end of things, and Sunday is jazz.

Friday’s line-up – starting at 7pm – includes Brierdene, a young group who grew out of the folk community based around Sage Gateshead; La Sonora Boreal, who marry Colombian music to other styles originating from the Caribbean to Pacific coasts; and Ostar Sound, a Glasgow meets Newcastle project from Ross Hull and Nicky Kirk that throws the folk music of Scotland, Ireland, North Africa and the Middle East into a big melting pot along with beats, synths and plenty of dancefloor sounds. Starting at 4pm, Saturday is particularly packed; there’s Tommy Arch, Holy Moly drummer but gifted songsmith in his own right; fiddle-augmented singer-songwriter magic from Anna Hughes & Jessie Howard; the wonderful Iris Brickfield, a fairly new, fairly excellent indie pop outfit emerging from the fertile scene around the Cumberland Arms; rootsy singer and guitarist Memphis Gerald; indie rock outfit The Timewasters; Americana-tinged Newcastle band Lovely Assistant; and garage punk upstarts Pink Poison, plus No Wow DJs till 3am. Then Sunday’s line-up – kicking off at 4.45pm – includes Scottish outfit Figiro Quartet, popular local trio Abbie Finn Trio, almost telepathically connected duo James Birkett & Bradley Johnston and headliners Origin, a new and already acclaimed jazz fusion quartet pushing the boundaries of UK jazz.

The Globe Summer Festival takes place at The Globe, Newcastle from Friday 30th June-Sunday 2nd July.

www.theglobenewcastle.bar

EVENTS

LET’S CAPER @ BALTIC

Words: Hope Lynes

Bringing live music, stand-up comedy and street food together, Let’s Caper (formerly known as the Great Market Caper at the Grainger Market) gets a new venue and a new lease of life for its next event on Friday 16th June. BALTIC will be the new home for the North East event, with a series of mini-festivals planned in the coming months to celebrate all things culture, music and food!

Each Caper hosts its own programme, with the June event featuring the likes of soul singer-songwriter Sisi, guitar pop artist Cortney Dixon and funky pop outfit Moon Wax taking to the stage. Aside from live music, Catherine Young hosts the comedy offering, alongside some of the region’s best comedians including Mike Milligan, Sascha Lo and Howka Charvaz. Want to get involved with the Caper fun yourself? Take part in salsa dance lessons, dance the night away with DJ BeauJack, browse the art and vintage stalls and settle down for a film screening, all within the glorious setting of the BALTIC’s exhibitions. All this, plus some of the region’s most exciting street food chefs will provide sustenance, and there’ll be five bars serving local beers and cool cocktails. Organiser Sean Bullick reiterates that the Caper is all about having fun as a community: “The Caper is all about having a good time and not taking ourselves too seriously in a welcoming, fun and safe environment.” Open late after hours, get down to the Baltic this June to collectively celebrate the culture of our region. Let’s Caper takes place at BALTIC, Gateshead on Friday 16th June.

www.thecaper.co.uk

Gail Henderson

MUSIC LADYHAWKE @ THE CLUNY

Words: Matt Young

New Zealand singer-songwriter Ladyhawke will grace The Cluny stage on Wednesday 28th June as part of their Summer UK tour. Known for delivering an infectious blend of indie pop and electro-rock, Ladyhawke, aka Pip Brown, has been a fixture on the international music scene since the release of her debut self-titled album in 2008, and with a further three albums since then, including 2021’s Time Flies, she’s been through a fair bit of ‘stuff’ regarding her physical and mental health.

Themes of depression and motherhood feature on her latest work; recent single Mixed Emotions provides some musical clues as she’s been able to transform this admittedly tough time into art and thankfully reach a new dawn to showcase Ladyhawke live and in a relatively intimate setting like The Cluny.

The full discography will be on offer, so hits like Paris Is Burning, My Delirium, and stomping Broods collab Guilty Love should get a very welcome airing, and fans know how dynamic Brown can be as a stage presence. The probability of funky dance-rock shimmering throughout the Ouseburn Valley is very high. Tickets will undoubtedly sell quickly so make sure you reserve your place in the crowd and then dig out your heavy eyeliner and dancing gear to help get the party started.

Ladyhawke plays The Cluny, Newcastle on Wednesday 28th June.

www.ladyhawkemusic.com

STAGE ELIOT SMITH DANCE: HUMAN @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Kate Relton

What does it mean to be human? This is the question inspiring the Spring season from award-winning dance company Eliot Smith Dance. HUMAN is a collection of contemporary dance solos performed by dancer Yamit Salazar, exploring the beauty, intensity and complexity of human experience.

Founded in 2011 by choreographer Eliot Smith, the company work extensively in the community, aiming to improve the accessibility of the arts, and provide an escape for families for whom finances are a barrier to experiencing live performance.

As well as offering ten free tickets across five North East venues for people affected by the cost of living crisis, ESD members will deliver creative workshops for a Newcastle primary school, culminating in a live performance for teachers and parents.

With post-show talks and Q&A after every performance, audiences will also have a chance to interact with the dancers and creators of HUMAN at an open company class on Thursday 15th June at Theatre Hullabaloo in Darlington.

HUMAN will be performed on Thursday 15th at Theatre Hullabaloo in Darlington and Friday 23rd June at Sage Gateshead. www.eliotsmithdance.com

COMEDY RAUL KOHLI @ BISHOP AUCKLAND TOWN HALL

Words: Cameron Wright

Raul Kohli is a name that anyone familiar with Newcastle’s comedy scene should be aware of. The comedian’s act is a confident explosion of ideas, swagger and charm. One of the few Asian comedians to have grown up in the North East, this Geordie comic has a unique perspective on life that he isn’t afraid to quip about in detail.

Balancing his cheeky wit with a knack for incisive political comedy, Kohli takes his audience on a journey with his inventive storytelling and endearing charm. Each time I’ve caught Kohli on the bill of a comedy show, regardless where his slot is, the comic makes an impact; loud and proud, he’s a fantastic comic that Newcastle is proud to boast about. Joining Kohli for a night of laughs at Bishop Auckland’s Town Hall on Friday 16th June is a veritable feast of varied comedy styles. Ranging from the improvisational duo The Halls of Ridiculous, to the musical stylings of Alex Camp, the night contains a little bit of everything, and compere Sammy Dobson, who you may recognise from recent episodes of Meet The Richardsons, will keep everything running seamlessly.

Raul Kohli, The Halls of Ridiculous, Alex Camp and Sammy Dobson perform at Bishop Auckland Town Hall on Friday 16th June. www.hilaritybites.co.uk

Ladyhawke

MUSIC SCOTT H BIRAM @ THE CLUNY

Words: Michael O’Neill

Widely heralded as The Dirty Old One Man Band, the widely eclectic sound of Scott H Biram is a gloriously face-melting reminder of the sheer storm that a sole musician can whip up with the right amount of conviction. Scott’s

sound takes in the broad pantheon of guitar music, running the gamut from blues through to classic country and bluegrass, with a hearty dose of rock & roll on the side. That alone would he enough, but he seals the deal with punk, heavy metal, and frankly, anything else he wants to. The result is a gloriously enthralling and furious cacophony of scuzzy glory, a bewildering Frankenstein’s monster taking in the history of the guitar and spitting out a wonderful anything-goes collection of unique and engaging sounds. His recent LP Fever Dreams is a glorious

testament to his unique talents, and a wonderful introduction for the curious. At his show at The Cluny on Sunday 4th June support comes from the equally eclectic and enthralling Rob Heron who, with his Tea Pad Orchestra, has firmly staked a reputation as a thrilling and refreshing addition to the Toon’s broad and diverse music community.

Scott H Biram and Rob Heron perform at The Cluny, Newcastle on Sunday 4th June.

www.scotthbiram.com

MUSIC MUNRO FESTIVAL @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Michael O’Neill

We do a good job of many things up here in the North East, but one thing that our music community has mastered well is the mythical art of a good all-day festival. The fact that our wonderful towns and cities manage, despite all the adversity faced in the last few years, to maintain a solid offering of class DIY venues, certainly hasn’t hurt. Nor has the rich plethora of class local acts.

Take Stockton’s MUNRO Festival, now in its fifth year, as a beautiful example. Taking place on Saturday 1st July across The Georgian Theatre, The Green Room, KU and The Social Room, a broad array of unreal talent from the region and beyond will show off their wares, and a collaboration with Sunderland-based Waves Festival has bulked up the local talent considerably.

Headliners include the legendary likes of feisty rockers Bilk, dreamy indie artist Mollie Coddled, North East favourites Avalanche Party, fuzzy rockers Pit Pony and Mancunian indie band The Covasettes, along with Portsmouth’s excitable four-piece Crystal Tides, alt. rockers Spyres, singer-songwriter Rianne Downey, Brighton‘s art rock five-piece Youth Sector, and some homegrown talent including the likes of high energy madcap indie band The Peevie Wonders, Sunderland’s The Voyd, rowdy five-piece Dossers, the synth-tastic noyou, engaging singersongwriter Patrick Gosling, impressive singer Chloe & The Brainwaves, evocative songwriter Eve Cole, rising pop star Lauren Amour, excitable popsters Marketplace and a complete wealth of other quality, talented artists. It’s a staggering who’s who of iconic and fledgling local talent in some class local venues, grab a ticket while you can!

MUNRO Festival takes place at The Georgian Theatre, The Green Room, KU and The Social

Room on Saturday 1st July. Visit our website for exclusive Q&A interviews with artists performing at the festival: www.bit.ly/ munrointerviews.

www.facebook.com/munrofestival

EVENTS

NAT SHARP’S ECOSEX FUN HOUSE @ COBALT

Words: Laura Doyle

Sharp-eyed viewers of the BBC may have noticed recent ads (or even indulged in an episode or two) for the UK’s “first gay dating show.” While the effort has not gone unnoticed, a single dating show featuring an exclusively male cast is not doing much to open up the dating pool for the rest of the LGBTQ+ community. I’ll tell you what might, though: Nat Sharp’s EcoSex Fun House at Cobalt on Friday 30th June. It sounds NSFW because – frankly – it is. The maverick artist and performer has put together an evening of lewd entertainment where single, ethically non-monogamous or relationship anarchic Queer folk are invited to partake in the odd dating game or two, all with some delightful punnery. “Through tree glory hole,” anyone? While nudity isn’t obligatory, it is apparently encouraged – so those of the faint of heart may want to stick with the ol’ swiping left ‘n’ right. Those who don’t mind getting their kit off and/or being in the presence of others with said kit off, whatever your tastes and preferences, can let Nat Sharp guide you through this evening-long interactive event to find your Mr/Mrs/Miss/Mx Right (or just have a damn good bit of fun in the process.)

Nat Sharp’s EcoSex Fun House is at Cobalt Studios, Newcastle on Friday 30th June. www.cobaltstudios.co.uk

STAGE BURNOUT @ LIVE THEATRE

Words: Helen Redfern

Everyone’s talking about the climate right now. It’s getting harder to ignore. As global temperatures rise, the climate is one of the world’s hottest topics. Burnout is a new production from ShyBairn Theatre, written by Nicole Acquah and directed by Caitlin Evans, and centres on climate activism, inspired by conversations with climate activists across the UK. Everyone has a view about climate activism: whether it works, what the options are, why we don’t want our own personal lives disrupted by these extremist eco zealots… Bridgette, played by Chloe Wade, is a committed activist heading for burnout who needs answers fast. Amara, performed by Lekhani Chirwa, meets Bridgette at a protest, one of those, ‘hippy, green, save-the-planet’ things. Amara’s about to finish her GCSEs. She’s just popped out to grab some milk and now she’s late.

Their town is about to be flooded again. Amara is sceptical about the value of activism – “Your bamboo toothbrush won’t save us, you don’t recycle it anyways!” – and how’s getting arrested going to help anything? They can’t afford to do that.

Burnout explores racism, micro-aggressions, classism and the effects of climate crisis (flooding, burnout, eco-anxiety) in a relevant, thought-provoking way. Audience members can interact if they want to by reading text, holding an object, or coming up on stage. Don’t worry, no one is forced to take part! The Cost of Activism, a post-show conversation on Friday 2nd June between ShyBairn Theatre and local activists is the perfect opportunity for audiences to ask any questions that arise from the performance. Burnout is performed at Live Theatre, Newcastle on Friday 2nd-Saturday 3rd June. www.shybairntheatre.co.uk

MUSIC ROYAL BLOOD @ O2 CITY HALL

Words: Jonathan Coll

Since Newcastle’s O2 City Hall was renovated early last year, it’s ability to attract some of the biggest bands and live performers on the circuit has been incredibly impressive. Removing seats and increasing their capacity by 600 has allowed them to book the likes of Royal Blood; having previously sub-headlined Leeds Festival and now preparing for a stadium tour alongside Muse this summer.

Before they reach the likes of Brighton Beach and Glastonbury Festival, they stop off in Newcastle on Wednesday 21st June as part of a mini series of warm-up gigs before their larger headline performances. The band, comprised of vocalist Mike Kerr and drummer Mike Thatcher, have taken a new approach to touring since the release of their 2021 album, Typhoons. Despite leaning into a sound more suited for the dancefloor, and earning rave reviews in the process, the band have spoken about the difficult juncture that the album came to represent. With rock ‘n’ roll having taken its toll on the band mentally, they’ve since embraced sobriety and have been producing the best performances of their career. Their transitions are seamless and their energy is unmatched by most on the UK scene at the moment, so the chance to see them play in such a revered venue is not one to be missed. Royal Blood play O2 City Hall, Newcastle on Wednesday 21st June.

www.royalbloodband.com

STAGE BONEWORDS @ NORTHERN STAGE

Words: Lizzie Lovejoy

This month Northern Stage present a fantastic dance piece combined with creative writing. Bonewords is a project led by award-winning dramaturg and writer Louise Stern and visual artist Hetain Patel, who have worked with various creative practitioners and choreographers to create a new piece of work alongside volunteer dance participants, and it’ll be performed at Northern Stage on Friday 23rd June. Bonewords began with a selection of notes Louise has used over the years, a collection of conversations that were essential for collaboration and connection. As a deaf artist, these notes have been one of the main ways in which Louise has been communicating with people; from drunken nights out, or in cafes, to artistic projects she has been working on. This personal history archive is one that all the artists explore together and used as the basis to develop dance, alongside the participants’ own experiences.

This is the fourth project that Northern Stage has done that highlights Deaf choreographers and writers, as well as bringing participants on board. Bonewords is a unique dialogue and celebration of experiences. Working alongside artists using different language e.g. BSL interpretation to develop the work, the show will be a beautiful act of conversation. Don’t miss your opportunity to be part of the discussion.

Bonewords is at Northern Stage, Newcastle on Friday 23rd June. www.northernstage.co.uk

STAGE MODEST @ NORTHERN STAGE

Words: Jonathan Coll

Modest tells the story of pioneering Victorian-era artist Elizabeth Thompson, who in 1874 created the legendary painting Roll Call that would see her fall just short of being the first woman elected to the Royal Academy. The painting was, however, bought by Queen Victoria and remains one of the most sensational military paintings every produced. Her incredible story has been brought to life by writer Ellen Brammar, for a night of music hall and drag king cabaret which touches down at Northern Stage on Monday 12th-Tuesday 13th June, in a punk-spirited show which celebrates one of the country’s real trailblazers. Having experienced a unique combination of privilege and prejudice throughout her time in the arts, it’s a fascinating tale that is finally and deservedly taking centre stage.

The production is a joint enterprise between gig-theatre specialists Middle Child and queer-led theatre company Milk Presents. The cast comprises some outstanding drag performers, such as Death Drop’s LJ Parkinson and Emer Dineen, who plays Elizabeth. The music hall was a hotbed of gender expression, and this collaboration is the perfect way to tell one of the most fascinating and exciting tales that you’re yet to hear.

Modest is performed at Northern Stage, Newcastle on Monday 12th-Tuesday 13th June www.northernstage.co.uk

Royal Blood

MUSIC MELVINS @ BOILER SHOP

Words: Matt Young

Get ready to rock Newcastle! American rock legends the Melvins, are coming to town on Friday 2nd June. For the uninitiated, Melvins mix the heavy sludge doom of Sabbath with the melodies of The Beatles while embracing the fun metal spectacle of early Kiss. They also throw in elements of thrash and pure noise.

They’ve been credited with pre-empting grunge before it even had that name, and they certainly influenced that scene hugely including its biggest exponents, Nirvana, in their formative years.

