NARC. #206 June 2024

MOUSES SONIC ARTS WEEK BITCHFINDER GENERAL NO TEETH DRAG CASTLE

Courses include:

❱ Fd Audio & Music Production

❱ BA (Hons) Audio and Music Production (Top-up)

Our courses are delivered in state-of-the-art recording studios and control rooms, editing suites and venues.

We are an Avid Pro Tools Authorised Learning Partner, delivering industry standard qualifications alongside our higher education programme designed with industry in mind. Our teaching rooms are equipped with industry-standard software and hardware.

Our course team is built up of active industry professionals. Our course has been designed in collaboration with industry, with Tees Music Alliance, Middlesbrough Town Hall, The Middlesbrough Empire, ARC, KU Bar, Butterfly Effect Records and more on board to offer real work-related learning opportunities for our students!

What will I study?

Areas of study include:

❱ Music Production

❱ Live Events Production

❱ Recording and Mixing

❱ Audio for Film, TV and Games

❱ Composition and Songwriting

❱ Sound Design and Synthesis

❱ Popular and Experimental Music

❱ Career Development

❱ Pro Tools and Ableton Live

Rob Penrose (FosterSounds.co.uk)

Rob is running his own company, freelancing and working on exciting projects as a voice actor, musician and technical audio mixer. He’s already enjoyed success working on projects for CBeebies on a variety of shows including Postman Pat, The Baby Club and more recently Tinpo where he worked as the Sound Designer and Voice Director.

“The degree programme is practical and sets you up for the world of work. The tutors have industry experience and support you to fulfil your career ambitions. I had job interviews lined up before I had even handed in my final assignments!” Rob

Find out more course information and apply online today!

Happy June dear Constant Readers; how did we get halfway through the year already?! Looking back over last month’s missive, I promised to update you on my various wanderings, and I’m glad to report that I LEFT MY DESK. Achievement unlocked! Where did I go? To gigs! And an art exhibition! And outside! So, that’s quite enough of that… back to work. I’ve also been sociable in other ways this last month, as I’ve made some new work pals. After putting a call-out for some fresh meat voices to join our team, we were fairly inundated with interested (and interesting) people keen to write about the region’s alt. music and culture scenes. You’ll find many of their musings in these very pages, and we’re always open to more people joining us, so if you or someone you know has a passion for the region, a brain in their head and a canny way with words, drop us a line at narcmedia@gmail.com. My crystal ball tells me that the next couple of months are bound to be busy, as festival season gets underway. Our future content plans are already bursting at the seams, and I always love to hear from makers, creators, doers and thinkers about their future plans, so drop us a line if you’ve got something fun in the works!

PREVIEWS

4 HIGHLIGHTS

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

6 PREVIEWS

Live shows from Goat Girl, Pillow Queens, Dana Gavanski, Richard Hawley, Barry Adamson, Villagers, Mannequin Pussy, Hieroglyphics, Karine Polwart & Dave Milligan, Fat White Family, Ferocious Dog, NikNak, Andrew Nolan, Bubamara and more; stand-up comedy from Laura Smyth at The Stand, Joe Kent-Walters at ARC, Laurel’s Comedy Club and more; theatrical delights courtesy of Frognal & Fox at venues across the region, The Death & Life Of All Of Us at Alphabetti, Many Lifetimes at Dance City and Luke Wright at ARC; plus exhibitions including Jeremy Deller: The Battle of Orgreave at NGCA, New Light Art Prize at Biscuit Factory, alongside much more

Editor

Claire Dupree info@narcmedia.com

Website

David Saunders narcmagazineonline@gmail.com

Creative El Roboto

Advertising Claire Dupree info@narcmedia.com

Stay social, connect with us NARC.magazine @narc_magazine @narcmagazine NARCmagazineTV

Cover Image

Hana Marie Photography

Live Photography

Jason Hayles / Victoria Wai / David Wala Contributors

Jake Anderson / Phoenix Atkinson / Jade Mia Broadhead / Matthew Brown / Iam Burn / Roz Cuthbert / Laura Doyle / Lee Fisher / Nat Greener / Michaela Hall / Lee Hammond / Rob Heselton / Donald Jenkins / John Knox / Zeinab Lenton / Ben Lowes-Smith / Isabel Maria / Amy Mitchell / Lena Moss / Amelia Neri / Robert Nichols / Michael O’Neill / Kate Relton / Damian Robinson / Laura Rosierse / Elodie A. Roy / David Saunders / Steve Spithray / Mack Sproates / Dawn Storey / Andrew Thompson / Luke Waller / Robin Webb / Ali Welford / Matt Young

Reports of live shows from Melanie Baker, Nadine Shah, Fast Blood, Baxter Dury, Handsome Family, Your Aunt Fanny, Jodie Nicholson, Lottery

and

Reviews of local singles and EPs from Jade Mia Broadhead, Breakaway NE, Jamilah, Blockdata & Tooms, Josh Atkinson, Cultivo, Goodsprings, The Ilfords, Binaries, Chris Hair & Wild Circle, Wolfred and Sarah Johnsone

Demo reviews of Liam Hiatt, Elliot Leonard, Ambient Bones, Nacho Dog and Dennis Barkass

Featuring new releases from The Decemberists, The Mad Walls, O., The Mysterines, Swim Deep, SUMAC, Bored At My Grandmas House, Walt Disco, Hockey Dad, Mary Ocher, Living In Shadows, Mabe Fratti, John Grant and more

MIXTAPE

Ahead of their Hedley Fest event this month, the DJ team and musos at Percy Hedley Foundation pick some of their favourite tunes

Issue

26th June

28 MOUSES

Matthew Brown delves into how the lo-fi queer-punk duo’s sophomore album is a rallying cry for self-expression and a critique of societal pressures

PREVIEWS

JUNE’S

DIVERSIONS INCLUDE ECCENTRIC STORYTELLING, INNOVATIVE PERFORMANCE, INSPIRATIONAL TALES AND ACCESSIBLE LIVE MUSIC

MUSIC THUR 6

BRENNEN LEIGH

Fans of vintage country and Western swing will find much to adore about this line-up, which features hugely accomplished American singer-songwriter, guitar and mandolin player Brennen Leigh, whose storytelling style has earned her cult status among fans. Support comes ace fiddle player and singer with a granite twang Joshua Hedley, plus local heroes Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra. The Fire Station, Sunderland www.brennenleigh.net

FILM

TUES 11

Jill Cambell, Summer Blue, acrylic on canvas

ART & LIT

UNTIL JULY 6

COLOUR FIELD

Calling to mind the Colour Field painters Helen Frankenthaler and Mark Rothko, artists Kirsty Adams, Jill Campbell and Katie Mawson capture the spirit of a place through abstraction, colour and light, working in porcelain, paint and vintage book cloth to powerfully evoke memories of landscapes. Gallagher & Turner, Newcastle www.gallagherandturner.co.uk

MUSIC

MON 3

SCOTT LAVENE

For those looking for an escape from the day to day, look no further than ‘gutter pop’ artist Scott Lavene, whose storytelling style and eccentric tales have seen him gain widespread acclaim. Third album Disney In Dagenham has been described as containing a “hallucinogenic world of his own creation with ne’er do wells, ragamuffins and eccentrics”.

The Engine Room, North Shields www.scottlavene.bandcamp.com

MUSIC

THUR 6

ELLE CHANTE

Accessible Dreamscapes is a truly unique and innovative piece exploring performance and presentation from a disabled perspective, featuring dreamscape environments, sensory experiences and arts technologies, and taking the audience on a tender, vulnerable journey. The Glasshouse, Gateshead www.linktr.ee/ellechante

MUSIC

THUR 6

GIG FOR GAZA

Featuring a superb line-up of diverse North East talent, this special charity gig aims to raise funds for Medical Aid for Palestinians and features Teesside’s electronic radgecore group Benefits, alt. singer-songwriter Melanie Baker, Tyne & Wear hardcore punks Irked, rowdy rockers Dossers and a DJ set from Maximo Park frontman Paul Smith. KU, Stockton www.kustockton.co.uk

COMEDY

THUR 6

NEW ACT NEW MATERIAL NIGHT

Hilarity Bites present another night of brand new comedic talent, with sets from one of the hottest acts on the North East circuit Anth Young, prolific talent Si Beckwith and laidback chortles courtesy of Andy Fury, plus a host of brand new and established comedians testing out new material. Hops & Cheese, Hartlepool www.hilaritybites.co.uk

WILDING

Based on Isabella Tree’s best-selling book by the same title, Wilding tells the inspirational story of a young couple that bets on nature for the future of their failing, four-hundred-yearold estate. Preview screening followed by a recorded Q&A filmed at the Knepp Estate with Isabella Tree, hosted by Craig Bennett from The Wildlife Trusts.

Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle www.tynesidecinema.co.uk

STAGE

WED 12

PAUL TAYLOR: DUET

Eliot Smith Dance embrace the past and future with a premiere of Paul Taylor’s Duet from 1964, alongside Eliot’s own work, Human. Duet is a testament to the simplicity and clarity of Taylor’s craft, brief and beautifully shaped; while Human comprises cutting edge contemporary and commercial dancing, exploring the joys, sorrows, idiocies and the brilliance of anything human. Dance City, Newcastle www.eliotsmithdance.com

Image by Fabrice Herrault

JUNE HIGHLIGHTS

EVENTS

SAT 15

THE CURIOUS BALL

An unforgettable celebration of the North East’s LGBTQIA+ culture, the Curious Ball returns to Dance City. An evening like no other, professional artists and community members take to the catwalk to celebrate queer excellence with fierce performances and incredible fashion. Dance City, Newcastle www.dancecity.co.uk

ART & LIT

SAT 15

UNIVERSITY OF SUNDERLAND ART & DESIGN DEGREE SHOWS

Celebrating the creativity and achievements of the latest cohort from Sunderland University’s art and design courses, experience work which spans animation and games art, graphic design, illustration, fashion and more. Runs until 6th July.

Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens www.sunderlandculture.org.uk

ART & LIT

SAT 22

HANNAH PERRY

Tackling themes of motherhood, class and labour in her new large-scale installation, British artist Hannah Perry’s Manual Labour comprises film, sculpture, printmaking and sound, and considers the process and transformation of matrescence – the process of becoming a mother – and its creative and destructive power. Runs until 19th January. Baltic, Gateshead www.baltic.art

ART & LIT FRI 27

WHEN EARTH SPEAKS

Welsh artist Miranda Whall integrates science, nature, technology and art to explore the relationship between data, humans and the natural world. Drawing upon data streams generated by a soil sensor network in the Cambrian mountains, the exhibition comprises of drawings, sculpture, film and performance which introduce innovative approaches to translating and comprehending ecological and environmental scientific research. Runs until 20th July.

Vane Gallery, Gateshead www.vane.org.uk

MUSIC

SAT 29

SATURDAY AFTERNOON PARTY PEOPLE

Presenting free and accessible live music for all, this month’s line-up for Saturday Afternoon Party People includes Cambridge-based Anglo-American pop rockers Iona Sky, local moody alt. rockers The Agency, the unassuming lyrical genius of The Young Property Developers and heavy riff rockers Psy of the Dead.

Two By Two Brewing, Newcastle www.twobytwobrewing.com

MUSIC

SUN 30

DEATH LENS

The release of Los Angeles alt. punks Death Lens’ latest album, Cold World, further demonstrates the band’s explosive energy and attitude, thanks to slick guitar sonics and tender backing vocal harmonies that feel like the best parts of indie, punk and shoegaze. Their shows are thrillingly chaotic. Little Buildings, Newcastle www.deathlensband.com

NARC. E-ZINE

Check in on the twelfth edition of our multimedia E-ZINE, and discover exclusive videos, playlists, mini-documentaries, sound clips and much more

TV

Watch the brand new mini-doc on last year’s Brassed On collaborations between Sisi and The Original Pinettes, and Tom A Smith and Loud Noises

We chat with Walter Allison, Alannah Lamb and DP Phillips about their collaborative event taking place at the Boiler Shop on Saturday 8th June

find out about the Star & Shadow Cinema’s counterculture event and learn about its inspiration

Image by Haydn Brown

Image by Robert Nuñez

MUSIC BARRY ADAMSON @ THINK TANK

Words: Lee Fisher

Barry Adamson has been quietly building himself an impressive and diverse body of work as a solo artist in the last 35 years, fusing jazz, noir soundtracks, soul and a preoccupation with society’s underbelly into what tends to get called ‘imaginary soundtracks’. He came to prominence with his time in magnificent Manchester outfit Magazine, who quickly left punk behind and became something far more strange and interesting. He then popped up in both The Birthday Party and Nick Cave’s Bad Seeds for a few fertile years (and can occasionally still be seen lurking stage left at times). But a Scala cinema screening of Otto Preminger’s Man With The Golden Arm (and its Bernstein soundtrack in particular) set

him on the path he still loosely travels. His first album in eight years, Cut To Black, was released last month and is a beauty, a typically diverse but coherent mix of everything from jazz to soul, gospel to hip-hop, and to promote it he’s heading out on a rare tour that brings him to Newcastle’s Think Tank on Saturday 1st June.

www.barryadamson.com

MUSIC BONNACONS OF DOOM @ THE LUBBER FIEND

Words: Nat Greener

Mark your calendars for Friday 14th June…

Newcastle’s grassroots venue The Lubber Fiend is set to host an unforgettable night of music with the enigmatic Bonnacons Of Doom! Trailblazers of Trans-Pennine hypnotic music,

Bonnacons Of Doom are stepping up their mission with their second album under Rocket Recordings. This mirror-masked collective, hailing from across the North of England, delivers a unique blend of ritualistic psych rock and drone. Rooted in Liverpool, Bonnacons Of Doom began with experimental theatrical performances and evolved into a powerhouse of eclectic, immersive music. Their live shows are legendary, featuring black robes, metallic masks and a constant air of mystery. Since forming in 2013, they’ve pushed the boundaries of live music, from performing with cathedral choirs to creating virtual reality installations; their 2018 debut album was a psychedelic masterpiece, and their latest work, Signs, promises to be just as transformative. Support comes from noise punks Disciplinary and drone duo Thraa.

Bonnacons of Doom play The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle on Friday 14th June.

www.bonnaconsofdoom.bandcamp.com

Barry Adamson by Brian David Stevens

MUSIC NIKNAK @ COBALT STUDIOS

Words: Donald Jenkins

Trailblazing DJ and producer NikNak blesses the stage of Cobalt Studios on Thursday 6th June with an audio experience like no other. Her immersive compositions and captivating improvised performances fuse turntablism, experimental synthesis, haunting vocals and

dynamic electronic sounds, crafting a cinematic experience that traverses genres like jazz, jungle, soundscape and trip-hop.

Embracing her identity as a self-proclaimed nerd and advocate for diversity, NikNak will be showcasing her forthcoming album, Ireti, which delves into Afrofuturism and explores the intersection of humanity and technology. Inspired by iconic films and video games like Blade Runner and Cyberpunk 2077, the album follows a dystopian narrative, centred around the journey of reclaiming humanity from the grasp of machines. As NikNak explains: “If there was a Black Blade

Runner, this would be the soundtrack.”

As well as being the first Black turntablist to win an Oram Award, she has collaborated with household names such as Grandmaster Flash, Princess Nokia, Akala and Madlib and has graced many legendary stages at places such as Berghain, Glastonbury, Fabric, We Out Here and Outlook.

Be sure to seize the opportunity to see this boundary pushing artist tantalise your senses.    NikNik and Fergus Quill Trio performs at Cobalt Studios, Newcastle on Thursday 6th June. www.niknakdjmusic.uk

Suede by Dean Chalkley

MUSIC FEROCIOUS DOG @ THE GEORGIAN THEATRE

Words: Michael O’Neill

There’s nothing more glorious than a band who are completely unafraid to do everything in their power to resist the urge to conform to the all-too-comforting boundaries of genre. It can be quite the tightrope walk to try and

craft music that takes elements from various genres and concoct a unique and boundarypushing sound, in which anything goes. All too often, the results can sometimes come off as rather frenetic and disorganised, with different aesthetic shades colliding to create a murky and overwhelming sonic assault. Sometimes, the balance can be struck perfectly, almost to the point where it starts to sound too effortless to be true. Nottingham’s defiant quintet Ferocious Dog are an exceptional example of the latter, boasting a singular sound that takes in Celtic folk, gypsy

folk, blues, dissident folk, pop punk, full-on hardcore punk and straight-up rock. On paper it sounds like a recipe for disorganised chaos, but in practice it’s an enthralling unique experience, with recent release Kleptocracy, their seventh LP, boasting a breakneck sixteen tracks over 55 minutes which soars across a History of the Last 50 Years of Guitar Music. It’ll translate gloriously to the boards of Stockton’s Georgian Theatre, which they’ll tread on Friday 7th June. www.ferocious-dog.co.uk

ART & LIT CROSSING THE TEES @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Matthew Brown

The Tees Valley is set to come alive with the literary spirit as the annual Crossing The Tees festival unfolds from Thursday 6th-Friday 21st June. This celebrated event spans several locations, inviting book lovers to immerse themselves in a tapestry of author talks, workshops and readings.

The festival kicks off with the best-selling author Ann Cleeves discussing her latest novel, The Raging Storm, at Billingham Library. Cleeves, renowned for creating beloved detectives like Vera Stanhope and Jimmy Perez, will converse with Fiona Erskine, famed for her thrilling Chemical Detective series. This opening event sets the tone for a series of engaging literary experiences.

Further highlights include a unique performance by The Bookshop Band at Darlington Library, promising a night of music inspired by books; crime writer Ajay Chowdhury discusses his latest works alongside local author CJ Grayson at Thornaby Central Library; and Tees Women Poets invites writers of all genders and any genre to their open mic event TWOOMPH!, headlined by Queer poet Theodore Forcer, at Hartlepool’s Community Hub Central. The festival also honours local literary talent with a Local Author Showcase at Stockton Central Library, where six Tees Valley authors will introduce their work, followed by a networking opportunity.

Concluding the festivities, Jill Halfpenny shares her poignant personal story in Life Reimagined at Stockton Central Library, exploring themes of grief and resilience.

Crossing The Tees festival runs from Thursday 6th-Friday 21st June at venues across the Tees Valley. www.crossingthetees.org

STAGE

THE DEATH & LIFE OF ALL OF US @ ALPHABETTI THEATRE

Words: Lena Moss

Following sold-out performances at Soho Theatre and hit reviews from its Edinburgh Fringe run, The Death & Life of All of Us comes to Newcastle’s Alphabetti Theatre on Tuesday 18th-Wednesday 19th June.

Victor Esses’ multimedia performance explores intergenerational shame, family secrets and history. The show combines documentary, interviews, art projections, text, live music and movement to tell the story inspired when Victor found his long-lost great aunt Marcelle in Rome.

The show was born out of a desire to capture the strength and rebellion of Marcelle’s experience; having moved from Lebanon to Italy, converted religion, changed her name and kept her secrets. As well as reflecting on Marcelle’s life, a story he has been grappling with for over 20 years, the show also explores Victor’s own relationship with his intersecting identity, largely his acceptance of Queerness and how this interacts with his migrant, Jewish, Middle Eastern and Latin American background.

Encouraging audiences to do as he has done, and revisit their personal history on their own terms, Victor says: “we are all unique and complex, wonderful and awful. To be human is to be multifaceted and often intersectional”. The Death & Life of All of Us promises to be a moving celebration of just that.

The Death & Life of All of Us is at Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle on Tuesday 18thWednesday 19th June. www.victoresses.com

MUSIC LIVE AT THE AMPHITHEATRE @ SOUTH SHIELDS AMPHITHEATRE

Words: Claire Dupree

Generator’s Create:Live programme aims to equip up and coming promoters with knowledge and experience to enable them to become the next generation of live gig bookers. With so many independent promoters feeling the pain of low advance sales and high agent fees, it’s encouraging that there’s plenty of new blood coming through to offer artists a platform. Among the new cohort of promoters are House Folk and Punk Princesses (otherwise known as Lucy Bridge and Hope Lynes), whose event at South Shields Amphitheatre on Saturday 22nd June focuses on an all-female line-up of talent which spans genres.

