NE Online Magazine Issue 56 - Dinosaur Special

Hi Chris and welcome to NE Magazine, for the few readers who must be living in a cave somewhere and don’t know who you are how about giving th em a quick l ow- down o n yourself?

- Hello! Can’t help but think I’m writing your interview introduction for you here, oh well… I’m a stand-up comedian from South Shields and I’m also a bit of an actor now and then… but mainly a comedian… that might not come across as well as it should in print form, but I am.

So there.

At the moment it’s hard not seeing you on the TV when we switch it on as you’re everywhere, but what has been the highlight for you so far?

- Not everywhere though am I? If you turn on QVC and I’m selling a frying pan, just assume you’ll find me floating face down in a river very soon. The highlight for me so far was probably being in Hebburn. Since starting comedy I always wanted to try my hand at being in a sitcom too so I was over the moon to do one with my mate and so close to my heart, and I got to work with Vic Reeves.

I know you had a bit of a crazy time with fans wanting pics and autographs when you were having a few drinks in a South Shields bar recently, how are you finding this, does it put you off going out?

- Not at all. Any person in that position who has been on TV or whatever and people want photos (I’m trying my best not to say celebrity here!) who pretends they hate the attention is a liar. You don’t go for a career on TV because you don’t want anyone to notice you. As long as I’m not eating or having a shit when you want a photo then it’s no problem at all… I meant, like on the toilet, not just in the middle of the dancefloor.

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Have you had any weird fan requests or incidents?

- Not really. The odd person will show up to a gig with my face on a T-Shirt, or bake me a cake, or send me a dead animal in the post but other than that it’s just photos and autographs. A little kid in Hebburn when we were filming asked me to sign his micro scooter… that was a bit weird.

As well as being a bit of a regular on Celebrity Juice, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and 8 out of 10 Cats you are now starring in the North East based sitcom Hebburn, how did that come about?

- My mate and fellow comedian Jason Cook decided to write a sitcom about the town he was from, Hebburn, and he actually wrote me a little side part which he named after me. But when it came to being made the BBC asked me to read for the main character, and when I got it, Jason took the part that he’d written for me! It came about so gradually that I didn’t really realise the enormity of being lead role in a BBC2 sitcom until I saw the advert on TV. I nearly passed out.

How has the response for Hebburn been so far?

- Overwhelmingly positive.

And we just won Best Drama at the RTS North awards too. And we’ve got a second series!

You are now embarking on your biggest tour to date, how do you feel about this?

- Yeah incredible! It’s an extension of my last tour, Feeling Lucky. I did 60+ dates in 2012 but the demand for tickets was so high and people enjoyed the show so much that I’m doing another 40 odd dates this year in much bigger venues. I can’t wait to get back out on the road.

Are there any venues on the tour that you are looking forward to playing or any you’re quite nervous about?

- The Theatre Royal in Newcastle. I absolutely can’t wait. I used to watch panto there when I was a kid. I’m

We l c o m e N o t e . “ Ro a r i n g ” ” i n t o A p r i l w i t h a b u m p e r issue full of Dinosaurs, books, music, sport and so much more, so there is p l e n t y fo r y o u t o g e t y o u r “ t e e t h ” into with this issue. Believe it or not, we actually had more to go in, but we didn’t get the images in time so they will have to wait until next issue.

As always, if you have something you want to see in a future issue then d o n ’ t fo r g e t t o d r o p u s a n e m a i l t o wayne. groves@neonlinemagazine. com P l u s r e m e m b e r t o fo l l o w u s o n Fa c e b o o k , Tw i t t e r & I n s t a g ra m fo r our regular updates on events and competitions.

Till next time Ta ke c a r e Wa y n e

EDITOR & DESIGNER Wayne Groves wayne.groves@neonlinemagazine.com

O2 Academy Newcastle/City Hall www.o2academynewcastle.co.uk Sage Gateshead www.sagegateshead.com Ocean Beach Pleasure Park www.oceanbeach.co.uk Quasar Elite South Shields www.quasarsouthshields.co.uk For all queries or if you would like to feature or advertise in NE Magazine email wayne.groves@neonlinemagazine.com Unless stated otherwise all competition entries should be sent to win@ neonlinemagazine.com Plus you can catch up with us online for news, events, blogs, competitions and more at www.neonlinemagazine.com Follow us on Facebook - www.facebook. com/pages/N-E-Online-Magazine Join us on Twitter @NEOnlineMag1 And Instagram @neonlinemagazine

CONTRIBUTORS Peter Mann BSc Inside Mann Media & PR insidemannmedia.wordpress.com petermann78@hotmail.com Madhouse Media www.madhousemedia.co.uk SPONSORS Playhouse Whitley Bay www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk Cineworld Boldon www.cineworld.co.uk The Theatre Royal Newcastle www.theatreroyal.co.uk/

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{THIS} {ISSUE} P6 - The Manns Vegan Scran P12 - NE AOTY 2022 Holly Rees P20 - Craig Redpath P26 - Rexys Reviews P32 - Lauren Davis & The Scoliosaurus P40 - Northumberland Vikings P46 - The Return Of Screen-Con P52 - Foxes Live at Night & Day P58 - Cineworld Round-Up P70 - Scoop Music Festival P74 - Playhouse Whitley Bay P76 - An Evening With Shaun Ryder P84 - Bookmarx Bookshop P88 - Aljaz and Janette P94 - Northern Threads P98 - Save The High Street P102 - Totally Tina P106 - Deckchairs, Piers and Souvenirs P110 - Ocean Colour Scene’s Simon & Oscar P116 - Ryton Retro 5 Wrestlefest P120 - Jo Harrop

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There’s a story within a story with this one, but that can be kept aside, for now anyway, however, Micky and I go back a good number of years, from his time working for a retail outlet in Durham, and we share a couple of interests.

When he left for pastures new, we messaged every now and then, before suddenly, I’m being invited to like their new venture, The Mann’s Vegan Scran; I’m all for supporting new business, and he’s a mate.

So, I followed, then started sharing a few posts, next thing you know I’m promoting the business and, one Friday, Tarryn posts that she’ll be in Durham Market the following day, selling among other thigs, freshly made, Carrot Cake – I just had to (and some scones, and some cookies, but they were worth it).

Then I got to thinking, why not get them some publicity, I asked Tarryn, she practically bot my hand off, and the three of us

ended up, just a few short weeks ago, in the most delightful of cafes’ in Bishop Auckland, The Fox’s Tale, catching up, and talking shop.

This therefore, is not the fox’s tale, but some vegan scran for your delight….

Portraying those cheeky smirks on their faces, and the glowing love in their hearts (and in the food which they produce), County Durham small business owners, Micky and Tarryn Mann (no relation to our writer extraordinaire), of The Mann’s

Vegan Scran, are moving headlong towards a six-month anniversary.

It’ll feel like much longer though, that’s for sure.

Announcing, and launching their business, in the latter stages of last year (2021), the pair, from West Durham, finally opened their stunning, pop-up market stall, in the November of last year, with an opening in Durham Market Place.

An ongoing, global pandemic, and a not-so-bleak winter, certainly hasn’t stemmed the tide, and, with those warmer, longer, lighter days, and nights to come, their second six months, has the prospect of being so much better.

But, how did this all come about?

And why vegan produce? (note, their produce does come tried and tested, highly recommended, by ourselves).

“For me, this has been a long time in the making,” began Tarryn.

“I love cooking, baking, then,

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after we had our son, Mylo, his allergies meant that we had to cut out a lot from our diet.

“We (Tarryn and Mylo) both really suffered, for differing reasons, with that of food allergies, intolerance.”

“Even before we set up everything in an online capacity, we didn’t really know much about that side of things,” continued Micky.

“That, and the original idea, which is still in our minds, was a food truck, which could be something in the future.”

It hasn’t been a project they’ve taken lightly either, for, even during the midst of a global pandemic, Micky changed jobs, Tarry took voluntary redundancy to on the day-to-day running of the business, as well as they having a very young, enthusiastic, inquisitive son, in Mylo.

Now though, and having taken

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the plunge with something in which they are more than passionate about, food, and the specific requirements that can, and do come alongside, they’re now readying themselves for the next step.

Although not quite the next chapter, the husband-andwife duo are taking things, bi-seasonally, whilst also still finding their feet, in so many instances.

“Those first what, six to eight weeks, were quite exhausting, pre-Christmas,” stated Micky.

“There was a lot of baking being done, and we had up to three stalls per week as well.

“It really was a baptism of fire for us, and we went straight in at the deep end; what we did make, financially, has been re-invested into the business (hence Micky keeping his main income, for now at least).”

“We certainly found that, in the run-up to Christmas, things slowed a little,” added Tarryn.

“That and here’s us, figuring out what it was we were doing, whilst trying to make a presence in the markets we were selling at.”

Far from being easy, especially their being a starter business, and in the current way of the world these days, they aren’t regretting their decision, far from it.

Now though, with plans for the summer season, and beyond

(in their heads) already afoot, as well as those thoughts in the back of their respective minds, you could perhaps, quite easily, get lost in it all.

Having put on food-tasting events, for friends and family, prior to their launch last year, the Mann’s already possess an inkling of what they can, and will, be able to produce, moving forward.

They are also aware of the limitations in which they have, juggling business, daily employment, family, and a home, is no mean feat at the best of times.

However, the increasing support, including from The Fox’s Tale, has been paramount, a golden key to their early success.

“Is there ever a good time in which to start a business?” asks Tarryn.

“Granted, it was a little tough at the start of this year, January/ February time, and with the minimal trading that was occurring.

“But we found out early on that we’d also need to look into, and supply, cafes, and somewhere like The Fox’s Tale, bless them, they’re lovely; they were the first and have been very supportive throughout.

“That and, now, we have an increasing number of places around Bishop Auckland that are taking our produce.

“But it’s important as well, that we are consistent, with

everything really, so we’ve set our stall out, and just need to keep on going.”

“Yes, the next six-twelve months, we need to be checking out other markets, because there is a difference between them across the region.

“But, let’s survive the year ahead first.”

With the increasing partnerships being forged, both across Auckland, and further afield, there is plenty in which the Mann’s can get their teeth into throughout both this year, and beyond.

Alongside the changing seasons say, there will always be a food, or drink, particularly acquainted to it, and that, alongside those partnerships, is key – and the fact they held taster sessions, and survived, prior to launching, shows that there’s also some nous about these two.

“The food-tasting events we held, with close friends and family, last summer, was key,” explained Micky.

“We trialled different foods to see what was, and wasn’t, liked.

“One of things we had on the trials was homemade lemonade, as well as sticky toffee pudding, both of which went down well; but it depends on the time of year that each can be introduced.”

“I guess we have to have a spring/ summer, and an autumn/winter menu really,” continues Tarryn.

“We need follow, and accommodate the seasons accordingly, keep changing things up, and keep the customers interested in the product, and coming back for more.

“It’s definitely going to be a long, busy, few years ahead.”

A local, family-run business, The Mann’s Vegan Scran create a variety of sweet and savoury inclusive, kind and wholesome foods; all of their produce are free from eggs, dairy, gluten and wheat. There is to make eating out easy, accessible and tasty.

Alongside a presence in several, County Durham markets, including Durham City’s bustling, outdoor market on a Saturday (find them directly across from Natwest Bank, you can’t miss them, honestly), and with

product popping up in numerous cafes, the Mann’s also portray an online presence.