So, they’ve been around! In fact, this year sees the band celebrating their 40th anniversary, Buzz Osborne and Dale Grover are still rocking as original members and now they’re joined by former Redd Cross bassist Steven McDonald – yet to be consigned to the Melvins’ ex-bassist roster.

Legendary label Amphetamine Reptile is releasing an old/new album with six of the band’s early singles called The Devil You Knew,

The Devil You Know, with six originals on one side and the new re-recordings from 2023 on the flip. Melvins have never stopped playing or recording so you know the songs still kick hard, and will burst with energy. Known for their prolific output and their sonorous live shows that are a thunderous display of powerful drumming, scorching guitars and raw growling vocals filling the room, Melvins are definitely the real deal.

Melvins play Boiler Shop, Newcastle on Friday 2nd June.

www.themelvins.net

Image by Chris Casella

Thursday 15 June, 8pm

MUSIC PETE ASTOR @ BOBIKS

Words: Tom Astley

Pete Astor comes from an alternative Britain. Or a Britain from an alternate dimension. One where Britpop lived up to its own expectations, and didn’t get swallowed by kitsch and cool Britannia pomp. And in that alternative Britain, The Loft, the first of the legendary, under-the-radar indie pioneer’s musical incarnations, didn’t split up (before they really began) in infamously public fashion on stage in 1985, and their lilting, self-effacing folk-inflected indie became the template for Creation Records, the fledgeling label they helped to found.

In the 40 years since that departure from alternate reality, Astor has quietly amassed a back catalogue of tender, acoustic-driven tracks under a litany of names. On Sunday 11th June at Bobiks Astor will comb through this back catalogue; his most recent album, 2022’s Time on Earth, is especially occupied with memory, the past, with the stories told, and the realities behind them. It’s a kaleidoscope of flashes of Britishness, with tracks about the weather (of course), about daydream plans in sixth form, dead high streets, and death (of course). All over a self-effacing indie rock sound that parallels all the more well-known contemporary names… but not quite. It’s from an alternative universe. A happier, sadder, more poetic one.

Pete Astor plays Bobiks, Newcastle on Sunday 11th June.

www.peteastor.com

STAGE CHOP, DISSOLVE, BURN @ ALPHABETTI THEATRE

Words: Helen Redfern Macabre. Absurd. A guide dog with a taste for flesh. A ghostly granny. A touching love story. This black comedy has it all.

Chop, Dissolve, Burn, which has been devised by author Lisette Auton and disabled activist Richard Boggie, relentlessly pokes fun at society’s attitudes towards disability, whilst exposing the terrifying truth about the impacts of inequality on disabled people’s lives. When disabled and non-disabled worlds collide, the consequences can be serious...or seriously funny. There’s been a serious incident. The area around Rose’s flat is teeming with police. Surely the poor, vulnerable, inspirational disabled people can’t be involved?

Director Paul James takes this love story that’s so much more than a love story, initially created through a seed pot commission from Newcastle Fringe Festival in 2021, and develops it into this world premiere at Alphabetti Theatre, running from Tuesday 20th June-Saturday 8th July. The complex relationship between old uni mates Peter and Rose is the heart of this black comedy. Two former lovers, separated by circumstance and a hasty note written on the back of a receipt, are now brought back together 21 years later by a pandemic. Mates? More than mates? When their lives converge again, what is it to be? After a year of shielding, how far will they go to be together again?

In true Alphabetti style, the tickets are Pay What You Feel, all performances include in-built captioning, audio description and BSL, and Saturday matinee performances will be

relaxed. Due to the content, the age recommendation is 16+.

Chop, Dissolve, Burn is performed at Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle from Tuesday 20th June-Saturday 8th July. Plus, visit our website for an exclusive My Inspiration interview with Lisette Auton. www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk

STAGE THE TAMING OF THE SHREW @ HARTLEPOOL TOWN HALL THEATRE

Words: Hope Lynes

Shakespeare’s comedy The Taming of the Shrew was reimagined for the big screen back in 1999 in teen drama Ten Things I Hate About You. Twenty four years later, feminist theatre company Menstrual Rage are reimagining the story once again for the Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre stage on Tuesday 27th June.

The story follows two sisters, unable to marry unless the other does, with the meddling of bachelors and the patriarchal structure of wedded expectations. As a contemporary, feminist theatre company, Menstrual Rage take the story and attach a modern lens to interrogate the expectations of gender and ‘undesirability’ within the play.

After the show, The Shrew will have a run at this year’s Durham Fringe Festival. Expect a loud, passionate, modern production, determined to show the audience what it means to truly be a “foul, contending rebel”. Menstrual Rage present The Taming of the Shrew at Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre on Tuesday 27th June.

www.menstrualragetheatre.co.uk

Pete Astor by Elena Ferreras Carreras

MUSIC POP RECS LTD. 10TH ANNIVERSARY GIGS

Words: Claire Dupree

Sunderland’s Pop Recs Ltd. celebrate ten years of their existence with a series of gigs this month. To put any formal label on Pop Recs as a project would do it a disservice; it’s a record shop; a cultural hub, a place for people, young and not so, to gather and make like-minded friends – whether through live music, workshops, craft events or a myriad other ways; it’s a gig venue which commands such respect that artists who could fill venues their size 100 times over have eagerly played; it’s getting an increasing reputation for great food; but above all it’s a shared ethos –initiated by Frankie & The Heartstrings, and taken to the beating heart of Sunderland (and indeed the wider North East), and its success proves that if enough people pull together to create a community that’s so desperately needed, only good things can happen.

In one of my more normal conversations with the late, great Dave Harper (they mostly consisted of scene gossip and swearing), he described Pop Recs as “a good thing for a good reason”, and long may it continue to be. Help the good folks of Pop Recs celebrate their milestone, and usher in the next decade, with gigs from Teesside rabble rousers

Benefits and lo-fi punks Mouses on Saturday 17th and harmony-fuelled storytellers The Cornshed Sisters and up and coming songwriter Melanie Baker on Friday 23rd June.

www.linktr.ee/poprecscic

STAGE MY DEAR AUNTY NELL @ ARC

Words: Emily Ingram

It’s time to put on your Sunday best. Your Aunty Nell has invited you to tea at ARC in Stockton on Wednesday 14th June – and this is one family meal you won’t have to grit your teeth through! Fresh from a run at the Camden People’s Theatre, My Dear Aunty Nell is an immersive theatre experience that both celebrates and laments the way in which we experience LGBTQ+ history. The performance aims to shine a light on generations of queer stories that have remained alive solely through the medium of gossip and hearsay. It also poses an important question: how can you grieve someone that isn’t dead?

Created as a collaboration from the Queer Historian and Opening Doors, a charity that provides support to those in the LGBTQ+ community over the age of 50, the show promises to stir up and celebrate all manner of memories, both joyous and painful. After the main event, a guest from the LGBTQ+ community will even be invited up onto the stage to decompress and discuss the themes explored in the performance. Tickets are pay-what-you-feel, so why not take some time out to stop by and have a natter?

My Dear Aunty Nell is performed at ARC, Stockton on Wednesday 14th June. www.arconline.co.uk

ART & LIT CROSSING THE TEES @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Laura Doyle

Once again proving that having fun isn’t hard when you have a library card is Teesside’s biggest literary festival, Crossing the Tees. Library services across the region have collaborated to bring an all-encompassing programme of literary workshops, exhibitions, and events – in person and online – for low or no cost at all from Saturday 10th-Sunday 18th June.

For lovers of the classics, Lucy Harding’s Wuthering Heights exhibition at Thornaby Central Library spans the entirety of June (with a little Meet the Artist on Friday 16th). Aspiring writers can find a myriad of creative workshops, from tips on writing your own memoir (perfect for those family historians) to scene-building and settings for your next great work of fiction. Evening shows provide a bit of late-night entertainment, from improv comedy/crime fiction spectacular Whose Crime Is It Anyway? to poetry and prose open mic night TWOOMPH! that take all your favourite words-based shenanigans to the next level. And for those seeking out their next library withdrawal, there’s plenty of bestselling authors popping in to talk about their recent releases throughout the festival, including Mike Gayle, Matthew Green and Savita Kalhan. All you have to do is check out the Crossing the Tees website for a full list of events and dates.

Crossing The Tees takes place at various venues from Saturday 10th-Sunday 18th June. www.crossingthetees.org

The Cornshed Sisters by Martintype.co.uk

MUSIC PANOPTICON @ TRILLIANS

Words: Cameron Wright

Panopticon’s set at Trillians on Monday 5th June is set to be a special affair. Austin Lunn’s brainchild is a vivid exploration into black metal, boasting an emotive and rich discography that shifts focus off the tectonic crunching riffs, honing instead on building atmospheric landscapes that simultaneously

feel otherworldly and incredibly rooted. While wrenching in its intensity, the music of Panopticon is equally sweeping and spectacular, dazzlingly forceful and impactful. The music reaches highs on a level that is seldom rivalled in the genre, yet what sets the project apart is the masterfully constructed moments of quiet. Infusing the band with a barrage of banjos, fiddles and acoustic guitars, the joy of Panopticon is the ingenious way this power is matched by a heartfelt love of Americana and folk music. The bluegrass influence of this black metal band is undeniable, as is the success in which the crossover is created. With each release,

Lunn’s vision expands and new ideas and brought into this innately progressive world of sound.

Their latest album, And Again Into The Light, further solidifies the band’s penchant for honest, natural penmanship, exploding into life with a cavalcade of sound billowing behind it. The release shows Lunn at his most introspective and methodical, as the marriage of dissonance and harmony tells a story effortlessly as the band’s unique brand of catharsis unfurls in front of you.

Panopticon play Trillians, Newcastle on Monday 5th June.

www.thetruepanopticon.bandcamp.com

Requiem for a Fading World is a live music performance by Newcastle composer Kerrin Tatman that tells a fantastical, post-apocalyptic tale for modern times.

STAGE FATHER UNKNOWN @ GALA THEATRE/ NORTHERN STAGE

Words: Lizzie Lovejoy

Becoming a parent changes your perspectives on a lot of things, but when you’re still working on your GCSEs there are more than a few priorities that will shift, and fast! This Father’s Day weekend, Northern Stage and Durham Gala Studio present Father Unknown, a play which tells the story of Alfie. His life has mainly consisted of cans of Monster, jumping the metro, playing Xbox and narrowly avoiding getting chucked out of class. Until he finds out that he is going to be a Dad.

This production explores young fatherhood in all of its wonderful, challenging, scary and funny moments. Made in collaboration with young dads at The North East Young Dads And Lads group and Newcastle University, Father Unknown is an honest look at new parenthood, combining a selection of young Dads’ stories, featuring them as writers, interviewers, creators and facilitators. This show is a celebration of parenthood, family and adolescence; sharing the highs, the lows and the undying love each young father has for their child.

Father Unknown is performed at Gala Studio, Durham on Thursday 15th and Northern Stage, Newcastle on Friday 16th-Saturday 17th June. www.galadurham.co.uk / www.northernstage.co.uk

MUSIC SHANNON PEARL RELEASES NEW ALBUM, KISS THE GROUND

Words: Michael O’Neil

Solo folk artist and witch pop pioneer Shannon Pearl has spent the past few years blazing quite the trail with her innovative and enthralling approach to her craft. From her debut EP Caves, an entirely a capella collection of songs which found her harnessing the powerful natural reverb of actual caves, through to her recent experimental sound art collection Ghosts, which found her relying solely on vocal loops, spare percussion and found sound, Shannon has firmly established that she’s the kind of artist who is unafraid to challenge herself.

All this daring and innovative boundary pushing has culminated in her debut LP, Kiss The Ground, a sprawling 10 track collection which further stakes Shannon’s status as one of the most singular and refreshing artists the region has produced in recent years, with recent single Celestial being a staggering embodiment of her unique approach to the craft. In honour of the album’s release, she’ll be embarking on a tour with a six-piece band to capture the album’s broad and rich sound. The tour takes in a very fitting appearance at the Lindisfarne Festival (Friday 1st September), bookended by a homecoming show at Sunderland’s Independent on Friday 29th September.

Shannon Pearl releases Kiss The Ground on 21st June.

www.linktr.ee/shannonpearl

MUSIC FRANKIE & THE WITCH FINGERS @ THE CLUNY

Words: Cameron Wright

LA’s psych scene is a blossoming affair, with a thesis of different bands perpetually trying to discover, express and iconise themselves through their own twist on the genre, usually with little affecting results.

In an oversaturated market, it is rare to find a band break out of these early shackles and make a name for themselves, especially when the name in question is something as esoteric as Frankie & The Witch Fingers, yet this is undeniably the band to watch.

One only needs to listen to their latest single Electricide to hear how the band can ramp up the amps and churn out the tracks to get the feet stomping. As the drums catapult the track into a storm of whizzing guitars, the mania is exhilarating. Raw and unkempt, the band’s garage influence keeps their sound as dirty and depraved as one could want from their punk, as energy is the predominant focus throughout each of their albums.

Despite being their most recent album, Monsters Eating People Eating Monsters… may also be the best starting point for anyone wishing to educate themselves on the infectious grooves and pulsing rhythms that make the band so endearing.

Coming to The Cluny on Sunday 18th June, with support from one of Newcastle’s strongest punk offerings, TV Death, this will be a must-see show for people who love rock ‘n’ roll.

Frankie & The Witch Fingers and TV Death play The Cluny, Newcastle on Sunday 18th June.

www.frankieandthewitchfingers.bandcamp.com

Father Unknown

INTERVIEWS

LANTERNS ON THE LAKE

With their fifth album, Versions Of Us, Lanterns On The Lake have created the most empowering and triumphant body of work of their career thus far. Yet this monumental record very nearly didn’t exist.

“We’d begun working on the new album and we knew things didn’t feel right,” explains singer and songwriter Hazel Wilde. “There was a negative energy in the music, and the more we tried, the worse it became. I still can’t really put my finger on it; it wasn’t the relationships in the band, but there were other financial and logistical pressures. We’ve always been a band that’s tried to make music that has real heart and soul, and we could see that that wasn’t there.”

With their fourth record, Spook The Herd, Lanterns On The

Lake found themselves nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize. Now here they were just a short time later, wondering whether they were even going to make another album. “We always naturally put pressure on ourselves every time we come to record a new album, but in the back of our minds after Spook The Herd, to put it bluntly, we were all thinking, ‘We can’t fuck this up,’” recalls guitarist Paul Gregory. “We went back to the same studio in Ripponden with the same equipment and the same producer, Joss Worthington. It’s funny that you can take the same bunch of people and put them in exactly the same place and situation again, and for whatever reason, it just doesn’t work the next time around.”

After a lot of reflecting during an emotional and stressful time

LINSEY TEGGERT TALKS TO HAZEL WILDE AND PAUL GREGORY ABOUT LINE-UP CHANGES, MULTIVERSE THEORY AND THE ALBUM THAT NEARLY NEVER WAS IMAGE BY ROB IRISH

MUSIC MUSIC

period, drummer Ol Ketteringham, who had been with the band since the very beginning, decided his time to move on had arrived. Lanterns found themselves at a crossroads: should they give up and call it a day, or start over again? Thankfully, they chose the latter, scrapping everything they’d recorded and stripping the songs back to their bare bones.

“We’d blown our budget and passed our deadline, but in a way, it was almost liberating,” says Wilde. “We had absolutely nothing to lose and we still believed in the songs. We had such a short period of time to remake an entire album, but that gave an energy to the songs that made the album what it is; it feels way more alive and more immediate with all that bubbling emotion underneath.”

To bring the album to life, the band enlisted the help of a certain Philip Selway on session drums. So how did the Newcastle band end up with Radiohead’s drummer on their record?

“We’d met him before and he’s previously shown support for our music,” explains Wilde. “Apart from Ol, he’s our other favourite drummer, and as we went back to square one, we realised we needed something that had that Phil Selway energy about the drumming. So, in that spirit of having nothing to lose, we were like, ‘Shall we just ask him?!’ He was really sensitive and understanding about the Ol situation, and he had such a belief in the songs that it really reignited something in us too.”

It’s fair to say that with all these changes, Lanterns changed the destiny of their fifth record. It’s an irony that’s not lost on Wilde

and Gregory, given that a huge theme of the record is destiny and fate, and whether we can change our path in life. These were all lyrics that existed before the initial album was scrapped – they weren’t changed to reflect the turmoil the band had been through.