The all women/queer collective line-up features the very best of the region’s talented women across the alt. rock, punk, alt. pop, folk and singer-songwriter genres, and will include sets from acclaimed vocalist Steff Mundi, bluegrass artists Errant Moose, soulful singer-songwriter Annie Griffiths and fast-rising alt. rock artist India Arkin, plus there’s shoegaze rock from Hannah Robinson, dreamy grungy psychedelia courtesy of Labyrinthine Oceans, feel-good intelligent indie from Komparrison, distinctive and danceable indie songwriter and producer Cortney Dixon and DJ Alannah Lamb.

Live At The Amphitheatre takes place at South Shields Amphitheatre on Saturday 22nd June. www.instagram.com/housefolk_ www.instagram.com/hopelynes_

The Bookshop Band

MUSIC

OTIS GIBBS @ THE CLUNY 2

Words: Isabel Maria

Hailing from Wanamaker, Indiana, folk singer-songwriter Otis Gibbs heads back across the pond on Friday 7th June to treat The Cluny 2 to some alt. country folk goodness. A self-proclaimed songwriter, storyteller, painter

and photographer (and planter of 7176 trees, no less), Gibbs’ albums have been bringing compelling stories to keen audiences since the early 2000s.

Otis Gibbs holds a high opinion of Newcastle, and it definitely feels the same way about him.

The music video for his popular 2014 track The Darker Side Of Me was filmed in the city and is a huge hit with fans of folk old and new. We’re really lucky to have Gibbs in our Northern midst for a show this summer.

Also the host of his own podcast, Thanks For

Giving A Damn, which invites musicians, journalists and historians to share stories and insight – an evening with Otis Gibbs is likely to not only break your heart a little bit with the vulnerability of his craft, but also make you break a smile with his character and tales of being a ‘creative misfit’. Gibbs’ rare cameo in Newcastle is not one to miss.

Otis Gibbs plays The Cluny 2, Newcastle on Friday 7th June.

www.otisgibbs.com

Hawley / Nils Frahm / Corinne Bailey Rae / DJ Shadow / BBC Proms - Jordan Rakei and Royal Northern Sinfonia / Faye MacCalman / Elle Chante / Eliza Carthy / Theo Croker / When Chai Met Toast / Julie Byrne /

MUSIC THE MAGPIES @ GOSFORTH CIVIC THEATRE

Words: Isabel Maria

Transatlantic folk band The Magpies head to Gosforth Civic Theatre on Friday 14th June to impress audiences with their ribbon-tied gift of sublime songwriting, high level musicianship and beautiful harmonies. Their Anglo and American roots shine through the influences of their work; traditional Celtic folk, bluegrass and Appalachian trails.

The Magpies are award-winning singersongwriter, guitarist and banjoist Bella Gaffney, acclaimed composer and fiddle player Holly Brandon, and skilled guitarist and singersongwriter Ellie Gowers. Together they form a rich and tasteful sound, always woven together by powerful storytelling and a bright thread of feminism and gender equality expression. Their sophomore album Undertow, released October 2022, charted on the Official Folk Albums

Chart Top 40, as well as earning them a BBC Radio 2 live session and a quarter of a million streams on Spotify. Their high energy (and high quality) performances know no limits, as seen by audiences of Glastonbury Festival, Deer Shed, and many shows in the USA, Canada, Portugal and Luxembourg, to name a small few. On the night they’ll be joined by talented folk/ roots/Americana singer-songwriter and skilled violin and fiddle player Kari Macleod, making the evening a genuine treat for folk and Americana lovers.

The Magpies and Kari Macleod play Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle on Friday 14th June. www.themagpiesmusic.com

STAGE MANY LIFETIMES –YEWANDE 103 @ DANCE CITY

Words: Amy Mitchell

Many Lifetimes promises to be a fascinating and immersive piece of dance performance. Created by Yewande 103, this new live work is performed in the round under a melting canopy, and builds on their body of work exploring themes such as cycles of loss and healing, using dynamic movement and watery symbolism.

Showing at Dance City on Friday 28th June, Yewande 103 (Yewande is dancer Alexandrina’s middle name and means ‘mother has returned’) uses dance, film, music, collage and poetry to explore multiple ways of being, and describes the work as ‘embodied advocacy’. Her lifelong work is shaped by “profound processing and the seeking out of reparative, embodied alternatives after/alongside violences of racism, misogyny, inadequate care and institutional failings of arts and healthcare sectors”. They want to enliven dance spaces, and develop spaces for discourse, within a sensitive and caring framework; with this piece being described as a collective moment to watch solos passing between performers, experience the hum and thud of heartbeats and gentle transformations.

With movement, words and imagery, the audience will be surrounded and enveloped with the sounds and symbolism of water – a huge downpour, spilling, flooding and gathering – experiencing a unique piece of work and its immersive ethereal style.

Many Lifetimes – Yewande 103 is performed at Dance City, Newcastle on Friday 28th June. www.yewande103.com

COMEDY JOE

KENT-WALTERS

@ ARC

Words: Rob Heselton

In 2021 Joe Kent-Walters won the BBC New Comedy award as his signature character Frankie Monroe, a strange, rash creamsmeared old man obsessed with the working men’s club and his trusty trowel. On Friday 7th June he is bringing Frankie and so much more to Stockton’s ARC for a work in progress show all around his signature character, and his attempts to save the working men’s club he owns as it becomes a literal portal to hell.

The show boasts an impressively strange and absurd mix of comedy and fun as Joe’s style of comedy fuses audience interaction, comical song and bizarre characters into a show likened to that of League of Gentlemen and The Mighty Boosh, and is bound to be a hit with anyone keen on seeing strange characters put into strange situations. It also means a great deal that Joe is bringing his show to Stockton following his impressive win, as when asked about what the award meant to him Joe replied: “I think I’d mostly feel proud to be representing the weird Northerners of the comedy world. There’s some amazing people and stuff that happens up here that doesn’t really get that much of a look in. Would feel great to shine a bit of light on that chunk of the comedy pie.”

Joe Kent-Walters performs at ARC, Stockton on Friday 7th June.

www.linktr.ee/joekentwalters

The Magpies

FILM JEREMY DELLER: THE BATTLE OF ORGREAVE @ NGCA

Words: Iam Burn

In 2006, historian and journalist Tristram Hunt gave this description of The Battle of Orgreave: “Almost medieval in its choreography, it was at various stages a siege, a battle, a chase, a rout and, finally, a brutal example of legalised state violence.”

The scars from what happened on that dramatic day still cause pain to many. What had previously been the site of an unassuming coking plant in South Yorkshire suddenly became the centre of a hugely pivotal event in the 1984-85 UK miners’ strike. Violence erupted between the police and picketing miners, creating a scene more akin to the Wild West than a quiet Yorkshire village.

To mark the 40th anniversary of the strike, the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art Collection Space is screening The Battle of Orgreave, Mike Figgis’ film of Jeremy Deller’s 2001 re-enactment. Figgis combines footage he shot of Deller’s groundbreaking artwork, which saw almost 1,000 people involved in

a public re-enactment in the village of the infamous confrontation, with interviews from several significant protagonists from the 1984 clash.

There are also photographs on display to complement the film. Showing pickets at Easington and Monkwearmouth collieries, through to snapshots of everyday life in Sunderland during the 362-day industrial action, these images help to illustrate the human side of a notable period in our history. Jeremy Deller: The Battle of Orgreave is at Northern Gallery For Contemporary Art, Sunderland from Tuesday 18th June-Sunday 3rd November. www.sunderlandculture.org.uk

The Battle of Orgreave, 2001. Production photograph Parisa Taghizadeh

COMEDY

HARRY FORD & CONNOR READ @ THE STAND

Words: Michael O’Neill

If there’s one thing that cannot be denied, it’s the fact that this region simply cannot stop producing quality comedic talent. We’ve always been a cracking draw for top-tier touring comedians, but now more than ever, the North East is proving its worth as a venerable incubator of side-splitting splendour.

For an insight into the next wave of rising talent, look no further than this double-bill of debut comedy shows from two fledgling talents, gracing the boards of Newcastle’s hallowed Stand Comedy Club on Saturday 29th June. Firstly, with This Must Be The Place, “fast rising anecdotalist” Harry Ford recounts the frenetic series of events that led to him travelling to Brazil to meet a Tinder match for the very first time. Promising to be far from predictable, the show is the culmination of some hard graft for the Manchester-based talent. Co-headliner Connor Read debuts Impish, a show which, against the advice of his therapist, finds him sharply scrutinising his school reports, comedy reviews, job references and other people’s opinions to try and piece together who the hell he really is, making for a no-holds-barred and frank exploration of self which further pushes at the boundaries of the stand-up art-form. Harry Ford and Connor Read perform at The Stand, Newcastle on Saturday 29th June. www.thestand.co.uk

MUSIC KARINE POLWART AND DAVE MILLIGAN @ THE FIRE STATION

Words: Amy Mitchell

Those who enjoy exclusive and rare opportunities to see top artists collaborate should run not walk to this performance at The Fire Station on Thursday 20th June. Karine Polwart, a seven-time winner at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, including 2018 Folk Singer of The Year, has developed her latest project, a collaboration with renowned jazz/folk pianist Dave Milligan, which culminated in the 2021 album release Still As Your Sleeping.

This one-off performance brings two artists at the top of their game to the North East, in a simple yet powerful and spell-binding show. Karine is a multi-award winning Scottish songwriter, folk singer and storyteller; and Dave is a highly versatile musician and well known jazz pianist. Their collaboration offers an intimate, stripped-back collection of songs combining voice and grand piano. The musicians live in the same Midlothian village, and this familiarity and ease is reflected in their music, with some of the songs brand new, and some two decades old. As Karine says: “It’s never felt more important to me to make music, and tell stories, from exactly where I am, with the people I live alongside, my friends and neighbours.”

Karine Polwart and Dave Milligan perform at

The Fire Station, Sunderland on Thursday 20th June.

www.karinepolwart.com www.davemilligan.co.uk

MUSIC

DALE WATSON & HIS LONESTARS @ THE CLUNY

Words: Lee Fisher

Texan by temperament if not by birth, Dale Watson is country to his very bones. He’s been releasing records since the mid-nineties –some 25 or so, thus far – and they rarely stray from a tried and tested formula of shit-kickin’ bar-room country the way pappy did it.

He’s a legend in country circles – Willie Nelson cites Watson as his favourite musician – and he’s at home everywhere from The Grand Ole Opry (where he’s something of a regular) to bars and venues all over the US and Europe, where he’s long had a strong following. Backed by his Lonestars – which he formed in Austin in the mid-nineties – he’s hitting the UK for a handful of dates this month, and brings him to The Cluny on Thursday 13th June thanks to the efforts of the Jumpin’ Hot crew. If you like your whiskey neat and your country music scruffy, this is one not to miss.

Dale Watson & His Lonestars play The Cluny, Newcastle on Thursday 13th June. www.dalewatson.com

Dale Watson

ART & LIT

NEW LIGHT ART PRIZE @ BISCUIT FACTORY

Words: Nat Greener

The Biscuit Factory will once again be buzzing with exciting new talent as it welcomes back the New Light Art Prize Exhibition from Saturday 29th June-Sunday 22nd September. Since 2010, New Light has been championing Northern art, supporting both well-known and up-and-coming artists with some of the region’s top awards and opportunities. This biennial exhibition is one of the UK’s biggest and most talked-about open exhibitions. Prepare to be wowed by works from over 100 of the UK’s finest artists; five prize winners will flaunt their masterpieces, and you’ll even get to vote for your favourite in the Visitor’s Choice award. This year’s exhibition is a right mix, showcasing everything from paintings to an exclusive Sculpture Prize sponsored by The Biscuit Factory Foundation. General Manager Rachel Brown couldn’t be more chuffed: “We’re very much looking forward to the return of New Light, which is an integral platform to the promotion of our region in the art world. We’re thrilled to be able to present the exclusive Sculpture Prize too, which will allow us to spotlight this particular form of art.”

Every artist has a tie to the North of England, with local legends like Narbi Price, Gavin Watson and Leanne Pearce making a return. www.thebiscuitfactory.com

MUSIC ANDREW NOLAN @ CAFE ETCH

Words: Laura Doyle

You may ask what ‘DIY industrial dub noise’ is, but it’s pretty self-explanatory when you think about it. Andrew Nolan produces it under his government name in spades – a choice he sometimes regrets, but it’s always nice to put a name to unholy grinding chaos.

The Leeds-born, Toronto-based musician has had many musical ventures; he was a pirate radio extraordinaire, and dipped his toe in more genres than you can shake a stick at, from punk to hip-hop, but it’s unclear what it says about a person who links their identity intrinsically to the loudest and most experimental genre in their repertoire. His most recent release, Radiophonic Dub, takes industrial noise down a psychedelic slant, apparently best enjoyed with illicit substances (a method which we of course cannot personally recommend). Do not look to his work for sense, but instead let yourself fall into its electronic mayhem with no holds barred. On Monday 17th June he’ll be joined at Cafe Etch in Middlesbrough (and throughout his small UK run supported by Arts Council England) by genre friends KnifedOutOfExistence and Middlesbrough’s own spiciest dub producer Sir Racha, for what we can safely assume will be a loud one. Ear protection recommended. www.survivalistdeathcult.bandcamp.com

STAGE LUKE WRIGHT’S SILVER JUBILEE @ ARC

Words: Amy Mitchell

Luke Wright heads back to the North East with Silver Jubilee, his latest work exploring destiny and lives – those lived and not lived – at Stockton’s ARC on Thursday 13th June. Aiming to celebrate his 25 years of service on the literary frontline, Wright’s attempts to hold a street party fall foul of council curmudgeons and when he can’t shift his over-ordered commemorative Jubilee plates, he turns to what poets do best – taking a deep dive into himself, England, class, his own adoption and how the way he was raised has impacted his life choices.

With his trademark mix of poetry, stand-up, music beats, laughter and pathos, this is one not to miss if you’re a fan; and if you aren’t already then you should definitely make a beeline. Having previously seen Luke perform Frankie Vah at Edinburgh, I’ve kept my eyes peeled for his infrequent visits to North East venues and it’s great to see him back at ARC, who are long-term supporters of his work. Described as his most confessional show to date, with all-new poems on familial love, destiny and privilege, Wright says: “this a show about what it means to be someone’s child” –something that speaks to all of us.

Luke Wright’s Silver Jubilee is performed at ARC, Stockton on Thursday 13th June. www.lukewright.co.uk

New Light Art Prize exhibition by Sam Toolsie

MUSIC BUBAMARA @ TOFT HOUSE

Words: Mack Sproates

Fancy a tasty treat for your ears? The bubbly, bouncy and brilliantly named Bubamara will be bringing you the glorious sounds of the Mediterranean, via a direct flight* to Toft House, Middlesbrough on Saturday 29th June. (*Flight

not included).

Following the release of the Darlington-based band’s newest album Zotica, the selfdescribed ‘folk exotica polka bandits’ will be offering a selection of their finest enchanting jams which you just can’t help but wiggle along to. This album is a collision of coming together tales of celebration, told through hypnotic rhythms and sprightly melodies, transporting your mind to somewhere warm and sunny by the sea (with something zesty to drink!) With elastic twanging strings, lively percussion

and mischievous vocals, these beautifully skilled musicians present a gorgeous array of instrumentation that just radiates with playful joy. Sound like your bag? Then make a beeline for Toft House where Bubamara’s endless bank of uplifting tunes will have you toe-tapping, linking arms and dancing around the room with the folks next to you in celebratory style. Bubamara play Toft House, Middlesbrough on Saturday 29th June.

www.facebook.com/bubamaramusic

Dana Gavanski by Jack Tennant

MUSIC

DANA GAVANSKI

@ THE COMMON ROOM

Words: Matt Young

Ever since releasing her first Spring Demos EP in 2017, Canadian resident Dana Gavanski has continued finding a wider audience for her folk/ art rock, singer-songwriter style. There are moments of gently lilting melody alongside plucked, picked and strummed guitar as she tells her tales of modern life’s contradictions. Her recent album LATE SLAP is bursting with these elements and more, pensive self-analysis rubbing shoulders with cute and playful odes. Laughing one moment, crying the next. She gives a masterclass in controlled yet emotional songwriting, and her show at Newcastle’s Common Room on Saturday 1st June is a perfect opportunity to experience it up close and unfiltered.

Support comes from Bingo Fury, who mixes the classic glitzy yet seedy Broadway sheen of classic songwriters, jazz legends and experimental alternative pioneers. Think

Leonard Cohen or Nina Simone beside the arresting no-wave of James Chance and the Lounge Lizards and you’ll have some idea of the journey Bingo’s music takes. Ladakee is the solo project of Nano Kino’s Sara Suri, aided live by Andrew Jones of Pit Pony and Cheap Lunch. With a blend of psychedelic shoegaze, rhythmic guitars and dreamy harmonies, Suri takes influence from Panda Bear and Antelope among others in creating her own highly immersive and atmospheric sound.

Dana Gavanski, Bingo Fury and Ladakee play The Common Room, Newcastle on Saturday 1st June. www.danagavanski.co.uk

MUSIC

:ZOVIET*FRANCE: @ THE LUBBER FIEND

Words: Lee Fisher

Although far from a household name (except perhaps in the most discerning of households), :zoviet*france: cast a long shadow over the underground scene in the UK and beyond, their

astonishing blend of soundscapes, musique concrete, ambience and dub’s sense of space showing others how it should be done for more than 40 years and perhaps two dozen albums. Based in Newcastle around Ben Ponton and now a duo (with Mark Warren, himself a member for nearly three decades), they’ve played and released all over the world and operated so far beyond the mainstream, most other acts can only look on in awe. Hometown shows are rare these days, which makes the Lubber Fiend gig on Sunday 30th June a special one, and to make it even more appealing they’ve asked French outfit Cantenac Dagar to support; they’re a remarkable duo, who use an intriguing blend of banjo, human beatbox, percussion and tapes that plays in the round and is roughly a collision of folk, punk and industrial textures.

:zoviet*france: and Cantenac Dagar play The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle on Sunday 30th June. www.facebook.com/zovietfrance

STAGE

YARNS FROM HYEM @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Amy Mitchell

Those who champion North Eastern home-grown talent should get themselves along to Yarns From Hyem, by award-winning theatre company Hooley, at a variety of venues. Featuring four tales of love, loss and hope all written by local writers, you can follow the highs and lows of these characters in short plays combined into one evening of performance – with each also starring and directed by local talent.

Hooley aims to make work that speaks to community audiences and it’s fantastic to see some familiar names and faces cropping up in these shows; such is the talent and breadth of stories, there’s bound to be something you like in this selection box of heart-warming and hilarious tales, which includes Hope That A Flat Door Shuts by Claire-Marie Perry, Boxing by Charlie Prothero, The Edge by Barbara Williams and Ryan by Sarah Tarbit. Michael Blair and Zoe Murtagh take on directorial duties across the productions, and performers include Umar Butt, Kieron Michael, Ainsley Fannen, Micky McGregor, Harriet Ghost and William Wyn Davies. These Yarns promise to be a great introduction to theatre for those who might not normally go, so don’t stay hyem – get yourself along.