Keep up-to-date with all their happenings via their very active social media (Facebook), with Tarryn producing

regular video updates, at htt p s : / / w w w.fa c e b o o k . co m / TheMannsVeganScran/ and through their website at https:// themannsveganscran.sumup. link/

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[ne 2022 artist of the Year]

[ Holly Rees ] As is often the best way, the best things in life, they come about by accident, and that is what happened with this years’ NE Artist of the Year, Holly Rees, when in 2019, she embarked on a mammoth, 44-date tour, of Canada.

Yes, that cold, snowy, beautiful, North American country on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, one of those counties, ‘over the pond,’ and she certainly made the most of it – at one, we all wondered if the ‘Magpie’ would return home – she was definitely a miss.

But, having found heading there much easier than their neigh-

bours, the USA, it was soon all booked up, and the North-East musician, was heading abroad, on her own trip of a lifetime.

Looking back on what was most certainly a journey for her, Holly told NE Online Magazine that: “The Canadian tour came about purely, really, because it was something I wanted to do.

“I wanted to do a massive tour; I’d toured the UK with Matt Dunbar the year before (2018) and I just wanted more, you get bitten by the touring bug.

“There’s nothing like it, and Canada was a lot more feasible than

the USA, purely in terms of how expensive touring visas are, and it’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to go.

“I had a few tour dates booked in before I flew over, but I had no idea it would grow to be the huge, 44-date tour, that it ended up being by the time I had sorted out the van and set off across the country, that was mad (and brilliant!).

“The response though, was just amazing, and I’m so grateful to all of the promoters, venues and festivals that took a chance on me whilst I was there.”

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It would be a tour that began in the April of 2019, and ran all the way through to the mid-October, performing in wonderfully named places such as Chilliwack, Port Moody, Lions Bay, Saskatoon, Bragg Creek, Thunder Bay, Sackville, just to mention a few.

The memories though, it is those which will last a lifetime, and more, something to tell the kids, and grandkids, later on in life.

“Honestly, I loved all of it,” beamed Holly, looking back on those happy times.

“Playing to new people all the time, seeing new places, all those conversations.

“It was stressful at times, because you’re on your own, doing this massive thing, and you have to call all the shots, but there’s a part of me that just found so much peace in touring.

“I always knew where I was going next, and that I was exactly where I should be - and how many times in life can you really feel that way,

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100%?

“I had so many incredible shows and moments on that tour as well.

“One that really stands out for me was playing a festival up in Flin Flon (mid-tour, August 11 and 15, at the Blueberry Jam Festival, and Johnny’s Social Club), way up north, in Manitoba.

“They were so, so, welcoming, and, as well as playing the festival, I was sorted out with a headline show, with a makeshift band of local musicians - it was so much fun, they were so talented!

“And, to top it off, the show sold out. You can’t ask for more than that.

“Canada though, is an absolutely beautiful country; I loved it, and I would tour there again, in a heartbeat.”

Holly did, understandably as well being a musician, source some assistance whilst on the other side of the pond. Getting publicity, music etc, into the big, wide world is hard enough, without doing it

another country, on your own.

However, Holly being the shining star that she is, made it work, quite emphatically really, and there wasn’t much time elapsing as she continually updated, the world as it seemed, as to what she had done, was doing, or going to do next.

So, working in what would become her home-from-home had to quickly become second nature.

“It was most certainly an experience, though I had a lot of help,” added Holy, continuously smiling.

“The brilliant Crysta, at Jasper PR (now Small Poppies Mixtape), based in Hamilton, Ontario, was my right-hand woman through that whole tour, and she really helped take care of so much of the releases I had while over there (the Live EP, and the first, full band single, Getting By).

“Both releases had been mixed and mastered by the wonderful Matt Dunbar, who’s not only one of my best friends, but is also very talented himself.

“I remember being on the bus in Vancouver when he sent me the final mix for Getting By, and I was

just listening in my headphones, forwarding it to the guys in the band, and just loving it.”

The homecoming, at the end of 2019 and moving into 2020, would suddenly become a strange affair, and for everyone really, across the globe.

But Holly has kept going, the best that she can, and now, that what has been a dark two years across the globe, is moving back into the light, she’s releasing music, and preparing for the summer of festivals, gigs, and music, music, and even more music.

Would you expect anything less from her though? Probably not!

Canada though, and coming home for her, Holly says: “Coming home was gorgeous.

“As much as I adored being on tour, it was a long time to be away.

“I missed my friends, my family, and my band though, and I was so, so, excited for everything we had planned that I was coming back too, and our first show back was the ‘Avoid Sh*t Xmas Parties All-Dayer,’ which was just brilliant, and is still one of my favourite gigs.

“We’d built up so much momentum, off the back off the Canada tour, and we were back in rehearsals working on new tracks (including the recently released, English Bay) and prepping for my first, full-band, UK mini-tour, and then the pandemic hit and put the brakes on everything, for two years.

“So now, it feels really good to be feeling that momentum come back, and it’s better than ever.

“As for Canada, I’m still in touch with a fair few folk over there, and I’d absolutely love to go back one day.

“If we could get the funds together, maybe to go and tour with the band, that would be the dream, so we’ll see.”

Speaking of this year, the one that is 2022, and what is now a good couple of years since the trip to Canada, Holly is ready to trip the light fantastic, get out on that stage, no matter where it may be, and introduce as many people as possible to, among other, glorious tracks in her repertoire, English Bay, The recently released single, highlighted in NE Online Magazine’s opening issue of the year, is something which Holly is proud

of, and rightly so, the response to it, delights her no end.

“The response has been amazing honestly,” continued Holly, her smile shining just that little brighter now.

“We launched the single at a headline show at Little Buildings, during Independent Venue Week, and it was genuinely, possibly, our favourite ever, full-band show.

“We love Little Buildings, but the energy that night was just so special.

“We even had mosh pits for Magpie, which is not something I ever imagined happening, and it was so daft and so much fun, whilst the response to the single since then has just been great.

“Support from BBC Introducing on Radio Newcastle and Radio Tees (thank you so much!!) has been gorgeous, and we’ve also had a lot of support from Amazing Radio UK and USA which has been class - ‘English Bay’ got play-listed on their Indie Stream, and it’s racking up to a 100 plays on there now, which is just madness to me.

“We were over the moon with just one Amazing Radio play.

“Everyone has just been lovely and I’m really happy because I think it’s really opened the door just to

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say hello, we’re back, we’ve got so much more to share.

“I’m excited, and, on top of that, to have such a great response to the full-band track, which I’ve mixed and mastered myself, just feels really good and I’m absolutely buzzing with that.”

And now, next for Holly Rees, and band – well we’ll let her finish off with that one, and with a promise of more to come.

“This is the summer of festivals, and we can’t wait,” finishes an elated Holly.

“We’re kicking it all off with Leazes Live in Newcastle, with a stellar line-up including James, The Futureheads, Lanterns on the Lake, Club Paradise - it’s gonna be great.

“Then we’re making our MUNRO debut down in Stockton-on-Tees, which is going to be an absolutely class day.

“And we’ve just announced that we’re joining the line-up of the Northumberland Pride festival in August, something which I’m re-

ally excited about.

“We played the festival last year and so it’s amazing to be asked back, especially looking at the line-up they have this year.

“They’ve definitely gone above and beyond to make this one even better; LDEVINE is headlining, I can’t wait for that, but we’re also playing alongside loads of talented bands and some pals of ours in Cortney Dixon, The Samphires, and I’m especially looking forward to seeing DJ Awkward Black Girl, whilst also catching the Timewasters for the first time!

“We’ve also got a few other shows up our sleeves this summer too that I can’t wait to announce, and maybe even a new release or two

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too, so please, watch this space.”

Be sure to catch Holly Rees on your travels, you will not be disappointed that’s for sure, and you can keep up-to-date with all she has going on via her socials on Facebook https://www.facebook. com/hollysounds Twitter https:// twitter.com/hollysounds and via her website http://www.hollyrees. co.uk/

[ne 2022 artist of the Year]

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ROMESH RANGANATHAN COMES TO THE CITY HALL FRIDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2019 WITH A BRAND NEW SHOW TICKETS ON SALE 10AM FRIDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2018 Romesh Ranganathan is back with a brand-new show, The Cynic’s Mixtape, and it’s his most brutally honest show yet.

Fresh from The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan, A League Of Their Own and Judge Romesh, he’s putting showbiz aside to deliver a carefully-curated

selection of all the things he has found unacceptable since his last tour, including why trying to save the environment is a scam, why none of us are truly free, and his suspicion that his wife is using gluten intolerance to avoid sleeping with him.

Romesh’s cynicism has become his trademark, but since being nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2013 Edinburgh Comedy Awards this deadpan humour has become one of Britain’s most respected and popular comics.

Now, though, it’s time for the

Asian Provocateur to return to his stand-up roots for a while – there’s things he needs to point out, discuss and have a good moan about. Care to join him?

Show drops 2019, don’t miss it.

Tickets for Romesh Ranganathan are on sale Fri 28 Sep from 10am and are £26.50.

Tickets can be purchased online at www. theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge)

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LOCK & GRAY OFF TO THE USA

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They’re a good breed over Cramlington-way, just ask Craig Redpath, lead singer of the band, the Jet Reds, and someone who, for the here-and-now at least, is flying the solo flag.

Don’t worry, it’s not spelling the end of the Jet Reds, far from it; Craig is filling time and continuing doing what he loves, whilst the band, there’s something of a geographical hardship there at present.

Launching pretty much at the start of this year (after setting up the expected, customary social media), Craig has already been busy laying down some solo tracks, and getting some gigs under his belt, including the one performed in

‘My Big Bedroom.’

Forgive him, he’s just letting himself go and having a little fun along the way, honestly.

What’s the deal though, why the going solo, and why now?

“The band, we’re still going,” began Craig, “it’s just a case of we’re a bit apart, geographically speaking, so that make things a little tougher.

“We knew it was coming though, so there’s no issues, but, it’s because of that I decided to try my hand at some solo stuff – why?

Because I needed to keep active, and we’ve still got things to do, band-wise as well.”

The Crammy native though is going for it, even with a heavy, deep, thought-provoking opening salvo

in which to put out there to the masses.

It is a track that will divide opinion, much like many others have done that have had, and will have, a similar chord to them, but, Craig’s tune, entitled ‘A Fractured Landscape,’ is, to the attuned music aficionado, as beautiful as it is deep.

Spun out in late January, Craig said upon its release that; “It’s a song I’ve written on the back of the political disillusionment I’ve felt post-Corbyn, as well as the backlash that came from certain people during the early stages of the BLM (Black Lives Matter Movement) movement.

“Polarising opinions on both is-

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sues from people I’m sure, but it’s my attempt to share my feelings on it all through music.

“It’s a track which comes with numerous reasons attached to it, and the negativity weaving through society itself, in whichever form that takes. “ Now though, as mentioned, the foreseeable is about Craig Redpath, the solo artist, and whatever trajectory that, in itself, takes on.

He’s got the tools, the knowledge, because, at the end of the day, having ran with the Jet Reds, he’s certainly picked up a few bits-andbobs, it’s just that, well, solo is that little bit different to band.

“The plan has always been to forge myself a career in music,” continued Craig.

“But I also know that it doesn’t happen overnight, straight away.

“I’m enjoying it though, and really into what I’m doing right now.

“As for my ambitions, although that hasn’t changed, there’s no

long-term plans. Just shorter ones, whilst being more productive, doing more gigs, and hopefully a few festivals.

“And, of course, writing and releasing some new music.

“Solo-work though, it’s certainly a lot more different to the band side, and I’m finding it easier to get gigs at present, and with different venues, supporting new, and different acts, which is great, enjoyable really.”

More, new music to go alongside that of ‘A Fractured Landscape,’ now that is certainly something in which to get excited about, and rightly so – he’s good at what he does, and certainly puts a lot of thought and effort into his music.

