PREVIEWS
Hannah White
MUSIC
HANNAH WHITE @ BOBIK’S
Words: Laura Doyle What if I told you that one of the hottest voices on the Americana music scene was a UK-born singer songwriter backed up by a Nordic band? It turns out this less than typical combination makes for a winning formula: Hannah White’s latest album, Hannah White and The Nordic Connections, has just been nominated for UK Album of the Year by the Americana Music Association Awards. It looks like lockdown has eased just in time for the ensemble, as it means they can now get out on the road in support of their 2020 accoladed release, with a show coming up at Newcastle’s Bobik’s on Friday 28th May. While there definitely hasn’t been enough time for her most recent tunes to go stale, White has still elected to freshen up her set list with a brand new song, Walk Beside Me. She got sick of the suffering and injustice in the world, and took it upon herself to make sense of our social mess by advocating love and support for our fellow humans. If Americana is truly born out of grassroots musical movements, then it only makes sense that the genre should pay respect to its humble
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origins and advocate for a slice of peace for everyone. Going forward, this may well be an essential mindset to survive the last leg of this seemingly never ending time of uncertainty. Hannah White plays Bobik’s, Newcastle on Friday 28th May www.hannahwhitemusic.com
ART & LIT
CHALLENGING CONVENTION @ LAING ART GALLERY
Words: Claire Dupree A new exhibition at Newcastle’s Laing Art Gallery aims to shine a spotlight on four inspirational female artists from the 20th Century whose work had a significant impact on the profile of women artists within traditional institutions and in the public eye. The works of Vanessa Bell (1879-1961), Laura Knight (1877-1970), Gwen John (1876-1939) and Dod Procter (1890-1972) reflected the almost constant struggle to challenge the constraints of the patriarchal society they were born into in a time of radical change, burgeoning modernism and increasing emancipation. Challenging Convention takes a deep-dive into
the work of these four extraordinary women, demonstrating the changing attitudes of their times, and the evolving emotional and intellectual landscapes. “Challenging Convention celebrates four extraordinary women who pursued artistic careers with determination and imagination,” says Lizzie Jacklin, Keeper of Art at the Laing Art Gallery. “From quietly expressive interior scenes to bold experiments with colour and form, the paintings on display highlight the remarkable achievements of four of Britain’s most important early twentieth century artists.” Julie Milne, Chief Curator of the Laing, Hatton and Shipley Art Galleries, says: “Issues of gender equality will have a particular resonance for audiences at a time where challenges of economic hardship, unstable work and child care caused by the pandemic are disproportionally affecting UK women.” Running as a companion exhibition at the gallery, WOW: Women Only Works on Paper features over 50 watercolours and pastels, etchings and screenprints by accomplished and acclaimed female artists working in the first part of the 20th Century. Challenging Convention is at Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle from Monday 17th May-Saturday 21st August www.laingartgallery.org.uk