Yarns From Hyem is performed at Saltburn Community Theatre (30th May), Gala Theatre, Durham (31st May), Seaton Delaval Arts Centre (1st June), Woodhorn Museum, Ashington (1st June), The Witham, Barnard Castle (4th June), Meadow Well Connected, North Tyneside (5th

June), The Exchange 1856, North Shields (5th June), Jarrow Hall (6th June) and Hebburn Iona Club (6th June). www.hooleytheatre.com

COMEDY

LAURA SMYTH @ THE STAND

Words: Laura Rosierse

Award-winning comedian Laura Smyth will be bringing her open and honest show Living My Best Life to The Stand in Newcastle on Thursday 6th June. In her latest show she unveils and explores aspects of modern life and how ‘living your best life’ is actually achieved. She brings topics to the stage that aren’t always easy to talk about including body positivity, ageing gracefully, spending all your wages, motherhood and so much more. She’s hailed an utterly hilarious, comedic powerhouse and has quickly risen through the comedic ranks with previous performances going down a storm at Live At The Apollo, the BBC New Comedy Awards in 2023 and as support for Jack Whitehall.

Smyth has found a way to be hilarious without the frills; she’s simply herself and tells some of her life’s stories as they are in a naturally comedic way. Besides being a comedian on stage, she’s also a writer of at least one of my favourite series, Bad Education, as well as Deep Fake Neighbour Wars. There’s clearly no stopping Laura Smyth’s rise, and her upcoming tour will only add heat to the fire.

Laura Smyth performs at The Stand, Newcastle on Thursday 6th June www.laurasmyth.com

MUSIC FAT WHITE FAMILY @ BOILER SHOP

Words: Michael O’Neill

Shock-rock provocateurs Fat White Family’s stock hasn’t declined in the decade since their debut album, Champagne Holocaust, pushed the envelope. In the time since, they’ve remained unafraid to push the boundaries of sonics and good taste, but they’ve also proven themselves to be a versatile and formidable musical powerhouse too.

Their oft-uncompromising approach isn’t to everyone’s taste, but even their most ardent opponents will have a hard time arguing that recent LP Forgiveness Is Yours is prime proof that they’re a far more innovative and high-brow outfit than their reputation would suggest, with frontman Lias Saoudi remaining one of the most fascinating and uncompromising lyricists, and the band further showcasing their musical versatility beyond the ramshackle, unpolished garage rock of their earlier releases; there’s still a veneer of grit and filth, filtered through the kaleidoscopic sound introduced in 2019’s Serfs Up. In a live setting, the band prove their worth, with their broad palette of sound losing none of its force or urgency, with their last visit to Newcastle’s Boiler Shop being one hell of a tour-de-force in sonic innovation. Given the evolution present on Forgiveness is Yours, lightning is guaranteed to strike twice.

Fat White Family play Boiler Shop, Newcastle on Saturday 15th June.

www.fatwhitefamilymusic.com

Fat White Family by Louise Mason

MUSIC VILLAGERS @ WYLAM BREWERY

Words: Dawn Storey

Three years on from his previous LP, Villagers main man Conor O’Brien heads out on the road in June with a full band, stopping in at Wylam Brewery on Wednesday 5th June, to promote his eagerly-awaited sixth album, and the award-winning Dublin songwriter has been taking online requests for which material should make the tour setlist. With such a vast back catalogue he’s spoiled for choice but, judging by recent singles, his impending release is also set to make a huge impact.

O’Brien’s thought-provoking lyrics with just a touch of unsettling eeriness have been present once more in You Lucky One and title track That Golden Time, and are of course accompanied by his unmistakeable soulful vocals, while his vivid and beautiful melodies are bound to induce a few tears.

Continuing the theme of distinctive voices, support comes from the highly-rated Hamish Hawk. Edinburgh’s erudite wordsmith has announced that his new album, A Firmer Hand,

is due to follow 2023’s critically acclaimed Angel Numbers in August. Recent single Big Cat Tattoos suggests Hawk has many more eloquent lyrics and killer melodies up his sleeve and while he’s more commonly seen with his excellent band, he’s a compelling live performer and this intimate solo slot promises to be equally magical.

Villagers and Hamish Hawk play Wylam Brewery, Newcastle on Wednesday 5th June. www.wearevillagers.com

MUSIC

COAST FEST 2024 @ PERCY PARK RFC

Words: Matthew Brown Coast Fest is riding the wave back to North Shields, building on its award-winning debut with an even bigger line-up. Scheduled for the weekend of Friday 21st-Sunday 23rd June at Percy Park RFC, the festival will feature headline performances from Professor Green, The Selecter and Badly Drawn Boy.

Following its recognition as the Best New Festival of 2023, Coast Fest aims to deliver an even more impressive line-up with over 100

grassroots artists spread across three stages.

The festival’s mission is to spotlight North East talent, providing local artists the chance to perform alongside national acts. Attendees can expect performances from a wide range of artists including 20 Dollar Wedding, Baby Rattlesnakes, Bear Park, Hector Gannet, Cat Ryan, Club Paradise, Elizabeth Liddle, Dayzies, Jack Fox, Jenny Lascelles, Twayn and many others, offering a diverse musical experience ensuring there’s something for everyone.

This year, Coast Fest is also embracing a family-friendly approach, inviting music lovers of all ages to enjoy the festivities and the event will maintain its commitment to accessibility, featuring an accessible viewing platform and a secure environment. With an emphasis on community and inclusivity, the festival promises to be a highlight of the summer in the region, blending top-tier musical acts with a welcoming atmosphere.

Coast Fest 2024 takes place at Percy Park RFC, North Shields from Friday 21st-Sunday 23rd June.

www.coastfestival.co.uk

Villagers by Andrew Whitton

MUSIC

GOAT GIRL @ BOILER SHOP

Words: Matt Young

Branching out from their South London origins, Goat Girl draws on a very eclectic pool of influences as they indulge their own post-punk, Gothic country and electronic sounds. Think of Phillip Glass, SAULT, Little Simz, The Libertines and Fat White Family as touchstones on this new album, Below The Waste, layering over their already familiar choppy guitars and expansive noise rock. Produced by John ‘Spud’ Murphy, the group presents a more finessed, wider aural listening experience. They arguably do their best work live, so watching them perform new material alongside the socio-political favourites taken from their previous two albums at Newcastle’s Boiler Shop on Friday 28th June promises a sensational experience.

Goat Girl are supported by Newcastle’s own ERNIE, real name is Joe Ernest Allan, whose trajectory over the past twelve months has been steadily on the rise. ERNIE serves up his own brand of heartfelt, fuzzy indie rock, with

lyrics covering everything from adolescent dreams and difficulties, family life, relationships in all their complexity and generally being the “odd one out” in a small Northern town. He’s an artist with a dense setlist of finely honed songs and thrives performing live, so make sure you get along early and catch his sure-to-be amazing set.

Goat Girl and ERNIE play The Boiler Shop, Newcastle on Friday 28th June. www.goatgirl.co.uk

FILM LOSING THE PLOT FILM RETREAT @ THE BURNLAW CENTRE

Words: Amy Mitchell

Love films? Love going to events that offer a different, more relaxed vibe? Then the Star & Shadow Cinema’s Losing The Plot, a film retreat with a family friendly approach, is one for you. It’s not for experts, or those who want to be alone, it’s a community experience, to explore cinema that you wouldn’t see in the local multiplex, to talk about the films, the stories,

ideas, themes and characters in a friendly relaxed environment. There are shared meals, the opportunity to camp and there is even a fire to sit and talk around.

This 10th edition of the festival takes place from Friday 7th-Sunday 9th June at The Burnlaw Centre, Hexham – a small and magical community which offers space to think, talk, socialise and make connections with others.

This year’s selection has a theme of love that criss-crosses the films, not just the romantic kind but love across race, asexual love, and the love of a created family. Christo Wallers curates the festival in an unusual way; making a selection based on what is accessible and different, a change from straightforward Hollywood plot narratives. The festival aims to be inclusive, with tickets priced as low as possible, and all include communal meals, accommodation and of course tickets to the films themselves. As Christo says: “You don’t need to be a film connoisseur, more someone interested in humans.”

Losing The Plot film retreat takes place from Friday 7th-Sunday 9th June at The Burnlaw Centre, Hexham. www.starandshadow.org.uk

Goat Girl

Richard Hawley by Dean Chalkley

MUSIC

RICHARD HAWLEY @ THE GLASSHOUSE

Words: Ali Welford

Master songsmith Richard Hawley has adopted many guises across a celebrated solo career – from unabashed retro romance (Cole’s Corner; Lady’s Bridge), to tangled fuzz-fuelled psychedelics (Standing At The Sky’s Edge). For a certain subset of fans (myself very much included), however, it’s ballads which are the Yorkshireman’s truest calling – a case perhaps most exquisitely made on 2009’s magnificent Truelove’s Gutter. News, then, of a return to the format – of Hawley ditching the distortion pedals and pitching his rich Sheffield brogue front and centre – has been met with jubilation, making upcoming album In This City They Call You Love and its subsequent tour his most anticipated in years.

Certainly, early indicators have been encouraging, with preview singles Two for His Heels, Heavy Rain and Prism In Jeans each sure to sound resplendent on his return to The Glasshouse on Thursday 13th June. A habitual

visitor to the North East, this month’s show nevertheless marks his first time in Hall 1 for nine years. With support from Thea Gilmour – a prolific cult songwriter with over 20 albums to her name – there can be few finer settings in which to savour Hawley’s spectacular live show, and to embrace the newest additions to a sumptuous canon.

Richard Hawley and Thea Gilmore play The Glasshouse, Gateshead on Thursday 13th June. www.richardhawley.co.uk

STAGE

FROGNAL & FOX –A LIFE IN SONG @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Michael O’Neill

Taking in a staggeringly broad itinerary of local venues, from Alnwick’s Playhouse to Newcastle’s Prohibition Bar (and, I kid you not, near-enough everywhere in between throughout the North East and Cumbria) Frognal & Fox – A Life In Song is a cabaret-style show which boasts a raucously singular blend of

satirical comedy and rousing renditions of some of the finest works in the Great American Songbook (including the likes of Cole Porter, the Gershwins, Stephen Sondheim and Noel Coward) to tell the story of Margaret Frognal (Jane Holman) and Adele Fox (Zoe Lambert), two fading stars who, with a cynical and bemused pianist (Declan Flannery) in tow, use theatre and song to explore their careers, and the hidden tensions that have remained a fierce undercurrent within their storied partnership. Written by acclaimed playwright Fiona Ellis, with direction by Cinzia Hardy, the play promises to be an enthrallingly unique celebration of a classic era in theatre, fusing cabaret and witty satire into a brilliantly single blend of narrative and performance. Come for the spine-tingling renditions of some of the finest works of song, and stay for the gloriously witty and compelling story that they serve.

Frognal & Fox – A Life In Song is performed at venues across the North East throughout June. Visit the website for further info. www.carolewproductions.com/frognaland-fox

ART & LIT

EWAN BROWN ANARCHIST BOOKFAIR @

STAR & SHADOW CINEMA

Words: Matthew Brown

The third annual Ewan Brown Anarchist Bookfair returns to Star & Shadow Cinema on Saturday 1st June, continuing to honour the memory and passions of Ewan Brown with a vibrant day filled with radical ideas, art and community engagement. The event promises a rich blend of activities suitable for all ages, reflecting Ewan’s legacy as a bold and socially conscious individual.

From 10am until late, attendees can explore a diverse array of stalls by radical collectives, engage in practical workshops covering everything from basic bike mechanics to graffiti painting, and mini art exhibitions dedicated to Ewan’s life and works. The Star & Shadow community kitchen will offer delicious food, while BSL interpreters ensure accessibility throughout the day. As the evening rolls in the atmosphere will shift vibes, with live music from Almighty Uprisers, Fiona Liquid, Benny Rabble and 21 Melville Street, plus a film screening of dramatic documentary Battle of Stockton.

Ewan Brown, remembered for his activism in areas like animal rights and anti-racism, as well as his artistic contributions to the Star & Shadow, has inspired this annual gathering that not only celebrates his life but also fosters a space for like-minded individuals. Entry is donation-based, supporting the continuation of

this unique and inspiring event.

Ewan Brown Anarchist Bookfair takes place at Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle on Saturday 1st June. www.newcastlebookfair.org.uk

MUSIC MANNEQUIN PUSSY @ THE GROVE

Words: Ben Lowes-Smith Mannequin Pussy’s new record I Got Heaven has been met with universal critical acclaim; it’s a messy, self-assured collection of songs that represent a creative peak for the Philadelphia band. Pitchfork compared it positively to Hole’s Live Through This, and it’s a similarly frenetic, feminist collection of songs that may one day be considered a classic of the genre. There is a bubblegum slickness to songs like Drunk II that doesn’t undermine the bile and vitriol; messy, powerful pop songs for the heart and the gut. Happily, you’ll have the opportunity to see this modern classic find its feet in a live setting, as Mannequin Pussy land at one of the region’s best intimate venues, The Grove, on Thursday 27th June. Given the sheer volume of positive noise around I Got Heaven, this is sure to sell out, and it’s unlikely given their trajectory that they will return to stages this small. We’re also likely to hear the choicest cuts from their back catalogue, with previous records Patience and Romantic packing as much of a punch. An unmissable event for fans of soul-nourishing rock music.

Mannequin Pussy play The Grove, Newcastle on Thursday 27th June. www.mannequinpussy.com

MUSIC THE YOUNG PROPERTY DEVELOPERS @ LITTLE BUILDINGS

Words: Jake Anderson

Paul Stewart, under the moniker of The Young Property Developers, has been quietly creating idiosyncratic and poetic music since 2013. Possessed of a canny knack for exquisitely clever lyrics, which pack a punch accompanied by often punky guitars and poignant observations, Stewart’s subject matter ranges from acute character studies to sub-one minute tracks which tell you everything you need to know about attending a picnic with a heavy metal band, or the romantic side of a certain 1980s action film.

The release of his latest album, entitled Eeeeeeeeeeee! It’s The Young Property Developers, is celebrated at Little Buildings on Saturday 15th June. The album places an emphasis on its leading thrashy and punky guitar riffs, used as a vessel to carry Stewart’s playful lyrics through a lo-fi rock soundscape. The new album showcases 15 new tracks, confined to a brisk 28 minutes. The project is quickly paced, yet each track makes its own individual impression.

Support for the night comes from fellow songwriting mavericks The Agency and St James Infirmary.

Young Property Developers play Little Buildings, Newcastle on Saturday 15th June. www.theyoungpropertydevelopers. bandcamp.com

Mannequin Pussy by Millicent Hailes

MUSIC PILLOW QUEENS @ THE CLUNY

Words: Matt Young Dublin quartet Pillow Queens are back in the North East this month, promoting their third album Name Your Sorrow at The Cluny on Monday 10th June, as they continue their insatiable rise up the indie rock echelons.

Already lauded for their powerful and personal pop punk-inflected songs beset with themes of catholic guilt, betrayal, hypocrisy and relationship minutiae of all kinds, their new material adds further layers of atmosphere and emotion to the mix. Adding extra hazy passion to their already indomitable music has seen the Irish foursome rack up a wave of glowing reviews as they take to the road, visiting the region again after two years away. Previously releasing an acclaimed pair of singles from the album already this year, the

brooding Gone and the intense dreamlike sound of Like A Lesson, it’s clear that Name Your Sorrow also continues the band’s trademark pursuit of pulsing beats and punishing guitars. It’s not only the music that has won the band fans from all corners, it’s the fact that they “explore the intersection of religion and Queerness.”

Pillow Queens play The Cluny, Newcastle on Monday 10th June. www.pillowqueens.com

Pigs x7 by Amelia Read

MUSIC LIGHT YEARS @ BOILER SHOP

Words: Ben Lowes-Smith

Taking place on Saturday 8th June, Light Years is an all-dayer that combines the powers of two of the region’s most astute promoters, Wandering Oak and F54, and one of Newcastle’s best mid-sized venues, the Boiler Shop. Wandering Oak are well known for bringing the world’s best psych rock music to Newcastle, while F54 have been steadily building a reputation as a finger-on-the-pulse booker; Light Years assimilates their expertise to bring a stunning line-up of atmospheric rock music to the venue.

Local legends Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs headline, their pulverising live set has recently gained them international acclaim, including a live session on KEXP. Also performing are ĠENN, who describe themselves as “a sisterhood of psychedelic textures”, and their cosmic brand of Roky Erickson-tinged rock and roll is sure to delight; O. are set to release their debut record on Speedy Wunderground – their brand of art rock oscillates between dissonant and

hyper-melodic seemingly at a whim – inspired by auteurs like Deerhoof and Lightning Bolt, and adding their own brass-laden twist to it; Newcastle’s Pit Pony have gained national and international acclaim with debut record World To Me, with another LP of galvanising garage rock in the way in 2024; Manchester’s TVAM’s colourful, noisy sonic landscape is reminiscent of Midnite Vultures-era Beck and Nine Inch Nails; and, completing the line-up, Plantoid are a four-piece jazz rock fusion band from Brighton whose debut album comes out on Bella Union this year.

Tickets are a relative snip at £27 for a more than a generous dollop of some of the UK’s best experimental rock music.

Light Years takes place at Boiler Shop, Newcastle on Saturday 8th June. www.boilershop.net

COMEDY

LAUREL’S COMEDY CLUB @ LAUREL’S

Words: Laura Doyle

Laurel’s Comedy Club makes its triumphant return to Whitley Bay, proving that the social

hub is making good on its promise to bring alternative entertainment to the North Tyneside town with another evening of fun and laughter. On Saturday 1st June you can enjoy all the comedy stylings of Glaswegian comic and 2021 Comedian’s Comedian of the Year Mark Nelson. He’s managed to make other stand-up professionals laugh with comedy that constantly tows the line of common decency, so you’re probably going to be in good – if provocative – hands for the evening. Joining Nelson on the night’s bill is telly’s own Ben Crompton, in a decidedly different capacity from his best-known work as a member of the Night’s Watch – unless of course those playing the Game of Thrones were in dire need for some laughs beyond the Wall. The North East’s own Anja Atkinson completes the line-up; she hasn’t been in the game for as long, but is ready to bring her fresh takes to the Whitley Bay crowd. Tying the whole show together is our beloved and trustworthy Si Beckwith, without whom a North East comedy show would truly never feel complete.

Mark Nelson, Ben Crompton, Anja Atkinson and Si Beckwith perform at Laurel’s, Whitley Bay on Saturday 1st June.

www.laurelswhitley.co.uk

MUSIC HIEROGLYPHICS @ NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ UNION

Words: Rob Heselton

Founded in Oakland, California in the 1990s, Hieroglyphics are one of the most influential

hip-hop groups of the time. Comprised of Del

The Funky Homosapien, Souls Of Mischief, Pep Love, Casual, Domino and DJ Toure, the group are bringing their talents to Newcastle’s Northumbria University on Thursday 13th June. The show is set to be a once in a lifetime opportunity to see their successful underground album 3rd Eye Vision performed live and direct. The show is set to be jammed full of their classic underground style that mixes their home-grown alternative West Coast flow with jazz and funk-inspired beats, and will be a triumphant demonstration of some of the best

music to come out of hip-hop in the nineties. Coming off the back of a massively successful tour around America, the group have set their sights on the North East as their next big stage to hit. Having been cited as massive influences on many heavyweight artists, such as A Tribe Called Quest, Andre 3000, Wu Tang Clan and more, Hieroglyphics have left a huge impact on the hip-hop genre; now is the time to experience it up close and personal. Hieroglyphics play Northumbria University Students’ Union, Newcastle on Thursday 13th June. www.hieroglyphics.com

MUSIC

MIKE WATT & IL SOGNO DEL MARINAIO @ THE CLUNY 2

Words: Lee Fisher

For someone so unassuming and diffident, it’s amazing how people of a certain age (old punks in particular) become dumbstruck around Mike Watt. But then Watt was the bassist in Minutemen, one of the greatest bands ever and the square pegs in the round hole of the US hardcore scene with their jazz, African and funk influences.