With the production on new music, he’s calling on an old friend, and will be heading off to Manchester later this month to lay down the demo of a number of tracks already in the pipeline.

“I’ve got just short of an album’s

worth of music written, and three or four of those which will be released on a demo,” beamed Craig.

“So, I’m thinking, maybe I release a single, and then an EP, over the summer, and take it from there.

“Overall though, I just want to be looking at getting myself out there, getting more gigs, and of course, increase my social media following.”

Music lovers, and fans of the Jet Reds of course, if you want to continue, or pick up on following the future path of Craig Redpath, then follow him on socials, there’s some great content there that’s for sure – head over to Facebook https:// www.facebook.com/craigredpathmusic/ and Twitter https://twitter. com/redpath_music and do what’s needed….

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Hi Colin, welcome to NE, can

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David here from Beyond. So I’ve just found out that my Charity Single (in aid of the Batten Disease Family Association) which is A double A-side “Stay The Same” & “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” With Santa Ste has been announced as one of 11 official contenders in the race to the Christmas No1 in the top 100 Official UK Charts this year along side Ed Sheeran & Elton John, Adele, Abba and Gary Barlow!

The Single is out now digitally and on limited edition CD this week.

The more steams, downloads and CD’s purchased the better!

Getting into the top 40 will be hard enough never mind number 1!

It would be amazing if we could get the single into the main charts this year and raise awareness of Batten Disease which is a terminal illness in very young children.

If I could ask you all a massive favour and if you wouldn’t mind over the next few weeks streaming, downloading and buying a copy of the CD so we can get this into the charts. Its a bit of fun but for a serious cause and why shouldn’t the Christmas Charts have something different for a change?

Could you imagine a Geordie Record store owner getting a Christmas No1!!!

Totally overwhelmed with the support from everyone so far and from the Official UK Charts.

All profits will go to the charity...

CD available from: www.beyondvinyl.co.uk or www. beyondrecords.uk/ Click HERE to Stream Also i’m excited to announce the Now or Whenever in-store run for release week in January: Fred, Jed, a guitar, keyboard, albums, signatures, selfies, questions, answers, hopes, regrets. And an exclusive splatter vinyl if that’s your thing.

Pre order now to get a free ticket to Spector’s performance at Beyond Vinyl on 10th January 2022: https://beyondvinyl. co.uk/product/spector-now-orwhenever/

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Hi Andrew, welcome to NE, can you introduce yourself to our readers?

Hi, so I’m Andrew, I’m a 37 year old big kid who loves dinosaurs, especially Jurassic Park. Originally from Durham but now living in South Shields, where I drive my Wife and 12 year old Daughter mad with all things Jurassic.

You are the man behind Rexys Reviews, but what exactly is Rexys Reviews?

So Rexys Reviews started as a YouTube channel (hence the name) in 2019 during the Covid lockdown.

I would make videos reviewing some of my Jurassic Park toys and merchandise just to fill in some of the time when we were all stuck indoors. This continued until my collection of all things Jurassic expanded slightly out of my loft and onto my driveway when we

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added “Rexy”, the tribute Jurassic Park Tour Car to household.

From there, following an off the cuff email about attending a local comic con event to share the car with other fans, the idea to sell some of my “spare” collection came to be. After a few events with

amazing feedback we decided to open a web shop selling dinosaur product which combined with the events and a constantly growing collection, we were rapidly running out of space at home.

You also recently opened the Dino Den in South Shields, can you tell us a bit more about that?

That’s right, in January this year my wife stumbled upon a post on Facebook for a former pub looking for a new lease of life and messaged me saying “look, space for a shop and your collection”, so we decided to go and have a look.

No harm in looking right? Well 6 weeks later and a lot of very late nights and even more hard work from a great bunch of friends, The Dino Den was born.

The plan was to create a one stop dinosaur shop that catered to the needs of dino fans of any age.

As a parent and collector I knew first hand how difficult it can be to search around trying to find certain dinosaur things so having never been able to find somewhere to go and find everything in one place, I decided to create the shop

I have always wanted to walk into as a customer myself and give parents the reassurance that no matter what your budget may be, enjoying dinosaurs doesn’t have to cost you the earth which is why we stock big and small, new and

preloved items to enable everyone to leave with a smile on their face.

Stocked with as many dinosaur products as we can possibly find and then a whole host of games consoles, all with dinosaur themed games of course, for visitors to play and then the collection and other displays that include replica icon movie props from the Jurassic franchise and loads of photo opportunities, I want The Dino Den to be a destination, not just a shopping experience.

What has the response been like so far for the Dino Den? The feedback so far has been unbelievable, seeing peoples faces light up and jaws drop as they walk through the door, I don’t think I will ever get tired of that.

We have had so many kind words

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and feedback such as “I never knew there were so many dinosaur things” to “it’s beautiful, it’s almost making me cry” from one lady.

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For anyone that hasn’t been to the Dino Den yet, you have a section that houses some of your personal Jurassic Park collection, which is some collection, but that isn’t it all though, as not only do you have more but you are currently looking to achieve a Guinness World Record, can you tell us more about your collection and the record attempt?

That’s right, I decided that these things deserved to be on show to fans rather than tucked away in a loft where only I would enjoy them. It all started around 4 years ago when I was emptying a cupboard at my childhood home and found my original Jurassic Park toys I had kept from 1993 and 1997. I then decided, I would have

a look on the likes of eBay etc and see if I could find any other items that I never had as a child and that was it, I was hooked. From there the collection grew and moved way beyond just toys. Books, sticker albums, watches, promotional items, the list goes on. I had been talking to a friend about my collection and they joking said “I bet you have the biggest collection in the world” and click, a lightbulb went on in my head, “I wonder if there is actually a world record?”

So after some investigation, for a world record attempt you have to have over 1000 unique licensed pieces, so once things have settled down, we will undertake the task of recording an official count and see if, fingers crossed, it will be the largest single collection in the world, so watch this space!!

And what do you have in store for your customers in the future?

Where do we start!! Well the next major step in the process is the opening of our dinosaur themed café within the Dino Den which

we plan to have open by the summer. We recently welcomed a local Author/ illustrator with her beautiful book, “The Scoliosaurus” where she did readings, book signings and answered all your question about the main character Sonny and about living with Scoliosis. We look forward to finding other events and activities to host at the den and with Jurassic World: Dominion launching in June it would be rude of us not to mark the occasion some how wouldn’t it and then who knows what will be next. All I can say is that as long as we have the support of our customers, I will keep doing my very best to make Rexys Reviews and The Dino Den the best it can possibly be.

Would you say your love is Jurassic Park, or is it all things Dinosaurs?

First and foremost it has to be Jurassic Park for the majority of it but I would be telling fibs if I didn’t admit that all things dinosaur fill my heart. It doesn’t matter where I go in the world, I always

find something dinosaur related to see or do.

From watching the ordeals of Littlefoot and his friends in “The Land before Time” in 1988 to cartoons like Moschops and Denver the last dinosaur, through to seeing those iconic gates open to Jurassic Park on the big screen, dinosaurs have always been a part of my life. I often recall how as a small child, I would make my parents read me dinosaur books and tell me facts about rocks and fossils for a bedtime story, no fairly tales for me.

It’s just something about the fact that these magnificent creatures once walked where we do now that captivated me.

I have to ask, what’s your favourite Dinosaur?

It very cliché but it has always

been the T Rex, I know there are bigger, faster and more impressive dinosaurs but there is just something about how they have been the “poster” image and the go to for people as soon as you mention the word dinosaur and then to top it off when Rexy/Roberta (the T Rex in Jurassic Park) hit our screens it cemented it’s place in my heart forever, a super predator turned saviour at the end.

When you are not running the Dino Den or attending conventions, what do you get up to in your free time…if you even have any free time that is haha?

It feels like I don’t have a huge amount at the moment but when we are not in the den or at a convention I like nothing more than doing something with my wife and daughter. We love going to

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the cinema or visiting theme parks and other attractions like that, it’s all about making those family memories. My wife and I are both huge fans of travelling, be that in the UK or further afield, it’s not uncommon for us to just jump in the car and head off somewhere just to enjoy the scenery and live by the motto, “there is no such thing as getting lost, it’s just discovering somewhere you haven’t been before”

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Tell us three random facts about yourself?

Oh wow that’s hard haha erm well I was previously the manager of a farm park for 11 years which saw me doing everything from building new attractions, hosting birthday parties to helping birth new born lambs.

In my early 20’s I owned/ ran a pet shop and animal wholesale business supplying shops across the whole of the North East.

I’m also a volunteer responder for 4x4 Response North East, a non profit organisation that provides logistical support to the emergency services and local authorities

during extreme weather.

Jurassic World Dominion comes out in June, will you be doing anything to celebrate its release?

Oh definitely, I mean I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched the trailer for it already.

We have some very exciting things in store to commemorate the release of Dominion but we don’t want to let too much out the bay just yet so all I can say is make sure you stay tuned to our social

media for more information closer to the time.

Where can people follow you and keep up with all things Rexy and Dino related?

You can find us all over, a bit like dinosaurs haha be sure to follow us on all social media platforms, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube with the name @RexysReviews and then of course our website and web store www.RexysReviews. com

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Hi Lauren and welcome to NE, can you introduce yourself to our readers and tell them a bit about yourself?

My name is Lauren Davis and I’m a children’s book illustrator and author, I have trained to be an illustrator for over 13 years. I am from Sunny South Shields and I am a sister of 3! I have a little boy who is two, called Jesse – James.

The Scoliosaurus is not your typical children’s book, not only is it a great story, it also has a great message to teach too, but what is the Scoliosaurus?

So, my first ever published book the Scoliosaurus, is about a T – rex who develops the condition scoliosis! Something which I have personally lived with for a very long time. It isn’t a very nice condition in which can deteriorate over time without the correct treatment. It is a curvature of the spine which can affect a lot of your body and majoritively a lot of people do need surgery to correct it.

It shows in the book, in the sweetest way possible, how sonny the scoliosaurus manages with his condition with the help of his family and friends.

Are you a big Dinosaur fan, or was it more the fit of the character you created was better suited as a Dinosaur than any other animal?

I am a massive dinosaur fan!

Remember the land before time? I was obsessed with the films and would sit and draw the characters for hours. I love the notion of how dinosaurs would of looked like and behaved even though no one has ever really seen a real life dinosaur!

I think everyone at a certain age goes through a stage of being obsessed with dinosaurs, I

thought a lot of kids would relate to the dinosaurs in a fun way and what better dinosaur then to use but a T-Rex! Also, my two-yearold is absolutely obsessed with dinosaurs, that’s what he lives and breathes! A little like his mamma at an early age!

How did the book signing at Rexys Reviews Dino Den come

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about?

I realised that there was a cool new place opening in my hometown, one which like no other (all about dinosaurs) and I noticed on the owners Facebook page he mentioned how he would like some local talent who create dinosaur content alike to get in touch! So immediately on seeing the post I gave him a message and then it went from there!

Not everyone will have heard of Scoliosis, can you explain what it

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is and how it has affected you?

Scoliosis is one of the main words I use and have heard a million times in my life, scoliosis, like mentioned above is a curvature of the spine. It can crush your heart and lungs if left untreated and just make your life absolute hell if there is no intervention.

I have had six surgeries in total, Number one my main surgery to ‘straighten’ me out. My second one was there was a screw that had come loose so they had to go in and tighten it up, number three was a revision so they

had to go back in there and fix a few rods and screws. Number four a screw had snapped inside my back so they had to open me back up and sort that out!