“Sometimes I think you can almost cosmically order stuff into your life,” laughs Wilde. “We’re really aware of the irony: a large theme of the album is imagining an ‘otherwise’ – imagining other possibilities and whether you’re stuck to a certain fate or if you can change that and turn things round for yourself.”

Versions Of Us is in fact a whole new version of their vision, and indeed of the band themselves. Lanterns have always been a band that have leaned towards the existential, and the ethereal quality of their swooning post-rock certainly lends itself to meditations on existence. On the swooping String Theory, where Wilde’s gorgeous vocal drives the track along in step with Selway’s rhythmic drumming, Wilde finds comfort in the multiverse theory and the idea of infinite versions of ourselves. “I think a lot of the previous lyrics I’d written were catastrophising in a way. I suppose I’ve got to a point in my life where it’s like, ‘everything is kind of fucked, but what if there’s a different way?’ Part of the context of all of these songs is that I’ve now got a daughter and I think that I need to show her that there’s hope. If one person can change how their life goes down their path, what’s to say we can’t all as a society change and fix this catastrophe that’s on the horizon with climate change and all the rest of it?”

This sense of hope permeates Versions Of Us more than any other Lanterns record. On The Likes Of Us, Wilde steels her resolve despite the state of things, her glorious vocals soaring over Angela Chan’s glittering strings and Bob Allan’s delicate bass line, ending with the determined repetition of the mantra-like “I won’t let this spark die in me”. It displays the cavernous sound we’ve come to expect from Lanterns, yet Versions Of Us is more austere in its instrumentation than previous offerings.

“Whatever serves the song goes on the song,” states Gregory. “Personally, with Spook The Herd, I think we got it right in that all the bits that go on the song are to serve the vocal melodies and the lyrical ideas behind it. It’s about choosing the instrument carefully and not piling stuff on for the sake of piling stuff on.”

“Something happened when we came to make Spook The Herd where we realised the less we have on the song the more scope we have to put the energy into the things that are there,” adds Wilde. “It ends up sounding wider and more powerful that way.”

Despite going into this record thinking it would be the last one, Lanterns On The Lake aren’t ready to give up just yet. “We love the music we make and we have such belief and faith in the songs, which is what pushes us every time to make another album,” says Gregory. “Of course, you question why you do it, but when you’re actually doing it, that’s all that matters in life.” Lanterns On The Lake release Versions Of Us via Bella Union on 2nd June. The band play instore shows at Newcastle’s Reflex on Sunday 4th and RPM Thursday 8th June.

www.lanternsonthelake.com

I SUPPOSE I’VE GOT TO A POINT IN MY LIFE WHERE IT’S LIKE, ‘EVERYTHING IS KIND OF FUCKED, BUT WHAT IF THERE’S A DIFFERENT WAY?

SAGE GATESHEAD: ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE

ALI WELFORD TALKS TO THIS YEAR’S COHORT ABOUT THEIR EXTRAORDINARY PROJECTS, WHICH SPAN A DOCUMENTARY-STYLE RADIO SHOW, A POST-APOCALYPTIC TALE, AN INVESTIGATION INTO LONELINESS AND CONTEMPLATIVE CONNECTIONS TO THE NATURAL WORLD

As well as being a world class concert hall and one of the North East’s most iconic landmarks, Sage Gateshead is a creative hub and charity that’s fostered the careers of countless musicians from across the region. Every year, the charity’s Artists in Residence programme offers a handful of lucky applicants the time, funding and space to deliver ambitious new projects –with each granted a special showcase to exhibit their finished work. Martha Hill, Me Lost Me and Beccy Owen are just some of the esteemed names to have benefited from the scheme in years past, and June witnesses the close of another cycle, with four more visionary figures poised to parade their wares before an audience.

So what exactly have the 2022-23 Artists in Residence spent the past nine months working on?

First up on Thursday 15th June is Ceitidh Mac, who delves into the world of Radio Ballads – documentary-style radio shows featuring original music, interviews and field recordings – with a specific focus on the issues facing local residents.

“The original Radio Ballads were a creative way of telling people’s stories. Music can be a powerful way of putting observations into a digestible format, and adding people’s own words combined all the things I wanted to work with in one,” she says. “A main focus was to not make this project extractive.

By that, I mean not giving something back, but hopefully representing the people I spoke to in the melodies and songs. People spoke of their connections to the North East; the strikes – both present and back in the 1980s; community and different places you find it; technology; working whilst being a mum, and experiences of women working in male dominated trades… lots of things. Quite a few of the interviewees are coming to the gig, which is the bit I’m most nervous about!”

Perhaps the most multifaceted of this year’s pieces comes courtesy of Kerrin Tatman, whose Requiem For A Fading World – “a fantastical, post-apocalyptic tale for modern times” – debuts on Thursday 22nd June. Blending contemporary classical, choral and folk influences, this meticulously crafted narrative turns the traditional Requiem structure on its head, using puppetry, characterisation, stop motion animation and an accompanying comic to create an experience that’s both cinematic and thought-provoking.

“The narrative is very much inspired by the present climate emergency and the views of people on different sides of the argument,” they say. “It’s also a wider exploration of how disjointed we’ve become from each other through politics, technology and religion, and how we need to look for new ways to unite and progress forward.”

Ceitidh Mac

Kerrin is particularly effusive of the opportunities the Artists in Residence programme has offered: “This has been the most ambitious piece of music I’ve worked on to date. I’ve learnt so much about composition and my own style of writing through the process, and it’s been fantastic and a huge lifeline to work with collaborators Rosie Bristow (lyrics), Becky Musgrove (dramaturgy) and Kris Stewart (comic book art). It would have been impossible for me to write this piece without the breathing space and support of the residency alongside my other work and commitments. Working at such an inspirational building surrounded by amazing musicians has pushed me forward to complete the project.”

Next up on Friday 23rd June is Late Girl, with No Antonym For Loneliness. Approaching the environmental theme from an altogether different angle, ingenious and resourceful electronic artist Laura Stutter Garcia examines isolation in a wider context, offering “a processed choir of lonely people” assembled from a series of recorded workshops and conversations with communities around Newcastle.

“Loneliness sits in a wider context, and is as much an environmental issue as a societal one – the boundaries of both are and should be seen as very blurry,” she explains. “The pandemic is an example of this: we tend to divide social and environmental as two separate things – one cultural, the other natural – and what an epic-fail approach that is...”

As an artist who leans heavily on technology, Laura placed particular focus on the ways digital inventions have fuelled the

loneliness epidemic. “Social isolation often gravitates around deprived areas, and many of our social technologies actually make it worse. I’ve met a lot of people who have no access to digital technologies, or that struggle with how they affect them, so it felt important to check how I interacted with the technologies I use to make music. It’s part of a conversation that should be happening at all levels of our society, and I only see it happening briefly in some.”

Finally, Thursday 29th June sees the premiere of Anna Hughes’ Fell Silent – in which she combines textured strings, contemplative songs, field recordings and visuals in a bid to restore our connection to the natural world. “I wanted to write some music where all influence has come from looking out, past the city and disturbance of humans, to a simpler, wilder way of being,” she details. “It also came about from an unsustainable lifestyle, trying to work as a musician in a city, when my soul is fullest by the sea and being outdoors.”

Ostensibly a folk musician, the Artist in Residence programme has inspired Anna to venture far outside her comfort zone: “I’ve really pushed myself here in a lot of ways – writing for string quartet, venturing into field recording, and spatialising for a quadraphonic speaker setup. I’m very much a beginner in all these things, and that’s opened up new possibilities for a fresh endeavour. I’ve by no means mastered any of this – it’s an ongoing exploration, which is both stressful and exciting to share with the public!”

www.sagegateshead.com

www.ceitidhmac.com

www.kerrintatman.co.uk

www.facebook.com/lategirlmusic

www.annahughesmusic.com

T-B, L-R: Anna Hughes, Kerrin Tatman, Late Girl

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO WRITE THIS PIECE WITHOUT THE BREATHING SPACE AND SUPPORT OF THE RESIDENCY

THE BRIDGE UK HIPHOP FESTIVAL

“The Bridge is all about unity. It’s in the name. We literally want to build bridges within the hip-hop scene.” Artist, DJ and Method Lounge instigator Sandy Duff knows all too well the importance of community; a vocal advocate for the region’s hip-hop scene, Sandy’s unparalleled knowledge and unwavering passion have led to him curating world-class events and working with artists new and established to further the hip-hop scene of the region.

“Hip-hop, particularly the rap scene, is often seen a divisive, aggressive or at the very least intimidating,” he says. “However our experiences couldn’t be more different. Hip-hop is inclusive, you don’t need to be rich to spit bars, beatbox or dance. It’s open to everyone.”

Intended to be a real celebration of the culture of hip-hop, the free entry three-day festival runs from Friday 30th June-Sunday 2nd July across six venues in Newcastle. “The Bridge celebrates hip-hop culture and its impact. It is an intergenerational event, covering foundation to contemporary innovators, exploring its influence on music, art and dance. On top of lots of live performances there will be workshops, talks, demos and film screenings giving attendees an opportunity to participate, learn and share.” Sandy explains.

“We have an unreal line-up including some brilliant breakers, dope emcees, DJs and writers. I’m particularly excited to be getting a couple of true legends up for this in the form of Blak Twang and Blade. These guys have soundtracked some important parts of my life and it’s a privilege to be working with

THE BRIDGE CELEBRATES HIP-HOP CULTURE AND ITS IMPACT. IT IS AN INTERGENERATIONAL EVENT

them on this. I’m also buzzing to be having Shell Toe Mel coming down to lead some workshops and spin some tunes, she’s got such awesome vibes about her, really looking forward to seeing what she brings.”

The launch night at Zerox will be presented by NE Rising and UK rap legend Blade’s 05:21 hip-hop channel, featuring performances from Blade himself alongside local favourites Kay Greyson, Abi Nyxx, Reali-T, Sisi, Eyeconic, Fletchy, Donald Jenkins and more. Saturday at Star & Shadow Cinema will include workshops, film screenings and performances from Blak Twang and Shortie Blitz, Soul’d Out featuring Holly Flo Lightly, DJ ADS, Drop Dead Fred, Shell Toe Mel, King Fred and more. Food is also a key part of the event: on Saturday an all-day live graffiti jam at Biscuit Tin Studios will include a street food menu courtesy of Fed’s fried chicken; plus there’s a sketchbook session at The Tanners (aka ‘Scranners’) Arms; and on Sunday, legendary burger maestros Meat:Stack present live music from The Vinyl Vandals and friends.

Part of the catalyst for the event comes from 2023 marking the 50th year of hip-hop. Sandy’s keen that old and new generations come together to celebrate their similarities as well as their differences. “Sometimes it’s important to take the time to appreciate each other a bit more. That’s where local events like The Bridge, Just Jam and TUSK are vital as they not only provide amazing line-ups and awesome gigs but also create the opportunity for the people within the scenes to connect, share, learn and take an active part in their culture.”

The Bridge Hip-Hop Festival takes place at venues in Newcastle from Friday 30th June-Sunday 2nd July.

www.facebook.com/bridgehiphopuk

T-B, L-R: Shell Toe Mel, Sandy Duff by Matty Watson, Holly Flo Lightly

CLAIRE DUPREE TALKS TO SANDY DUFF ABOUT THE THREE-DAY CELEBRATION OF HIP-HOP

STARS

HELEN REDFERN CHATS WITH ACCLAIMED WRITER MOJISOLA ADEBAYO ABOUT HER INCLUSIVE PLAY WHICH DELVES INTO THEMES OF QUEER EMPOWERMENT AND AROUSAL...IN SPACE!

STARS: An Afrofuturist Space Odyssey comes to Northern Stage this month with a host of accolades from its premiere at London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts and a fantastic response on tour. The play’s acclaimed writer Mojisola Adebayo describes the amazing reception so far: “This is the first time I have made or seen a piece of theatre where at the end of the show the audience are literally cheering on the main character. That is testament to Debra Michaels’ astonishing lead performance as ‘Mrs’ as well as the music, visuals and gorgeous set. Audiences are on their feet at the end and we even had a critic crying with joy.”

Mrs (played by the aforementioned Debra Michaels) is a woman in her eighties looking back on her life, her marriage and friendships, and all the pleasure she’s missed out on. After a long and sad marriage, a newspaper horoscope sparks her imagination to seek out the pleasure in her life and have a new adventure – in space! When Mrs applies for Spexit: Space Exit!, she sets herself on a quest to inner and outer space.

As for Bradley Charles, who plays Mrs’ son Michael Manners and DJs throughout the whole show, Adebayo explains how he brings a soundtrack throughout the play of upbeat music, a “concept album on stage”, which leaves audiences feeling uplifted, ecstatic even, which is especially important as there is some challenging subject matter in the show.

Mojisola Adebayo started writing the play in 2016 on a three month artists’ residency on a boat with Idle Women, the ideal

ONLINE EXCLUSIVE

STARS’ MUSIC PRODUCER DEBO

ADEBAYO GIVES US AN INSIGHT INTO THE MUSICAL INFLUENCES OF THE PRODUCTION IN AN EXCLUSIVE FFO

FEATURE ON OUR WEBSITE WWW.BIT.LY/STARSFFO

setting for this work: “I had wanted to write a play about pleasure for a long time and by floating back on Lancashire canals, letting go, I started to imagine a story that combined space travel and sexuality.” The result is a moving and joyful, sensitive yet funny journey of an old lady who goes into outer space... in search of her own orgasm. Isn’t that where all orgasms go?

Directed by Gail Babb and S. Ama Wray with an inspiring creative team including exquisite animations by artist Candice Purwin and creative captioning throughout, this hugely original show is celebrated as a candid queer feminist rallying call, which takes its audience on a journey from ancient West African folklore, via a council flat in South London, to the stars. In collaboration with ICA, theatre company Tamasha presents this show with great delight as Pooja Ghai, Artistic Director of Tamasha explains, “Tamasha is a home for our Global Majority artists to explore their voices and nurture their forms of artistic expression. In celebration of this, we are delighted to present the world premiere of Mojisola Adebayo’s STARS. Mojisola is an outstanding artist who has been inspiring and challenging perceptions of African diasporic histories through her work.” STARS embraces accessibility, and there is something for everyone here, as Adebayo explains: “The production is really for everyone aged 14 years old and upwards. All the words in the show are creatively captioned, like artistic subtitles, making it accessible to deaf audiences and beneficial to anyone that likes to follow the text as they enjoy the play. What I love about STARS is there is something for everyone. You can just enjoy the words, the music, the performances, the visuals or all of it. “I want people to really feel exhilarated,” the writer continues, “to cheer on the central character but also themselves – to go wherever the pleasure is.”

Are you ready for a journey to the stars on a pleasure quest? The trip is about to commence…

STARS is performed at Northern Stage, Newcastle on Monday 19th and Tuesday 20th June. www.tamasha.org.uk

I WANT PEOPLE TO REALLY FEEL EXHILARATED, TO CHEER ON THE CENTRAL CHARACTER BUT ALSO THEMSELVES – TO GO WHEREVER THE PLEASURE IS

Debra Michaels/Bradley Charles by Ali Wright

JEN DIXON

Teesside singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Jen Dixon is set to release her catchy debut EP Less Than A Feeling this month. With performances alongside Reverend & The Makers, an appearance at Twisterella and her own headline show at The Georgian Theatre, it’s shaping up to be an eventful few months. Whilst Jen is excited for her upcoming performances, she confesses to still suffering from anxiety in the days running up to gigs, and employs a unique strategy to expel that nervous energy by “jumping up and down a lot and doing a jig with my friend Laura when she comes to gigs”.

Having found a love of music from a young age, Jen was playing drums from age 11, she’s a self-taught guitarist and a qualified sound engineer. While playing drums for fellow Teessider Corey Bowen, Jen has recorded at Abbey Road Studios, played at Green Man Festival and performed at The Old Blue Last with The Magic Gang, where she recalls: “I got a free pair of Converse and thought…I’ve made it!”

Despite suffering from stage fright, Jen took the plunge and accompanied by a friend on guitar she began singing at open-mic nights prior to the pandemic. Having found herself furloughed and isolated from visitors during lockdown she began penning her own songs and recording at home, releasing her debut self-produced single Falling Into You in 2020, which has been followed by a string of further well received releases. Running her own audiology business and volunteering in her spare time, the steadfast positivity that shines through Jen’s

songs is also a strong theme outside of her music. Re-homing commercial laying hens is an example of Jen’s unwavering belief in a happy ending: “Basically we give them out to people in their gardens so the chickens can have a little retirement…I always end up coming home with one myself as there’s always a poorly one, so I’m sat here now with a poorly chicken in a crate and hopefully it will pull through.”

