Gaia at Durham Cathedral

10 July – 10 September

This summer experience giant artwork, Gaia at Durham Cathedral. See the earth as you would from space and discover a host of out-of-thisworld events including:

• Dining under the earth with a sustainable twist

• Practise yoga as the artwork illuminates above you

• Sunset silent discos with the whole family

• Plus special late night openings featuring live entertainment, street food and craft workshops

ART & LIT MATILDA SUTTON: DISSOLUTION @ VANE GALLERY

Words: Michael O’Neill

Dissolution marks the debut solo exhibition for Newcastle-based visual artist Matilda Sutton at Gateshead’s renowned Vane Gallery, where she has previously contributed works to numerous group exhibitions. Her works fuse painting, drawing, sculpture and textiles with posthumanist and feminist philosophies, myth, literary and historical narratives to deeply explore how we categorise our world and ourselves.

Vane consider Dissolution to be a bold body of work that “turns to the boundaries of ‘body’ and ‘self’, asking how we conceive of our wholeness, or lack thereof, and negotiate our edges. The work considers the gap between the concept of the human and its body as a whole – singular and discrete, with the reality of it as a shifting, unbounded and porous organism.”

The works in the exhibition explore many aspects of human culture, such as washing, grooming and hygiene practices, clothing and textile production, to further dissect societal ideals of cleanliness, purity, ritual and their relationship to physicality, religion, gender and sexuality. The exhibition is a poignant milestone in Matilda’s evolution as an artist, having previously been awarded awarded a Newcastle University Final Year Student Prize in 2019, an a-n Artist Bursary in 2021 and was selected for the solo Newcastle Arcus Pride Art Show in 2023

Sutton: Dissolution is at Vane Gallery, Gateshead from Thursday 13th July-Saturday 5th August. www.matildasutton.com

MUSIC BLUE LASS @ THE GLOBE

Words: Michael O’Neill www.instagram.com/bluelassmusic

Despite being a genre steeped in tradition, bluegrass music, much like the wider pantheon of roots and Americana music, is a broad church of song that is far from running out of life. One needn’t look far throughout the region to see just how much life is left in it; from Jumpin’ Hot Club’s regular forays into the genre through to this brilliant offering from The Globe on Friday 14th July, it is clear that the powerful songbooks crafted throughout such pivotal eras in the development of modern song still have so much wonder and fascination to offer.

Blue Lass are a magnificent addition to the broad array of musicians keeping the genre’s spirit alive. Comprised of five musicians, on acoustic guitar, fiddle, mandolin, double bass and clawhammer banjo, Blue Lass formed through meeting and jamming together on the festival circuit. When they all discovered a mutual passion for the great bluegrass songbook of the fifties, they sought to bring about a unique approach to the form, bringing contemporary reinterpretations of classic arrangements into the fold, whilst still staying true to the acoustic sound of the genre. The result is a refreshing but still compelling faithful rendering of some of the most pivotal works in the history of song.

Blue Lass play The Globe, Newcastle on Friday 14th July.

Music

SUNLUN CALLING @ SUNNISIDE GARDENS

Words: Jake Anderson www.facebook.com/sunluncalling

Glastonbury? Snoozefest! Reading & Leeds? Don’t even bother! Sunderland has the answer for your festival needs this summer with Sunlun Calling!

Sunniside Gardens will be taken over for the weekend, with Friday 7th July’s Block Party event featuring the likes of Craig Charles, Fat Tony, Greg Wilson and more, while Sunday 9th July will feature a stunning line up of some of Sunderland’s best live bands, who’ll take over the stage from midday until late.

The line-up is a who’s who of Sunderland acts including legendary North East rock stars The Futureheads; Tom A. Smith, one of the most passionate songwriters in the UK indie scene right now, who is currently receiving high praise for his performances; and beloved soul band Smoove & Turrell, whose signature Northern funk sound will keep the party going. Audiences can also enjoy the Mackem ballads of The Lake Poets, powerful songwriter This Little Bird, the electronic swagger of Vandebilt, catchy anthems courtesy of The Voyd, and the immaculate energy of Docksuns. It’s a line up perfect for your local music nerd, and guarantees good vibes in the sun.

SunLun Calling takes place at Sunniside Gardens, Sunderland on Friday 7th and Sunday 9th July.

MUSIC TYNE & QUEER: PRIDE POWER @ ANARCHY BREWERY

Words: Laura Doyle

Pride is for life, not just for June! Newcastle continues the LGBTQ+ celebrations well into July (as regulars to the Pride parade know fine well) – and leading the charge is emerging LGBTQ+ arts and culture collective, Tyne & Queer. Their day-long live music and community shindig, Pride Power, is the next in a long line of successful safe spaces and exciting events for Queer-identifying people in the North East. Tyne and Queer pride themselves on accessible, supportive programming for everyone from every walk of life, and this is no exception. Just a small step from Walkergate Metro, Anarchy Brewery plays host to the event on Saturday 8th July, which features a roster of local talent throughout the day, including dreamy alt. rock outfit Labyrinthine Oceans, new(ish) kids on the riot grrrl block Sorority Grrrls, and headliners Teesside melodic metalheads m o t i o n s. Tyne & Queer’s market will be running

Friday 7 July, 8pm

Tickets: £12 03000 266 600

Motions

alongside, where Queer vendors can gather to showcase and sell their work to an audience of like minded individuals. Rounding off the day’s activities is a special appearance by local LGBTQ+ club night Queer Love, who will make the most of the long summer nights with a DJ set to take you all the way to curfew. Food, arts, culture, music and Queer joy – what more do you need?

Tyne & Queer present Pride Power at Anarchy Brewery, Newcastle on Saturday 8th July. www.linktr.ee/tyneandqueercollective www.mima.art galadurham.co.uk