Number five was a total revision of the whole spine metal work, I developed ‘flat back syndrome’ from being too straight from the previous surgeries and was having horrendous sciatica. So, what the surgeons had to do was, bend and snap me from the other way to make a forward bend (not a sideways one which is what scoliosis is) (so like a natural curve) revise all the metal work and fix me into the natural curve position. Last but not least was number six, which wasn’t supposed to happen, but when I woke up from my surgery number five, they told me because they had bent me into a natural curve, they had too much space between the vertebras’, so my number six surgery had to be six weeks after id healed from number five and they had to make a ‘cage’ basically, a fake vertebra they put in through the stomach (bearing in mind id had every other surgery through the

front!) and then there was the correct amount of filling for the curve, i remember first starting walking after number five and feeling like there was space missing. So, I needed that fixture put in there to make sure the whole thing didn’t snap!

I could literally write an ‘adult’ book about the recovery, the pain, the self - esteem issues that come with it as I’ve dealt with it for more than half of my life now,

I’ve had to learn to walk again, some of the surgeries have been more than 10 hours long and before every surgery your made to sign a form to say that your happy to go ahead even at risk of paralysis or death! However so far, I’ve steered away from them two outcomes every time!

Your book is a great way to teach children from a young age about how everybody is different in their own way, was that always the plan with your book or did the story just come to you as you were doing it?

The reasoning behind my book was, when I was doing my master’s degree dissertation, I realised there wasn’t a lot of children’s books out there that had inclusion of disabilities.

Yes, there was a few and some are very educational, however there was nothing from what I had seen doing my research that were fun or playful, really getting the child engaged. When I was a young age, I didn’t have a clue what scoliosis was and if I had of known what it was or had a book shown to me like that to explain

it in a fun way, I would have dealt with it a lot better!

What has the response been like?

The response to my book has been absolutely amazing, I did actually release it last year, but due to covid no one was doing any book events so I couldn’t really go in the public eye with it and tell people about it. However, it is available on amazon so people could just buy it online, I’ve had sales in China, Germany, America, Dublin

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and animation, there is nothing better for me than seeing the thousands of hours put into a character in a film just simply walking through the woods for example, it would take so much time and effort and how it comes to life is so magical!

My favourite children’s book illustrator though would have to be Quentin Blake, who illustrated the Roald dahl books. I love the scattiness and movement you can see in his illustrations! They are absolutely brilliant.

and all over the UK! I’ve had parents messaging me thanking me for the book explaining how scoliosis and being different isn’t necessarily a bad thing! It just makes you unique!

Not only did you write it, but you

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also illustrated it as well, did you prefer doing both rather than having someone else bring your book to life?

I illustrated and wrote it myself, yes! I absolutely loved doing both. Reason being is that when I wrote it, I had already imagined what the characters would look like and I know the style of art I work with and I could see it all coming together whilst writing it! If anyone is familiar with ‘Dinosaur train’ the series on Netflix, that is where in which I got a lot of my inspiration from too! My son could watch that show every day!

Have you always wanted to be a writer and illustrator?

Truthfully, I have not always wanted to be a writer, I didn’t think I had it in me! I’m also dyslexic and I find that I tend to over explain things! My creativity though has always steered towards illustration.

I love old style Disney books

What advice would you give to anyone who would like to be a writer, illustrator, or, like yourself, both?

I would simply say do not ever give up what you’re doing, I was told a lot throughout my life that doing art of any kind would get you nowhere! Which is simply not true, everything around us has art in it, buildings, clothes, fashion, advertisements, books...

You name it!

Some people also can be selftaught, I needed that extra push of my two degrees though to find myself and develop myself as an artist, I had some amazing lecturers and the guidance was second to none. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them.

What has been the hardest part of making your book?

The hardest part of making my book was to make sure I didn’t offend! I didn’t want anyone to look at it and be offended by what I’ve tried to represent scoliosis

to be and how I’ve portrayed it in my character sonny. So far everyone’s said positive feedback though! Also, when making the book, and when I did publish it, I made a disclaimed underneath stating that there was to be no punctuation used throughout the book! I took a pretty big gamble as I knew a few people would comment on that, but the font worked so well and it wouldn’t let me use punctuation or take down the caps size! I wouldn’t have released it if I wasn’t happy with it and I did do a disclaimer!

The message was supposed to be about everyone being accepted about being different and that’s okay, not about the punctuation!

And was it easy to get it published and out there?

So, as one of the questions above I stated that this is my FIRST published book, I have created other books before but not put them out to the public, one of them is very personal to me and another was a Christmas gift to my nephew, I made a book called ‘The Christmas wish’ for him with my nephew and his dog Tinkerbelle (Tink, that is sadly no longer with us was great to draw alongside him and they had adventures together going to the north pole) it was pretty easy to get it published with the help

of amazon! They do everything from dispatching and binding my book and it gets sold pretty much everywhere! All I did was create the book and send the PDF to them!

adventures every day! He is my world and I love him dearly and we love getting out and about, going to museums, checking out local events and our very favourite exploring nature!

You have another book in the pipeline, can you give us any teasers about that, or is it a secret till it comes out? After all, we don’t want to give too much away.

For the reasoning stated above, I want to make an impact with my books and I want to make none disability inclusion in children’s books, a thing of the past! So, my next book will be called ‘The rainbow snail’ about a snail that has autism! He is very fast, carefree and doesn’t do the everyday things like the rest of his 49 brothers and sisters! He is a very cool snail and is one of a kind! That is all I’m giving away for now!

Tell us 3 random facts about yourself?

1.

I have broken nearly every part of my body (my bones aren’t very good to start with) 2.

I eat chocolate every single day!

3.

I am obsessed with history, I LOVE anything to do with Vikings, love learning about old ruins, temples and anything to do with other cultures!

How can people follow you and keep up to date with future projects?

I have a Facebook page and Instagram page, I pretty much post all of my content on my personal Facebook page however!

CLICK HERE TO BUY THE BOOK FROM AMAZON

When you are not busy writing or drawing what do you get up to in your free time?

I have a two-year-old so I don’t get much free time to myself!

However, we go on lots of

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As they prepare for the new season, one which they hope will see them promoted form the NFC1 North, one of the region’s American Football sides, Bryce Stevenson’s Northumberland Vikings, have had other, more immediate preparations at hand.

Ahead of the British American Football Association (BAFA) season beginning in the middle of this month (April 2022), the Vi-

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kings were afforded the once-in-alifetime opportunity of a trip head to Iceland, for a mini-training camp, and a ‘warm-up’ game with Reykjavik Einherjar.

It was to be an opportunity which Coach Stevenson, and one of the Vikings’ longest serving players, Safety, Conor Joyce, were both excited, and ready for the challenge that lay ahead.

Stevenson, who only arrived at the

Vikings two years ago, but brought with him a wealth of experience, and a remit to take the club to the next level, said of the opportunity to go to Iceland: “We’d seen the advertisement on social media and, after having spoken amongst ourselves, and with our Icelandic opportunities, came to an agreement.

“I’ve been lucky here, and an experience like this could be a big difference-maker towards our season.

“That, and this was an opportunity they many never get again.”

As for Conor Joyce, a player at the latter end of his career, and one who has been with the Vikings since its inception, is well aware what this trip to Iceland means.

“There’s never been the opportunity of playing in Europe,” added Joyce.

“Yes, I’ve been lucky to play with GB level players, but this is something we needed to get and it’ll help with the unity, the buy-ins,

as well as being quality bonding time.

“We never expected something like this but it’ll be good, different, exciting, and something we really couldn’t turn down.”

The Vikings would be seen to lead 14-6 at the half, before steaming ahead in the second period, asserting dominance, and running out a high-scoring, 52-32 victors – Jack Mulholland, Johnny Mbuyi,

Lee Davison, Ross Conley, Henry Bulmer, and Cooper Sloan, the point’s scorers, with Johnny Mbuyi being awarded the games’ MVP. Why? Because he’s Johnny Mbuyi!

Upon their return to British soil, and their native north-east, the Vikings posted the following on social media about the experience….

“Time for some very well earned thanks and shout outs for last weekend.

“First off, we would like to say a huge thank you to Einherjar for the offer to host, the hospitality, and for a great game of football.

“They have a hugely talented team on and off the field, with a great setup at Kórinn - we’d recommend this weekends experience to anyone.

“A huge shout out to sponsors LINGsCARS (LINGsCARS.com) for their unbelievable support on this trip. The camp t-shirts were great, but then helping make the existing stream free to access was

a huge move and one we are sure everyone who tuned in appreciated (3.4k views so far!)

“We look forward to working with them for the rest of the season!

“On that note, another thanks to Mick Tyler for his help with the English commentary and David Robson for getting us those sweet 4k game highlights - we appreciate it.

“As ever, thanks to Howard Snaith

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himself and Howard Snaith Coaches for getting us all to the airport in one piece with their superb service - as usual.

“Finally, a huge shout out to each one of our Vikings players, coaches, volunteers and supporters who made this experience what it was for us. A phenomenal amount of hard work went in both on and off the field to make the experience what it was and the team came together throughout to help. Whether that be social media, equipment planning, local media work or just general help, it was a team effort.

Also, the support from back home

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was unbelievable “Specifically though, nobody worked harder than Head Coach Bryce Stevenson. He went beyond what is expected from a HC and took on a huge amount of extra responsibility to help plan and execute this trip, on top of his normal on field duties. Without that work, it wouldn’t have been possible. Thanks Coach.

“Now it’s time to get our eyes back on the prize.”

With the game against the Reykjavik having taken place on 26 March there was to be a quick

turnaround for the Vikings, they heading straight back to their Druid Park home, ready for the

new BAFA campaign, kicking off away to Inverclyde Goliaths on 10 April; their first home game arrives later in the month when they host East Kilbride Pirates two weeks later.

“We’re not taking anybody on our division lightly and we know we have to beat everybody,” states Stevenson.

“We’re not scared though, and don’t forget, we’re two-time divisional champions and, although others will contest the same, our only aim, and what we have to play for, is promotion.

“If it isn’t this year, then we don’t know when it’ll happen, but we’ll continue pushing forward.”

The Northumberland Vikings opposed Reykjavik Einherjar, in Iceland, on 26 March, ahead of the Northumberland sides’ opening league game on 10 April; challenging the Vikings in the NFC1 North will be the East Kilbride Pirates, Glasgow Tigers, Inverclyde Goliaths, Lancashire, and the Yorkshire Rams.

Sports fans, and particularly those of the British American Football scene, can keep up-to-date with

all the goings on with the Northumberland Vikings via their social media on Facebook https://www. facebook.com/NorthumberlandVikings and Twitter https://twitter. com/vikings_afc Highlights of the incredible game out in Reykjavik can be found via https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=BKKRJlqtsQ8

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We are all in love with Rona, a Staffordshire Bull Terrier x American Bulldog who is aged 6 weeks in these photos sent in by Laura Jones. Laura contacted us when she was making this rainbow collar and lead made with our rainbow hardware and glitter cotton. When she mentioned she was making it for a puppy she was getting we just had to see for ourselves.

To make your own rainbow collar and lead for any size dog you will find the glitter cotton here https://www.bstfabrics.co.uk/100--Cotton-Fabric-Rainbow-1-Glitter-Effect-Horizontal-1 https://www.bstfabrics.co.uk/100--Cotton-Fabric-Rainbow-2-Glitter-Effect-Vertical-1

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You will find all of the Rainbow Neo-Chrome items here in different sizes.

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LOCK & GRAY OFF TO THE USA

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Live music is well and truly back.

After a really tough few years for our favourite singers, bands and venues, it is so good to finally be back gigging again. As soon as Foxes announced a mini tour, tickets where snapped up without a moment’s hesitation. The venue, Manchester’s Night & Day Café!