When that band ended in 1985 because of the tragic loss of guitarist – and Watt’s best friend – D Boon, Watt played with fIREHOSE for a few years and then became a peripatetic collaborator who even did a stint in the reformed Stooges. One of his most impressive projects is Il Sogno del Marinaio (The Sailor’s Dream), a trio with Stefano Pilia and Paolo Mongardi that have released a handful of records but have a reputation as a fearsome

and fascinating live act. And they’re coming to the UK as part of a short tour, taking in The Cluny 2, Newcastle on Monday 10th June. www.hootpage.com

FILM

INTERNATIONAL SEX WORKER DAY FILM SCREENINGS @ STAR & SHADOW CINEMA

Words: Kate Relton

A film screening marking International Sex Worker Day aims to give a voice to women and commemorate a historic protest that took place in France nearly 50 years ago.

On Saturday 2nd June, North East Spicy Coffee Collective present a double-bill of screenings which include Prostitutes of Lyon Speak, and Kate Millet Speaks Prostitution With Some Feminists at Star & Shadow Cinema, followed by a post-screening discussion.

Both films were premiered in 1975, a year

which inspired the creation of International Sex Worker Day thanks to a mass protest in France which saw more than 100 prostitutes occupy Saint-Nizier Church in Lyon, demanding better living and working conditions and an end to police harassment after suspected mishandling of several sex worker murders.

The event is organised by North East Spicy Coffee Collective, a group of sex workers who organise monthly meet ups, sharing resources and safety tips and building a safe, inclusive community. Despite the rise in online adult platforms like OnlyFans, many aspects of sex work are still criminalised in the UK, and a recent YouGov survey revealed 46% of people would not be friends with someone who has sold sexualised images of themselves, a figure which rises to 71% when considering dating. The collective hopes the event will open conversations about sex work and reduce the stigma which leaves so many unable to talk about their work.

International Sex Worker Day film screenings take place at Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle on Saturday 2nd June. www.instagram.com/nespicycc

Mike Watt & Il Sogno Del Marinaio by Carlo Ricci

INTERVIEWS

MOUSES

BWYWTB IS A MANIFESTO FOR LIVING AUTHENTICALLY IN A WORLD THAT OFTEN SEEMS INTENT ON ENFORCING CONFORMITY

MATTHEW BROWN DELVES INTO HOW THE LO-FI QUEER-PUNK DUO’S SOPHOMORE ALBUM IS A RALLYING CRY FOR SELF-EXPRESSION AND A CRITIQUE OF SOCIETAL PRESSURES IMAGE BY HANA

MARIE PHOTOGRAPHY

After seven years of creative hiatus, Mouses, the lo-fi garage queer-punk duo comprised of guitarist and vocalist Steven Bardgett and drummer Nathan Duff, have stormed back onto the scene with their latest album, bwywtb (Be Who You Want To Be). This new release embodies the band’s enduring commitment to championing individuality and challenging societal norms. The path to this album has been as unconventional and challenging as the band itself, with disruptions from global crises and personal milestones shaping its narrative and depth.

Steven Bardgett delves into the complex journey of the album’s

creation, which began earnestly in 2018. “We’d put a date on it in our heads as April 2020 and we all know what happened then! Covid came around and we basically just shelved the whole thing for ages and life happened.” The pandemic not only delayed the album but deeply influenced its content and the band’s perspective. Bardgett, who became a parent during this period, notes that fatherhood brought new dimensions to his songwriting and thematic focus. The title, bwywtb, stands as a clarion call for personal freedom and self-expression, themes that are deeply woven into the album’s fabric. Bardgett reflects on the significance of

MUSIC

individuality for Mouses, noting that while the band has always embraced quirkiness and authenticity, the current social environment has made their message even more relevant. “Hate crime is a daily occurrence, bullying is so much worse and now with social media it just never ends,” he laments. This critique is palpably laced through the album’s lyrics, particularly in songs like Edison, the opening track of bwywtb, with its sharp, raw guitar riffs and bursts of energy. The track inspired by the tragic suicide of a local teenager – a poignant reminder of the devastating effects of societal rejection.

Musically, bwywtb represents a significant shift from the duo’s previous work, embracing a more introspective and refined approach. Opting against a traditional studio setting, the band chose to record the album in Bardgett’s childhood bedroom, a space imbued with personal history and emotional resonance. This choice was emblematic of the band’s DIY ethos, which Bardgett champions as not only a necessity but a profound artistic advantage. “We set up everything ready to record in a bedroom in my house and it was basically left like that for a good couple of months,” he explains. “There’s always going to be limitations with home recording, which really forces you to be creative, kind of like trying to act out your musical ideas within the constraints of a two-piece band, so it fit perfectly with everything we were trying to do.”

The album’s lyrical content tackles a spectrum of deeply personal and societal issues, from the celebration of individuality to the critique of conventional norms and

injustices. Bardgett’s songwriting is both reflective and confrontational, aiming to not only address but also ameliorate the social and personal conflicts he observes. “With the writing for this album, a lot of the songs were a long time coming and songs changed and were moulded over the course of months sometimes,” he explains, underscoring the thoughtful and evolutionary nature of their music-making process. Among the standout tracks on bwywtb is the single Fiends, which unleashes a surge of punk intensity, with vocals that growl in defiance alongside pulsating drums and guitars that roar with distortion, infusing the song with a kinetic aggression. It encapsulates the album’s critical engagement with societal issues, particularly the dangers of idolisation and the dark underbelly of celebrity culture. “It’s about not being afraid to turn your back on artists and people you once idolised when they do terrible things. It’s something we’ve seen come to light so often in recent years,” Bardgett explains. The song challenges listeners to reconsider their admiration for public figures, emphasising that: “You can’t separate the art from the artist; art is too personal for that.”

Bardgett’s personal growth and his experiences as a new father have profoundly influenced his artistic vision and aspirations for the album. His hope is that bwywtb will inspire listeners to embrace their identities and challenge the status quo, much as he intends to instil these values in his daughter. “Everything I do now, I do for her,” he states, emphasising the transformative power of music to inspire and effect change.

Moreover, the album arrives at a time when divisions and the questioning of identity are more pronounced than ever. Bardgett and Duff, both shaped by their upbringing and personal struggles with identity and acceptance, imbue their music with a sense of urgency and advocacy for change. The duo’s live performances, known for their raw energy and unscripted nature, are extensions of the album’s themes, aimed at blurring the lines between the performers and the audience, fostering a more inclusive and engaging experience. Looking forward, Mouses are not content to rest on their laurels. Bardgett hints at ongoing creative explorations, suggesting that the release of bwywtb is just the beginning of a new chapter. As for the impact of their music, Bardgett is modest yet hopeful. “I’m not going to say our music will particularly shape any real change... But, if we can keep inspiring people, even on a small scale, to be powerful role models for the next generation, I feel like we’re doing our little bit,” he reflects.

For many, bwywtb will be more than an album; it’s a manifesto for living authentically in a world that often seems intent on enforcing conformity. Through their unique sound, heartfelt lyrics and unwavering commitment to their values, Mouses not only challenges listeners to reflect on their own identities but also to act against the injustices that pervade our society. As the album makes its debut, it stands as a beacon of hope and a call to action, inviting everyone to embrace the ethos of being who you want to be, against all odds.

Mouses release bwywtb on 21st June via Butterfly Effect. The band play The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle on Saturday 20th July.

www.mousestheband.com

SONIC ARTS WEEK

IF YOU LIKE…

THE BUS

For those who travel through Teesside on the X66, you’ll know that this humble form of public transport can also be a stimulating feast for all the senses, whether that be smell (wee, salt and vinegar crisps), sight (actions that can never be unseen), touch (the stickiness), taste (body odour) and, of course, sound (crying). The ATOM bus, from art duo Alisa Oleva and Timothy Maxymenko, will be looking to work with the latter as they take passengers on a sonic journey around Middlesbrough exploring experiences within urban spaces of portals, spaces in between, shared encounters and meeting places.

INDUSTRIAL COAST

For the past couple of years now, experimental cassette label and promoter Industrial Coast have been bringing internationally renowned sound exploration artists to The Auxiliary in Middlesbrough and creating one of the most exciting underground scenes in Teesside. You’ll be pleased to know that throughout Sonic Arts Week this will continue.

EVENTS

WORDS: DAVID SAUNDERS

Sonic Arts Week returns to Middlesbrough for a third time from Saturday 22nd-Saturday 29th June. The free and accessible sound art festival delivered by The Auxiliary Project Space offers roaming soundscapes, live performances and gigs, interactive installations and lots to do for all the family.

Build an instrument at Summat For The Bairns; go on a sonic tour via the ATOMS Bus; embrace the weird and wonderful in the town centre with Encounters; enjoy the layered visceral soundscapes of James Watts and the roaming conduction and touch responsive soundscapes from Jayne Dent with her installation The Organ; embark on an odyssey of spoken word poetry and music from Bob Beagrie and Stewart Forth; see Middlesbrough transformed into a post-apocalyptic soundscape via The Doom Orchestra; join in the fun with the robo-dancing ex-freelance bin men The Junkoactive Wasteman & The Tin Can Twins and embrace a variety of other sound performances from the finest artists this world can offer. Go on. Your uninspired lugs will thank you for it. Here’s a few more ideas... www.sonicartsweek.com

TO SONICALLY EMBRACE THE IMPENDING APOCALYPSE

The likes of Russia, China and North Korea might get the say on when our time on this Earth is up, courtesy of their nuclear arsenal. But it’s only right that the survivors of the new age get to decide on the soundtrack to their life in the scorched and desolated lands of New Teesside. Thankfully The Doom Orchestra will be able to help as they transform Middlesbrough into a post-apocalyptic landscape of strange, noisy sounds, with bodged instruments crafted from items that survived “the blinding light in the sky”. Oh, and if you’re looking for ideas on what you can do with all the junk you stole from the raider camp then The Junkoactive Wasteman & The Tin Can Twins can probably assist you via their music-making, metal booty-shaking display.

YOUR CLOTHES TO MAKE MUSIC

We all know Jayne Dent, under the moniker of Me Lost Me, is a supertalented music maker but did you know she is also a musical tapestry maker? Her interactive installation The Organ is one of the event highlights and sees Jayne using her magical loom, conductive thread and technological know-how to make textiles that are touch-responsive. Imagine the implications this can have on our lives. Jumpers that can soundtrack our day-to-day lives, running socks that drop synthetic beats on impact, the possibilities are endless…

Image by Rachel Deakin

Jayne Dent by Rachel Deakin

The Junkoactive Wasteman & The Tin Can Twins

BEHIND THE MUSIC: FAYE MACCALMAN MUSIC

AN IN-DEMAND PERFORMER, COLLABORATOR AND LEADER OF THE BRILLIANT JAZZ TRIO ARCHIPELAGO, NEWCASTLE-BASED MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST FAYE MACCALMAN HAS SPENT RECENT YEARS BUILDING A SIMILARLY ENVIABLE OEUVRE AS A SOLO ARTIST. HERE, FAYE TALKS US THROUGH INVISIBLE, REAL: AN AMBITIOUS AUDIOVISUAL PROJECT DEVELOPED AS PART OF THE GLASSHOUSE’S ARTIST IN RESIDENCE PROGRAMME, SET TO DEBUT WITH A SPECIAL SHOW ON THURSDAY 13TH JUNE. WWW.FAYEMACCALMAN.COM

WORDS: FAYE MACCALMAN INSPIRATION

Somebody close to me died of suicide a few years back and it really devastated me. It made a lot of the stuff I was doing as an artist feel pointless. I was angry and consumed by grief, and felt lonely as it wasn’t easy to talk about. It made me realise how much stigma I was still carrying with me. There’s a lot of discourse about how it’s okay to talk about these things, but the actions to back it up are often quite different. I wanted to create something which got beneath that surface level – a surreal, sci-fi-inspired adventurist world with space for all these complicated feelings… something less heavy and more playful. I love artists like Kassa Overall who talk about their sensitivities and struggles and use them as a superpower, so it was time to put my money where my mouth is…

DEVELOPMENT

Invisible, Real began as an installation at Cheltenham Jazz Festival in 2022, with funding from Jerwood Arts, who’ve also helped back The Glasshouse residency. I worked on it all through lockdown, intensely and on my own. That original version was just me performing solo, with visuals from Rhian Cooke and Nikki Sheth on spatialised sound. There were lots of recorded homemade backing tracks and some of the effects can’t be recreated – so this time I’m adapting it for a band, creating room for improvisation and writing new segments. I’ve expanded it so that it now comprises two 45-minute sets, and Rhianne has created more beautiful visual designs using the

same method of projecting onto hanging fabrics. They’re quite textural and abstract – they make everything appear to be floating!

RESPONSES

A key element of Invisible, Real came from the public, who I asked to submit their anonymous experiences of mental illness and hidden inner worlds. There’s a lot of me in there music-wise, but there’s only one lyric that I’ve written myself – everything else in the 90-minute show is made up of audience replies. It was an amazing experience going through the moving and personal stories that were sent in. People often assume they’re sad, but a lot of them were also really uplifting. The whole point of the project is to bring people together – that’s the most important thing to me.

FUTURE

I want to keep doing Invisible, Real for as long as I can, and to see how it evolves with fresh audience replies. I love learning about people and their inner worlds, and I find this format exciting because it’s so fluid. The ensemble for The Glasshouse performance is me (woodwinds, voice, electronics), John Pope (double-bass, voice) Elaine Cheng (keys, voice) and Beccy Owen (keys, voice) – but unlike other projects, I can adapt it for different places and different musicians, and ask those performers to respond to people’s experiences in an improvised way. It feels like a cool thing to bring to bring to different spaces or cities, so that everybody can experience it together.

Image by Victoria Wai

BEAR PARK

DAWN STOREY TALKS TO THE NEWCASTLE-BASED ALT. INDIE TRIO ABOUT THEIR GENRE-HOPPING DEBUT ALBUM

Having already made waves in the local music scene with their timeless singles Betty and Play It Louder, Bear Park – aka Shay Bagnall, Guy Robson and Adam Marshall – are now ready to release their debut album, produced by The Libertines drummer Gary Powell.

The self-titled LP is brimming with summery songs and storytelling lyrics, and singer Shay explains it’s been a real group effort: “Guy and I are increasingly writing songs together, so a lot of the time it’s definitely a collaborative effort. We try our best to make interesting drums and let Adam put his own twist on them. We’re dead happy it’s catchy and lyrically interesting, we certainly try to make it that way!”

“A lot of songs have started with a guitar part which I’ve given to Shay to add melodies and lyrics to,” says Guy. “He can write parts of songs in his head whilst he’s at work. It’s nuts.”

It’s difficult to pin down Bear Park’s influences, as their sound segues seamlessly from contemporary indie to classic rock, with a number of detours along the way. “We have pretty different music tastes,” says Guy. “That’s what gives us our unique sound. Adam likes hip-hop and classic rock, whereas Shay is really into bands like Wallows and The Killers. The song Head Of The United States has a reggae middle section, which was thrown in on the spot by Gary in the studio – he’s a genius.”

“Our sound is influenced by the 60s,” says Shay. “The Beatles’ harmonies and melodies certainly came into play. I’m a huge Simon and Garfunkel fan and I really admire Paul Simon’s lyrics. The Smiths have an influence on the jangly guitar sound we often incorporate too.”

The band have already enjoyed some high-profile support slots, including a few shows with The Libertines, and have taken on board some of their advice. “It’s been absolutely unreal on the road,” says Guy. “To do it with a band as impactful as The

THEIR SOUND SEGUES SEAMLESSLY FROM CONTEMPORARY INDIE TO CLASSIC ROCK, WITH A NUMBER OF DETOURS ALONG THE WAY MUSIC

Libertines was something else. They were all such lovely people. Pete had so much time for us and watched our set every single night. We’ve learned a lot though – most importantly to take care of your health when you’re away. Plenty of sleep, good food, water etc. Some people can manage ‘living the life’, but I can’t. I like my sleep.”

Asked which track best sums up the band, Guy says: “I think Head Of The United States is the one I’d show to people who’d never heard of us before. That gets the best response from people when we play live. I think it perfectly encapsulates Bear Park. Surf-driven guitars, catchy melodies, hard hitting drums and a few genre changes to keep things interesting.”

The trio are looking forward to their album launch show at The Grove on Saturday 22nd June. “It’s going to be our biggest show yet,” explains Guy. “We’ve got some session musicians on board so we can play the songs in their true form. It’s tricky being a three-piece sometimes when you write so many extra bits and bobs, so it’s going to sound absolutely massive. We might do some acoustic shows too in some smaller venues. We may or may not be planning a headline tour as well, so we’ll see what happens!”

Bear Park release their self-titled debut album on 14th June. They play The Grove, Newcastle on Saturday 22nd June. www.bearparkmusic.com

DRAG CASTLE

KATE RELTON TALKS TO FRIDA SAPPHIC ABOUT THE DRAG TROUPE’S AIM TO TEAR DOWN PRECONCEPTIONS AND CREATE ENGAGING ART WITH HEART

Drag Castle’s troupe of drag artists and queer performers have brought their unique warmth and chaos to audiences across the North East since 2020.

Based in Newcastle, and the brainchild of drag artist Frida Sapphic, the troupe was set up during lockdown as a direct response to the boredom and a commitment to building something for the future.

“My girlfriend and I wrote on a Post-it note that we wanted to start a drag production company once lockdown had finished and stuck it on the fridge. After that it was mountains of emails to venues asking to put a show on once restrictions lifted. We put on some really creative shows online, including a pantomime and a murder mystery. We had so many no’s until eventually one venue let us wreak havoc on their stage for a night, and the rest is history.”

Passionate about creating a joyful and colourful environment, Drag Castle shows are true to all the riotous exuberance you’d want from a drag show, but with a uniquely personal touch. “I grew up in South Shields performing at the Customs House,” says Frida. “Their motto was always ‘the little panto with the big heart’. I carried that into everything I did. No matter how big or small our show is, everything should be done with a big heart.” Keen to open up queer art to new audiences, Drag Castle hope to create shows that are accessible and inclusive for everyone, particularly families with young children. “Children deserve to know from a young age that who they are and how they feel is not something to be ashamed of. I grew up with a lot of politicians, people in the media and even teachers at school telling the world that people who are like me are weird and abnormal. The earlier you address that, the easier it is for them

QUEER ART IS FULL OF EDUCATION, UNAPOLOGETIC LIBERATION AND ENDLESS LOVE

to accept themselves and pass on that love to everyone else.”

Despite preconceptions about the target demographic for a drag show, Frida says that children have a natural curiosity and openness that make families more receptive and willing to listen than your average audience.

“Queer art is full of education, unapologetic liberation and endless love. Without queer art, the world wouldn’t be as colourful as it is now. It’s interwoven into everything everywhere, and some people don’t realise it.”

It’s a responsibility that Frida says drives her to keep creating and encouraging open conversations. “Today’s current trends are all because queer people decided to jump out of hiding and create something entertaining. Activism and fearless people inspire me. People like Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Gloria Steinem, Emma Thompson… they were advocating for equality when it was dangerous to do so.

“I love people that use their art to advocate for justice and do it in a way that isn’t so laboured. Where people can enjoy it with or without learning something. I never want to come across as complicit in today’s issues because quiet people never changed the world.”

Drag Castle perform at Newcastle University on Saturday 8th June and the Discover Festival at The Cluny, Newcastle on Saturday 29th June. www.dragcastle.wixsite.com/dragcastle

Frida Sapphic by TJMov

JOE HAMMILL

DAWN STOREY CHATS WITH THE TEESSIDE SONGWRITER ABOUT HIS FIRST FORAY INTO SOLO SONGWRITING

Cattle & Cane’s Joe Hammill has decided the time is right to release some solo material. He says that the songs he’s written recently felt like ones he needed to sing by himself, but that leaving his siblings behind to go it alone has its pros and cons. “In some ways it’s harder being solo because it’s all on you to make a good show. But there’s more freedom in being able to change things up mid song, which I do tend to do. However I do love having the siblings around – I miss the banter! Music was really encouraged in our family. A few of my siblings played guitar so it was a natural thing for me to start. My older brother James was writing songs and I think that’s what made me think I could do it too. Helen always had a great voice so it was natural to start a band together.”