Jen explains that songwriting can be her way of dealing with worries and struggles in life. “Most of my songs come from within me and the way I’m feeling at that time, even if that means getting up at 1am in the morning to get it all out. The only problem is I find it difficult to write when everything is going well...I’ve got nothing to write about, I’m too happy!”

The new EP is of a decidedly indie pop flavour; mixed by Lisa Murphy and mastered by the renowned Pete Maher (Pixies, The Killers, Patti Smith), it has a very authentic feel, with the majority of Jen’s songwriting coming from her own experiences of heartbreak and isolation, yet her songs still convey optimism and self-belief, as Jen explains: “Even though things are bad, there’s always going to be an end to that, there’s always going to be an out…the message is, don’t worry things will always get better.” From the first track Over You, which incorporates rap, to the rockier final track Less Than A Feeling, the EP is catchy and uplifting, encompassing lyrics about insecurities and overthinking that will make it identifiable with many.

Jen Dixon releases Less Than A Feeling EP on 30 June. She supports Reverend & The Makers at KU, Stockton on Friday 14th July.

www.jendixonmusic.co.uk

AMANDA GALLAGHER TALKS TO JEN DIXON ABOUT HER UPCOMING EP RELEASE, STAGE FRIGHT AND RE-HOMING CHICKENS

THE MESSAGE IS, DON’T WORRY THINGS WILL ALWAYS GET BETTER

CALLUM PITT

Venturing into the musical landscape of deep Americana, Newcastle singer-songwriter Callum Pitt’s debut album, In The Balance, does two things simultaneously; it creates the type of raw and introspective art commonly linked to the works of Elliott Smith and Sufjan Stevens, and it provides an interesting insight into the close relationship between the Americana sound, and Northumberland’s folk tradition.

Centred around an indie/folk sound, but layered with huge touches of orchestral and vocal high-art, In The Balance is an exploration of various styles of musicality that create emotional responses, both in style and in substance.

“I suppose I started this album quite a while ago,” reflects Pitt, “and since then it’s gone through various forms in terms of its musical setting and the musical choices I made, like what vocal range to use or what production to use. That said though, the focus of the songs has always remained the same; how I interact with the world, and the world interacts with me.”

Encompassing topics such as depression, anxiety and the slow decaying of our political structure, In The Balance takes deeply emotive topics and uses them to reflect Pitt’s truth in how he feels about some of life’s bigger questions. “I wrote most of the album in my bedroom, slowly building up ideas with my guitar and keyboard and reflecting on a few key incidents in my life and on what was going on around me.” He reveals.

Perhaps more affecting than the narrative are Pitt’s stunning vocals that best capture his emotional response to his situation, his ability to use his voice as an emoting instrument is deeply affecting in places.

Pitt explains that he laid out a deliberate narrative for the album: “There are some ideas for other styles of songs and lyrics, but I didn’t want to explore anything that sat outside of the sound and the story I wanted to tell with this album.” In The Balance was completed with the support of long-time producer John Martindale, with the deliberate intent of creating one complete piece of art: “John’s a pleasure to work with and really understands what I’m trying to achieve,” he enthuses.

Album standouts Black Holes In The Sky and Crow showcase Pitt’s ability to build deeply unsettling and emotional sounds; balancing them with lush vocals and layers on layers of rich folk-driven soundscapes. This is a remarkable debut for a songwriter who has already won the Alan Hull Award for songwriters (in 2019), and is keen to consider the next chapter of his songwriting development. “I’m really excited at exploring some of the ideas and sounds I put to one side, and also starting from scratch in other places.”

Some local shows and a chance to play and promote the album come in the short term, but the fact that there’s already an eye on what comes next is something to be very excited about.

Callum Pitt releases In The Balance on 2nd June. He plays Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle on Saturday 3rd June. www.callumpittmusic.co.uk

DAMIAN ROBINSON TALKS TO THE TALENTED SONGWRITER ABOUT HIS DEEPLY AFFECTING DEBUT ALBUM

Image by Daniel Stark

THE FOCUS OF THE SONGS HAS ALWAYS REMAINED THE SAME; HOW I INTERACT WITH THE WORLD, AND THE WORLD INTERACTS WITH ME

MUSIC

COASTELLA

AMY MCGARAHAN FINDS OUT MORE ABOUT THE INAUGURAL NORTH SHIELDS FESTIVAL WHICH HAS GRASSROOTS TALENT AS ITS HEART

In a town with a bustling grassroots music scene, inaugural music festival Coastella will open its gates from Friday 30th June–Sunday 2nd July in Percy Park R.F.C., North Shields. The festival is the brainchild of North Shields native John Peacock, who filled me in on what to expect from the fun-filled weekend. John has 20 years of experience in concert promotion in and around North Tyneside: “I decided to create the festival due to noticing a lack of outdoor music festivals in North Shields that really promote the abundance of exceptional talent on the coast,” he explains. As a grassroots festival, John explains that Coastella’s ethos is to “showcase local talent and to give artists the opportunity to play on a big stage alongside established touring acts.” The festival’s first year has started strong, with headliners including dance music legend Judge Jules, local heroes The Futureheads and indie giants Mystery Jets.

Supporting the running of the festival is a roster of great local sponsors, including Sunday for Sammy, a North East-based trust which provides vital funds for local artists to allow them to progress in their musical journeys. John praises their work, recognising that they are a great fit for Coastella due to their “perfectly aligning mission statement.” He highlights the importance of Coastella’s backers, saying that “as with any first-year festival, the organisation process has had its inevitable ups and downs. However, with the support of the local community, our brilliant sponsors and the backing of North Tyneside Council, the process has been made a lot easier. We can’t stress enough how grateful we are to everyone who has

CHECK OUT A SPOTIFY PLAYLIST OF ARTISTS PERFORMING AT COASTELLA ON OUR E-ZINE

IT’S GOING TO BE A GREAT WEEKEND OF THE BEST LIVE MUSIC THE AREA HAS TO OFFER DOWN ON OUR WONDERFUL NORTH EAST COASTLINE

given their time, money and expertise so far. The event quite simply wouldn’t happen without their support.” Reinforcing the community spirit, he explains: “every single one of Coastella’s suppliers are local businesses, from the staging and marquees, to the food vendors. Literally everyone!”

There’s more than just music for attendees to sink their teeth into, as John explains: “There’s the most amazing food offerings in the area, as well as added attractions such as a mobile record store, UV shop and loads of mad festival décor and roaming entertainment to keep the festival buzz going between acts.” But fear not, there won’t be many breaks, as Coastella plays host to over 100 artists over the weekend. As well as the aforementioned headliners, acts include indie rocker Liam Fender, 16-year old Scottish singer Connor Fyfe, folk pop musician Ruth Lyon, folk meets indie-rock band Hector Gannet, singer-songwriter Ben Harwood, North Shields’ own danceable popsters Club Paradise, blues-soaked Finn Forster, neo-soul singer Frankie Jobling, high energy four-piece The Peevie Wonders, indie pop band The Redroom and many more. It’s clear that Coastella has been a labour of love for John.

“Coastella is a festival in the most traditional sense of the word, with a really strong first year line-up. It’s going to be a great weekend of the best live music the area has to offer down on our wonderful North East coastline, and festival goers can be safe in the knowledge that they will be supporting local business, local artists and will have the best time in the process.”

Coastella takes place at Percy Park R.F.C., North Shields from Friday 30th June–Sunday 2nd July.

www.coastella.co.uk

T-B, L-R: Ruth Lyon, Frankie Jobling, Chintzy Stetson by Lauren Luxenburg

A STREET LIKE THIS

One normal street, three different people, one massive sinkhole. Unfolding Theatre presents A Street Like This, a play written by talented local writer Alison Carr about both the ordinary and the extraordinary, the optimistic, and often fantastical… Exploring themes of division and human nature, the production will take to the stage at Sunderland’s Fire Station on Thursday 29th June.

Annie Rigby, director for the show, spoke about the collaborative process, explaining how they used group workshops and conversations with local residents in Sunderland as part of the creative process. “We formed some really good friendships with the people that we made it with. I was really conscious that there were people of different ages, different politics, different backgrounds, but they were all brought together by really enjoying making music and being part of something together. I was really keen for us to think well, what next? We’ve done this, how could we build on these relationships? And one of the guys who had actually not not been part of the show, but always brought his daughter said, we should make a piece about unexpected friendship...We shouldn’t know each other, we shouldn’t hang out. But here, we all are having a really great time.”

The music has also been a collaborative effort; spearheaded by The Futureheads’ Ross Millard, who worked with Unfolding Theatre on musical storytelling production Putting The Band Back Together. “Because we’ve had a previous relationship with quite a few of the people that are involved in it from the community, when we started doing the R and D the group was comfortable with us, they were forthcoming with their ideas. They’ve written a lot themselves and had a really solid hand in

kind of steering how it sounds, how it feels, and what the contents like. My role for this one has been quite different; it’s almost been about filtering the ideas, bringing everyone’s ideas to the table.”

Annie spoke about how she would like audiences to experience the show. “I really think it’s going to be a really fun, joyful experience. It’s a really funny play that Alison’s written. Her writing is so rooted in the North East, but also really extraordinary and surprising, and quite mad…it’s really playful. The idea is it could be a street anywhere, and we really hope it does make people think about the characters who live on their own streets, the happenings that shift different people’s relationships.”

Why is the show important to share right now? Ross answers that question. “The street might have previously been anonymous or disconnected. [This project has] invited people who were previously disconnected to share something or be a bit closer together. I think the show reinforces that. We’ve gone through it ourselves, through the process; everyone’s in their own bubble, living in their own lives. And through some semi-magical happening everyone’s brought together. I think that’s quite interesting given what we’ve all gone through with the pandemic.”

In many ways, A Street Like This shares experiences that we all have. In others, it is completely fantastical. Annie wants us all to consider how we respond to challenges, comparing art to life. “It’s a real invitation to the audience to think about these moments, these events that push us into new possibilities. When you feel stuck, suddenly something happens and you think actually, I could be somebody completely different. I could make a different choice in my life than the one I’m making right now.”

A Street Like This is performed at The Fire Station, Sunderland on Thursday 29th June, and Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle on Thursday 28th September. www.unfoldingtheatre.co.uk

Ross Millard and Director Annie Rigby with model box houses designed by Imogen Cloet, image by Von Fox Promotions

LIZZIE LOVEJOY TALKS TO ANNIE RIGBY AND ROSS MILLARD ABOUT UNFOLDING THEATRE’S NEW PRODUCTION WHICH PUTS COMMUNITY AND MUSIC AT ITS HEART

IT’S A REAL INVITATION TO THE AUDIENCE TO THINK ABOUT THESE MOMENTS, THESE EVENTS THAT PUSH US INTO NEW POSSIBILITIES

SØMNUS

MERA ROYLE TALKS TO BENJAMIN FITZGERALD ABOUT HIS NEW EXPERIMENTAL PROJECT WHICH MERGES CLASSICAL STYLES

WITH DANCE MUSIC AESTHETICS

Picture this: after pottering down to Cobalt Studios, at the heart of Newcastle’s buzzing creative scene, you arrive into a soundscape of incandescent classical sounds melded like a 3D mosaic painting to insistent, electric rhythms. This unusual mixture can be identified as the experimental project, Sømnus, which merges classical styles and aesthetics with the rhythms and percussive effects of electronic dance music, coordinated by Newcastle-born composer Benjamin Fitzgerald. Sømnus brings hair-raising textures and juxtaposing musical combinations to life with a performance at Cobalt Studios on Friday 9th June, and I chatted with Ben to get more details on what to expect. “Think the sphere of neo-classical but with a lot more of a dance influence,” he told me. “The melodies, harmonies and strings I took from my love of classical, but the composition of rhythms and other electronic sounds has been taken from dance music.” It’s a project which has evolved from Ben’s previous work and performances with his eight-piece band which goes under his own name. Having been recently reborn under Sømnus, a name inspired by the Roman god of sleep, the project marks an exciting new era which explicitly delves into the relationship we have with sleep, and what happens to our mind as we are dreaming. Ben discusses explains why it was important to adopt this title: “I’ve always liked the idea of personifying sleep, with it being a physical thing you can interact with and have a

relationship with.” This connection to sleep adds a new meaning to the project’s transfixing textures; one which explores the serenity and mystery of the dreamworld. “It’s also the title of one of my favourite ambient albums by Bristol-based producer Phaeleh, who has inspired a lot of my work previously.” Ben added.

Compositionally, the ensemble creates their sounds through a process of communication, experimentation and the passing around of ideas. Most Sømnus members are folk musicians who Ben met at university, including violinists Sam Baxter and Anna Hughes, and their ability to play through listening was an important trait for Ben’s composing style. “I needed to find musicians which were susceptible to the way that I composed, which is purely audible,” he said. “The folk musicians are brilliant, they do it by singing at each other and singing back and being able to replicate what’s going on.” This circumstance was another factor which motivated Ben’s decision to change the project’s name. “When it was my full name and I was performing with eight people, I started to feel uncomfortable,” said Ben. “I didn’t like the narcissism, because it just wasn’t about me. It has a very collective drive. We’re all experiencing it, I’m just heading it.”

For their Cobalt gig, the ensemble prepares arpeggiated synth modules and electricity with transcendent strings, delicate harp accompaniments and intricate polyrhythmic piano lines. Old tracks can be heard amongst new as the audience is taken on a journey through excitement and reflection. Sømnus embraces the soul-felt expressions of contemporary classical music in their own entrancingly immersive way.

Sømnus play Cobalt Studios, Newcastle on Friday 9th June. www.facebook.com/somnusuk

Image by Sam Wall

SØMNUS EMBRACES THE SOUL-FELT EXPRESSIONS OF CONTEMPORARY CLASSICAL MUSIC IN THEIR OWN ENTRANCINGLY IMMERSIVE WAY

JEN CLOHER

AHEAD OF A NEWCASTLE GIG THIS MONTH, LILY PRATT TALKS TO THE AUSTRALIAN MUSICIAN ABOUT EMBRACING THEIR MAORI HERITAGE AND SELF-IDENTITY ON THEIR DREAM-LIKE NEW ALBUM

Jen Cloher celebrates the release of their fifth album I Am The River, The River Is Me; a softly powerful album which is an ode to their Māori ancestral heritage and tribal ‘aroha’. The album combines folk and rock music in order to produce an electrically stirring and rich sound which is intensified by energetic guitar and drums.

Considering the title of the album, Jen acknowledges the infusion of the natural world within the lyrics of the songs: “I Am The River is a Māori proverb, we are a part of, not separate from the rivers and mountains of our ancestors. We have a role to play,” Jen contemplates, “we have always had an important role.” One’s own sense of belonging is thus paramount to the album and can be illustrated within the quietly rebellious tracks Protest Song and Being Human (“What use is a protest song / Nobody wants to be wrong / People die for an idea”). When reflecting on Protest Song, Jen mused that it was written in order to convey the closeness and connectivity between people and their own ideologies. “It is always nice to know someone is feeling the same as you,” they believe.

Within exultant songs such as Mana Takatāpui and He Toka-Tu-Moana, Jen invokes the Māori language as a means in which to unify and commemorate a culture and consecrate it within their own music. Within the quietly spirited and hopeful track Mana Takatāpui the guitar softly underscores a sense of hope and Jen’s own gentle voice imbues the track with a striking optimism. Reflecting on the track further, Jen meditates that ‘Takatāpui’ is the Māori word for LGBTQ+ or queer: “Originally the word pre-colonisation meant a close friend of the same gender,” they say, explaining that the word was resurrected in the 1970s by a Māori lesbian feminist. ‘Mana’ can be translated to personal strength, thus through the hauntingly beautiful and spring-like track, Jen reflects and celebrates the confluence

JEN INVOKES THE MAORI LANGUAGE AS A MEANS IN WHICH TO UNIFY AND COMMEMORATE A CULTURE AND CONSECRATE IT WITHIN THEIR OWN MUSIC

between one’s self-identity and own ancestral history. Their album is definitely governed and bound by love as well as identity, which Jen describes to be flowing throughout their music, perhaps as leaves run on water.