Now this is a great quirky little venue in the centre of Manchester.

If you have never been before then I really can’t recommend the place enough. Pop in during the day for food and drinks, with a great selection to choose from, served by really friendly staff that are happy to help. The manager really looked after us that horrible rainy day, so thank you for the fantastic hospitality.

The venue closes its doors for a few hours on gig nights to turn into a live music venue, quickly

removing the tables and chairs to make space for the fans who are about to turn up for that nights entertainment. I just love small more intimate gigs like this, where you are literally against the stage and maybe a meter or so away from the singer or band performing…well, if you are quick enough to get in and get to a prime spot.

The support band, STRABE, were fantastic, Angelica Black’s haunting vocals fit the disco vibes well.

One of the standout songs had to be their re-imagining of 90’s dance classic “Lady” by Modjo, this one

had the crowd singing and dancing from start to finish. They also performed their new single “Life On Pause”, a real dreamy song, with lyrics that hit home perfectly.

Check them out on Spotify HERE Then came the main event, Foxes!

After the disappointment of the original date being rescheduled, finally seeing Louisa walk out on stage was just amazing, it was well worth the wait. Louisa is a pocket rocket, she may be petite, but don’t let that fool you as she packs one hell of a punch, both vocally and physically. She belts it out hitting those big notes just as perfectly live, as she does on her albums, so hearing her live is no disappointment; her performance was everything you hope it would be and more. Match that with her explosive stage presence, dancing all around the tiny stage like nobody

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is watching, feeding her energy to the hungry crowd, who lapped it up and returned it back to her spurring her on even more. As far as live performances go, Louisa really is up there with the best of them. She really loved being back on stage, unbelievably, for the first time in over five years! Not that you could tell, her show was perfection and her genuine happiness to be in front of a crowd, all loving her music, new and old, was clear for all to see. It could be seen in her face as she spoke to the crowd saying she “was buzzing” and being back on stage was “better than she hoped it would be”, the

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emotion was clear in both her face and her voice as she spoke to the crowd and that was just raw honesty, that really was a joy to see.

The Tour was to promote her new album “The Kick” but she played a great mix of songs, from all 3 albums and her recent lockdown EP “Friends In The Corner”. Out of the 18 songs it felt like it was just hit after hit, which it really was. “Youth”, “Let Go For Tonight”, “Love Not Loving You”, “The Kick”, “Sister Ray” and the emotional and personal song “Kathleen” to name a few, though for me, the song I was looking for-

ward to the most was the acoustic version of “Clarity”, that song gives me goose bumps every single time I hear it, Louisa’s vocals are just out of this world and hearing it live just blew me away. The other highlight of the night was getting my vinyl signed and getting a quick snap with the songstress before the gig.

Foxes new album, “The Kick” is out now available from foxes.ffm. to/thekick You can follow all things Foxes here https://iamfoxes.com/ Night & Day Cafe https://www. facebook.com/NightNDayCafe

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We have double the fun now as we have teamed up with Cineworld Boldon and the new Cineworld Dalton Park to give you a quick run down on a few films that are coming soon and really have got us excited.

Plus make sure you check out their Facebook page to keep up to date with their daily competitions and updates. Boldon and Dalton Park

Doctor Strange In The Multiverse Of Madness 05 May 2022 Running time: 126 minutes In Marvel Studios’ Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness, the MCU unlocks the Multiverse and pushes its boundaries further than ever before. Journey into the unknown with Doctor Strange, who, with the help of mystical allies both old and new, traverses the mind-bending and dangerous alternate realities of the Multiverse to confront a mysterious new adversary.

Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness stars Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez, with

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Michael Stühlbarg, and Rachel McAdams. The film is directed

by Sam Raimi, and Kevin Feige is the producer. Louis D’Esposito, Victoria Alonso, Eric Hauserman Carroll and Jamie Christopher serve as executive producers.

The screenplay was written by Michael Waldron.

Cast: Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Rachel McAdams, Elizabeth Olsen, Benedict Wong, Xochitl Gomez Director: Sam Raimi CLICK HERE TO BOOK TICKETS AND WATCH THE TRAILER

Hi Chris and welcome to NE Magazine, for the few readers who must be living in a cave somewhere and don’t know who you are how about giving th em a quick l ow- down o n yourself?

- Hello! Can’t help but think I’m writing your interview introduction for you here, oh well… I’m a stand-up comedian from South Shields and I’m also a bit of an actor now and then… but mainly a comedian… that might not come across as well as it should in print form, but I am.

So there.

At the moment it’s hard not seeing you on the TV when we switch it on as you’re everywhere, but what has been the highlight for you so far?

- Not everywhere though am I? If you turn on QVC and I’m selling a frying pan, just assume you’ll find me floating face down in a river very soon. The highlight for me so far was probably being in Hebburn. Since starting comedy I always wanted to try my hand at being in a sitcom too so I was over the moon to do one with my mate and so close to my heart, and I got to work with Vic Reeves.

I know you had a bit of a crazy time with fans wanting pics and autographs when you were having a few drinks in a South Shields bar recently, how are you finding this, does it put you off going out?

- Not at all. Any person in that position who has been on TV or whatever and people want photos (I’m trying my best not to say celebrity here!) who pretends they hate the attention is a liar. You don’t go for a career on TV because you don’t want anyone to notice you. As long as I’m not eating or having a shit when you want a photo then it’s no problem at all… I meant, like on the toilet, not just in the middle of the dancefloor.

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Have you had any weird fan requests or incidents?

- Not really. The odd person will show up to a gig with my face on a T-Shirt, or bake me a cake, or send me a dead animal in the post but other than that it’s just photos and autographs. A little kid in Hebburn when we were filming asked me to sign his micro scooter… that was a bit weird.

Are there any venues on the tour that you are looking forward to playing or any you’re quite nervous about?

- The Theatre Royal in Newcastle. I absolutely can’t wait. I used to watch panto there when I was a kid. I’m

As well as being a bit of a regular on Celebrity Juice, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and 8 out of 10 Cats you are now starring in the North East based sitcom Hebburn, how did that come about?

- My mate and fellow comedian Jason Cook decided to write a sitcom about the town he was from, Hebburn, and he actually wrote me a little side part which he named after me. But when it came to being made the BBC asked me to read for the main character, and when I got it, Jason took the part that he’d written for me! It came about so gradually that I didn’t really realise the enormity of being lead role in a BBC2 sitcom until I saw the advert on TV. I nearly passed out.

How has the response for Hebburn been so far?

- Overwhelmingly positive.

And we just won Best Drama at the RTS North awards too. And we’ve got a second series!

You are now embarking on your biggest tour to date, how do you feel about this?

- Yeah incredible! It’s an extension of my last tour, Feeling Lucky. I did 60+ dates in 2012 but the demand for tickets was so high and people enjoyed the show so much that I’m doing another 40 odd dates this year in much bigger venues. I can’t wait to get back out on the road.

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Top Gun: Maverick 25 May 2022 Running time: 140 minutes After more than thirty years of service as one of the Navy’s top aviators, Pete “Maverick” Mitchell (Tom Cruise) is where he belongs, pushing the envelope as a courageous test pilot and dodging the advancement in rank that would ground him. When he finds himself training a detachment of Top Gun graduates for a specialized mission the likes of which no living pilot has ever seen, Maverick encounters Lt. Bradley Bradshaw (Miles Teller), call sign: “Rooster,” the son of Maverick’s late friend and Radar Intercept Officer Lt. Nick Bradshaw, aka “Goose”.

Facing an uncertain future

and confronting the ghosts of his past, Maverick is drawn into a confrontation with his own deepest fears, culminating in a mission that demands the ultimate sacrifice from those who will be chosen to fly it.

Cast: Jennifer Connelly, Tom Cruise, Ed Harris, Val Kilmer,

Miles Teller, Jon Hamm, Glen Powell, Lewis Pullman, Charles Parnell, Bashir Salahuddin, Monica Barbaro, Jay Ellis, Danny Ramirez, Greg Tarzan Davis Director: Joseph Kosinski CLICK HERE TO BOOK TICKETS AND WATCH THE TRAILER

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Jurassic World: Dominion 10 June 2022 Running time: 130 minutes This June, experience the epic conclusion to the Jurassic era as two generations unite for the first time. Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard are joined

by Oscar®-winner Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, and Sam Neill in Jurassic World Dominion, a bold, timely, and breathtaking new adventure that spans the globe. From Jurassic World architect and director Colin Trevorrow, Dominion takes place four years after Isla Nublar has been destroyed. Dinosaurs

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now live—and hunt—alongside humans all over the world. This fragile balance will reshape the future and determine, once and for all, whether human beings are to remain the apex predators on a planet they now share with history’s most fearsome creatures.

Jurassic World Dominion, from Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment, propels the more than $5 billion franchise into daring, uncharted territory, featuring never-seen dinosaurs, breakneck action, and astonishing new visual effects.

Cast: Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Jake Johnson, Sam Neill, Chris Pratt, Campbell Scott, Omar Sy, Mamoudou Athie,

BD Wong, Scott Haze, Bryce Dallas Howard, DeWanda Wise, Daniella Pineda, Isabella Sermon, Dichen Lachman, Justice Smith Director: Colin Trevorrow CLICK HERE TO BOOK TICKETS AND WATCH THE TRAILER

Hi Chris and welcome to NE Magazine, for the few readers who must be living in a cave somewhere and don’t know who you are how about giving th em a quick l ow- down o n yourself?

- Hello! Can’t help but think I’m writing your interview introduction for you here, oh well… I’m a stand-up comedian from South Shields and I’m also a bit of an actor now and then… but mainly a comedian… that might not come across as well as it should in print form, but I am.

So there.

At the moment it’s hard not seeing you on the TV when we switch it on as you’re everywhere, but what has been the highlight for you so far?

- Not everywhere though am I? If you turn on QVC and I’m selling a frying pan, just assume you’ll find me floating face down in a river very soon. The highlight for me so far was probably being in Hebburn. Since starting comedy I always wanted to try my hand at being in a sitcom too so I was over the moon to do one with my mate and so close to my heart, and I got to work with Vic Reeves.

I know you had a bit of a crazy time with fans wanting pics and autographs when you were having a few drinks in a South Shields bar recently, how are you finding this, does it put you off going out?

- Not at all. Any person in that position who has been on TV or whatever and people want photos (I’m trying my best not to say celebrity here!) who pretends they hate the attention is a liar. You don’t go for a career on TV because you don’t want anyone to notice you. As long as I’m not eating or having a shit when you want a photo then it’s no problem at all… I meant, like on the toilet, not just in the middle of the dancefloor.

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Have you had any weird fan requests or incidents?

- Not really. The odd person will show up to a gig with my face on a T-Shirt, or bake me a cake, or send me a dead animal in the post but other than that it’s just photos and autographs. A little kid in Hebburn when we were filming asked me to sign his micro scooter… that was a bit weird.

Are there any venues on the tour that you are looking forward to playing or any you’re quite nervous about?

- The Theatre Royal in Newcastle. I absolutely can’t wait. I used to watch panto there when I was a kid. I’m

As well as being a bit of a regular on Celebrity Juice, Never Mind the Buzzcocks and 8 out of 10 Cats you are now starring in the North East based sitcom Hebburn, how did that come about?

- My mate and fellow comedian Jason Cook decided to write a sitcom about the town he was from, Hebburn, and he actually wrote me a little side part which he named after me. But when it came to being made the BBC asked me to read for the main character, and when I got it, Jason took the part that he’d written for me! It came about so gradually that I didn’t really realise the enormity of being lead role in a BBC2 sitcom until I saw the advert on TV. I nearly passed out.