Alongside Cattle & Cane, Joe has achieved success co-writing with artists like Lucy Spraggan and Ward Thomas. He also recently became a father, so clearly he’s a man who likes a challenge, choosing now to launch his solo career? “Ha! Absolutely. Time becomes way more precious and I have to be more efficient. I’m really lucky that my wife is supportive of what I do. She is a legend! Each morning I look after the baby while she works. Then we swap round in the afternoon and I work on new songs. I try and write with a couple of people each week too – I love collaboration, it’s my favourite thing to do. There’s more of a freedom writing for other people. I’m definitely less self-conscious writing songs that I won’t be

EVEN THOUGH MY FIRST SINGLE WAS AN OUTAND-OUT LOVE SONG, THE TRACKS TO FOLLOW ARE A BIT DARKER THAN CATTLE & CANE STUFF

singing or touring and often that freedom means I write better songs.”

Back in February, Joe performed his debut solo single, You Are The One I’ve Waited For, on the Sunday Morning Live TV show: “It was very early on a Sunday morning!” He says. “It felt like I’d woken up and then I was singing into a camera. It was a pretty cool experience to see how it all works behind the scenes. Even though my first single was an out-and-out love song, the tracks to follow are a bit darker than Cattle & Cane stuff. I’m probably talking musically rather than lyrically – I always lean naturally towards minor chords but pushed myself in Cattle & Cane towards the positive end.”

Joe launches his new project when he plays Stockton’s ARC on Saturday 29th June, and says that more music will follow: “I’ve got tonnes of material in the pipeline. The way I write has changed quite a lot since getting married and having a baby. Your perspectives just change a lot, which informs the way you write. I have enough songs for an album – I just need to block out a few weeks to get them all recorded and mixed.”

And in the future might we see some of the mini-Hammills getting together to follow in their parents footsteps? “Ooh an offspring tour would be great! Amongst the nephews and nieces we have quite a few budding musicians – so I think we could see another family band form in the next ten years!”

Joe Hammill releases new single One By One on 27th June and plays Stockton ARC on Saturday 29th June. www.joehammill.com

TEESSIDE’S ALTERNATIVE UNDERGROUND

STEVE SPITHRAY DELVES INTO THE TEESSIDE ALTERNATIVE UNDERGROUND TO SEE WHAT SCENES ARE FLYING UNDER THE RADAR

It is often said that the worse things get the more creative people become. While not necessarily true, what is exciting in Teesside right now is how a number of previously disparate creative scenes are suddenly overlapping and collaborating after the well-publicised closure of some of the region’s shared independent venues.

Ex-Pineapple Black co-founder Bobby Benjamin’s Flip The Script night at nearby Disgraceland in Middlesbrough is packed out every Thursday with a lively laid-back atmosphere including poets, rappers and storytellers, and an overlap of sorts occurs with another poetry/spoken word night, Gobful, at the delightfully monikered, ‘home of unpopular music’ Toft House, once a month down the road in Linthorpe.

Elsewhere in the art scene, paradoxically aloof performance collective The Word have recently collaborated with Tees Zine Fest, while eagle-eyed street art fans may have seen a number of retro pixel art paintings popping up all over the area. Going by the name of zx8bit, their popular and very visible Squid Games work in Middlesbrough town centre was recently tagged not once but twice by local newbie Isea, the second a direct response to a diss about their first and created a bit of graffiti beef in the process.

If any musical act on Teesside right now represents the underground ethos it’s Lazenby surrealist punks Perfect Chicken, whose scant online musical output bears little resemblance to their incredible but equally sporadic live performances where the trio arrive onstage in balaclavas and hazmats. The trio are seemingly unperturbed by associate

WHAT’S EXCITING IN TEESSIDE RIGHT NOW IS HOW A NUMBER OF PREVIOUSLY DISPARATE CREATIVE SCENES ARE SUDDENLY OVERLAPPING AND COLLABORATING

hangers-on bombing their chaotic shows, which already teem with an unnatural comic delivery and onstage chemistry reminiscent of a young Vic and Bob. One of the venues they have played is Stockton’s NE Volume Music Bar which, along with Rhythms on Baker Street in Middlesbrough, has become the place for young musicians to get their first ever gigs.

Perfect Chicken initially cut their live teeth at an Industrial Coast event – they used to call it the no audience underground but Steve Kirby’s project now regularly brings fifty plus people to his A Monday Night In Middlesbrough experimental noise shows – which have become so successful he has even branched out into other nights of the week in Middlesbrough and other places. On Saturday 29th June Perfect Chicken will take over Lazenby Social Club for an all-dayer including plenty of local supports from deep in the underground.

While Industrial Coast’s spiritual home is The Auxiliary in Middlesbrough, other under-the-radar venues being utilised for anything and everything at the moment include Café Etch, Off The Ground coffee shop, the Mercuria Building (a stone’s throw from the old Westgarth Social Club) and the aforementioned Disgraceland, which also hosts micro-club nights (including experimental house by the likes of Abby Harris and KK Junker, open deck evenings and Bobby Benjamin’s Baby Picasso art/music shows). Meanwhile, Ben Muriel’s Ring of Iron Folk Club hosts monthly sing-arounds at The Chapel right next to the busy Newport roundabout in the shadow of the A19.

Finally, rap and hip-hop in Teesside has always seemed to resist the urge to move overground, so occasional Rhymer nights, a friendlier more inclusive version of the old cipher nights of the 00s, including artists such 97 Renn and Spini are still popping up occasionally at various venues, so keep them peeled…

Perfect Chicken, performing at Disgraceland

MANØRS

DAMIAN ROBINSON

TALKS TO THE NORTH EAST METALCORE BAND ABOUT THE DEFIANT ENERGY ON THEIR NEW EP

Local post-hardcore act MANØRS have developed a stellar reputation for something close to performance art. Playing with a level of intensity difficult to fake, their live shows have started to gain traction as being a visual demonstration of their stance as a band; what they stand for is so fixed that it can’t help but come out in the way they play their instruments and attack their songs.

The recently released video supporting new single Happy Families proves that this is a band whose songs aren’t just important to them; the way they play them is just as important. “We had fun shooting that video,” confirms guitarist/ producer Jake Grimes, “we’d done a sold out show at the Head of Steam and wanted to try to capture as much of that energy and intensity into our video. So whilst we’re not playing live in the video, we took as much of our production along as we could and tried to have a blast – I think the video works really well.” Indeed it does. One of four tracks on their forthcoming EP, Happy Families kicks off hard, pushing electro sounds into a post-hardcore/metalcore edge and assault. It’s a rollocking way to kick of an EP. “What we’ve done with the EP is to try and mix some of our sounds into a sort of ‘best of’ collection, where we’ve deliberately tried to collect different sounds and textures. The EP gives a good impression of where we are as a band, what we’re interested in, and where we might go in the future. We’re really proud of it.”

Taking the electro assaults of Happy Families and Addicted through to the drum & bass-influenced Crushed and mixing it with the all-out-banger of Cyclical, which sounds like something from Chinese Democracy, there’s something on the EP for anyone interested in intense, in-your-face soundtracks to anger and frustration.

“There are some themes on the EP for sure,” confirms Jake,

WHAT

STIRS OUR COLLECTIVE ANGER AND FRUSTRATION IS JUST HOW BAD THE POLITICAL SITUATION IS AND HOW LITTLE THE GOVERNMENT SEEM TO CARE ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF ORDINARY PEOPLE

“some songs are quite direct and obvious with what we’re singing about, others are a little more subtle and hidden, but I think what stirs our collective anger and frustration is just how bad the political situation is and how little the government seem to care about the challenges of ordinary people trying to live their lives. I think that frustration and annoyance is in all of the songs on the EP and it’s something we think about a lot as people. It’s getting so hard for normal people.”

Taking the EP onto the live scene is the next step for MANØRS, as they prepare for an EP launch at The Cluny on Saturday 29th June. “We were really happy with the Head of Steam show and we can’t believe we’ll be playing The Cluny. We’re really keen to make this the best show we’ve ever done and to really play the EP as well as we can.”

Post-show, there’s already plans for new music and events, but one thing at a time. “We want to get the EP out, play The Cluny show, then use of the momentum to work on new ideas. We’re in a great place as a band and now it’s up to us to push our sound and show even further.”

MANØRS launch their new EP at The Cluny, Newcastle on Saturday 29th June.

www.manors.band

KATE FOX

LAURA ROSIERSE TALKS TO KATE FOX ABOUT HER LATEST SHOW WHICH IMAGINES A NEURODIVERGENTAFFIRMING WORLD THROUGH THE EYES OF DOCTOR WHO

The North East’s spoken word DIY scene has changed a lot since the 2000’s, and stand-up poet Kate Fox knows all about it. Her new poetry collection and live show, Bigger On The Inside, is inspired by what a neurodivergent-friendly world would look like through the eyes of Doctor Who. Fox started her career as a radio journalist, continued giving workshops in schools, got spotted by the BBC, and was a poet in residence at the Great North Run, so she is more qualified than anyone to talk about the region’s evolving spoken word scene.

Kate’s book inspired the show, which she performs at The Lit & Phil on Thursday 6th and The Bound in Whitley Bay on Tuesday 11th June; yet the show has changed a lot since its birth. “It still builds on elements of neurodivergence told through the likes of Doctor Who,” Kate explains, but elements of the pandemic have inevitably crept in. “I wrote Bigger On The Inside as a stand-up lecture. It’s funny, nowadays I’m less bothered about there being enough laughs. Some of my poems are funny, but more and more they are not nowadays. People will usually come out saying that they didn’t expect that serious topics could also be funny. I no longer ever describe myself as a comedian, but I’m very funny for a poet, and I’m not that funny for a comedian.”

Just speaking with Kate is giving me a clear idea of what the

SOME OF THE POEMS I HAVE INCORPORATED INTO THE LATEST VERSION OF THE SHOW RECEIVED THE FEEDBACK THAT THE EXPERIENCE WAS QUITE CALMING AND HEALING. THAT’S NOT NORMALLY WHAT MY PERFORMANCES ARE!

energy at her show will be like, although there is of course a big difference between the written, and the spoken word. Kate prefers performing her work: “You get that instant feedback. It’s not the same every time you do it, I love the randomness of being in the now. As I’ve gotten older I’ve been wanting to find a bit more stillness. Some of the poems I have incorporated into the latest version of the show received the feedback that the experience was quite calming and healing. That’s not normally what my performances are!”

They of course still are calming and healing on the scale of a bouncing and vibrant personality, so don’t expect her show to be a meditative experience! What you can expect of both book and show is what Kate imagines a neurodivergent-affirming world could look like: “For me, that world would allow us time to regulate our nervous system. And maybe, I’m not saying I’ve cracked it, that has seeped into my writing and into my performance, and it feels more holistic.”

Accessibility inevitably comes up alongside conversations around neurodiversity, and Kate mourns the loss of many online events after the pandemic. “During the pandemic suddenly gigs became accessible to neurodivergent and disabled people by being online, and as soon as the pandemic ended that just stopped. That’s a pity, so I am going to get a version of the show online, either recorded live, or do a special version that will be going online; that’s very important to me, that it’ll be accessible.”

Kate Fox performs Bigger On The Inside at The Lit & Phil, Newcastle on Thursday 6th and The Bound in Whitley Bay on Tuesday 11th June. The book is published on 1st June via Smokestack Books. www.katefoxwriter.wordpress.com

NO TEETH

BEN LOWES-SMITH TALKS TO THE NEWCASTLE NOISE WAVE OUTFIT ABOUT THE TERSE TALES OF GREED, FEAR AND HUMILIATION ON THEIR DEBUT ALBUM

I spoke to Sam and Owen from No Teeth in the confines of St. Theresa’s Catholic Club on a lively Friday night. It’s not quite a William Hogarth painting, but there’s still an exciting whiff of intemperance in the air. It’s an appropriate setting to tuck into the flesh and bones of No Teeth’s brilliant new record

Decadence In Breeding. Sam is gregarious and bursting with enthusiasm for the record, the perfect foil to the thoughtful and docile figure Owen cuts.

“It’s all about hedonism and debauchery; all of the stories we tell are about a more perverse side of life. It’s all based in caricature, there’s nothing autobiographical about it. You almost feel guilty for relating to the characters in it!” Owen summarises the group’s modus operandi in a more succinct and deadpan way:

“We have a fascination with…everything terrible.”

Decadence In Breeding is a hyper-melodic garage rock behemoth, doffing its cap to iconic oddballs like Cardiacs and The Country Teasers, while very much having its own strong sense of identity. Terse tales of greed, fear and humiliation rattle through the record’s thirteen songs. The pantomime villains that pepper the group’s stories are in full flow on songs like Stealing For My Own Gain and A Horse Named Panty Raid. I Am Not An Officer is a clattering howl of an emasculated fool, and it’s not the only occasion in which lumpen, damaged masculinity rears its head.

Sam muses: “We’re quite fixated on the idea of manhood and its

IT’S IMPORTANT TO ADDRESS THAT THE IDEA OF MASCULINITY IS USUALLY A BIT OF A FARCE, WHICH GIVES US SOMETHING TO POKE FUN AT

connotations. I think it’s important to address that the idea of masculinity is usually a bit of a farce, which gives us something to poke fun at.”

No Teeth have been delighting and baffling audiences on the local scene for more than half a decade, and Sam and Owen describe the record as being something of a “hodge-podge” musically, but it’s the group’s gradual emergence into lives with more responsibility that have refined their craft and their approach to things.

“The newer tunes are a bit sharper and a bit on the nose – it’s more calculated and deliberate – before there was just a natural chaos. We’ve made something a bit more thoughtful. I think a lot of it emerged from the frustration of being six people, trying to organise ourselves and doing that the best we can. We used to have a lot of free time, and now we don’t.”

The group’s industrious attitude has extended to setting up a record label, Post Post Music, to distribute Decadence In Breeding. “There aren’t a lot of labels around and we want to help other people sell records as well, not just our own. There’s a load of really good stuff out there that doesn’t get the push it should.” The band also voice a desire to continue exploring the themes they have covered on this record, and Sam winds up our chat with a slightly cryptic send-off: “If you look at the cover of the album there are six symbols around the sun, and I think these are a sign of what’s to come next.”

No Teeth release Decadence In Breeding on 21st June. The band support Girls In Synthesis at Zerox, Newcastle on Friday 7th June.

www.linktr.ee/noteeth

Image by David Hall

WILD SPELKS

DAVID SAUNDERS TALKS WITH THE SONGWRITER AND MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST ABOUT TURNING INTROSPECTIVE LYRICS INTO POSITIVE MENTAL HEALTH STORIES ON HIS DEBUT EP

Wild Spelks is the music project of Newcastle-based songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Jonathon Sabiston. The name references “the pangs of anxiety that can appear out of the blue”, and I ask how helpful he finds music. “Personally, it’s been a vital outlet for expressing and processing my own anxieties. You can hear those themes in the lyrics of the songs, as well as in the overall tone and atmosphere of our music.”

I go on to ask how he deals with the anxiety-inducing elements of being a performer. “Dealing with anxiety can be challenging, which I always try and be public about, especially when it comes to the vulnerability of sharing your work with others. I focus on the connections we are making through music, the love and support I receive from friends and fans is immeasurable.”

The focus on mental health has progressively increased in music, and Jonathon explains what more can be done for artists: “Providing resources and support systems for artists and industry professionals, such as access to appropriate healthcare, is crucial. Creating a culture of openness and destigmatising discussions around mental health can make such a difference, which is where I try to play my part.”

These discussions appear in Wild Spelks’ debut EP, A House Full Of Strangers. Lead single Help Myself talks about the struggles of heavy drinking and the substances that often accompany it. However, the narrative gradually shifts from despair to optimism as Jonathon explains: “The record starts with references to insomnia, agoraphobia and clinging to youth, but finishes off in a much more hopeful place, with lyrics of forgiveness, love and particularly friendship.”

Sonically, the “Jimmy Eat World meets Manic Street Preachers” inspired EP is rich in catchy hooks, vocal melodies and ferocious punk guitar sounds, creating a dynamic and engaging setting to draw attention to the deep, introspective lyrics. Despite the solitary origins of the music project, which started

THE RECORD STARTS WITH REFERENCES TO INSOMNIA, AGORAPHOBIA AND CLINGING TO YOUTH, BUT FINISHES OFF IN A MUCH MORE HOPEFUL PLACE

as a collection of songs Jonathon wrote and recorded in his home studio, and the fact that he produced, mixed and mastered the EP himself, Wild Spelks contains a collaborative element. The drum takes were recorded at Newcastle’s Blank Studios with engineer Chris McManus (Pit Pony, Du Blonde, TV Death). “The room they have over there is brilliant for drums, as a drummer myself, they are always quite high in the mix, so this is massively important to get right. Once I’d recorded my other parts at home, Chris and I got back together to go over my mixes which was so beneficial. When you’re doing it on your own, you can concentrate on the wrong elements of a mix and lose sight of the song’s original energy.”

Live, Wild Spelks becomes a full-band experience which gives the project an extra dimension. “I’ve been so lucky to have many kind, talented musicians to perform with, bringing their own different energy to the songs.” He adds:: “I’d say we perform with a lot of gratitude to the audience, we don’t take anyone at our shows for granted. We play with a lot of emotion as that’s just who we are! We also try our best to find a balance between recreating the recorded songs whilst also changing the energy and composition, to create something new.”

Wild Spelks release A House Full of Strangers EP on 21st June. www.wildspelks.co.uk

Image by Blind Johnny

UNDERDOG: THE OTHER OTHER BRONTË

IF YOU LIKE…

REVEALING ART

All The Women We Could Have Been is a unique and impactful exhibition taking place throughout the production run, focusing on the lives of disabled women had external limitations not been there for them. Developed by the In/Visible National Disabled Women’s Art Collective, all of whom are 50+, this exhibition hopes to show the joy and poetic aspects of their lives, all through different forms of art, including collage, painting, embroidery and photography.  The artists explore the narratives around disabled women, how older disabled women’s rights are seen, and how they celebrate their lives.

CREATIVE LITERATURE

Writer Karen Powell will be discussing her new book Fifteen Wild Decembers on Friday 14th June. The book, which was shortlisted for the 2023 Nero Book Awards, has been described as “atmospheric and raw”, and is a fictionalised biography of the sisters’ lives. It discusses Emily Brontë’s life from her childhood to her early death, and is from her perspective throughout.  Her earlier book, The River Within, was awarded the Northern Writers TLC New Fiction Reads Prize as a draft. Book worms should also head to The Bound’s pop-up book market (12th-18th June), which will offer a curated collection of books written by groundbreaking women authors.

STAGE

WORDS: PHOENIX ATKINSON

Northern Stage is a hub of unique productions, the most recent of which being Underdog: The Other Other Brontë, a play exploring the sibling dynamics that drove the Brontë sisters to fame, driven by jealousy. Natalie Ibu, Northern Stage’s Artistic Director, is making her directorial debut with this work, and claimed she knew that she should direct it “immediately after reading it”. As the summary says, it is not a story about well-behaved women. It’s a story about the power of words.

Gemma Whelan, best known as Yara Greyjoy in Game of Thrones, plays Charlotte Brontë, Adele James plays Emily Brontë, and Rhiannon Clements plays Anne, the eponymous ‘Underdog’. The play analyses the competitive aspects between each of the sisters, showing how they each develop as people and begin clashing with each other. It’s already won the 2020 Nick Drake Writers Award for Sarah Gordon, who previously wrote The Edit, which toured nationally.