In the wake of the pandemic, I Am The River, The River Is Me was subsequently composed as an album concerned with identity and people; Jen used the time in isolation to focus and learn the history and language of the Māori culture, as they explain: “Heritage means knowing who you are and where you come from.” Indeed, the album cover, in which Jen is depicted standing in water with raised arms, is poignant: “I am standing in my river, my tribal river” - that is the Tou Wai river which runs through Matangirau. The river is Jen’s ‘pepeha’, every Māori has a river they identify with which is divine or sacred. Indeed, the album is certainly devoted to place, nature and one’s own sense of belonging. The soft and almost dream-like songs can allow for individuals to feel as though they belong. I Am The River, The River Is Me professes that humanity has always been a part of nature, and always will be.

Jen Cloher plays The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle on Friday 9th June. I Am The River, The River Is Me is out now. www.jencloher.com

Image by Marcelle Bradbeer

ANTI-PLEASURE

LEIGH VENUS FINDS OUT ABOUT THE ALL-DAY CELEBRATION OF QUEER EXPRESSION SPEARHEADED BY VISUAL ARTIST AND PROMOTER ALANNAH LAMB

MUSIC

Landing at Zerox in Newcastle on Saturday 17th June, Anti-Pleasure is a groundbreaking all-day event that promises to transcend boundaries and celebrate the kaleidoscope of queer joy that pulsates through the North East.

Hosted by none other than local drag queen extraordinaire Whitney Bae, who promises to be nothing we want but everything we need, the day is spattered throughout with a cascade of burlesque performances by the radiant Emma Wiseman, as well as thrilling live music.

The dazzling all-dayer comes from Newcastle-based visual artist Alannah Lamb, who works with Joel Thomson of promotions company F54. “I was telling Joel I really wanted to do an all-day queer event,” Alannah reminisces, “and he was like, just do it! I’d been contemplating it for ages, and while there were plenty of queer events happening in the North East, there wasn’t a space I identified with, and I’ve got weird tastes!”

Alannah’s longing for a more unconventional celebration of queerness found inspiration in the queer culture flourishing in Manchester and London. With Anti-Pleasure, she intends to carve out a space in Newcastle that reflects the raw energy and unapologetic defiance of these scenes. “I wanted something more on the queercore, alternative, punky and experimental side of things, and I couldn’t be the only one who felt like that.” Already generating significant interest, she is hopeful that this event is the first of many. “I want to do it annually, and Zerox is

such a lush venue. I’ve heard people call it a queer bar, but it’s just welcoming to everyone. Nobody cares but everybody cares.” The ground floor will play host to a cornucopia of art stalls and tantalising food vendors, a prelude to the intoxicating spectacle that will run into the early hours upstairs. “I’m as excited as anyone to see the acts!” Allanah affirms, on a mission to give less well-known artists the spotlight they deserve. “I hope to bring some sort of community together, and not only for queer people. I want everyone to feel welcome to this showcase of queer acts and individuals who are part of the local scene.” The line-up is a tapestry of sonic rebellion and artistic expression. From fierce Newcastle punks Irked, to the ethereal sisterhood of psychedelic textures ĠENN, each act promises an invigorating voyage through uncharted queer territories. New-wave duo Bled will weave their sonic sorcery, while Bristol-based punks Grandma’s House inject an exuberant dose of unbridled energy. Finally there’s the enigmatic Eve Kearton (“Eve is amazing! She does loads of synth stuff with range guitars!”) plus Fiona Liquid And The Clique wrap post-punk, synth pop and electronica in a glam-drag aesthetic. Set to be an absolute riot, Allanah is keen for the event to give people a boost during what are tough times for many. “There is a lot of negativity out there right now. For a lot of people their heart isn’t in it any more, and I want to let them know these artists exist; good times still exist, and I want to bring everyone together to have a great time.”

Anti-Pleasure takes place at Zerox, Newcastle on Saturday 17th June.

www.f54.org

T-B, L-R: Bled, Alannah Lamb, GENN, Grandmas House

I WANT EVERYONE TO FEEL WELCOME TO THIS SHOWCASE OF QUEER ACTS AND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PART OF THE LOCAL SCENE

ELEVATOR FESTIVAL

AHEAD OF THE SHOWCASE OF THEATRICAL TALENT, KATE RELTON CHATS WITH TWO OF THIS YEAR’S WRITERS ABOUT THEIR HOPEFUL NEW WORKS

Marking Live Theatre’s 50th year, Elevator Festival returns this month for a three-week celebration of the freshest theatrical talent in the North East. Offering a diverse programme of live performance, workshops, readings and talks, the festival showcases the best of theatre arts in our region.

I spoke to two of the creatives involved in the festival about their work, and how art can bring us together and give us hope for the future. “I try and write stuff that we’re not used to seeing onstage,” says writer Reece Connolly. “As long as folks have a good time and leave thinking about things a bit differently, then I’m happy.”

Running from Thursday 6th-Saturday 8th July, Connolly’s Ghosts of Metroland follows two teenagers as they find themselves caught up in a mysterious adventure. Set against a backdrop of a hazy 90s summer at the iconic North East theme park, the play explores the kaleidoscopic emotions and experiences that populate our teen years.

“It’s a period in our lives that fundamentally changes us, and informs most of what comes next,” says Connolly. “It’s constantly present, precisely because it’s so formative.” Though we tend to take a nostalgic view of our formative years, and the places that shaped them, Connolly wanted the play to be thought-provoking too. “Doing the research, crafting the world of the play and its inhabitants, has been a joyous, surprising and often revelatory experience. But I hope people are challenged too. I didn’t want it to just be a rose-tinted jaunt down memory lane. There’s definitely some darker stuff amongst the hot dogs and candyfloss. It’s a theme-park, it’s got to include a roller-coaster of emotions. I promise the jokes in

the play are better than that. But only slightly.”

Festival-goers will also have the chance to experience a collection of work from Live Theatre’s Associate Artist gobscure, including live performance, audio and visual arts, which takes place from Saturday 1st-Saturday 8th July. “It’s not about the art form,” says gobscure. “It’s about love and rage – rewriting the future. We’re told to think in a certain way and art is about saying ‘here’s another way of thinking’.”

Their installation entitled ‘housing contains the word sing’ invites audiences to think, question and talk about issues that are so often misunderstood or hidden. “We’re all born with a voice but most of us have it taken away from us. Art is about giving people permission to tell a different story, to question. You are allowed to question things if they don’t make sense!” gobscure hopes that this will continue long after the festival ends. “You will be invited to take a piece of crime scene tape when you leave so if you see something you think is wrong, you can do an alternative selfie asking ‘is this ok? Should we do something about this?’”

Their intention though is not to provoke action through panic or fear. It’s about hope. “You might laugh, question, get angry, but I want it to be hopeful. Hearing about things that others are doing around the world to make it better is a reminder of the things you can do. You don’t have to wait for someone else, for money, or for permission.”

In addition to these productions, catch a Scratch Night on Friday 30th June; Associate Artists Kemi-Bo Jacobs and Cameron Sharp read some of their work alongside gobscure on Saturday 1st July; and there’s readings, workshops and events for all ages across the fortnight.

Elevator Festival takes place at Live Theatre, Newcastle from Wednesday 28th June to Saturday 18th July.

www.live.org.uk/ef2023

ART IS ABOUT GIVING PEOPLE PERMISSION TO TELL A DIFFERENT STORY, TO QUESTION

L-R: Reece Connolly, gobscure image by picturesbybish

LISTINGS

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

THURSDAY 1ST JUNE

BEATNIK

Up and coming alt. rockers from Teesside, with support from Checkmate and Plateau // NE Volume Music Bar, Stockton

DANCE CRAZE

Thrilling concert documentary on the explosion of UK two-tone bands in the 1980s. Visceral, energetic performances with an anti-racist message from The Specials, Madness, The Beat and more // Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle

GIGGLE WATER COMEDY CLUB

Pride special, featuring performances from Plastiq, Elaine Robertson and more // Prohibition Cabaret Bar, Newcastle

IN THEIR SHOES

A trio of short plays from Wild Rose Theatre, also on Thursday 8th June // Laurel’s, Whitley Bay

MARTIN CARTHY & ELIZA CARTHY

The legendary ballad singer and guitarist and his twice Mercury-nominated daughter Eliza join forces to perform an eclectic range of songs from their vast family repertoire // The Witham, Barnard Castle

NICOLE ATKINS & JIM SCLAVUNOS

A cabaret style show from the respected songwriters // The Cluny 2, Newcastle

FRIDAY 2ND JUNE

BETH MACARI

Dancefloor-ready pop hits from this endearing local songwriter, plus support from Lily Brooke // The Cluny, Newcastle

BRIDIE JACKSON

Superb local songwriter, plus support from Nev Clay and Yakka Doon // Cobalt Studios, Newcastle

JOE RAMSEY

Expect explosive indie from this masterful local songwriter // Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle

KATIE GRACE

Alan Hull song writing award winner Katie Grace will be joined by Skylark Song and Lee J Toby to bring songs laden with stories inspired by experience and environment // The Engine Room, North Shields

KENDAL MOUNTAIN TOUR

An evening of adventurous cinema, featuring high altitude adventures to cinematically beautiful tales showcasing wilderness and adventure travel // Playhouse Whitley Bay

FEATURED

// North East Food Justice with Si King

In an evening of food and conversation, cook, presenter and passionate food justice campaigner Si King spotlights North East food charities and cooks up some locally sourced delights // Northern Stage, Newcastle

STORYTELLING WITH A BIT CRACK

An open night with voices from the floor // The Chillingham Arms, Newcastle

THEE STRAWBERRY MYNDE

North East garage psych band, plus The Lemontops and Ten Foot Tom & The Leprosy Crooks // NE Volume Music Bar, Stockton

SATURDAY 3RD JUNE

ADRIAN HANLON

Adrian’s debut comedy hour explores social positioning, growing up skint and mixed-race heritage // Laurel’s, Whitley Bay

BIG MOUTH COMEDY CLUB

Featuring Matt Reed, Matt Richardson, Steve Gribbin and Dan Tiernan // Middlesbrough Town Hall

DAVE JOHNS: I FILUM STAR/I STAND UP

The comedian, star and writer of the stage adaptation of Ken Loach’s film talks about his journey from bricklayer to stand-up to film star // Northern Stage, Newcastle

HILARITY BITES COMEDY CLUB

Featuring Phil Chapman, Ashley Frieze and Danny Deegan // The Forum Music Centre, Darlington

MONKEYFEST

Featuring live music from Wingz of the Monkey, Undivine Telephoneline, Borderline and more // NE Volume Music Bar, Stockton

NEWCASTLE RECORD FAIR

An array of dealers selling rare and collective vinyl, CDs, t-shirts and memorabilia. Runs 10am-3pm // Northumbria University, Newcastle

PIZZA CRUNCH

Glaswegian alt. indie band hit the road in support of their 2022 debut EP, That Serene Age // Bobiks, Newcastle

SUNDAY 4TH JUNE

HAPPY SUNDAYS

All-ages show kicking off from 1.30pm and featuring catchy indie pop artist Trunky Juno, infectious rockers Sheds and rapper Reali-T // Two By Two Brewing, Newcastle

MONDAY 5TH JUNE

NOT FROM CONCENTRATE

A dark comedy with a twist by Doncaster writer P.W Sowerby. Meet Benjamin, a writer who can’t write. His manager and his PA are desperate to help him. His sister can’t be ignored. His best friend has a favour to ask, and his orange juice is not from concentrate! Runs until Saturday 10th June // People’s Theatre, Newcastle

TUESDAY 6TH JUNE

THE BEE KEEPER OF ALEPPO

Adapted from Christy Leftieri’s best-selling novel, this tale of connection, danger and loss will have you riveted from the beginning. Runs until Saturday 10th June // Theatre Royal, Newcastle

WUTHERING HEIGHTS

Adapted by fearless theatre company Inspector Sands, this version of Emily Brontë’s masterpiece will contain violence, peril, social awkwardness, exhilarating music, high winds and mud. Runs until Saturday 10th // Northern Stage, Newcastle

THURSDAY 8TH JUNE

FEATURED //

A Room Of One’s Own

Take a wry, amusing and incisive trip through the history of literature, feminism and gender with Dyad Productions’ 21st Century take on Virginia Woolf’s 1928 exploration of the impact of poverty and sexual inequality on intellectual freedom and creativity // Arts Centre Washington

BRIX SMITH

Inimitable post-punk icon // The Cluny, Newcastle

SEVENTH HEAVEN

Alt. rockers, plus support from Guilty Pleasure // NE Volume Music Bar, Stockton

FRIDAY 9TH JUNE

BEAT THE GONG

Matt Reed hosts a night of comedy chaos as 12 hilarious acts try to beat the dreaded gong // ARC, Stockton

GREY TAPES

Producer and beat maker collective whose live electronica is thrilling and unexpected // Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle

MUL: THE ART OF DISCO

Street artist Mul invites you into a colourful world of disco, urban art, film and interactive fun. Runs until Sunday 11th June // BALTIC, Gateshead

SLIX

Alt. indie group from Scotland, with support from Porcelain // Head of Steam, Newcastle

SUNNBRELLA

Sun-bleached shoegaze driven by melancholy // Bobiks, Newcastle

SATURDAY 10TH JUNE

BA (HONS) ARTIST DESIGNER MAKER: GLASS AND CERAMICS

A celebration of University of Sunderland’s Art And Design Degree students’ work. Runs until 18th June // National Glass Centre, Sunderland

HUMOUR

Energetic post-punk // Bobiks, Newcastle

JASON COOK COMEDY CLUB

TV names, daft guests and fun surprises // Customs House, South Shields

SPILT MILK

Gateshead indie rock band // The Green Room, Stockton

SUNDAY 11TH JUNE

ALGERNON CADWALLADER

Midwest emo and math rock supremos // The Cluny, Newcastle

FIREFRIEND

Torch song rock ‘n’ roll and high-octane smouldering psych freakouts, support from ZUDZ // Zerox, Newcastle

JAMES WALSH

Starsailor songwriter // The Georgian Theatre, Stockton

KYSHONA TRIO

Nashville-based, South Carolina-bred folk and gospel songstress who blends soul, roots and R&B, supported by Georgia May // The Cluny 2, Newcastle

MONDAY 12TH JUNE

IF YOU FALL

If You Fall tells the deeply human stories of older people, their families and carers struggling to approach end of life care with dignity. Runs until Wednesday 14th // Northern Stage, Newcastle

THE CHILLS

Revered indie rock from New Zealand, supported by Rats On Rafts // The Cluny, Newcastle

TUESDAY 13TH JUNE

DMA’S

The Australian three-piece present a special stripped back set celebrating their new album release // Middlesbrough Empire

THURSDAY 15TH JUNE

CIRCA WAVES

High energy rock band // NX Newcastle

GENEVIEVE DAWSON

Stirring electronic artist whose sound is typified by swelling synths, strings and a distinctive voice, supported by Georgia Duncan // The Cluny 2, Newcastle

HOTEL LUX

A sardonic wit coupled with emphatic and danceable tune make Hotel Lux a must-see // The Cluny, Newcastle

TETES DE POIS

Seven-piece jazz fusion outfit, with support from Nauta // Cobalt Studios, Newcastle

FEATURED // Without Us

Iconic local theatre company The Lawnmowers’ brand new production Without Us is a story about the sacrifices parents make for their children and the fact that ultimately, those children need to fly. With warmth and humour it depicts one man with learning disabilities’ journey to discover his own voice, identity, and purpose. Runs until Saturday 17th June // Live Theatre, Newcastle

FRIDAY 16TH JUNE

ITAL GUIDANCE SOUND SYSTEM

Heavyweight dub and reggae sound system night // Little Buildings, Newcastle

JAMES TAYLOR QUARTET

Cool and funky acid jazz, with DJ support from Smoove // The Fire Station, Sunderland

THE PEEVIE WONDERS

High energy colourful four-piece, supported by Sweets // Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle

THE UPSIDE

Indie power-pop big band group, supported by Goodsprings // The Globe, Newcastle

SATURDAY 17TH JUNE

ABE PARTRIDGE & DAVID FORD

The heralded musicians and singersongwriters join for a collaborative tour // Old Cinema Launderette, Durham

HOLLY REES

Indie rock with a biting wit, plus support from Sarah Johnsone // Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle

NO TEETH

Noise-wave artists No Teeth perform a fundraiser for the cinema, plus support from Nev Clay and Yakka Doon // Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle

OXJAM FUNDRAISER

Featuring performances from Cane Rouge, Labyrinthine Oceans, Soever and Tile // The Globe, Newcastle

SWINDLED

Rock ‘n’ roll four-piece from Sunderland, with support from Wash House and Lily Mac // Independent, Sunderland

THE ADVENTURES OF PRINCE ACHMED

Lotte Reiniger’s stupendous realisation of Prince Achmed is the only surviving feature length animation from the ‘Silent Era’. S!nk’s live track will conjure Reiniger’s film into an unforgettable and magical experience // Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle

THURSDAY 22ND JUNE

PROVENANCE

Indie pop outfit, plus support from math rockers Haeze and indie newcomers Larches // NE Volume Music Bar, Stockton

YOU NEED TO SAY SORRY

Hard hitting and gritty production which takes a look at the pit falls of online dating and the rising cases of domestic violence in older people. Runs until Friday 30th June. // Laurel’s, Whitley Bay

FRIDAY 23RD JUNE

RITUALS

Celebrated local heavy rockers Rituals perform a double headline show with Welsh metal band Rosen Bridge // The Bunker, Sunderland

SHOE CAKE COMEDY CLUB

Featuring Discount Comedy Checkout, MC Chris Lumb and more // The Georgian Theatre, Stockton

SATURDAY 24TH JUNE

RHYS NICHOLSON

Skilful stand-up comedian // The Stand, Newcastle

SUNDAY 25TH JUNE

THE VASELINES

An all-ages matinee show featuring the legendary Scottish alt. rock band // The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle

TUESDAY 27TH JUNE

LAURA CANTRELL

Beloved Americana artist, with support from Doug Levitt // The Fire Station, Sunderland

THURSDAY 29TH JUNE

JARLATH REGAN

YouTube, TikTok and Instagram star Jarlath Regan brings his highly regarded show to Newcastle // The Stand, Newcastle

TASHI DORJI

Celebrated free-form improvisational guitarist, supported by Lucy Adlington // Cobalt Studios, Newcastle

FRIDAY 30TH JUNE

CATCH 22 COMEDY CLUB

Featuring Steve Harris, Howard Anstock, Gareth Waugh and MC Phil Ellis // ARC, Stockton

CRUX

Prog rock mixed with grunge // Bobiks, Newcastle

FEATURED // Great North Nights

Immerse yourself in the wild wonders of nature by exploring the museum after hours, plus enjoy a refreshing brew from Stubrew, a slice of pizza or a drink from the bar // Great North Museum: Hancock, Newcastle

REVIEWS

DAVID BREWIS, JUNI HABEL @ THE CUSTOMS HOUSE, SOUTH SHIELDS (06.05.23)

Words: Ben Lowes-Smith

Juni Habel takes to the stage at The Customs House in a way that is endearingly modest, which suits her music perfectly, as we are about to discover. Hailing from Rakkestad, a rural satellite of Oslo, Habel writes beautifully succinct songs evocative of the likes of Judee Sill and Linda Perharcs. Performing songs from her album Carvings accompanied only by an acoustic guitar, her songs are beautiful, direct and unapologetically earnest. Wonderful.

Joined by a string quartet, saxophone, upright bass (and regular collaborators Peter Brewis and Sarah Hayes on drums and piano and flute, respectively) David Brewis has really pulled the stops out to do live justice to his lush and textured new record, The Soft Struggles. Complimenting this approach, the performance represents very egalitarian gestures, defined by warmth and openness. Upcoming songwriter Eve Cole is given a moment centre stage to showcase her wonderful writing talents and beautiful voice, and David’s new material, performed solely on acoustic instruments, was allowed to shine devoid of ego; the song is king, fittingly, as set highlights Start Over and Surface Noise are among some of David’s best ever songs. He’s onto something in this style of arrangement, and tonight we get it in the most generous form.

NEUE GRAFIK ENSEMBLE, VIPERTIME @ COBALT STUDIOS, NEWCASTLE (12.05.23)

Words: Lee Fisher

It’s heartening to rock up at Cobalt from time to time and find crowds really enjoying various flavours of modern jazz. In an era of identikit floaty vocalists and earnest stadium troubadours, seeing people immersing themselves in jazz is a buzz. That said, for every new jazz outfit pushing boundaries, there’s any number of outfits that are just a bit too ‘Gilles Peterson’. You know what I mean!

Thankfully, Vipertime aren’t very Peterson at all. This Leeds quartet are, as people are prone to say about such things, fire! Fronted by absurdly accomplished saxophonist Ben Powling (who’s in more outfits than a

fashion week model), they have two drummers – the minimum for any really thrilling band, to be honest – and a bassist that really delivers. They trade in fiery bop, rhythmically powerful post-punk, ecstatic spiritual jazz and all sorts of other blessed flavours, and it just slams. There’s some Acoustic Ladyland in there, and some Pop Group, and the rhythms are taut and infectious. Vipertime are a good time.

Neue Grafik Ensemble weren’t my thing at all: clearly all accomplished players, it was way too Peterson for my tastes. Their pedigree is excellent – Neue Grafik an acclaimed hip-hop producer/DJ, the band has roots in the essential Total Refreshment Centre, the spiritual home of the current wave of new jazz acts – but it’s all a bit tasteful, a bit polite, a bit jazz-fusion. In short, a bit Peterson. You know what I mean.

STEVE MASON, WAX-TREE-CAST @ POP RECS LTD., SUNDERLAND (28.04.23)

Words: Ali Welford

Steve Mason’s recent North East outings have witnessed a gradual drift towards conventional rock set-ups, and with Wax-Tree-Cast as openers it initially seems we’re in for an extension of that trend. This isn’t to denigrate the Halifax power-trio, whose punchy power pop grows in potency the longer they’re onstage – recent single She and soaring closer Argue Like I Love You perhaps the most vivacious showcases of a rising outfit rich with crossover potential.

Ultimately, though, this impression is made to feel like a red herring –and few would argue it’s not a shift for the better. Much like new album Brothers & Sisters, the current tour finds Steve Mason as bold and creatively vibrant as he’s sounded in years – flanked by stirring additional vocalists Jayando Cole and Keshia Smith, together with Darren Morris on keys and Calie Hough handling percussion.

Recalling not only the vim of his early solo records, but also the adventurous spirit of his beloved work with The Beta Band, outstanding single No More epitomises this new lease of life, while anthemic standout The People Say puts a more familiar twist on the same theme, rejecting the politics of division via a vintage, climatic Mason chorus. Beta Band classic Meet Inner Me and King Biscuit Time’s I Walk the Earth are but ecstatic sidenotes, on an evening emblematic of an artist with whole lot left to say.

David Brewis, Faye MacCalman and band by Iam Burn

GOAT @ BOILER SHOP, NEWCASTLE (19.04.23)

Words: Cameron Wright

2012 gave us World Music, the debut album from Goat. Swirling guitars fuzz over hypnotic polyrhythms as shrill vocals yelp over the wave of psychedelic noise. The album was phenomenal, dragging together a surreal mix of international influence into one delicious melting pot, brimming with flavour and style.

Taking to the stage over a decade later, Goat cement their reputation as visionaries who have sustained a legacy of bright, colourful, unearthly hits. Promoting their recent album, Oh Death, the set launches into Soon You Die, which immediately sees the harsh tidal wave of sound pummel the audience into submission. As the night goes on, the tracks are stretched out and played with, as each of the masked musicians are locked in an elated state, bleeding grooves out and toying with each sound. From an audience perspective, each song became free terrain to lose yourself, as the improvised fireworks encouraged complete liberation.

The band radiate colour, freedom and expressionism, and this translated to the crowd perfectly, who fed off their enigmatic energy. As the two unnamed front women pranced across the stage, the performance felt otherworldly; the costumes, sounds and energy were thoroughly transportive, taking the crowd to their own personal nirvana, full of life, love and harmony.

CATHERINE YOUNG @ ALPHABETTI THEATRE, NEWCASTLE (06.05.23)

Words: Damian Robinson

Taking an interesting and unique approach to her stage show, there’s something very original about Catherine Young.

Using Alphabetti Theatre’s space and compactibility to her advantage, Young delivers Joybringer in the way that a punk band might if they played in a club-style venue; relentless, intense, but with the good grace to drop their performance facade from time to time in a knowing wink to the audience.

Focused on the importance of being mindful of your personal relationships, Young’s performance considers topics around the theme of joy; how do we interact with each other, how do those interactions

impact us and others, and how can we lift people ‘up’ rather than bring them ‘down’?

Delivered with a welcoming style of friendliness, warmth and positivity, Young’s deepest quality is her ability to connect with an audience instantly and develop a ‘we’re friends having a conversation’ style of performance rather than an audience-and-performer style. Sharp, witty and with a nice edge at key moments, Joybringer is a well-crafted, well-delivered, show which owes as much to its performer as it does to its comedy scripting. Great stuff.

SONGS OF NORTHERN BRITAIN #9 @ THE GEORGIAN THEATRE/GREEN ROOM, STOCKTON (13.05.23)

Words: Tracy Hyman

The Songs of Northern Britain always brings hidden gems of musical talent to Teesside, and this one was no different. Whilst there are far too many great bands to mention, there were a few stand out performances.

Hector Gannet’s set is full of harmonies galore, rhythmic beats and guitar riffs painting the landscape. Drum sticks carefully beat a rhythm on the edge of the drums. Sonically climbing bit by bit, The Haven of St Aiden’s builds to a wall of noise, a crashing of cymbals, guitar riffs overlaying full drums as the might of the sea crashes down.

My biggest discovery of the day was the brilliant Glaswegian seven-piece The Joy Hotel. Their multi-genre rock has such an uplifting presence, full of energy and joy. They seamlessly switch between styles, going from 4/4 time to waltz in one song, and incorporate keyboard effects, sound clips and megaphone.

Across in the Green Room and it’s Ukrainian band Love ‘N’ Joy’s second visit to Teesside and their eagerly awaited third gig, uniting the room in support of Musicians Defend Ukraine. Once again, they bring their funky guitar, bass riffs and infectious psychedelic sound. It’s impossible not to nod and dance along.

Middlesbrough headliner Finn Forster brings his summery guitar pop songs and sing along choruses to The Georgian Theatre to finish the day on a high. A perfect way to end this latest instalment of Northern talent.

Goat by Tracy Hyman

KOMPARRISON, ZELA, MOON WAX @ MIDDLESBROUGH TOWN HALL CRYPT (18.05.23)

Words: Steve Spithray

God knows Middlesbrough needs a regular new music night more than ever, so the inaugural BBC Introducing event at the Towns Hall’s oft overlooked Crypt was just the ticket. Hosted by BBC Tees’ Introducing presenter Shakk, and with the new mayor in attendance, Moon Wax opened proceedings with their unique blend of carefully cultured funk-driven indie. By bookending their set with Sleep Real Bad and High Wasted Genes, main support ZELA could be the UK’s best underground band, and there is enough in between from the brat-poppers’ more punky offerings like I Want Attention and next single I Really Like Her, to keep the touch paper lit.

With lead singer Kaitlyn desperately trying (and failing) to check herself out of hospital to make the show, it was left to Komparrison to wrap up the night as a four-piece with Elise doubling down on her vocal duties. However, seemingly undeterred despite feeling “like I’m missing me left tit”, Wake Up Call and Dancing With Demons (along with a few fanatics in the front row valiantly helping out with Kaitlyn’s parts) are given the pop punk treatment, while new single He Doesn’t Get It was another highlight in a shortened set. Nevertheless, the band finish up with a celebratory And Again (this time with more than a little help from a partisan crowd), showcasing Elise as a more than capable frontwoman. From the jaws of defeat, a triumph…

MEMORIALS, NANO KINO @ POP RECS LTD, SUNDERLAND (12.05.23)

Words: Ben Lowes-Smith

There’s a moment during tonight’s performances during which I feel profoundly emotional; perhaps because of the fact we are in Sunderland, once the cradle of modernity, and now the butt of so many jokes, and the defiant nature of what is happening on stage. Pop Recs really must be commended for cultivating one of the best venues in the region, and for attracting artists who may have otherwise skipped the North East altogether.

Nano Kino play a propulsive set of largely new material, Sarah Suri’s presence is captivating and commanding. Though not reinventing the wheel where frames of reference are concerned, it’s refreshing and exhilarating to see shades of shoegaze and C86 interpreted in such a

joyous, uncynical way.

Memorials are something quite different altogether, and tonight something of a revelation. Comprised of Electrelane’s Verity Susman and It Hugs Back’s Matthew Simms, songs are packed with influences as diverse as Hailu Mergia, Can and Broadcast. Songs from their new double album Tramps! & Women Against The Bomb are packed with tasteful references to an entire universe’s worth of music, with Simms and Susman swapping between guitar, drums, saxophone and synthesisers to do their enormous musical imaginations justice. I leave with a lump in my throat.

FUTURE PROOF @ KU/THE SOCIAL ROOM, STOCKTON (28.04.23)

Words: Robert Nichols

Future Proof is a new showcase for exciting emerging national acts which also served to show off the revamped KU/Social Room, which bodes well for similar multi-stage events in the future.

Adult DVD kick started the event in absolutely storming fashion, with full-on synth attacks from the Leeds six-piece. Heavy rhythms and dance a la LED Sound System escaped from the (Sadman) Mancave, their latest release. Downstairs and piling on just as much energy but this time through guitars was another Leeds act, Eades; a garage band for the 21st Century, they switch through vocal attacks and there’s no let up in the velocity of their driving guitars. Catchy as hell. We take a step back from the frantic sounds in The Social Room, as Slaney Bay take a more measured psychedelic, alternative route. The crowd hushes for indie popsters Low Girl, who strip it all back to bring the lovely lilting voice of guitarist/bassist Sarah Cosgrove to the fore, resulting in a tender and poignant performance. South Arcade ramp it up again – the Oxford band have great stage presence, with big riffs and bounceability. While Pale Blue Eyes wrap everything up with a set of pure golden atmospheric and psychedelic mellowness; clotted cream dreamland from Devon.

There was a great atmosphere throughout, with the appreciative crowd supplemented by band members eager to watch the other acts on the bill. The future is in safe hands.

Komparison by Tracy Hyman

THE EARLY PURPLE, IMOGEN, ANNA HUGHES & JESSIE HOWARD @ WYLAM BREWERY, NEWCASTLE (04.05.23)

Words: Amy McGarahan

Northumbrian songwriter Matt Saxon’s project The Early Purple celebrated the release of their debut EP with a busy gig at Wylam Brewery. Ostensibly a solo writing project, Saxon was joined by a collection of talented musicians, making up the seven-person band that treated the audience to a night of indie folk music.

Early support came from folk duo Anna Hughes and Jessie Howard, whose set featured a box accordion, sweet harmonies and a sing-along element which captivated the audience. Pop singer IMOGEN filled the room by flitting effortlessly between delicate and powerful vocals, performing dark ballads backed by dynamic big band sounds. Despite their relative newness – with an acknowledgement that their first release Old Eagle came out almost a year ago to the day – the band played with the consummate skill you’d expect from such a well-regarded set of musicians, and they were clearly having a ball. Their indie folk Americana came across with delightful effect on songs such as Sea of Heavy and the harmonica-splashed The Way of the Sufi, while pastoral elements closer to home on Giant reminded me of a blooming summer’s garden due to its blossoming instrumentation which highlights the influence that Saxon found in the landscapes of Northumberland. Punchy, bold instrumentation stood out in songs such as EP title track Summer Hide, and captivating three-part harmonies featured throughout the night.

CINDY, SAINT DREAD, THE LAST PATH @ THE CUMBERLAND ARMS, NEWCASTLE (30.04.23)

Words: Elodie

A. Roy

Although San Franciscan band Cindy released their debut album in 2018 this is their first UK tour, coinciding with the release of album number four, Why Not Now?, released in April.

On the small stage of The Cumberland Arms they look stylish and strikingly remote, and the quintet’s sound, led by Karina Gill, resembles a languid, ghostly murmur. I like how the short songs – always finished before they’ve even really begun – sedately blend into one another. The band’s strength lies less in their individual compositions than in the

atmosphere they create – in the frail promise of something more to come. There is a beautiful hesitancy about everything they do. For the encore, Gill stays alone on stage, singing and playing her slightly out of tune electric guitar – oblivious of the world around her. After the gig somebody tells me they wished the band were less distant. But Cindy, after all, embodies distance itself.