How has the response for Hebburn been so far?

- Overwhelmingly positive.

And we just won Best Drama at the RTS North awards too. And we’ve got a second series!

You are now embarking on your biggest tour to date, how do you feel about this?

- Yeah incredible! It’s an extension of my last tour, Feeling Lucky. I did 60+ dates in 2012 but the demand for tickets was so high and people enjoyed the show so much that I’m doing another 40 odd dates this year in much bigger venues. I can’t wait to get back out on the road.

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Lightyear 17 June 2022 Running time: 100 minutes The sci-fi action-adventure presents the definitive origin story of Buzz Lightyear—the hero who inspired the toy—

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introducing the legendary Space Ranger who would win generations of fans.

Chris Evans lends his voice to Buzz. Annie Award-winning director and veteran Pixar animator Angus MacLane helms “Lightyear.” Galyn Susman produces.

Cast: James Brolin, Chris Evans, Keke Palmer, Efren Ramirez, Peter Sohn, Taika Waititi, Isiah Whitlock Jr., Uzo Aduba, Dale Soules, Mary McDonald-Lewis Director: Angus MacLane CLICK HERE TO BOOK TICKETS AND WATCH THE TRAILER

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County Durham’s much-loved Scoop Music Festival returns with big plans and a new home Tickets on sale NOW Burnhopeside Hall, Durham 29th-30th July 2022 Back by popular demand, County Durham’s favourite two-day music festival is heading to its new home of Burnhopeside Hall this Summer, bringing a whole host of family-friendly fun!

From its wholesome line-up of artists, to its renowned assortment of street food and finally to the great variety of camping options available, this year’s fest is shaping up to be a hit.

Headed back to the scenic village of Lanchester, the much-loved Scoop Music Festival is once again showcasing the North East’s best and brightest pop, rock and tribute talent for a weekend full of live

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music and entertainment for all ages from the 29th of July!

And for the first time ever, it will be hosted on the stunning and historic grounds of Burnhopeside Hall. The World Heritage site is located 6.5 miles west of Durham City, was the home of the famous engineer William Hedley. A working model of his “Puffing Billy” railway engine is at Beamish Museum (5 miles North). The Country House provides a beautiful setting for a peaceful festival vibe and is surrounded by 18 acres of gardens and woodland stretched over 475 acres.

Founded in 2018 by Tristan Raine, Scoop Music Festival aims to celebrate outstanding regional talent in an area of outstanding local beauty. Focusing on sup-

porting established and emerging talent, the festival wants to provide a platform for artists as the music industry finally starts to get back on its feet after a couple of years of cancellations due to COVID-19.

The festival is produced by the Durham based promotion company, Events85 and celebrated North East promoter Tristan Raine. He said: Scoop Founder Tristan Raine, continues: “This is our most ambi-

tious Scoop yet and we’re buzzing with the line-up and the amazing location. We’re so thankful to Burnhopeside Hall for letting us host this growing festival on its grounds this year.

“We’re ready for a full scale party in the sun this summer and we can’t wait to get started. Bring it on!

Bands that are set to perform at the festival include the acclaimed Mumford & Sons tribute band, Chasing Mumford; renowned R.E.M. tribute band, Stipe; Teesside’s treasured ska and 2-tone band, The Skapones; as well as fan-favourite and Newcastle’s BritPop connoisseurs, The National Anthems.

In addition to the historical background surrounding this weekend of entertainment, the festival will host a fantastic range of local street food vendors as well as a full stocked bar. With both general camping and glamping options available, ticket-holders will be living out their festival dream as they peruse the picturesque Burnhopeside Hall, to the sound of top-notch local talent all while filling up on the best street food the North East has to offer!

Organisers have said that they

are continuing to invest in public safety, as Covid still presents a risk for many music/entertainment lovers. To make sure your festival experience is as comfortable as

possible, Scoop will be providing hand sanitiser stations and will also encourage audience members to wear a mask if they feel so inclined.

Early Bird Tickets for Scoop Music Festival are available now via https://event.wescantickets. com/gr_pRvvxfCVzv?fbclid=IwA R2xIxT2DeGxt-LMRTnSZ9EjMSntrmyBcjiisrePTbVcsv0PrmLggiw6tCI For more information about the event head to: https://events85.co.uk/scoop-music-festival-2022

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Supreme Queen Friday 20th May 2022 https://www.playhousewhitleybay.co.uk/events/supremequeen-2022/ Now one of the most recognisable Tribute bands in the world, SUPREME QUEEN continue to take things to a whole different level, with their homage to the halcyon days of one of the planet’s greatest ever rock bands.

Since their formation in the nineties, SUPREME QUEEN have played to hundreds of thousands of Queen fans across the world, headlining at major events including St. Tropez’s International Queen Convention, where they played to 10,000 people.

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Scott Maley’s incredible vocal and visual resemblance to Freddie Mercury, fronting this remarkable band of musicians has seen SUPREME QUEEN become one of the most respected bands of their genre anywhere on earth.

Closely following the ethos of the original band, they have always strived to create the Original Queen Live Experience.

Now a part of the Brian Shaw stable, that brings you ground breaking Arena events such as The Elvis World Tour, we enter a new era for SUPREME QUEEN. As musically brilliant as ever, the new presentation benefits from stunning production values, plus sound and lighting effects designed to trans-

port the audience to the halcyon days of their heroes.

Simply, a stage show designed to provide the most memorable of evenings for Queen’s millions of fans worldwide.

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An Evening With

Shaun Ryder

We were lucky enough to interview Shaun Ryder a few years ago ahead of his “An Evening with” Tour that was meant to take place at the Playhouse Whitley Bay on the 5th September 2020, sadly covid struck and the tour got postponed a few times. Then here we are finally sitting down to listen to the man himself nearly two years late, but as they say, better late than never, and it really was worth the wait.

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Now Shaun is most well known as the front man of The Happy Mondays and Black Grape, he is music

royalty from the Madchester scene of the 80’s and 90’s, though now he is just as famous for his stint in the Jungle and for watching tv with fellow bandmate Bez on tv’s Gogglebox.

Shaun was without a doubt the best interview we have had the pleasure of doing as he is just totally open, honest and really really funny, so we were really looking forward to the tour as we knew what we could expect from it… and he did not disappoint at all.

Shaun came onto the stage to a huge round of applause from a very eager crowd, thanking them all for coming and joked there was more people in the local chippy, which he said must be good because Jimi Hendrix once went there, though he couldn’t remem-

ber the name of the place, even though he said the food was really good. Luckily a few members of the audience shouted out the name Marshalls to help remind him. That just set the tone for the whole night.

Now Shaun talked about a bit of everything in his usual way…with brutal honesty and lots of bad language, making a lot of the content

unrepeatable in a family magazine, a singer down to the fact he did another great reason for why you drugs, as they did not know about should have been there. his condition. Yet as he pointed out, if they had of known about When asked about his childhood ADHD back then the way they and his school life Shaun revealed do now, it could’ve been treated, that he suffers from ADHD, a which would have robbed us of condition which has hindered him the music of The Happy Mondays with lots of things, like regular and Black Grape, because it’s the lessons in school and even how he unique way Shaun’s brain works used to perform songs, with a lot that gave us those crazy sounds of people putting his mistakes as and lyrics we all know and love.

If anything Shaun is a great ambassador for people with conditions like ADHD, as he is proof that you can excel in your own way with your own unique talents.

He turned a negative into a positive and has shown that you can achieve success without doing great at school, by not being academic, like what is expected from us all growing up. Even during the course of the whole night he kept forgetting where he was mid-sentence and had to be reminded, to which he would continue to tell us

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the rest of the story. That in itself shows you how good he is at what he does, as it really can be difficult talking at length like he did, but to do that with ADHD is actually quite inspiring.

He talked about growing up in Salford, telling us funny stories like how he used to nick the toffee’s from the teachers locked draw…except the teacher was his mum, so that didn’t go down well at all. How he listened to all kinds of music as his family had a wide taste of music, though he did admit to doodling on the album covers and even old books, which again caused his mam problems, as she would donate them to the local church not knowing that he had drawn rude things on the pictures inside (I’ll let you imagine the kind of doodles a young lad might draw).

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One of the other things he mentioned was how when he first met Bez he hated him and didn’t want him coming to his flat, as he was with one of Shaun’s friends at the time. Yet Bez came along anyway and never left, they just clicked and became the best of mates, giving us a real modern double act, as you can’t mention one without the other. But to think, if he hadn’t just tagged along that day we would not have had the comedy gold of Shaun and Bez, no ice skating with his melon crash helmet and definitely no crazy dancing shaking those maracas, now that is not a world we want to live in!

He was very open about his drug use, telling us how they actually helped him as the drugs countered his condition and fixed him in a weird kind of way. How he was always very open about it and he

never hid it from the press, in fact he played to the publicity machine knowing it would get them in the headlines, and unlike other

squeaky clean acts like Bross, he knew he wouldn’t get dropped by his label for doing drugs, whereas other acts would be over if they ever got caught doing anything like he did.

Now you might not agree with the drug use, but it is refreshing to see someone be so brutally honest about it all, how he wanted the rock and roll lifestyle and wasn’t afraid to live it. Talking about how The Happy Mondays started out as a mix of members all with their own conditions…well, except for Bez, who will go out of his way to tell you that he is “Normal”, and Shaun’s impression of Bez was spot on and had the crowd in hysterics. He talked about how the band rose to fame and how it all imploded and went wrong. He talked about his time on I’m a Celebrity and even about Gogglebox, with lots more in-between. The only down side to doing this kind of review is you just can’t do it justice. Shaun is a very funny guy and you really have to be there, because how he tells the stories and the language used does not translate well to paper, after all, it’s how he tells it.

The night flew over far too quickly; as you just know Shaun had so much more to say and I could have honestly listened to him talk all night. I can imagine every night on the tour being completely different, because his mind takes him in so many different directions and you just couldn’t script how he answers things. The Q&A was great too, as you just don’t know what questions the crowd will submit and Shaun was actually disappointed when he had to stop when time was up, as the questions were good and off the cuff and the answers where equally as entertaining.

A few lucky fans were treated to a meet and greet, getting the chance to talk to Shaun one to one, get photos and even autographs, so those fans came prepared with vinyl and cd’s to be signed. One lucky couple, Graham Ball and Sam Mountain bought tickets not even realising they actually had

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meet and greet tickets, they just thought they had bought standard tickets, so they didn’t bring anything to get signed. That’s where we stepped in, giving them a printed copy of the NE cover of the issue Shaun’s interview was in, in return for a few of their pics

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that you can see in this feature, so thank you to Graham and Sam for sharing them with us.

So if you missed an evening with Shaun Ryder at the Playhouse, I strongly suggest you go if you ever get the chance in the future, even

if it’s at a different venue, just go!

It really was a fantastic night and you don’t even have to be a diehard fan to enjoy it. Shaun truly is a character and a half who has lived and breathed the rock and roll lifestyle most people dream of.

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COMING TO

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NE and The Maltings Pub in South Shields have teamed up with Victoria, from Bookmarx Bookshop - a treasure trove of Usborne books, in the hope of getting more children away from their tablets and computers and back into books.

After the recent success of World Book Day, it would be wonderful to keep the younger generation interested in reading and also incorporate some exercise along the way and Bookmarx Bookshop has a massive selection of books for children of all ages. From books for the toddlers to enjoy with their family right up to books for young teens, there’s plenty to choose from. Story books, activity books, sticker books, educational books, you name it.

Victoria has set up something called a Community Book Pledge.