Accompanying the production itself, which is at Northern Stage from Friday 7th -Saturday 22nd June, a series of wraparound events will also take place. Here, we check out what’s on offer. www.northernstage.co.uk

EXCITING NOVELISTS

Eliza Clark, a Newcastle native, has been the toast of recent book-focused media ever since her highly successful debut Boy Parts. Her newest book, Penance, continues her darkly compulsive style in a story about a murder amongst teenagers in a seaside town, and continues her legacy as one of the North East’s best new authors.

Selected as one of Granta Best of Young British Novelists in 2023, her career shows no signs of slowing down. Clark will read from her book, which celebrates its paperback publication, on Tuesday 18th June.

LIVE MUSIC

In 2018, North East folk artists The Unthanks, beloved for their harmonies and connection to the region’s songs and traditions, were commissioned to create a new piece of work based on Emily Brontë’s poems for her 200th birthday. Their song cycle, Lines – Part Three: Emily Brontë, was recorded on her own piano, and they will be performing excerpts of the album and discussing the creation and process behind it on Saturday 15th June.

If a bit of Kate Bush is more up your street, Wednesday 12th June will see the Newcastle debut of Wuthering Nights, a club night celebrating her work. Expect costumes, a truly incredible amount of smoke machines, and faithful recreations of her famously expressive dancing.

L-R Rhiannon Clements as Anne, Gemma Whelan as Charlotte, Adele James as Emily

Eliza Clark by Robin Silas Christian

BITCHFINDER GENERAL

ALI WELFORD UNCOVERS THE GENESIS OF THE CHAOTIC WHIRLWIND THAT IS BITCHFINDER GENERAL

Some interview openers write themselves – and some interviewees know full well where the conversation is likely to begin.

“What came first: the name or…”

“THE NAME!” Bitchfinder General blurt out in unison, before the question has even left my lips. Suffice to say, my suspicions are confirmed.

“I went for a drink with Frankie a few days after attending a punk festival, and said I’d like to shout in a band,” recalls Jayne Dent – familiar to many as electronic/folk maestro Me Lost Me.

“She said she’d also like to shout in a band, then took out her little notebook of band names and we began flicking through…”

“I remember you saying something to the effect of ‘everybody sees me as a floaty pixie girl, and I want to be a shouty bitch!’”

Frankie Insley recounts. “Bitchfinder General was the standout, but Be My Dad was in the book too. I always thought it’d have to be a project of my own where I dealt with those feelings, but we ended up using that as well and turned it into a song. I’m a big believer in the principle that if you throw enough shit, some of it will stick!”

With the all-important moniker settled and Sarah Li and James O’Coaimh recruited on bass and drums (“the Roman columns on which our plate of blancmange rests”), Jayne (vox, electronics) and Frankie (vox, guitar) turned their thoughts to how this new ensemble would actually sound…

“The Lubber Fiend gave us a gig so that we had a deadline to write some music,” Jayne reveals. “They had us open a hardcore

NO THOUGHTS, JUST VIBES EPITOMISES THEIR NO-HOLDS-BARRED OUTLOOK, BINDING A PLIABLE APPROACH TO GENRE WITH A WILD AND PUNCHY PUNK SPIRIT

festival before they – before we – even knew what we sounded like, so we needed to get our shit together!”

“The Lubber Fiend essentially birthed us, so they’re one of our band dads,” Frankie muses. “Nostalgia Kid who takes our photos is another. Martin who recorded us, too. Joe who gave us a lift one time with the drumkit... It doesn’t take much commitment. Occasional Dad would make a great name, actually…”

Amid talk of fundraising tiers (Bitch, Bitchfinder, Dad, Daddy, Daddy’s Little Monster), the sweet aroma of Harbourmaster’s South Shields studio, Sega Mega Drives and James’ ‘fake job’ in academia, we eventually find time to discuss the quartet’s debut EP. Unleashed this month No Thoughts, Just Vibes is a playful introduction whose five tracks epitomise their no-holds-barred outlook, binding a pliable approach to genre with a wild and punchy punk spirit.

“We’ve tried to capture the essence of the live shows, but it’s a different format so you have to meet in the middle a bit.” Jayne reflects. “The way we write is quite unfiltered and stream-ofconscience,” expands Frankie. “We didn’t know how some of the more panto songs would work once recorded, but we think they’ve come out pretty well.”

“I doubt we’ll ever settle on a single definitive sound,” she continues, as thoughts turn to Bitchfinder General’s future.

“Sarah can sing opera, so that’s something we’re still waiting to unleash…”

“I haven’t promised that!” Sarah protests.

“This is the first she’s heard of it, and now you can put it down in writing,” Jayne jokes. “If anything, this is minimal chaos!”

Bitchfinder General launch No Thoughts, Just Vibes at Live Theatre, Newcastle on Thursday 20th June. www.bitchfindergeneral.bandcamp.com

Image by Nostalgia Kid

LISTINGS

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

SATURDAY 1ST JUNE

BIG MOUTH COMEDY CLUB

Featuring Freddie Quinne, Laura Lexx and Julian Deane // Middlesbrough Town Hall

JAMES LEONARD HEWITSON

The Hartlepool slacker pop artist celebrates the release of new album, More Pop // Head of Steam, Newcastle

SATURDAY AFTERNOON PARTY PEOPLE

An afternoon of live music for all, featuring Mark James Hammond, Swamp Rat and Waves of Dread // Two By Two Brewery, Newcastle

WRECKLESS ERIC

Celebrating the writer and musician’s autobiography, A Dysfunctional Success // The Engine Room, North Shields

SUNDAY 2ND JUNE

CHRIS HELME

The frontman of John Squire’s post-Stone Roses band The Seahorses and acclaimed solo artist brings a collection of brand new material to audiences for the first time in a decade // The Waiting Room, Eaglescliffe

SALLY-ANNE HAYWARD

Hilarious tales of dating apps, fragile neighbours, and trying to hold in farts on a yoga retreat // The Stand, Newcastle

TUESDAY 4TH JUNE

NERDS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN

Featuring scientific stand-up from Neil Harris, Kelly Edgar, Matthew Wheelwright and Luke Connell // The Stand, Newcastle

WOLF EYES

Known for their bizarre and otherworldly approach to music, creating a sound that is both disturbing and hypnotic // Middlesbrough Town Hall

THURSDAY 6TH JUNE

CHECKMATE

Indie punk fusion, support from Dead By July and Emu // The Green Room, Stockton

IMPERIAL WAX

Formed from the final and longest-running line-up of Mark E Smith’s The Fall, presenting a visceral garage rock sound. Support from HMRC // The Engine Room, North Shields

FEATURED // Lists But Not Brahms with Adam Sharp

Wordsmith Adam Sharp found acclaim thanks to his curation of the best, worst and most hilarious lists on social media, and the publication of his latest book The Wheel is Spinning but the Hamster is Dead. This event is part reading, part monologue and part stand-up comedy show, taking the audience on a narrative journey of his most popular lists // Newcastle City Library

SAM CAMPBELL

The Taskmaster comedian tours his new show, Wobservations // Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle

SUCCOUR

Anthemic melodic rockers, plus Ossuary, The Circle is Hurt and By Gaslight // NE Volume Music Bar, Stockton

FRIDAY 7TH JUNE

AMINA KHAYYAM DANCE

A double bill of dance featuring contemporary stories and live music // Dance City, Newcastle

BOSOLA

Alt. rock quartet, supported by Lockheed Lindsay // The Globe, Newcastle

GABRIEL MORENO

Engaging and lyrical performer. Supported by Drew Flannigan and Peter Hall // The Fisherman’s Arms, Hartlepool

HOLLY CLARKE

A captivating singer who draws from old folk ballads and stories, support from vocal harmony group Arbrevyn // The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle

ROSE MALUS

Alt. indie artist, supported by Article 64, Tidal End, Painted Placed // NE Volume Music Bar, Stockton

SATURDAY 8TH JUNE

AMELIA COBURN

The Teesside songstress and award-winning folk artist presents her new album, Between The Moon & The Milkman // The Georgian Theatre, Stockton

CRASS: THE SOUND OF FREE SPEECH

A celebratory, raw and shocking documentary, CRASS: The Sound of Free Speech is as close to the story of the anarcho-punk band as you’re going to get. Includes a Q&A with director Brandon Spivey // Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle

LASSES FEST!

A celebration of the region’s female talent across all spectrums, including a market featuring work by female entrepreneurs, Maya Torres & The Girls choir, performances from Bridge Marumo, Chloe Miller and Esme Burrell, plus drinks and chill vibes // Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle

OPEN SEASON ALLDAYER

An all-dayer featuring a cracking line-up of DIY punk and rock artists including Onlooker, Fast Blood, Tiger Island, Weekend Faithful, Toronto Blessings, Weld, Lock and Key, Mother and many more // Chapel, Middlesbrough

SUNDAY 9TH JUNE

HORATIO GOULD

In his critically acclaimed debut show, Horatio asks: is it no longer okay to be okay? // The Stand, Newcastle

MONDAY 10TH JUNE

FEATURED //

The Old Oak

Screening of Ken Loach’s 2023 film about the last remaining pub in a once thriving mining community. Includes a Q&A with cast members Claire Rodgerson and Dave Turner // The Common Room, Newcastle

WEDNESDAY 12TH JUNE

EEL MEN

North London’s angular art rockers, plus Manchester’s garage rock band Fruit Tones and jangle pop locals Stannington // The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle

THURSDAY 13TH JUNE

TOM KITCHING & MÄRIT FALT

The author and musician launches his new book and album, Where There’s Brass, support from Phil Tyler // Cobalt Studios, Newcastle

FRIDAY 14TH JUNE

AN EVENING WITH MARK CHADWICK

The Levellers’ songwriter presents a mix of solo material and Levellers classics, support comes from Dan Donnelly // The Georgian Theatre, Stockton

SATURDAY 15TH JUNE

DOJA CAT

Grammy award-winning global superstar // Utilita Arena, Newcastle

SUNDAY 16TH JUNE

DAFTIES

Gavin Webster and Si Beckwith welcome some of their favourite daft people and alt. acts to the comedy stage // The Stand, Newcastle

KATE CLOVER

Modern indie and garage rock artist // Zerox, Newcastle

LYDIA BENNET

North East emerging songwriter, supported by Mat Hunsley // The Engine Room, North Shields

THE CASSANDRA CAT

Czech new wave parable. A circus visits a provincial town with a magical cat which has the power to reveal people in their true natures // Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle

THE WEDDING PRESENT

A matinee show from David Gedge’s acclaimed indie rock band // The Georgian Theatre, Stockton

THURSDAY

20TH JUNE

GOLDEN SHOALS

Americana, folk and country roots band // Three Tanners Bank, North Shields

HOLLY REES

Top notch queer indie rock, plus support from Paige Temperley // Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle

ROAR

Roar’s filming used untrained lions, leading to around 70 cast and crew members being injured during filming (most injuries being lion-related). It is widely regarded as the most treacherous film set in history // Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle

FEATURED // Steve Bugeja

The comic returns with a new show discussing babies, eye tests and the time he went on holiday with 20 women (otherwise known as Love Island) // The Stand, Newcastle

FRIDAY

21ST JUNE

CAROL HODGE & JULIA OTHMER

Piano-playing singer-songwriters // The Central Bar, Gateshead

HILARITY BITES COMEDY CLUB

Featuring Tez Ilyas, Masai Graham, Peter Bell and Sully O’Sullivan // Bishop Auckland Town Hall

KEANE BALDWIN

Expect heartfelt piano-based songs with messages of love and positivity // The Grove, Newcastle

THE DONKEY, THE WHIPPET & THE GIANT LEEK

An entertaining show starring Graeme Danby and Valerie Reid celebrating the music of North East composer Eric Boswell // Live Theatre, Newcastle

SATURDAY 22ND JUNE

LIVE THEATRE IS CURIOUS: YOUTH SHOWCASE

An exciting showcase of new work exploring LGBTQIA+ life, through the ideas and voices of 11-19 year olds // Live Theatre, Newcastle

PONYLAND

Multi-limbed double drumming behemoth, plus support from Marginal Gains, Badger and Holy Braille // The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle

RESERVOIRS

County Durham indie rockers, support from Sam Shields // The Globe, Newcastle

RHOD GILBERT

The multi-award winning comedian brings his hilariously dark, passionate and way too personal new show to the stage // O2 City Hall, Newcastle

STAR & SHADOW MIDSUMMER PARTY

Two rooms of music; Discotutti provides a heavy rotation of Italo disco, Hi NRG and synth pop screamers, while Vinny Vins & Diz’s custom built public house hi-fi system is inspired by early NY disco systems // Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle

WOLFRED

Expect cinematic tunes and punchy energy from the respected rockers // Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle

SUNDAY 23RD JUNE

BERNARD BUTLER

The Suede musician presents his superb solo material // Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle

JOE MCTERNAN

High energy observational stand-up which lambasts motivational nonsense and offers an alternative view which will encourage you to live your life to the adequate amount // The Stand, Newcastle

WEDNESDAY 26TH JUNE

FEATURED //

Tom Pickard & The Tarras Legendary poet Tom Pickard joins forces with much loved band Tarras for this highly special meeting of worlds. From the English-Scottish Borders, Tarras provide a unique blend of the Gaelic and British folk tradition subtly fused with a range of genres // Live Theatre, Newcastle

THURSDAY 27TH JUNE

MARTIN CARTHY

One of folk music’s greatest innovators // Live Theatre, Newcastle

SUKI OJLA

Join Sukh as she approaches 40 and figures out middle age, pretending to be a grown up and the joy of a Tupperware set // The Stand, Newcastle

THE YOUNG GIRLS OF ROCHEFORT

A unique mix of French new wave and Hollywood musical, sherbet colours and dazzling song and dance make this film pop // Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle

FRIDAY 28TH JUNE

WRECKAGE

A touching story about continuing bonds and love that only evolves and never dies. Runs until 29th June // Live Theatre, Newcastle

SATURDAY 29TH JUNE

ANNETTE CHEVALLIER – A WALK BY THE RIVER

A series of abstract paintings in mixed media on handmade paper which reflect the rhythm and movement of a river and some of the landscape both urban and natural through which it passes. Runs until 20th July // Newcastle Arts Centre

ELIZA CARTHY

Forward-thinking artist who embraces the modern English folk revival // The Glasshouse, Gateshead

JESTERVAL COMEDY CLUB

Featuring Mickey Hutton, Lauren Pattison, Sam Mayes and Duncan Oakley // Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle

SAVE THE SOCIAL

TUESDAY 25TH JUNE

THE KITE RUNNER

Based on Khaled Hosseini’s affecting novel, this haunting tale of friendship spans cultures and continents, following one man’s journey to confront his past and find redemption. Runs until 29th June // Theatre Royal, Newcastle

A plethora of artists join together to raise funds to secure the future of Lazenby Social Club, featuring Perfect Chicken, Regis, Richie Culver, Autumns, Mr. Bigfoot, Offski, brb>voicecoil, Million, Emoss, Upteestelly, Stock Image, Pretty Ugly, Bathing Suits, Shaun Lennox and much more // Lazenby Social Club

SUNDAY 30TH JUNE

SMOKE SAUNA SISTERHOOD

In the darkness of a smoke sauna, women share their innermost secrets and intimate experiences, regaining their strength through a sense of communion // Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle

REVIEWS

BAXTER DURY @ THE GLASSHOUSE, GATESHEAD (07.05.24)

Words: Zeinab Lenton

“Hey Mummy? Hey Daddy? Who am I?” Baxter Dury stalks The Glasshouse stage like a tobacco-strained lounge lizard, in a silver-grey suit, as opener So Much Money pulses. Questions of identity, or artifice versus authenticity, run through Dury’s work like words in a stick of seaside rock. Is he working himself out up there, onstage, or is it just another character? All of the above for this seducer, this suit with a thousand faces and voices.

When performing songs such as Leak At The Disco and The Night Chancers, Dury stalks the stage, worrying a silk scarf, all jangle-nerves and hair-trigger. It’s like watching a cabaret singer having a breakdown onstage, raging against a callous world. It’s uncomfortable and yet compelling.

I’m Not Your Dog is an Italo disco banger on Tramadol, with keyboardist/ vocalist Fabienne Debarre’s ethereal vocals perfect counterpoint to Dury’s jagged pronouncements. Debarre’s synths and electronica drive the melody of the songs while a suitably louche rhythm section provide the slow funk and sleaze that propel Dury along. Almond Milk and Pleasure are highlights, and Dury seems to fully inhabit himself rather than sketching a brutal caricature. As the distancing effect of jacket and scarf is lost, a vulnerability emerges. But then, Miami, and the jacket is back, and our dead eyed, malevolent narrator of the steamy side of life returns. During a spirited rendition of (Baxter) These Are My Friends, Hall 1 erupts briefly into a rave euphoria: Dury can’t hide his delight.

Prince of Tears receives a massive cheer and Dury strikes a celebratory pose. We have reached redemption: Baxter, uncovered at last. “I hate London. I love it here,” grins Dury. There’s a twinkle in his eye, a sense of mischief to be made and the promise of neon-lit danger behind a (stained) velvet curtain. Enter if you dare…

THE LOTTERY WINNERS @ INDEPENDENT, SUNDERLAND

Words: Iam Burn

Playing live – some bands just get it, don’t they? You should be made to feel as if you are part of the event, in my opinion. Some artists barely acknowledge their audience. One thing is certain, you cannot level this accusation at The Lottery Winners, and their performance at Independent in Sunderland was testament to this.

From the moment the four-piece from Leigh stepped onto the stage, they embraced the crowd and, together, we went on a journey of love, loss, hindsight, mental health challenges and positive thinking. As soon as they launched into Worry, a bombastic pop rock anthem, the crowd were hooked as they sang and danced along with lead singer Thom Rylance acting as ringmaster. Bassist Katie Lloyd took us on a dreamy pop trip with Sunshine, while Rylance and Lloyd teamed up to deliver the delicate acoustic ballad Overthink Everything. They certainly know how to create a catchy tune – they are an earworm factory!

One of the highlights of the night was a young lad, Alex, being invited up on stage to sing Letter To Myself. He absolutely nailed it and Rylance was clearly moved. As the night ended with a rousing version of the funky, indie rock-fuelled Burning House, I wandered out into the night feeling energised and brimming with happy vibes.

JODIE NICHOLSON, CALLUM PITT, STEFF MUNDI @ THE GLASSHOUSE, GATESHEAD (18.05.24)

Words: Isabel Maria

Sage 2 is eerily silent as we await the evening ahead; the stage is set, the lights are low, the room is full. First up is Steff Mundi, who graces us with a set of introspective, short, and beautiful songs about love, and grief and all things emotional. Performed on acoustic guitar, it’s a wildly honest and thought-provoking set. Callum Pitt follows, sharing warm songs of raw and thoughtful indie folk pieces, a poetic and rare solo treat from Pitt.

Then all eyes and ears are on Jodie Nicholson. The natural enchantment of Nicholson’s voice and songwriting craft is only amplified by her skilled band (comprising Ceitidh Mac, Joe Ramsey and Francesca Knowles). The skilful brand of alt. pop showcased on her new album Safe Hands shines through effortlessly in a live setting.

The set moves between full band segments and solo songs, and each are equally as satisfying and engaging. Both arrangements are undeniably classy, as we’ve come to expect from Nicholson, and the room is avidly quiet, transfixed on what we are seeing and hearing. It feels like the perfect venue for such an achievement as this night, with the lights dancing against the dynamics and the packed audience encasing the stage with much-deserved applause.

Baxter Dury by Jason Hayles

NADINE SHAH, CALLUM EASTER @ BOILER SHOP, NEWCASTLE (26.04.24)

Words: Ali Welford

Having been unmoved by several of his previous visits, Callum Easter’s opening set is – for me at least – something of a revelation. Maybe I’d caught off-nights, or perhaps a year playing with Young Fathers has rubbed off on him. Either way, the figure onstage here is noticeably more authoritative and emotionally stirring, impressing hugely with a rousing fusion of folksy accordion and distorted electronics. Proof that support acts can be worth giving a second, third and occasionally even fourth try!