They were supported by local songwriter Saint Dread – whose faded songs remind me a bit of the Red House Painters – and slowcore trio The Last Path (fka Bad Amputee) who played with formidable intensity and were undoubtedly the only real event of the evening. Everything else was a dream.

ALDOUS HARDING, H. HAWKLINE @ SAGE GATESHEAD (22.04.23)

Words: Lee Hammond

Following the release of Warm Chris last year and the critical acclaim that followed it, there’s little wonder that there is a buzz of excitement filling Sage Gateshead this evening. Opening tonight is Harding’s partner and collaborator, H. Hawkline, who has his own inimitable style. Playing to a reel-to-reel backing track, his excitable brand of off-kilter pop goes down particularly well.

However, it’s Aldous Harding’s arrival that everyone is anticipating, as she makes her way out on to the stage and opens with Ennui, her signature glare is instantly evident. She barely says a word to the crowd in the first half of the set, instead staring out at the room as she moves a chair around between tracks. This prompts timorous laughter from the unnerved crowd.

The beauty of her voice well and truly makes up for it though, tracks like Warm Chris, Fixture Picture, Passion Babe and Old Peel all sound exceptional this evening. It’s an impressive set, in spite of the quirky silences between songs. There is a delicacy to this performance, surrounded by her band, Harding’s beautiful harmonies permeate the room. Her songs are captivating, holding you in their grasp. Whilst the oddities of her stage presence dominated initially, as the evening progressed it was Harding’s voice which really came into its own and succeeded in delivering a wonderful performance.

The Early Purple by Victoria Wai

TRACKS

REVIEWS OF SINGLES AND EPS BY NORTH EAST ARTISTS. WANT YOUR MUSIC FEATURED? EMAIL NARCMEDIA@GMAIL.COM

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

EARTH FARM PRETTY MUCH LIVING

Words: Lily Pratt

Newcastle’s Earth Farm present a rebellious rock sound on their new EP, Pretty Much Living. The track Praying For The Mantis is both spurring and electrically evocative, typified by punchy drums which reach a crescendo of deafening palpitations. The guitar solos inject a disruptive and angry element which underscore their indie rock influences. The EP is a defiant statement of intent which borders on the extraterrestrial through an other-worldly voice. Their own discontentment for life is illustrated in the lyric to their song Phased Or Bothered: “He looked down at his plate / To see the world was out of date”.

Earth Farm’s stirring and inherently cool guitar riffs, authentic rock rhythms and angry voice make this an electrifying release.

Released: 02.06.23

www.earthfarm.bandcamp.com

THE BAND FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION COME OUT AND PLAY

Words: Matt Young

This new track from Gateshead’s Band For Disease Control And Prevention follows on from recent material in its political polemic dealing as it does with the ongoing Ukrainian conflict, and its screams to invading Russian forces to “Go fuck yourself”

The riff-heavy and scream imbued alt. punk rush are aided passionately by vocalist and lyricist Karena Serdecka – who is part Ukrainian. Come Out And Play is as to the point as any anti-war message really needs to be, whilst not attempting to break any fresh ground musically. The band are focussed instead on celebrating the spirit of those who refuse to be oppressed and who defend against it, and that’s a sentiment we can all understand and support.

Released: 01.06.23

www.linktr.ee/tbfdcap

JENNY LASCELLES STRANGE WEATHER

Words: Kate Relton

In just a few seconds, Jenny Lascelles’ raw and melancholic vocals take you deep into a world of uncertainty and unease. In her latest single Strange Weather, singer-songwriter and pianist Lascelles explores the issue of climate change and how it is affecting our mental health. Opening in a wistful haze, the addition of clashing grungy guitars and dissonant chords introduce a note of threat that illustrates the song’s message effectively. Though her vocals are gentle and understated, there’s an emotional fragility that makes this a compelling listen. Building to a heavier, discordant climax, Lascelles leaves the song hanging in the air – a fitting conclusion for a topic that continues to cause many a sleepless night.

Released 02.06.23

www.jennylascelles.com

NADEDJA DAQUI PRA FRENTE

Words: Mera Royle

Flowing through a spine-tingling arpeggiated guitar, the stunning delicacy of Nadedja’s vocals emerge like floating clouds in daqui pra frente. With a song that breaks across language barriers, Nadedja opens up on disconnection and craving for human touch in our increasingly virtual world. “Lost in virtual scenes I can’t escape,” she sings, “I am drifting away…”

Her lulling voice is complimented perfectly by the careful, interweaving guitar of Neto Carvalho, with Nadedja’s own spacious piano chords and entrancing harmonies lulling us into a reflective deepness. As the song grows, Nadedja adds sweet vocal embellishments and synth punctuations, creating a soundscape filled with expression, revealing a lot about herself in its simplicity. Catch her performing at Bobiks on Saturday 29th July.

Released: 01.06.23

www.nadedja.com

Image by Jessie’s Whimsical Photography

DETROIT TOURIST BOARD WHO WERE WE

Words: Kate Relton

If you’re looking for a soundtrack to those hazy summer afternoons in the park with friends, look no further than Detroit Tourist Board’s latest single Who Were We. A gentle pop sound that wouldn’t be out of place in a 90s coming-of-age movie montage, singer-songwriter Patrick Lawrence creates a sense of nostalgia without straying into imitation or repetition.

A five-piece musical project lead by Lawrence, Detroit Tourist Board are going from strength to strength after being featured on BBC Introducing last year.

The perfect backdrop for lazing in the sun, summer road trips or nursing a coffee on a hungover Sunday morning, Who Were We is a reassuringly familiar take on acoustic pop that allows you to listen with ease.

Released 15.06.23

www.detroittouristboard.bandcamp.com

ZUDZ YELLOW CHARIOT

Words: Tom Astley

From its opening angular fanfare, Zudz’s debut track is just over two minutes of unrelenting scuzzy hard driving rock. The bass adds a powerful depth to the deliciously vicious fuzz guitar, and the vocals, with a melodic cadence to them, gives this track a Queens of the Stone Age vibe. Zudz have a history in improv and psychedelia, and it’s easy to imagine this track going off into an epic time travel jam. Though the single is a tight, self-contained beauty, it feels like that wild, unrestrained sound is close to bursting out of the seams of the track, especially by the howling, out-of-control guitar solo at the end. An absolutely gorgeous punch in the face of a track.

Released: 02.06.23

www.facebook.com/zudzmuzik

ELEPHANTEMPLE JUNGLE

Words: Tom Astley

What do you get if you cross Hartlepool with Paris, a nostalgic affiliation with grunge and a passion for reverb-soaked dream pop soundscape synths with 80s electric drums? The answer is Elephantemple. Jungle is the second single from the duo’s forthcoming album Anomalies. And though the sound of Jungle is coherent, the influential elements are anomalous indeed. It’s tempting to focus on the Parisian aspects of the band, the laid-back ambience that evokes achingly cool acts like Between Friends. But there’s a fragile, introverted, day-dreaming Hartlepudlian flavour to the track which elevates it above mere cool aesthetic touches. This offers a depth to the candyfloss ethereality and lyrics just beyond the grasp of the ear. A really affecting track.

Released: 16.06.23

www.elephantemple.bandcamp.com

NEUROLEPTICK THE CLOSED CIRCUIT EP

Words: Tom Astley

Neuroleptick’s new EP is a minimalist electronic study where tracks work as sound sculptures, as much as tunes. All of the classic drum ‘n’ bass sounds are there; pulsating synths, crackling electric drums, vocal samples. But they are, for the most part, deconstructed, atomised and only occasionally allowed to cohere. The result is a fascinating dissection. With each of the four tracks running to six minutes, every snare sound, each chopped up beat, each carefully designed synth patch, each electronic sound that whizzes from ear to ear, is introduced and allowed to unfold with precision, taking time over their development and delivery, allowing Neuroleptick to construct electronic soundscapes that are engulfing and strangely cinematic.

Released: 30.06.23

www.neuroleptick.bandcamp.com

CRAIG CLARK WE’LL FIND OUR PLACES

Words: Niamh Poppleton

Craig Clark returns with an upbeat, indie folk infused single, We’ll Find Our Places. The acoustic singer-songwriter often bases his lyrics on connections he makes with people whilst travelling, and this track is no different.

In San Francisco, Craig witnessed a young man rise from below a eucalyptus tree and outstretch his arms. To Craig, this symbolised a “break from the old”; through this encounter We’ll Find Our Places came to be. A nostalgic 90s indie feel flows throughout the song; Craig’s overall sound and vocal style are, at times, reminiscent of Gene’s Martin Rossiter. Without a doubt, the fifth single of Craig’s upcoming album (Bite The Modern World) will have you tapping your foot along through its steady drumbeat and peaceful guitar melody.

Released: 23.06.23

www.craigclark.bandcamp.com

SLOBO & AZERE MOONBEAMS

Words: Matt Young

This slowly unfurling track of gentle guitar strumming and poetic vocals meanders through its three minutes like a ghost wandering the grounds of some ancient estate. There’s also an evocative romanticism at the heart of the musical tones, a dreamy scene setting that makes the music seem like some invocation to the wild or subconscious. The breakdown of vocals into a jumble of snipped conversations towards the end is briefly unsettling, but then amusing, as it pulls you out of the bucolic haze. Moonbeams is pulled from an EP of seven tracks due for release in July that mixes folk, downtempo, breakbeat and even Indian ragas, combining Slobo & Azere’s mixed musical loves and inspirations into one cohesive space together.

Released: 15.06.23

www.instagram.com/__slobo

www.instagram.com/rowanlees

AMI MCGUINNESS TALLER

Words: Michael O’Neill

A powerful meditation on the death of a childhood friend, Taller is an extraordinary debut single from Ami McGuinness which bravely and profoundly captures the grief that comes with losing a friend at such a tragically young age. Originally written for piano alone, the arrangement is fleshed out further with strings and choral vocals that add further dimension to the emotion and gravity in Ami’s phenomenal vocals and the powerful imagery in her lyrics.

Trying to condense something as complex as loss into a song is a challenge that takes a great deal of courage and grace, but Taller succeeds exponentially in capturing the depth of emotions and anxieties that come with confronting such a tragedy. Incredible stuff.

Released: 02.06.23

www.facebook.com/amixmcg

CAT RYAN LIKE THIS

Words: Matt Young

Cat Ryan do seem to have a knack for producing music with sunny summer vibes, as a trawl through their already pretty large back catalogue demonstrates. Like This is a tune written way back in 2017 and reworked again here to great effect, adding fresh colour to the main guitar line as it shimmers brightly, reminiscent of Malian or Calypso picking, providing a complementary shine to Mary-Anne Murphy’s equally chipper sounding vocals.

The inherent rootsy feel, shared with another fan favourite tune Mannerisms, never fails to make the foot tap even when the lyrics run contrary to the happy melodies and deal with darker subjects, in this case the disappointment of heartbreak. Like This features on the band’s upcoming EP release, due soon.

Released: 14.06.23

www.catryan.bandcamp.com

DEMOS

WE WANT YOUR MUSIC!

IF YOU’RE AN UP AND COMING BAND OR MUSICIAN, AND WOULD LIKE YOUR MUSIC REVIEWED IN OUR DEMO SECTION, EMAIL A TRACK TO NARCMEDIA@GMAIL.COM AND TELL US MORE ABOUT YOURSELF!

WORDS: JAY MOUSSA-MANN

DEMO OF THE MONTH

Steff Mundi – Clementine

Steff’s stunningly soulful vocals carry Clementine, a jazz-infused acoustic track along like the sea building to a storm. The intro, a mixture of a pulsating sound and a low, electronic voice contrasts beautifully with Steff’s voice as she begins singing a story. A seamless mix of folk and R&B, this track feels utterly timeless, with beautifully poetically crafted lyrics. The mention of a text, reminding the listener that this is a contemporary story, despite feeling grounded in time, is both shocking and enjoyable, creating a masterful stroke of writing.

www.instagram.com/steffmundimusic

Josh Atkinson – When Love Hurts

A delicious blend of nostalgia and present-day, Josh Atkinson’s latest demo When Love Hurts makes you feel like you’re listening to a track somewhere between Bob Dylan and the Beatles. Josh’s distinct vocals, over yearning electric guitars, is instantly gripping. With good use of reverb, the song feels dreamlike and otherworldly, as though we’re spiralling into a trance-like state. The production, chord choice and melody create a truly haunting quality that makes the song intriguing and extremely moreish. There’s also a really gorgeous bit of lead guitar layering right at the end that is almost comedic, leaving you feeling like somewhere in the story you were just told is a cruel joke. www.instagram.com/j_atko

Breadcrumbs – Scooter Baby

A new band but with vast experience among them, Breadcrumbs present a post-punk

inspired track, Scooter Baby. Driven by a steady alternative rock guitar rhythm it has a slightly comedic feel to its production; husky, natural vocals sing ironic lyrics with political undertones, seeming to describe a woman who says “protests are for silly little girls” and drives “over their toes” with her scooter. With thought-provoking lyrics and a catchy melody, this is a song that makes you want to know more.

www.breadcrumbstheband.bandcamp.com

Gary The Hat – Enter Johnny Clarke

Enter Johnny Clarke is a track taken from poet Gary The Hat’s latest spoken word EP, which was released in March. The poem explores auto-eroticism and a fictitious version of English performance poet John Cooper Clarke, who decides to turn up in the thoughts of the writer at the most inopportune moment. The use of rhythm and rhyme is clever, with a brilliant moment of a non-rhyming line which

keeps the poem interesting and highlights the plot really well. Gary describes his own work as kitchen sink poetry that addresses the existential, social and the political both directly and indirectly with a mix of humour, seriousness and philosophical reflection. www.facebook.com/garythehatproductions

Lockheed Lindsay – Legacy

Legacy deals with the sense that something unseen is following, questioning what we leave behind in life. That sense of unease is caught in dissonant harmonies and at times jarring vocals against a rhythmic twanging of chords and drums played by Brad Field. Occasionally inspired lyrically by the oldest existing Gaelic poem Song of Amergin’, the phrase “I am queen, I am grace” is used almost as a spell, willing the singer into victory towards the end of the track. The piece cannot fail to make the listener take notice and is unusual in both its delivery and themes.

www.linktr.ee/lockheedlindsay

ALBUMS

3.5 / 5

THE SUPPORT BAND INTIMATIONS (NICE MIND RECORDS)

Words: Robert Nichols

North East prog rock instrumentalist The Support Band take the listener on a journey to the underworld and back in a double album that is so long it may well have started in 1973. Taking an inspiration from the atmospheric psychedelia of early 70s Pink Floyd, it is a sound moulded through gathering clouds of ambient synth keyboards and gently chiming, weeping, melancholic guitars.

CHRISTINE & THE QUEENS PARANOÏA, ANGELS, TRUE LOVE (BECAUSE MUSIC)

Words: Matt Young

Since the very beginning Chris has written around the expression of self, questioned and employed characters as costumes or masks; part Bowie, Prince or Madonna, shifting between alpha to submissive, bravado and vulnerability. The storytelling, however fantastic, has always been an inherently personal exploration.

PARANOÏA, ANGELS, TRUE LOVE takes inspiration from Tony Kushner’s play, Angels In America, again using the “suave and sophisticated” alter ego named Redcar first introduced on last year’s Redcar les adorables étoiles (prologue) album. In the context of this new release, the album sets the tone for an artistic shift that sonically isn’t present on previous releases. Angels – as guardians and avengers – feature heavily in the lyrics, song titles and themes, the album opening Overture calls on a guiding light, the feminine divine and mother as narrator before synths evaporate into the ether and we enter the womb-like Tears Can Be Soft, perhaps erring too close to Massive Attack’s Teardrop in homage, but just as beautiful.

As this album is a collaboration with Mike Dean, best known for his production with Ye dating from The College Dropout onwards, as well as working with Beyoncé and The Weeknd amongst many others, there’s an understandably grandiose scale and sweeping synth atmosphere. Repurposing Pachelbel’s baroque Canon In D for the song Full Of Life is inspired. As an oracle narrating Red’s tale, Madonna features on the tracks Angels Crying In My Bed, I Met An Angel and Lick The Light Out, providing a unique mix of sage advice and erotic portent. Journeys of self-discovery invariably reference Dante, The Rakes’ Progress or Orpheus and Track 10 is a pivotal interlude, a riotous prog rock abandonment, soundtracking the protagonist’s core beliefs. The singles True Love and To Be Honest are synth pop outliers within the album’s orchestral concept, but still fit perfectly when they’re encountered.