This is where local businesses can

donate books to their local community in several different ways.

Every single £1 goes towards the books, so if a business donates £20, then Victoria will pick a selection of books to the value of £20. The business has two options for the books, they can be donated to a local hospital, school, nursery, playgroup or even a charity that would benefit from some new books, or they can donate some books to be hidden around the local area for a child to find and keep - or perhaps re-hide once read and keep the cycle going on and on if they choose. Each book purchased by your business will have your business name attached to the front of the book so that they will know exactly who has kindly donated that book (the books will be wrapped to keep them dry).

Victoria loves reading books with her 1 year old daughter Ava, who is book mad and a big inspiration for her wanting to make this happen. They are from Sunderland so they are aiming to scatter some books all around Fulwell, Roker, Seaburn, Whitburn and parts of Monkwearmouth, saying “if anyone has any good suggestions of places then please let me know”.

One of the businesses that has signed up to this great idea is The

Maltings in South Shields, where NE’s Wayne runs a Quiz night on a Wednesday and a Sunday night.

Now each month the Maltings pick a local charity to support and for April they have decided to take part in the Community Book Pledge with the aim to donate books to South Tyneside Hospital and also a selection to be hidden around South Shields in the hope of spreading some joy to the local children.

So if you would like to make a pledge you can get in touch with Victoria through her facebook page at https://www.facebook. com/groups/630115228081979 or anyone can make a donation on the Go Fund Me page to either add some money to the pot or to donate and choose how you would like your donation to be used. https://gofund.me/8694dc14

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LOCK & GRAY OFF TO THE USA

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Aljaž Škorjanec and Janette Manrara, both now former Strictly Come Dancing professional dancers, are taking their ‘Remembering The Oscars’ production on the road, and with two dates THIS MONTH coming to the region.

Having set-off in mid-March, way down south, in Truro, Cornwall, the pair are set to appear in York, at The Barbican, the Billingham Forum Theatre, and Newcastle’s Theatre Royal, on 7, 8 and 10 April respectively, finishing with a six-date run at London’s Peacock Theatre, throughout early May. Twice postponed due to the pandemic, and having originally been scheduled for the spring of 2020, Aljaž and Janette will ensure you are a starry eyed for a night at least; whether that’s Wishing On A Star, Swinging On A Star or just dancing away in the City of Stars, this incredible production will take you from Disney family favourites, through to the Golden

Ages of Hollywood and Bollywood, with songs from Lady Gaga, Adele, Prince, Queen, Eminem, Celine Dion and Barbra Streisand, as well as classics from legendary songwriters such as Burt Bacharach, John Barry, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Irving Berlin and many more.

Speaking of the tour, Janette said that: “Remembering The Oscars is our biggest and most ambitious production to-date; we have handpicked an incredible cast, we have some great material to work with and quite a few surprises.

“The Oscar-winning movies, songs and actors that have inspired us will take this tour to another level, one that we know our audiences are going to love.

“To say Aljaž and I are excited about this tour is a huge understatement.”

Aljaž meanwhile added: “While we were touring the UK with Remembering The Movies, Jan-

ette and I were constantly talking about how we could evolve the show, taking it to the next level and into the West End. “Inspired by Hollywood excellence, our amazing cast will combine with outstanding production values to give our incredible audiences exactly what they deserve: the very best.

“We can’t wait to share it with you; we are red carpet ready!”

Since leaving the main, Strictly stage, taking her feet from the dancefloor, and into the studio, Janette has found a new lease of life as a television presenter, on the It Takes Two, Strictly spinoff show; meanwhile, Aljaž, who recently stepped away from the stage, will be taking stock during the tour – but we are more-thanlikely to see him dancing, somewhere, soon….

“I’ve long wanted to establish myself as a presenter,” stated Janette.

“Luckily, I was able to achieve that

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when I got the break to co-host Morning Live, the show that follows BBC Breakfast each weekday morning. That was a big pinch-me moment.

“Gethin Jones is the main host and he taught me so much.’ For instance? ‘His best bit of advice was to make sure I’d done really thorough research on anyone I’d be interviewing and especially if it was someone I’d never met before on Strictly.

“There’s no substitute for doing your homework properly.

“I’m married to someone who was still dancing on the show (Strictly) so I found it very hard.

“Being a dancer is who I am; I’m 38 now and my body is changing.

“It felt strange not being physically active anymore, not activating my endorphins on a daily basis.

“Now I go to the gym regularly

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and watch what I eat because I’m not burning off the calories through dancing every day.”

In Aljaž however, pior to his announcing of stepping away for the hit, BBC show, said that: “I’ve been dancing since I was five. I can’t remember when I didn’t want to be a dancer.

“Every single day (he thinks of the bubble bursting).

“Our faces may not fit anymore, or our bodies will start objecting to the demands we make on them, but it’s great while it lasts.

“I like to entertain though, and I’m fond of cooking.

“So, looking way into the future, I’d love to own a coffee shop or a bar one day.

“But, for now, there’s nothing I like better than performing.”

“The more time we spend together, the more the love deepens,”

beams Janette, of the love she shares with her husband.

“I think about the future a lot.

“In 10 years’ time, children will be part of the picture.

“And I hope we’ll have a beautiful home out in the country.

“Health and happiness – they’re the goal.”

‘That’s what I wish upon a star.’

Now, with a cast of amazing dancers and musicians, and stunning stage designs, costumes and huge LED screens, featuring specially filmed content, this dazzling spectacular will be a night to remember. Tickets for ‘Remembering The Oscars’ are available from www. rememberingtheoscars.com whilst you can follow them via their socials on Facebook https://www. facebook.com/rememberingtour and Twitter https://twitter.com/ RememberingTour

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A hypnotherapist is completely different to a hypnotist. A hypnotist is using the tool of hypnosis to induce a trance state to an audience or part of a magical stage show but they are not licensed to practice hypnotherapy. A hypnotherapist is a certified insured professional who uses hypnosis to help a client overcome mental or physical conditions.

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Tonight Matthew, I’m going to be…..

Those immortal, iconic six words, would accompany someone who’d return, on-stage, moments later, as musical icon – the host was Matthew Kelly, and the show, that would be that classic, Saturday night television programme, Stars In Their Eyes.

Some twenty years ago now, this very month in fact, Justine Riddoch was one of the grand finalists of the show, she appearing as Anastacia (performing the track, I’m Outta Love, in the final), these days though, she’s better known as…..

The world famous, Tina Turner!

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“She’s a legend, and there’ll only ever be one Tina,” began Justine.

“I just bring a flavour of her, whilst also talking about her when I’m on stage, most tribute acts won’t do that.”

She’s done a pretty good job of it as well has Justine, portraying the iconic musician, in her own, imitable style, and taking it to new, different levels; for a dozen years now she’s been doing it, and she (Justine) is showing no signs of stopping, not yet anyway.

It has been a run that has perhaps caught Justine, and her fellow bandmates, off-guard, they far from expecting the longevity of what they’re doing; but, before

Tina, and even the spell she had as Anastacia, Justine had been treading the boards for a good few years.

“For some fifteen years I’d travelled around the entertainment circuit and had never really got anywhere,” continued Justine, ahead of her upcoming tour dates.

“Because of that, I thought I would give the show, Stars In Their Eyes, a shot, and would end up going on there as Anastacia.

“That in itself was hard work but, with the band, we’d end up performing at a festival in Yorkshire.

“My vocals though, they tend to lend themselves more towards rock music, and, when we did

Diva Fest, Tina Turner was one of the three options and I would soon found myself in an era of hers that I looked like, and it would take off.

“When on the stage though, I forget who I am as there’s multiple routines, changes, in which to g through.

“When I started with Tina though, nobody else was doing anything like this on a regular basis, and theatre’s themselves weren’t showing tribute acts either.

“That was when we started looking at putting on a full spectacle.”

Now, after a dozen plus years as Tina Turner, Justine Riddoch and her band are ready to go again this year, another year out on the road.

Among those tour dates throughout 2022, are several in the northeast, beginning with the Phoenix Theatre, Blyth, on 22 April (they’ll also be appearing later in the year in Whitley Bay, Yarm, Northallerton, and Middlesbrough).

The north-east though, for Justine, is a place that, although she’s from the north-west, Merseyside to be precise, knows, and loves, quite a lot.

“When we first started touring, we never dreamed that last a couple of years, let alone this long,” gig-

gled Justine.

“So I’d like to think we were the catalyst for it all, and us making a big production, it has really helped; we’ve made some great friends along the way, some of whom do similar to ourselves, and it’s a scene that we’re really proud to be a part of.

“As for heading back to the northeast, I actually started out there, when I was working at a holiday park in Whitley Bay, when I was in my late teens.

“I got an idea of the music, the entertainment scene, whilst there, early in my career, and I’ve always performed a lot of dates there.

“The audience though, it’s just like we have on Merseyside, they love their music, crazy about it, and it shows.”

Justine Riddoch, as ‘Totally Tina,’ will appear at the Phoenix Theatre, Blyth, on 22 April, tickets for which are available from https:// www.thephoenixtheatre.org.uk/

whats-on/music/totally-tina/ Keep up-to-date with everything Totally Tina via Facebook https:// www.facebook.com/TotallyTinaUK/ and Twitter https://twitter. com/TotallyTINAUK whilst you can also visit the website at https:// www.totallytina.co.uk/

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Deckchairs, Piers and Souvenirs: A Celebration of British Seaside History Dr Kathryn Ferry, critically acclaimed author and historian, will deliver an exclusive talk on 28th April to complement Bailiffgate’s big summer exhibition of 2022.

Kathryn, a regular contributor on film and radio, will lead guests through three centuries of seaside history. Pull up a deckchair, grab your glass of wine and join her at St James’ URC in Pottergate, Alnwick at 7pm for an exploration of the distinctive landscapes of our coastal resorts including those in Northumberland.

Kathryn has had a passion for the British seaside, its history, culture and architecture, since the 1990s and has written and broadcast extensively about it. Kathryn said ‘we have an amazingly rich seaside heritage which should be properly celebrated not least because the

British invented the idea of the ‘seaside’ as a leisure destination.

Until the era of foreign package deals and cheap flights, the seaside was THE place for Britons to go on holiday. A tradition that has been rediscovered by many over the last two years.’

Kathryn’s latest book features 100 favourite holiday objects encompassing promenade shelters, sandcastles, beach huts, paddle steamers, fashion, sticks of rock and ice cream cones. Kathryn will talk about how the layering of all these different elements has created the unique British Seaside.

Jean Humphrys, Chair of Trustees said ‘we’re very excited to have been able to book Dr Ferry. Her research provides a fantastic complement to our ‘Beside the Seaside’ summer exhibition. Being trans-

ported back over 300 years of the many ways the British have made the seaside such a strong part of their leisure will, I’m sure, evoke lots of childhood memories of holidays and coastal life ‘.

Discounts available for Friends of Bailiffgate and members of the Northumberland & Durham Family History Society. Dr Ferry will be happy to answer questions and sign books on the evening. Booking advised.

Thursday 28th April 7pm St James’ URC, Pottergate, Alnwick NE66 1JW. Entrance £8 INCLUDES WINE AND NIBBLES (£6 to Friends of Bailiffgate and NDFHS members).

Doors open 6.30pm. Booking advised. https://bailiffgatemuseum.co.uk/

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AN EVENING WITH

‘S

SIMON & OSCAR

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Come on then, be honest, who’s ready for ‘An Evening with Simon and Oscar from Ocean Colour Scene’ as vocalist Simon Fowler, and drummer Oscar Harrison, head out on an acoustic tour later this month.