By contrast, Nadine Shah has little left to prove before a packed-out hometown crowd. Nonetheless, tonight’s triumphant tour opener offers two key takeaways: that her live show continues to go from strength to strength following a period of tumult, and that fifth album Filthy Underneath might just be her strongest body of work to date. Backed by a recalibrated four-piece band, there’s a zip and crunch to tonight’s performance which beautifully complements the new record’s claustrophobic atmospherics, not to mention the frenetic jitters and noir dread of established numbers such as Ladies For Babies (Goats For Love) and Fool. Above all, this fresh configuration – especially in the lofty confines of the Boiler Shop – sounds utterly huge, and even matches the soaring power of Shah’s vocal on future staples Topless Mother and Greatest Dancer. With showings of such simmering intensity and a faultless catalogue from which to pull, a place among the elite is surely no longer in question.

GRUFF RHYS, FORTITUDE VALLEY, LOTS OF HANDS @ THE GROVE, NEWCASTLE (17.05.24)

Words: Ali Welford

Kickstarting 2024’s Marrapalooza, this stand-alone show pairs local DIY spirit alongside the festival’s biggest individual draw: unassuming Welsh icon Gruff Rhys.

Slimmed to a two-piece, Lots of Hands aren’t the smoothest or most charismatic of operators, yet there’s a refreshingly modest eclecticism here which offers a window into a burgeoning, enterprising catalogue. Fortitude Valley, meanwhile, sound almost exactly as you’d expect a group comprising members of Tigercats, Martha and Fast Blood would. This is no dig – Laura Kovic and her quartet’s punchy power pop

anthems are an ebullient, harmony-laden delight, delivered with an aplomb which seems practically effortlessness. Terrific stuff. Gruff Rhys and his four-piece band aren’t so quick to find their feet, owing less to their own failures (nor their posing as a fictional logistics company) than a decidedly muddy sound mix. Consequently, several standouts from latest record Sadness Sets Me Free suffer a muted landing. Thankfully, then, it’s with two new numbers that they belatedly strike an equilibrium. Nestled during a sparser mid-set interlude, Cover Up The Cover Up bristles with silent fury in its longing for social and political revolution, while I Tendered My Resignation finds spectral beauty in a landscape of post-break-up desolation. Further standouts follow during a succession of favourites spanning the breadth of Rhys’ solo catalogue, yet on this tour in particular it feels apt that back-toback bummers offer the launchpad for a joyous, liberated final strait.

YOUR AUNT FANNY: TIME OF THE MONTH @ THE STAND, NEWCASTLE (14.05.24)

Words: Lena Moss

Dedicated and new fans join Your Aunt Fanny at their latest semiregular comedy night at The Stand, Time Of The Month. Following on from two excellent stand-up sets from openers Elaine Robertson and Sascha Lo, the full seven-piece troupe take to the stage with 30-40 minutes of sketch comedy – a genre which, let’s face it, can be hit and miss at times. However, with brand-new sketches and characters that seem as much fun to perform as they are to watch, nothing feels overdone or tired in this all killer, no filler show.

With some simple prop and accessory changes, the effervescent group embody hilarious characters across the full spectrum of society – from self-indulgent podcast hosts to posh hikers and judgemental new mothers (where of course, dads collect praise for doing the bare minimum). Even as stereotypes, their characters offer a glimpse into very real people that you will have undoubtedly encountered outside of the comedy club doors.

If you love entertainment that finds the sweet spot between the mundane and the absurd, go to see this show. If you love sketch comedy, go to see this show. Even if you think you don’t love sketch comedy, go to see this show and let Your Aunt Fanny change your mind.

Nadine Shah by David Wala

GOGO PENGUIN, DAUDI MATSIKO @ WYLAM BREWERY, NEWCASTLE

(12.05.24)

Words: Andrew Thompson

As the sun began to dip down over the Palace of Arts on a balmy Sunday evening, a hushed silence falls and Daudi Matsiko shuffles on to the stage. What follows is a beautifully disarming dichotomy of songs about deeply heavy and challenging subject matter interspersed with the most charming stories and an infectious laugh. Daudi was new to me, but if you’re a fan of Keaton Henson or Luke Sital-Singh you really should be a fan of his too.

A less hushed but equally respectful welcome meets GoGo Penguin. The band emit and emote a reflective, mindful presence. Perhaps it’s the absence of any lyrics in their work that allows space for more attentive listening, or maybe just the demographic of their usual crowd, but I can’t recall a more attentive audience at any gig I’ve been to in years. Only a smattering of raised phones as the set reaches its peak and almost no chat over the music; truth be told, it’s beautiful.  GoGo Penguin are 12 years into their career and can, I believe, legitimately be traced as one of the tributaries of the rise in UK jazz that’s given such a platform to the likes of Ezra Collective, et al. The set is a meander through their last five studio albums, including plenty from last year’s shimmering Everything Is Going To Be Okay – “which we absolutely cannot guarantee” quips double bass player Nick Blacka. Their set climaxes with Protest, taken from 2016’s Man Made Object. You suspect that lots of GoGo Penguin songs are named for very abstract reasons (Garden Dog Barbeque as a particularly random example…) But given, well.. everything, protest feels powerful, poignant and deliberate.

HANDSOME FAMILY, NEV CLAY @ THE FIRE STATION, SUNDERLAND

(09.05.24)

Words: Lee Fisher

If some booking confusion means that the magnificent Frontier Ruckus aren’t the support for the Sunderland show after all, the best remedy for your disappointment is a sudden slot for Nev Clay, who was on particularly charming form. We got Guts and Green Leaves and Nine Dart Finish and we got a remarkable version of Big Black’s Pavement Saw (adios, Steve Albini). He went down a (quiet) storm and the gig was

all the greater for having him be a part of it. Meanwhile, Handsome Family were as lovely as I’ve ever seen them (and I’ve seen them a lot). Their opening trio of Joseph, The Bottomless Hole and Weightless Again set the course for the evening: new material, deep cuts and pure classics. Brett and Rennie were at their warmest and chattiest, talking over each other’s asides and observations and laughing at each other’s jokes, the whole thing feeling remarkably intimate in such a big room. Everything about the Handsome Family is remarkable – Brett’s canyon-deep voice; the harmonies; Rennie’s incredible words full of flights of fancy, of lyrical bleakness, of death and animals; the sheer power of their songs. Regular collaborator James Toth lent some subtly impressive percussion (the xylophone on Weightless Again was perfect) and Alex MacMahon’s guitar work – the pedal steel especially – was quietly glorious throughout. We got Arlene and Singing Bones, we got tales of hotel rooms and being paid in rope. We got the finest country gothic outfit in the world at their absolute best.

ZOE & LAUREN EXPLAINS IT ALL @ TYNE THEATRE & OPERA HOUSE

Words: Michaela Hall

In her latest show, North East comedian Zoe is as wacky as ever – wolf fleece, dog leggings and all. This time she’s joined by Lauren (Stone), her straight-faced, suit-wearing partner in crime. Together the duo ‘explain it all’ – education, employment and interpersonal relationships. From start to finish the audience are treated to synchronised(ish!) dancing, unique ad-hoc props created by Lauren on cardboard, and elaborate stories about 22 too many teddies being taken to the picnic. The audience in the palm of their hands, were hanging on their every smirk and twisted face. There’s something about watching the pair squabble like an old married couple that make them even more loveable.

Mad as a box of frogs or not, people wanted to get involved and some found themselves invited on stage as wrestlers – hurling pre-written insults about bin day and parking spaces at each other. Another in the crowd asked by Zoe, “do you want a willy insult?” Zoe and Lauren even tackled more serious subjects like consent and toxicity with hilarious stories about highly personal sexual preferences and creme eggs. There were belly laughs all round, and the finale saw us watching the pair clean up their clutter on stage until the audience eventually left, worried they would miss out on anything else.

GoGo Penguin by Victoria Wai

MELANIE BAKER, SARAH JOHNSON, MAIUS MOLLIS @ @ THE CLUNY, NEWCASTLE (26.04.24)

Words: Dawn Storey

I’ve seen a lot of excellent bands already this year, but as complete line-ups go, tonight’s is the best yet.

Maius Mollis sits down and sets out some ground rules, requesting that people only make noise whenever she isn’t. She’s so shyly endearing, and her songs are so quietly beautiful, that her request is granted, so every note of her guitar and every one of her unusual lyrics can be heard.

Sarah Johnsone’s slow burning opener Strange Concoction segues straight into Sophia’s funky guitars, indicating the eclectic nature of her work. Whether it’s fairground melodies, marching band drums or jazz, every tune is elevated by Sarah’s brilliant band and her soulful, sultry voice.

Minutes into Melanie Baker’s set, the crowd are whooping and clapping along. “What the fuck, Newcastle?!” she asks, clearly overwhelmed, with a smile as wide as the Tyne Bridge. Her bandmates look equally delighted, especially guitarist Jon, whose grin even threatens to outshine his impressive dance moves. Melanie’s voice is flawless as she sings honestly about anxiety, doomscrolling in bed and neglecting her mental health. In the next breath though, she’s rocking out with tracks like Ha Ha and Sad Clown and her superb set is over all too soon. All three acts tonight were absolutely sublime with not a single bad song between them. What a wonderful evening.

KATHRYN WILLIAMS & WITHERED HAND @ GOSFORTH CIVIC THEATRE, NEWCASTLE (02.04.24)

Words: Jade Mia Broadhead

What better way to save some money and space on the tour bus than to have yourselves as your own support act? Withered Hand and then Kathryn Williams take it in turns to perform brief sets before the two combine to become not so much more than the sum of their parts, because each are undoubtedly great in their own way, but the super-duo that nobody knew they needed until it happened. Their collaborative Willson Williams album only debuted live the

previous night, and it demonstrates all the best bits of each artist. Witty but wise lyrics from the ever self-deprecating Dan Willson on the likes of the presumably Prince-inspired R U 4 Real, and the soulful folk narratives of Williams on the likes of Arrow make it a set abundant with riches. It might have started over a few comments on social media, but the two have clearly found a muse in each other; songs like Our Best spawned by late night kitchen conversations and aired here full of raw, tender emotion and reflection. Their stage patter (apparently Taylor Swift is jealous…) is the kind of awkward ‘banter’ that can only come from two people who – though they may have only met a few years ago – found each other and clicked, both as songwriters and as friends.

FAST BLOOD, BIGFATBIG, TV DEATH, WILD SPELKS, FASHION TIPS @ THE CUMBERLAND ARMS, NEWCASTLE (05.05.24)

Words: John Knox

On a grey day down the Ouseburn, the colourful culturati, huddled beneath scaffolding outside The Cumberland Arms, buzzed pleasantly in anticipation. FAST BLOOD’s new album Sunny Blunts has dropped and they’re throwing a party to celebrate – no dicks allowed – and a five-band bill showcased some of the best the region has to offer. Openers Fashion Tips crush it from the word go, serving up sassy riot noise with life changing low end. They simultaneously make me want to start a band and quit music altogether. Wild Spelks deliver an emotional suite of Jimmy-Eat-Weezer bops that could be the soundtrack to your next anxiety attack. TV Death throw down scuzzy garage rock with all the attitude of Mick Jagger’s lips, and big riffs to make The White Stripes blush. “We’re from Sunderland… and we don’t care what you have to say about it” declare bigfatbig amid a polished set of catchy indie pop bangers worthy of gold medals at the next lets-see-who-canhave-the-most-fun Olympics. Suddenly, I can’t see or breathe as the sell-out crowd comes together for the main event. FAST BLOOD go hard, hitting top speed instantaneously with a medley of recent singles Sexual Healing and Salvation, both so infectious they should come with a health warning. Charismatic front woman Abi Barlow’s zest for life is compelling and the crowd eat it up. I leave with a full heart.

Melanie Baker by Victoria Wai

TRACKS

CHRIS HAIR & WILD CIRCLE S/T EP

Words: Matt Young

There’s lots of reflective, hazy atmosphere, in this six-song EP layered with softly brushed chords, striking leads and vocal harmonies. Hometown wears its influences proudly; ‘60s/’70s alt. rock slowly building before launching into a beefed-up race to the finish, it’s reminiscent of Fleetwood Mac’s The Chain indirectly. Live Again, Harbour of Love and Down By The Ocean all possess classic rock frameworks, the latter delving into a sweeter sound, while Three Lives of Antonia picks up the pace again, and Dreamtime winds things to a close with gentle sleepy tones. Lyrically things can feel a bit forced occasionally, but it’s a minor gripe given the lush-sounding production. Chris and the band will air the EP and more at Pop Recs Ltd., Sunderland on 28th June.

Released: 21.06.24

www.linktr.ee/chrishairmusic

THE

ILFORDS

SNAKE GROOVE

Words: Michaela Hall

Snake Groove is energetic poetry in motion; unusual and intriguing. The track follows the story of a solider in foreign lands, finding his way against the hyenas that trouble him. It’s a one of a kind track that transcends one genre, particularly in the mid-section where we hear a fusion of punk, alternative, pop and indie sounds explode and flood our senses. It’s a juxtaposition of a sad poetic tale and fun, upbeat and fresh rhythms that will lend well to live gigs. This is the first of four singles to be released by The Ilfords this summer, and is an excellent example of artistic and lyrical open-mindedness that can take listeners somewhere new.

Released: 14.06.24

www.linktr.ee/theilfords

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

JAMILAH NEED YOU

Words: Roz Cuthbert

Jamilah’s new release would be best suited to a club at 3am, just as things are starting to wind down. Chilled enough not to be too full-on, but with a strong enough pulse to keep the dancefloor going that little while longer.

Jamilah is from Newcastle but you’d never know from her voice, as she elects to sing in an American style similar to that of Rhianna, which does, in fact, suit the music perfectly. Need You is professionally produced with plenty of space for Jamilah’s predominantly Autotuned vocal (I personally have a soft spot for Autotune). With the right promotion and a bit of luck, she could have a popular summer banger on her hands.

Released: 07.06.24

www.liinks.co/jamilahmusic

BLOCKDATA & TOOMS THE BREAKER

Words: Iam Burn

How intense do you like your drum and bass? If your answer is ‘very’, this track may be right up your street. At 175bpm, this unapologetic and ferocious creation will certainly get you energised, whether you want to be or not! However, it is the hip-hop inspired sections of this track that elevate it to something that is above the run-of-the mill club fodder. Tooms’ vocals sit very comfortably against the backdrop of menacing synths and heavy beats, sounding like a theme to a dark Netflix series about corrupt NYPD officers and their involvement in gangland affairs. This is certainly an interesting collaboration; hopefully, Blockdata and Tooms will join forces again and explore each other’s strengths with further collaborations.

Released: 07.06.24

www.facebook.com/toomsisr www.facebook.com/blockdata.audio

CULTIVO MOUSE ON A MOTORCYCLE

Words: Amelia Neri

Cultivo invite listeners on an immersive journey of sonic exploration with their dynamic new single, Mouse On A Motorcycle. Having been recorded on iPhones, the genre-bending instrumental piece showcases the band’s creative finesse and ability to capture moments of raw and authentic musical spontaneity. It is a cacophony of rhythmic drums, Latin-infused bass and evocative guitar riffs that are as danceable as they are thought-provoking.

Although based in Newcastle, members hail from all corners of the globe, making Cultivo a diverse fusion of South American, English, Portuguese and Lithuanian influences. I may even argue that their multicultural roots are the driving force in their craftsmanship, equipping them with a diverse range of talents that have helped concoct Cultivo’s own unique and compelling sound.

Released: 01.06.24

www.facebook.com/cultivouk

BINARIES HUSH MONEY

Words: Matt Young

You can feel the anxiety and agitation that inspires Hush Money, as it begins with its skittering electronic beats and bloops before pummelling drums and guitar squalls twist that frustration into anger. It’s a beast of song.

The Binaries trio of John (guitar and vox), Ivy (drums) and Dave (electronic noises) dissect their places in the world, with lyrics tied to a future album that examines everything from technology mediating our lives, social media’s failed promise and the disdainful powers that preside over everything. There’s an inherent ambiguity to the vocals as they weave both falsetto and soulful sounds, over and into the mix. It’s a thrilling listen that channels its rage well before ending breathlessly, spent.

Released: 14.06.24

www.linktr.ee/binariesband

JADE MIA BROADHEAD SEASONS

Words: Phoenix Atkinson

Seasons is the upcoming EP by Jade Mia Broadhead, who is making waves in Newcastle’s music scene through her heartfelt and honest songs about identity, love and change, whether through her solo project or her band, Dinky Bossetti.

While listening to the EP, you get a full view of how Jade views her life, set in four songs symbolising the seasonal cycle. The opening track, Crutches, is a statement of intent, saying openly that “I’ll no longer follow, I will lead”.

The whole EP is nostalgic, reflecting on past relationships with a mature and optimistic eye. It’s about growth, transition and living as the person you truly are and is the perfect introduction to an artist blossoming into an honest and talented songwriter.

Released: 07.06.24

www.jademiabroadhead.bandcamp.com

JOSH ATKINSON LIFELINE

Words: Amelia Neri

Introspective and sentimental, Josh Atkinson’s latest offering is a tour-de-force in dynamic songwriting that takes the listener on an emotional journey through relationship hardships. The track sees its more downhearted subject matter juxtaposed with zealous and spirited instrumentals, creating an unstable feel that mirrors the waning relationship set out in the lyrical content.

Hailing from Middlesbrough, the emerging indie soloist is no stranger to songwriting. Although having made a name for himself as lead guitarist for Teesside-based band Nice Guy, Josh Atkinson now writes music under his own name. Taking inspiration from the likes of indie star Willie J Healy and folk group Flyte, he has constructed an upbeat, easy-listening, attention-grabbing sound that has already established a dedicated fan base.

Released: 14.06.24

www.facebook.com/joshatkinsonmusic

BREAKAWAY NE BEE STING

Words: Roz Cuthbert

Here we have a lovely ditty from Newcastle’s Breakaway NE. Bee Sting has a raw, DIY quality to the production and musically it takes the form of a ballad but with a marked grittiness to it.

This, the band’s third single, channels the ghosts of music’s past, with definite post-punk and 80’s alt. pop influences at play. The guitar solo makes a refreshing change too, contrasting with the usual unnecessary widdly stuff that you hear in some local music. Vocally, I’m reminded of the gravelly tones of Chris Rea, with the Breakaway NE singer’s voice still burning distinctively in its own right. Hear it first hand when the band perform at Little Buildings, Newcastle on Sunday 9th June.

Released: 08.06.24

www.breakaway-ne.bandcamp.com

SARAH JOHNSONE NO SERENADE

Words: Laura Rosierse

North East-based alternative pop artist Sarah Johnsone releases a soulful new single this month. Her voice shines brightly on No Serenade, supported by a softly wandering and subtly thumping soundscape. No Serenade’s refreshingly jazzy and harmonious vibe makes it a perfect sunny Sunday afternoon soundtrack.

The track is an ode to the solace of love, and shows another side of Johnsone’s musical prowess. Its lyrics lay bare rough and poignant emotions, and show Sarah’s songwriting skills to superb effect, with a vintage sound gracefully supporting its message. No Serenade also marks the first time she speaks of love in a positive way, which is smartly backed up by the confident and soothing rhythms.

Released: 06.06.24

www.linktr.ee/sarahjohnsone

GOODSPRINGS HORRORS

Words: Michaela Hall

Goodsprings aren’t afraid to confront the state of society on Horrors; their powerful and brilliant in-your-face ska satire story of a young Brit being led into a world of hate preachers sticks a middle finger up to the socio-politics of the 21st Century.