PARANOÏA, ANGELS, TRUE LOVE is unquestionably an art piece; a sprawling, poetic aural play about the transmutability of life, simultaneously elegiac and mournful. Dense in metaphor and symbolism, tapping into the Chris/Red/Letissier performance, especially in relation to his own gender.

Released: 09.06.23

www.christineandthequeens.com

ALSO OUT THIS MONTH

Jenny Lewis – Joy’all (Blue Note/EMI, 09.06) // Grian Chatten – Chaos For The Fly (Partisan Records, 30.06) // Geese – 3D Country (Partisan/Play It Again Sam, 23.06) // Albert Hammond Jr – Melodies On Hiatus (Red Bull Records, 23.06) // Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds – Council Skies (Sour Mash Records, 02.06) // Swans – The Beggar (Mute, 23.06) // Witch – Zango (Desert Daze Sound, 02.06) // Decisive Pink – Ticket to Fame (Fire Records, 09.06) // Bully – Lucky For You (Sub Pop, 02.06) // Godflesh – Purge (Avalanche Recordings, 09.06) // Big Blood – First Aid Kit (Feeding Tube Records, 09.06) // Divide And Dissolve – Systemic (Invada, 30.06) // Rancid –Tomorrow Never Comes (Epitaph Records, 02.06) // Public Body – Big Mess (FatCat Records, 09.06) // Tigercub – The Perfume of Decay (Loosegroove Records, 02.06) // TEKE::TEKE – Hagata (Kill Rock Stars, 09.06) // Gringo Star – On And On And Gone (My Anxious Mouth, 02.06) // Skating Polly – Chaos Country Line (El Camino Media, 23.06) // Beach Fossils – Bunny (Bayonet, 02.06) // Joanna Sternberg – I’ve Got Me (Fat Possum, 30.06)

The band is a collaboration between ambient artist Whitevanperil (WVP) and garage rocker Chris Riley of The False Poets. They improvise subtle mood building; tracks creep, nudge, knit and noodle until the truly monster 40+ minute finale of Dissociation (Part Two), which might easily be a whole album itself. Immerse yourself in Intimations.

Released: 02.06.23

www.nicemindrecords.bandcamp.com

4 / 5

DAYSHIFTER HIRAETH (SELF-RELEASE)

Words: Robert Nichols

A memorable and meaningful debut album from Newcastle-based melodic hardcore band Dayshifter. The title is a Welsh word for a deep longing for something, and both the album lyrics and song titles chart the turbulent, churning emotions and anxiety that prey on the mind in life’s darker times.

The lyrics are necessarily reflective, melancholic and sometimes even desperate; searching, drowning, suffering. “Falling apart like a broken heart” is one repeated phrase. The music is equally storm-tossed but also occasionally euphoric and exhilarating; a lion’s roar of guttural guitars and drums perhaps offering a way out. Dayshifter are exposing tortured souls and exorcising demons. They are bravely and valiantly bringing mental health into the musical conversation, and that is hardcore.

Released: 08.06.23

www.facebook.com/dayshifteruk

Image by Jasa Muller

BDRMM I DON’T KNOW (ROCK ACTION)

Matt Young

Second album dilemma: repeat or change things up? Add in a new label, Rock Action, and expectations from all quarters, not least from the band themselves and things could all go...well... weird. Thankfully Hull’s bdrmm (Bedroom) manage to augment the same dreamy melancholy and ambient introspection that made their debut so lush while eyeing up brand new scenery.

The ‘shoegazing’ label is a misnomer really. Yes, there remains a lot for fans of Slowdive, MBV, DIIV et al to love, but from opener Alps through to A Final Movement, the songs on I Don’t Know sound much fuller, focussed on beats and grooves as much as harsher waves of sound, with Be Careful and Hidden Camera both being fine examples, this wider panoramic view fits perfectly.

Released: 30.06.23

www.bdrmm.bandcamp.com

DJANGO DJANGO OFF PLANET (BECAUSE MUSIC)

Words: Tracy Hyman

This latest studio release is a melting pot of different styles and collaborations, a self-professed kaleidoscope depicting four very different planets. Some tracks touch on the early infectiousness of traditional Django Django, such as the funky Fluxus, with its myriad percussive beats and vocal effects. Others transcend different styles, influences and moods across the 21 tracks. Single Complete Me, featuring Self Esteem, oozes early 90s breakbeat dance music. Twists and turns cross house, pop, piano rave, Detroit techno and world music vibes. Creative percussion and electronic beats form the basis of the songs that very much started life as a departure from Django Django. The result: an experimental musical odyssey.

Released: 16.06.23

www.djangodjango.co.uk

BAND OF HOLY JOY FATED BEAUTIFUL MISTAKES (TINY GLOBAL PRODUCTIONS)

Words: Gus Ironside

Why Johny Brown isn’t lauded as one of England’s greatest lyricists is an unfathomable mystery. The North Shields-raised polymath has fronted Band of Holy Joy since the early ‘80s, but the group has had an astonishing run of form over the last seven years, with every new release surpassing its predecessor. Fated Beautiful Mistakes continues this extraordinary upward trajectory. Brown’s lyrics challenge and inspire the listener to be fully alive and conscious of the beauty and fragility of life, while never shying away from the gravity of the state of the world in these disorienting times. Musically, Band of Holy Joy have reached a new peak, evoking Scott Walker, The Velvet Underground even Nelson Riddle-era Sinatra on this gorgeous, warm-hearted and passionate album.

Released: 16.06.23

www.bandofholyjoy.co.uk

YOUTH LAGOON HEAVEN IS A JUNKYARD (FAT POSSUM)

Words: Matt Young

Having shut the door on Youth Lagoon in 2016 promoting a brand new album under that name, Heaven Is A Junkyard is not what Trevor Powers anticipated. However, having always written from the perspective of things ‘far away’ it took returning home to Idaho, severe illness and the creation of some quiet, reflective tunes to revitalise his inner songwriter.

Standout songs like The Sling eerily haunts the listener with its incessant album title refrain, whilst Idaho Alien, Prizefighter and closer Helicopter Toy evoke paint peeling Americana, bare and with a brutal sense of place. Gossamer light patches are stitched and glitched to intermittent beats. Free from the musical chokehold that he experienced previously, Youth Lagoon is breathing easier these days.

Released: 09.06.23

www.youthlagoon.bandcamp.com

HAK BAKER WORLD’S END FM (HAK ATTACK RECORDS/AWAL)

Words: Ikenna Offor

There’s a bountiful melange of delights to get stuck into on Hak Baker’s full-hearted debut LP. Structured as a spirited Doomsday radiocast that’s equal parts raucous and restrained, World’s End FM is at once unapologetically political, winningly candid and richly resonant. Deftly straddling the line between tempered defiance and earnest vulnerability, the East London troubadour displays an ineffable knack for relatability, with lyrics that restlessly flit from cheeky bants to heartbreak, from rage to reluctant acceptance, and melancholy to unabashed joy.

Cockney-twanged freewheeler Doolally comes triple-dipped in an impish satiricality that effortlessly recalls The Streets circa ‘02. Elsewhere, Bricks In The Wall’s jaunty inflections belie a doleful gospel of impending societal strife. Who’d’ve thought the apocalypse would sound so good?

Released: 09.06.23

www.hakbaker.com

SORRY GIRLS

BRAVO! (ARBUTUS RECORDS)

Words: Stephen Oliver

Montreal duo Heather Foster Kirkpatrick and Dylan Konrad Obront have created an album full of lush adult pop songs. Whether it’s singing about a break up on Enough Is Enough to the toe-tapping Fleetwood Mac-esque The Exiles, a maturity of themes precipitates through the musical veneer. The pleasure here is in the unhurried country feel; each track is distinctly different but they also complement each other. Whilst the lyrics are clearly a journey through self discovery, there is also a celebration in getting the important calls in life correct. The album also features Mitch Davis on saxophone, which compliments the guitars and crisp percussion. This combination results in a life affirming collection of songs that can accompany a chilled out evening.

Released: 02.06.23

www.thesorrygirls.com

DREAM WIFE

SOCIAL LUBRICATION (LUCKY NUMBER)

Words: Robin Webb

Dream Wife’s latest is a piercing anthemic rouser; raucous, definitely in your face and if you don’t react you’re probably a bit dead inside. Side-stepping into pop punk, particularly in the title track, means no less of a message to a privileged patriarchy, though not overtly political it instils a stirring, unapologetic agenda throughout – empathy is not an anathema, it’s a feeling worth damn-well clinging to.

The music is unrelenting, with a keen eye on live performance as guitarist Alice Go stated “The live show is the truth of the band”. Energy levels are invariably upward as they rock out to the max on key tunes like Hot (Don’t Date A Musician) and the blistering opener Kick In The Teeth.

Released: 09.06.23 www.dreamwife.co

3.5 / 5 4 / 5

LORELLE MEETS THE OBSOLETE DATURA (SONIC CATHEDRAL)

Words: Robin Webb

A sixth full length from the psych specialists from Mexico sees them stripping down their production values and becoming less indulgent. The sound is four-piece instrumentation, no overdubs, just a bass heavy, driven, nihilistic space rock, recorded mostly live in the studio. There are several stand out tracks here: Arco and Dinamo both have that almost Kraut motorik, stoner feel but remain sufficiently post-punk to be fresh, and Golpe Blanco is an insanely disco-driven jazz techno no-wave delight that beavers away at a blistering pace. Nothing lingers, it just gets on with it; no nonsense original tune-smithing from a band who know what they want. They’re coming to Newcastle in September, I’m gonna start queueing now.

Released: 16.06.23

www.obsoletelorelle.bandcamp.com

SQUID O MONOLITH (WARP RECORDS)

Words: Robin Webb

Squid’s second outing is an assured progressive post-punk masterpiece full of twists and unexpected turns that will surely delight fans of the Bright Green Field looking for a next level grandiose offering. It’s expansive, enlightened, full of designed nuance and delicious noise, it’s also funky on Undergrowth, with its groovy walking contemplation of the spiritually mundane. Devil’s Den is discordant folk horror for the next century, The Blades is world devouring, immense and yet emotionally intimate, while Siphon Song has a Spirit Of Eden energy about it with intricate instrumentation, heady anticipated atmosphere all building up into an angelic syncopated cacophony. There are many memorable journeys to be had in this Monolith that it’s hard to do them justice here.

Released: 09.06.23

www.squidband.uk

PROTOMARTYR FORMAL GROWTH IN THE DESERT (DOMINO)

Words: Ben Lowes-Smith

Protomartyr have been consistently releasing great records for a decade or so, cultivating a dedicated fanbase and a wealth of admirers in high places, while never troubling their obvious peers in terms of commercial success. Indeed, this feels like something of an injustice, when lesser groups have taken music cutting similar shapes to bigger rooms. Though this is far from the point where the art is concerned, and ironically, while Joe Casey’s lyrics and delivery remain as idiosyncratic and dense as ever, this record represents the band’s most accessible material. Where previous releases could descend into chaos, control and glacial tension define this record. It’s alchemy of sorts, measured and furious, messy and disciplined. A triumph.

Released: 02.06.23

www.protomartyrband.com

CREEP SHOW YAWNING ABYSS (BELLA UNION)

Words: Stephen Oliver

Creep Show are back with a second album full of electronic sounds and loops. It is a journey that took me right back to those early experimental electronic albums. This release has more in common with The League Unlimited Orchestra’s Love And Dancing album than anything I have heard this century.

Going old school with the construction of the album to a time before Nine Inch Nails popularised industrial electronics gives the album a freshness and a sense of hope. The use of old Rolands and Moogs topped up with some effects on the vocals created something that would be as much at home both at Eurovision or on an 80s station. Crazy and fun, just not for the faint-hearted.

Released: 16.06.23

www.creep-show.bandcamp.com

RIVAL SONS DARKFIGHTER (LOW COUNTRY SOUND)

Words: Luke Waller

Rival Sons had a feat and a half on their hands if they were to outperform 2019’s Feral Roots. However, in the battle for the top spot in the league of their albums, Darkfighter appears a force to be reckoned with.

Rival Sons’ mastery of both a modern, fuzzy take on solid bluesy rock and tender acoustic balladry are displayed throughout, marshalled by the commanding preacher-man voice of Jay Buchanan. Opening with two such compelling numbers, Mirrors and leading single Nobody Wants To Die, Darkfighter is liberally peppered with mouth-watering guitar à-la-Jimmy-Page with notes of Raconteurs-esque Americana, especially on quieter mid-album tracks, namely Bright Light.

Later this year, Darkfighter’s counterpart, Lightbringer, will be released. As with Darkfighter, the bar to meet is high.

Released: 02.06.23

www.rivalsons.com

MIXTAPE

WORDS: JACK GARDNER

Silly Billies Comedy (“the best place for alternative comedy” – NARC.) returns to the Bridge Hotel in Newcastle on Wednesday 21st June for another night of weird and wonderful comedy. Seymour Mace, John Scott, Joby Mageean, John Paul McCue and Kelly Edgar complete the line-up and Chester-le-Street’s second best double act Jack & Sam host the night. I am Jack and this is the Silly Billies mixtape – ten songs that reflect the night and form the Silly Billies playlist. Buy tickets at www.feltnowt.co.uk

REGINALD DIXON GOLD AND SILVER WALTZ

The music upon arrival at Silly Billies is The Very Best of Reginald Dixon. The golden curtain backdrop is shimmering and the sounds of the Wurlitzer ricochet across the room. Reginald Dixon was the organist for Blackpool Tower from 1930 until 1970 and recorded 296 albums of Wurlitzer bangers. He’s part of the Silly Billies vibe.

SLADE RUN RUNAWAY

Our entrance song! No artist epitomises the 1970s (God’s decade) quite like the magnificent Slade. They had it all: sideburns, outrageous outfits and great slabs of stomping glam rock. This tune is a Celtic rock jig from 1984 and the perfect energy boosting song to start a show.

NURSE WITH WOUND I DON’T WANT TO HAVE EASY LISTENING NIGHTMARES

We like our music as odd and outsider as we like our comedy. This beast is part our interval playlist; a repetitive lounge-esque jazz loop that mutates into a Lynchian nightmarish. I saw them at Tusk Festival in Gateshead in 2017 and I’m still recovering.

THE FALL LIE DREAM OF A CASINO SOUL

The etymology of amateur is made out of love. All my favourite music and comedy has an amateur vibe; a balance of naivety and awareness plus low production value. No artist achieved this more than The Fall. I loved them and saw them more times than any other group. Mark E Smith was a shaman, tapping into the uncanny atmosphere of post-industrial Northern England.

…AND THE NATIVE HIPSTERS MR MAGIC

…and the Native Hipster was an experimental band from the early 80s and regularly played on John Peel’s show. I love this song so much. An easy listening backing track, uncalled for sax solos and the deranged vocals of lead singer Blatt who starts of singing but by the end is angrily listing all things that are red.

RY COODER & MANUEL GALBAN PATRICIA

Ry Cooder is incredible, he played for Captain Beefheart, inadvertently created the alt. country genre with his Paris, Texas soundtrack and produced Buena Vista Social Club. This is a loungeinspired collaboration with Cuban musician Manuel Galban. It’s got such a playful vibe; you can’t help but feel giddy listening to it.

JUNIOR Y SU EQUIPO

LA BORRACHITA

Junior Y Su Euqipo is an Ecuadorian musician and this is from a new compilation of early electronic music from South America called Saturno 2000. It’s a little instrumental gem that sounds like Latin folk filtered through a Game Boy. Our sort of jam.

EARL BRUTUS

DON’T LEAVE ME BEHIND MATE

The most underrated band of the 90s: one half art school happening, one half drunken riot in a chip shop. Name another band with a song about drinking alone in The Harvester?

HALF MAN HALF BISCUIT

24 HOUR GARAGE PEOPLE

Andy Kershaw described them as “England’s best folk band” and he’s right. The attention to detail in Nigel Blackwell’s lyrics is incredible; he’s sardonic, surreal and hilarious. I could choose any of their songs but this one is particularly funny.

TELEVISION PERSONALITIES

PEOPLE THINK THAT WE’RE STRANGE

A band that wore their amateurism and naivety as a badge of honour. They can make you laugh and cry in the same song. This is a song to bow out on, it’s a celebration of the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk but burn, burn, burn like Roman candles across the night… The Silly Billies.

vinyl duo Soul, Northern, Funk, Disco

FRIDAY 14 JULY 2023,