Come May, the pair will be headed to the north-east for a couple of dates also, taking in that of the Stockton ARC, and Whitley Bay Playhouse, on 5 and 10 May respectively, as part of what is an intimate, 25-date, UK tour.

Simon and Oscar will be creating the perfect stages for an acous-

tic performance of all their big hits and anthems, including that of The Riverboat Song, The Circle, Traveller’s Tune, Hundred Mile High City and The Day We Caught The Train.

It is the latest chapter in what is a remarkable career, a career that has seen OCS rise from Breton shirt-wearing Stone Roses disciples to one of Britpop’s biggest bands.

Forming some 32 years ago, OCS would spend six years fine-tuning their sound before lighting up the Britpop party with three, Top 5

albums; 1996’s ‘Moseley Shoals’, 1997’s ‘Marchin’ Already’ and 1999’s ‘One From The Modern.’

The band has also achieved seventeen Top 40 singles, including a staggering run of nine successive Top 20 singles and a mantelpiece full of awards.

As with all the best groups, behind the swagger and style were great songs, with words and melodies that found their way into the public’s head and heart. It’s now time to hear these songs again, stripped back but every bit as brilliant.

A key question in the Ocean Col-

our Scene story is perhaps, where the OCS name came from, and who came up with it.

“Steve, Damon (Minchella) and I were in Solihull Library and we started choosing words whose sounds we liked, laughs Simon.

“Ocean, and colour, appealed to all of us, and then I picked up a book about the railway scene in Nuneaton, possibly the dullest tome ever published.

“But I liked the word, scene; when we told Oscar the next day, we were so self-conscious about how stupid it sounded, we had to write it down.”

“It was majority rule,” claimed Oscar.

At the beginning, in the early days of the ‘railway scene,’ it’s certainly a case of making it, because they supposedly didn’t know anything other than doing just that, music.

“That was pretty much true,” stated Simon.

“We came together very quickly and established ourselves as the top band in Birmingham.

“It meant we identified with being successful early on.

“We also had the dedication to go and live in slums and bedsits if we

went through a rough patch.”

Words that are echoed by Simon’s bandmate, Oscar, he adding that: “We did have our low points like

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any other band but we just stuck with it.

“Overall though, we kept rising and rising.”

They’ve even collected some celebrity fans along the way, they of the ilk of Paul Weller, and Noel Gallagher, whilst also supporting the Rolling Stones, and Oasis, in those early, heady days of the band.

“We recorded our first album in his (Paul Weller’s) studio near Marble Arch in London,” continued Simon.

“We also supported the Rolling Stones in Stuttgart at one point, which we were thrilled about, although, as it turned out, we never met them.

“There were two stadiums in the city and a football match at one of them.

“So our dressing rooms were two miles away and somehow, in all the logistics, we never got to shake Mick Jagger’s hand.”

Oscar meanwhile said of the time: “We supported Oasis on their first proper UK tour although, in all honesty, we didn’t go down great.

“Everyone was there to see Oasis; it was the same with Weller.

“All we could hear were shouts of ‘Paul, Paul, Paul.’”

Now though, with an acoustic tour in hand, this will be just the pairing of Simon and Oscar, where the former will sing and play acoustic guitar and the latter will also sing, along with playing the piano, bass

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and percussion.

A tour which begins in Dundee on 29 April, and finishes in Cardiff on 2 June, the beginning coincides with the re-release, on Record Store Day, six days earlier, of their hit album, Live on the Riverboat, from 20 years earlier.

An album that was recorded on the Renfrew ferry, on the River Clyde in Scotland, because “Well, it connects with our Riverboat Song,” finishes Simon.

“And Glasgow (where they perform, at the Oran Mor, on 1 May) is our favourite place to play.”

Keep up-to-date with the happen-

ings with Ocean Colour Scene via their socials, on Facebook https:// www.facebook.com/OceanColourSceneOfficial and Twitter https://twitter.com/OCSmusic whilst ticket information for the upcoming tour is available via Ticketmaster, https://www.ticketmaster.co.uk/simon-oscar-tickets/ artist/2119260

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After a few delays due to Covid, it was great to finally see the return of Ryton Retro. Now for those unfamiliar with this event, it is a retro gamers idea of paradise that takes place at Ryton’s Masonic Hall. This 5th instalment was entitled “Wrestlefest” and there was a full room dedicated to those classic wrestling games and even a full display of old school wrestling figures and memorabilia. Getting to play the Royal Rumble again after about 25 years was fantastic and brought back so many memories. As always it was a complete sell out, so be warned, when event 6 is announced don’t hesitate in

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Upstairs there were two more rooms both full of various games consoles and even a few old school computers too, there was even a few consoles on the landing, so every bit of space is used to to its fullest. There really was something for everyone, all your favourite consoles, from Sega Master Systems and Mega Drives to NES, Super Nintendo’s and Gamecubes and more.

getting your tickets, as every single show has sold out and we expect number 6 to be no different.

Ryton Retro consists of 5 rooms full to the brim, you have the bar area and tuck shop with some classic old school sweets on offer, the main room which had several stalls and a mix of original arcades and pinball machines as well as the customary tombola. The final room on the ground floor was the wrestling themed room which held a host of original games consoles all with various versions of wrestling games.

It was great to see the parents turn into kids again as they rolled back the years playing on those old school games, then showing their children how to play the

games they grew up playing. That is a magical sight indeed. Seeing the younger kids play games like Pacman, Space Invaders, Paper Boy, Streets of Rage, Golden Axe, Royal Rumble to name just a few was fantastic, they really got into them, even if they did think the graphics looked a bit funny. Seeing people of all ages all having fun is what the event is all about and Ryton Retro 5 did not disappoint.

The stalls that were at Ryton Retro were Magical BubbleSuds, selling lots of funky bath bombs and soaps, Radgie City which stocks a mix of prints, t-shirts and hats all with a North East twist (Sam Fender is a big fan and has been spotted wearing their clobber), Wrestle HQ which sells everything to do with wrestling and finally Sweet Surprise with a collection of retro treats. As always Studio 8 were on hand with their custom arcades and controllers for people to play on and even buy. Food wise you had the Fire&Dough with their awesome fresh Pizzas. If that wasn’t enough there was the customary big Raffle, which had so many fantastic prizes, and the tombola, all helping to raise funds for Ryton Retro’s chosen charity which this year was Marie Curie

Newcastle.

So it’s fair to say, it was yet another fantastic, sold out, fun event, we really can’t thank David Kirkland enough for not only putting in the graft to make sure the event is packed full of arcades, pinball machines, games consoles and stalls, but also for making it such a great day out. Everything from the online build up on the facebook page (give it a follow, you won’t be disappointed) to the posters and facts that he had dotted around the venue. He even had several standees for fans to get photo’s

with, one guy even got to take the Kylie standee home, he certainly was “lucky, lucky, lucky”. As always we appreciate the invite and we cannot wait for Ryton Retro 6!!!!

Find them on Facebook here @ rytonretro

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Although born and raised in County Durham, Jazz musician, Jo Harrop would make a name for herself in our great nations’ capital, London, having left home in her late teens, for pastures new.

Now, she’s preparing to head back north to perform not one, but two dates, at the start of her ‘The Heart Wants’ tour, the most recent of the three albums released in the past few years; she’ll be appearing at Hoochie Coochie in Newcastle on 12 May, then at the Hexham Jazz Festival two days later.

Music lovers are most certainly in

for a treat, and she’s bringing some of her northern friends along with her as well; however, before we get to that, let’s take a look at where it all began for Jo, and her journey into, and through, the trials and tribulations for which music has to offer.

“Yes, I’m Great Lumley born and grew up, and was schooled, in Chester-le-Street,” began Jo. “Although I wasn’t born into a musical family, my parents loved music and it was often played around the house, so much so that I was regularly told off by my mum for

playing music ahead of my school work.

“Then, my dad took me to a Tony Bennett concert, in Newcastle, when I was a teenager, and something clicked for me.

“I used to love listening to Soul, and Motown, and Pop, a really broad range of music, and I was seen as being obsessed and determined, especially once I’d been told that I wouldn’t make it.”

Once the bug had been caught for Jo, and she’d started getting her own thoughts together, musically, the road was then travelled as she

sought out a new life.

Her first port call would be the Midlands, and to Nottingham, for a few years, before heading to, and setting up shop, in North London, where life as a musician, and eventually a Jazz musician, took hold.

“When I arrived in London, having already produced some demos, been writing and making music in Nottingham, I literally began applying for anything and everything,” admitted Jo. “I soon found myself a manager, and started looking into releasing my own music prior to becoming a backing singer,” it’s here she’d work with the great and near great in the music industry, including that of Neil Diamond, Julio Iglesias, and of course, Sir Rod Stewart, to name a few, “it was also there that I began talking about Jazz music, and suddenly, naturally really, I fell into that scene.”

After stepping away for a period, family, especially starting one, will do that to even the best of us, and with Jo, and her husband, two sons later had kept her occupied for a period, until a chance phonecall arrived, and she would suddenly embark upon the next part of her career.

“Alex Webb called me one day, he needed a vocalist and rang to

check if I was still singing,” continued Jo. “He wanted to know if I could step in for a few dates as the original singer was unavailable, and I just went for it; that was about five years or so ago now.

“Since then, I’ve had so much fun, and, pre-covid, we’ve enjoyed travelling around everywhere; when the lockdown’s hit though, for me, it became a golden opportunity in

which to be able to sit down, and write some music.

“Suddenly I was producing more than I had been a decade earlier, and the music is truer, honest, and more the heart, which people can see.”

Not content with just one release, Jo embarked on three releases, all of which are different, unique, and brilliant in their own right.

‘Songs from the Late Hours’ was a self-release in 2019, a matter of months before the world was plunged into the depths of a global pandemic; unable to tour her first album, Jo set about a second, and in 2020 came ‘Weathering the Storm,’ it being followed up by the more recent, The Heart Wants,’ arriving amidst mass acclaim.

“There’s differences in the three albums for sure,” stated Jo, “And with my most recent offering, it is full of original music that a lot of people haven’t really heard, and has some stellar, guest musicians involved.

“That, and because of covid, made

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it more of a challenging project in which to put together.”

Speaking of what the heart wants, what does Jo’s heart want, and feel, about returning to her native north-east this May – well, she’s certainly excited about it, and is bringing her musical ensemble of local friends (Paul Edis, piano; James Kitchman, guitar; Jihad Darwish, double bass; and Steve Hanley, drums) along for the ride – you’d expect no less from her really.

“There really is nothing like playing in front of a home crowd,” smiled Jo, dreamily.

“To be able to come home, and to perform in front of my friends and family, it’s a lovely feeling which nothing beats.

“You’re theirs, and that’s something which gives you a sense of pride.

“Performing at the Hexham Jazz Festival is something I’ve been wanting to do, so once we had that, it was just a case of working things from there.

“I’ve been really lucky though, with the shows we have on the tour, and there’s a good set of dates on it, a nice little tour really.

“But yes, I’m very proud to be from the north-east, and to be able to come back here and perform, with my own music as it’s been a

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few years since I’ve done that, I will be looking at putting on a really good show for everyone.”

Beginning in Newcastle on 12 May, ‘The Heart Wants’ tour will also be stopping off at the Hexham Jazz Festival (14 May), Edinburgh (15 May), Birmingham (17 May), Manchester (19 May), Keswick (20 May), Nottingham (21 May), Watford (22 May), Brighton (28 May), London (29 June), and Swanage (10 July), with numerous other dates in and around those.

Keep up-to-date with all things Jo Harrop via her socials, on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/ joharropmusic and Twitter https:// twitter.com/joharropmusic or visit her website at https://www.joharrop.com/

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