The song grabs you with infectious beginning that gets you out your seat and builds into a rhythm pure and addictive with its characteristic ska beats and tenacious brass. Written back in 2018 as a response to the rise of the alt. right movement, the song talks about “the racist bad guy” and the “only agenda” that’s ever been known, and is a call to those who dare to question and see music as a tool for change.

Released: 07.06.24

www.linktr.ee/goodspringsband

WOLFRED SLEEP

Words: Laura Rosierse Wolfred is a name and phenomenon you should fast make yourself familiar with. The alternative band’s goosebump-inducing stories are delivered by incredible vocals and powerful soundscapes that demand attention from their first tones until way past their end. Sleep is grand and theatrical, and needs to be listened to on repeat.

Sleep’s soaring, passionate sound is filled with energy and emotion; singer Wilf’s vocals sound like no other and the warm sound of Sleep supports the inspiration behind it, although its meaning has changed during the course of its creation. Sleep builds on a dynamic soundscape and an impressive composition, serving to further confirm that Wolfred possess something utterly addictive.

Released: 22.06.24

www.linktr.ee/wolfredofficial

DEMOS

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

Elliot Leonard – Rich Folk

Rich Folk is an uplifting, anthemic track in the indie/alternative vein that I’m certain will appeal to a broad audience if given a chance. Elliot gives us a strong vocal performance, wearing his influences on his sleeve – think Michael Stipe or Sam Fender. Based in Hartlepool, but having travelled the Antipodes extensively, Elliot’s voice has a transatlantic neutrality very suited to the style. The lyrics tell a cautionary tale of pursuing wealth over authenticity; however, I might have related to the message more if I’d picked up any regional twang to his voice. The palette of sounds is pitch perfect and well polished, a real credit to the recording team Elliot has assembled. I particularly enjoyed the contrapuntal melodies in the outro. As long as there is an appetite for real people, telling real stories, with real instruments, Elliot Leonard will have a fanbase.

www.elliotleonard.com

Liam Hiatt – Blind Squid

Opening with a retro-futuristic space rock synthesiser swoosh, the scene is set for a musical voyage that pays homage to a bygone era. Drawing on 70’s psychedelic, folk and garage rock, Liam weaves a cosy, vintage tapestry without veering into cloying nostalgia. The one-bar, acoustic guitar loop provides a hypnotic bedrock for extended guitar solos and wah soaked violin sections that could easily be mistaken for sitar in this context. The esoteric lyrics, taken from a poem, are a perfect fit for the occasion and are delivered alongside a chant chorus harmonised very much in the style of The Mamas & The Papas. Look out for more from Liam as he works to record all of the material he has written in the last 20 years. www.youtube.com/@liamhiattmusic

Ambient Bones – Starscape

This track gives us a snapshot of the improvised, experimental meanderings of guitarist Arthur Ely. Recorded live, warts and all, with no overdubs or post-production techniques, the track is raw and rough about

the edges. A loop of four spacious, heavily reverbed chords lays the foundation for Ely’s introspective approach. With an extended guitar solo that reaches for meaning, his ideas come and go, providing nothing to hang your attention on, leaving the piece formless and mesmerising. The sudden cessation of the loop at the mid-point is a car crash for the senses, jolting us out of soft texture and into jagged dissonance. A slide guitar gives us blue notes from the bayou, drenched in string buzz, before the loop returns for a few bars to bookend the unexpected diversion and close out the piece. For fans of low budget string strangling and DIY production values. www.ambientbones.bandcamp.com

Nacho Dog – If You Want It

Nacho Dog, though you may know him as Dan, serves us a slice from his new album Everything Is Back To Normal, his first in six years. The track is a shift in dynamic from his usual stoned funk electronica, giving us some laid-back, acoustic guitar-led, post-Haçienda blues with echoes of Shaun Ryder in the vocal delivery and Bez in the echo of maracas that really propel the groove. The track is an

intimate glimpse into a project propelled by passion from an artist with a strong vision. Credit where it’s due, Nacho writes, produces and performs everything himself (with the odd cameo from his kids). I do however think that there’s lots of potential for the track to develop and deepen in the hands of a good band, so watch this space.

www.instagram.com/nachodogmusic

Dennis Barkass – In Search Of

Another textural, ambient guitar submission this month. This time, from Dennis Barkass of Durham. We’re given an abstract, multi-effects laden, guitar loop of babbling strums and bubbling bass bloops that shambles in the periphery like a toddler on a tightrope, leaving me uneasy. Mellow, improvised lines peep through, attempting to soothe the angular dissonance, as Dennis explores, almost conversationally, a guitar performance built of question-and-answer licks. With no formal beginning or end we can only infer the conversation continues perpetually, a great infinite discussion from the depths of Dennis’s mind.

www.denis5.bandcamp.com

WORDS: JOHN KNOX DEMO

ALBUMS

/ 5

THE DECEMBERISTS AS IT EVER WAS, SO IT WILL BE AGAIN (YABB RECORDS)

Words: Lee Hammond

The very long-awaited and welcome return of The Decemberists is finally upon us, and what a return. The band’s first intentional double album is a tour through genre and themes, split into four sections, the first three each with their own distinct tone and culminating in an epic crescendo. Peppered with dour themes of cynicism, loss, longing and capitalism, Colin Meloy has really gone all out on As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again.

Opening with the upbeat Burial Ground, the first four tracks carry a similar enthusiasm, and despite the darker themes that run amongst them, there is an inherent excitement bouncing through. Long White Veil carries this same tone but has an undercurrent of pedal steel that brings it to life.

The second section of the record certainly feels more subdued. Whilst the themes remain the same, the tracks are punctuated with an Americana tone, elevating Meloy’s voice to the fore in dramatic style. The Black Maria flourishes, with an underlying horn section complementing the delicacy of the track.

The thematic sections within As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again are easily recognisable, but the third feels like a particularly harsh gear change. Born To The Morning comes alive quickly and is elevated away from the quaint acoustic nature of the section before, leading to something altogether more rousing. Its swirling synthesisers colliding with mouth organs feels like a completely different record in some senses.

This uplift is retained through America Made Me, Tell Me What’s On Your Mind and Never Satisfied, yet they retain similar themes to the rest of the record. This all builds to the rousing crescendo of Joan In The Garden, a nineteen-minute epic which cuts across the themes explored previously, tying them all together. Its delicate start morphs into introspective synths before culminating in a rousing conclusion.

As It Ever Was, So It Will Be Again is a huge record, twisting and turning through its four themes, each feeling well defined whilst maintaining a level of coherence with the others. A very welcome return from The Decemberists.

Released: 14.06.24 www.decemberists.com

ALSO OUT THIS MONTH

Hermanos Gutiérrez - Sonido Cósmico (Easy Eye Sound, 14.06) // Kate Nash - 9 Sad Symphonies (Kill Rock Stars, 21.06) // John Cale - POPtical Illusion (Double Six/Domino, 14.06) // Mt. Onsra - Sacred Time (South of Devon Records, 28.06) // MONO - OATH (Pelagic Records, 14.06) // Marina Allen - Eight Pointed Star (Fire, 07.06) // Orbury Common - Sylvan Chute (Prah Recordings, 07.06) // KRM & KMRU - Disconnect (Phantom Limb, 14.06) // Eiko Ishibashi - Evil Does Not Exist (Drag City, 28.06) // The Folk Implosion - Walk Thru Me (Joyful Noise Recordings, 28.06) // Bonny Light Horseman - Keep Me On Your Mind/See You Free (Jagjaguwar, 07.06) // Peggy Gou - I Hear You (XL Recordings, 07.06) // Will Gregory Moog Ensemble - Heat Ray (Mute, 14.06) // Sea Girls - Midnight Butterflies (Alt. Records, 14.06) // Mike Lindsay - supershapes volume 1 (Moshi Moshi Records, 14.06) // Seasick Steve - A Trip A Stumble A Fall Down On Your Knees (SO Recordings, 07.06) // James Vincent McMorrow - Wide Open, Horses (Nettwerk Music Group, 14.06)

4 / 5

LIVING IN SHADOWS NEON BURNING (LAMPLIGHT SOCIAL RECORDS)

Words: Robert Nichols

From the sparkling, bright as a button, energy-enriched opener Cast Away, Neon Burning is an album that oozes personality and vitality, proclaiming ‘a seize the day’ prospectus. The album features instant hit hooky chorusing with inventive intervals of nourishing noodling of the kind that Field Music have made their standard. Neon Burning is the second album from the North East-based duo, award-winning vocalist Zoe Gilby and multi-instrumentalist and composer Andy Champion. Both big wheels in the jazz world, they bring a genre-busting perspective to their music, drawing on prog, alt. pop, rock, lounge as well as their jazz sense and sensibility. A positivelycharged start to your musical listening day is guaranteed if you tune in to Neon Burning. Released: 07.06.24

www.livinginshadows.bandcamp.com

4 / 5

SWIM DEEP THERE’S A BIG STAR OUTSIDE… (SUBMARINE

CAT RECORDS)

Words: Matthew Brown

Swim Deep’s fourth album showcases lyrical and musical maturity. Produced by Bill Ryder-Jones, this release explores personal themes with melodic sophistication. The album opens with How Many Love Songs Have Died In Vegas?, reintroducing fans to their evolved sound. First Song breathes new life at the album’s midpoint with its gauzy shoegaze.

Highlights include the musically rich Robin and Very Heaven, which has an Elbow-esque influence. The second half, especially Glitter, offers glimpses of youthful exuberance amidst the introspective maturity, adding vibrancy to the reflective tone. There’s A Big Star Outside... is Swim Deep’s most complete and mature work to date, ideal for listeners who appreciate melodic, introspective indie rock with a touch of shoegaze.

Released: 07.06.24

www.swim-deep.co.uk

ALBUMS

4 / 5

SUMAC

THE HEALER (THRILL JOCKEY)

Words: John Knox

When frontman Aaron Turner (Isis, Old Man Gloom) formed SUMAC he set out with the intention of writing “the heaviest music” he’d ever created, and for those of us who still live in hope of an Isis reunion, The Healer scratches some of that itch. While they don’t completely base their identity on being The Melvins (we’re looking at you Boris), there are a lot of moments here that could be outtakes from Bullhead, albeit with modern production values, and I am here for it.

Feedback-drenched solitary guitar passages provide serene moments of contemplation before catapulting us into thick walls of solid sound. Cacophonous drumming combined with career-peak vocal delivery make for an unmissable meditative metal masterpiece.

Released: 21.06.24 www.sumac.bandcamp.com

3.5 / 5

JOHN GRANT

THE ART OF THE LIE (BELLA UNION)

Words: Ben Lowes-Smith

John Grant’s recent releases have been something of a mixed bag, he’s moved from the lavish and melancholy atmospheres of The Queen Of Denmark to a more eclectic overall sound, incorporating frivolous electronic music. The Art Of The Lie contains scattershots of Grant’s best material, within some of his most flippant sounding music. Its freewheeling nature may be the main pull for many, but it’s hard to understand in what contexts it could really fit. It’s arguably most successful when at its most syrupy and melodic, as on Mother And Son, which revisits Grant’s melodic sense of identity, with a gorgeous cameo from producer Cate Le Bon. Grant’s trying to say a lot on this album; a hot mess, however, is better than a predictable triumph.

Released: 14.06.24 www.johngrantmusic.com

4.5 / 5 3.5 / 5

MARY OCHER YOUR GUIDE TO REVOLUTION (UNDERGROUND INSTITUTE)

Words: Ben Lowes-Smith

Berlin-based Russian artist Mary Ocher has been making compelling, politicised experimental music for over a decade. Your Guide To Revolution is a characteristically uncompromising release; a rich, eclectic tapestry of styles that fluctuate between kosmiche and traditional folk.

Centrepiece The Rubayiat Melody (Parts 1, 2 and 3) provide a sparse and textural fulcrum to the record; haunting, beautiful and disorientating. Museum Of Childhood Terror brings the atmosphere of an Argento film to mind. Ocher is a prolific songwriter who has produced a wide canon of music with a fairly broad spectrum of accessibility. Your Guide To Revolution is among the most accessible and satisfying of her releases, and perhaps a perfect entry to point to Ocher’s wider body of work.

Released: 14.06.24

www.maryocher.com

HOCKEY DAD REBUILD REPEAT (FARMER & THE OWL/BMG)

Words: Iam Burn

If you like your guitars jangly and your rhythms tighter than a mouse’s cuff, there’s two Aussie chaps with a new album you should check out. Zach Stephenson and Billy Fleming, aka Hockey Dad, have let loose their fourth album, Rebuild Repeat, and it’s pretty bloody bonzer. From the poppy sensibilities of Base Camp to the melancholic Dancing On The Other Hand, via the gentle ballad Burning Sand, this album will provide great garden/beach party music this summer while you sink a few cold brewskis or a glass of the old Pinot Grigio with your friends. Maybe a barbie too for good measure. Hockey Dad have matured, and this album will no doubt see them pick up some new fans.

BORED AT MY GRANDMAS HOUSE SHOW & TELL (CLUE RECORDS)

Words: Matt Young

Fans of Amber Strawbridge’s Bored at My Grandmas House densely packed melodic songs have waited a while for her debut album. It arrives firmly sitting at the intersection of shoegaze and dream pop, the crush of her guitar sounds and rich vocal layers provide wide exploratory vistas. With lyrical themes of communication, or lack thereof, and the resulting isolation, it’s also a dense listen. Standouts include the far too-short opener Intro, an atmospheric tune with glistening, fragile riffs followed by the equally chilly sounds of Inhibitions. Show & Tell’s bouncy orchestration and the gentle closer Hide And Seek also vary the pacing. Other songs can tread on each other’s toes with similar sounds, but it’s a strong debut full of evocative indie pop melodies exploring life’s anxieties.

Released: 14.06.24

www.boredatmygrandmashouse.bandcamp. com

O.

Released: 14.06.24

www.hockeydadband.com

Released: 21.06.24 www.otheband.com 4 / 5 4 / 5

WEIRDOS (SPEEDY WUNDERGROUND)

Words: Robin Webb

A grandiose laser-focused, heavy jazz rock splurge, punk and glitched, an electronic cacophony driven by percussion and sax in dis/ harmonious splendour. Driving loops and stabs that unashamedly indulge drum & bass, slamming metallic techno and experimental ambience almost musique concrète in short cranial bursts. It was recorded live over a very brief period in order to translate their live experiential onslaught; Green Shirt is testament to that, pulsing with smashed bass drum and slammed baritone sax. As debuts go, this places them firmly amongst the vanguard of ultra modern British psych jazz with the likes of Comet Is Coming et al. Hopefully they’ll add a North East gig at some point, as seeing them live will be essential.

3.5 / 5

THE MAD WALLS HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS? (BIG POTATO RECORDS)

Words: Robin Webb

As if Syd discovered the funk, imagine if you will a lo-fi psych-out, the colours swirl and the vapour trails mingle as you languidly gaze through rose-tinted spectacles framing the Mad Walls sound firmly in a 60’s haze.

Amazingly, it’s taken eight years to arrive onto the scene after a much lauded EP to launch a debut album brimming with acoustic solos, off-kilter lyrics about the human condition, heavily laden with spaced flourishes, the aforementioned groove and some cracking wig-outs. It’s a bit Krautrock, a bit psychedelic, it’s a bit garagey, but it’s also an outlier in today’s often pastiche-laden fare which makes it stand out in a lovingly freaky way, yeah baby!

Released: 21.06.24 www.themadwalls.bandcamp.com

STRAND OF OAKS MIRACLE FOCUS (WESTERN VINYL)

Words: Jade Mia Broadhead

Timothy Showalter is used to dealing with his trauma through music, but after seven albums he’s ripped up the rulebook and moved away from his rock and folk roots on this LP, embracing future sounds on tracks like the epic Navigator. Showalter’s no stranger to synths having used them on 2010’s Pope Killdragon, but rarely has he relied on them so heavily. It makes for a grandiose, bold and brave record, achieving the joyful expression he set out to create on tracks like the euphoric Ascend You; whilst his commitment to meditation can be heard on Ananda and its loops and oceanic field recordings. It’s an incredibly spiritual album from a man who has experienced near-death and continues to embrace life to its fullest.

Released: 07.06.24

www.strandofoaks.net

4 / 5 4 / 5

MABE FRATTI

SENTIR QUE NO SABES (UNHEARD OF HOPE)

Words: Elodie A. Roy

Avant-garde cellist and composer Mabe Fratti released her debut in 2019. Sentir Que No Sabes is her fourth solo album in five years. Fratti keeps moving. She was born in Guatemala, currently lives in Mexico City, and recorded her new tracks between Mexico and the Netherlands. Her music, too, is difficult to pin down, although Arthur Russell is obviously one of her idols.

For all its austerity, there are moments when Fratti’s music becomes uncontrollably playful and reminds me a bit of the Kronos Quartet’s Nueva – only with vocals in Spanish. Fratti has a high-pitched, gently stoical voice. But I like her instrumental fragments better – the sudden, unfilled gaps in the music. The moments when I don’t know where she’s going and everything feels magically suspended.

Released: 28.06.24

www.mabefratti1.bandcamp.com

WALT DISCO THE WARPING (LUCKY NUMBER)

Words: Iam Burn

Walt Disco are back with their second album, The Warping, ready to deliver a vicious sonic assault on your senses. An album full of reminisces about childhood, understanding the future and how they connect with each other, there’s plenty of raw emotion on offer.

You’ll be adding The Captain to your playlists, an anthemic proclamation for greater femininity in a patriarchal world, along with Come Undone, a proper disco banger that makes you want to dig out your red sparkly trousers. Jocelyn is a gentle ballad which builds into a defiant march, whilst the album’s title track mixes 80s sounds with equal measures of melancholia and optimism. The Warping is not always an easy listen but certainly worth an exploration.

Released: 14.06.24 www.waltdisco.bandcamp.com

THE MYSTERINES AFRAID OF TOMORROWS (FICTION RECORDS)

Words: Luke Waller

In 2022, The Mysterines set themselves a high standard with their top-ten debut album Reeling. Afraid of Tomorrows meets that standard, only with somewhat darker undertones, delving into brooding, introspective themes of human behaviour.

The Scouse four-piece’s album opens with a string of impressively compelling tracks. This begins with The Last Dance, for which vocalist Lia Metcalfe conjures the haunting and hopeless timbres of Siouxsie Sioux, matched by strangled distorted guitar atop a somehow threateningly jaunty rhythm section. Lead single Stray follows, exploring loneliness and the sense of passing points of no return. Until its closing title track, which resembles an unplugged Strokes dressing room rehearsal, Afraid of Tomorrows is a gloomy album made entrancing through exceptional artistry.

Released: 21.06.24 www.themysterines.com

DIRTY THREE LOVE CHANGES EVERYTHING (BELLA UNION)

Words: Lee Fisher

Reconvening after a dozen years stuffed to the gills with other projects (with Nick Cave, with Marisa Anderson, with Nina Nastasia, with soundtracks) the Dirty Three recorded Love Changes Everything in less than a week, but you’d never know it.

From the surprisingly fierce Love Changes Everything Part I – which is as close to a rock ’n’ roll number as the trio get – to the long, surging closer Part VI, which boils and bubbles along with skittering drums and overdriven guitar – this new record is fresh but familiar, pushing forward but still recognisably them. Most of the tracks are slow, enveloping, recalling at times the tension-without-resolution of The Necks. Part IV in particular will see people reaching for words like ‘oceanic’. This is a really wonderful return.

Released: 28.06.24

www.dirtythree.bandcamp.com

MIXTAPE

WORDS: PERCY HEDLEY FOUNDATION TEAM MEMBERS

The Percy Hedley Foundation is a North East disability charity which supports people with complex learning difficulties, disabilities and additional communication needs. Their Hedley Fest ‘24 event takes place at Springfield Park in Forest Hall on Friday 28th June, and has been driven by their students and service users to showcase their musical ability and desire to perform in front of an audience. Having spent several years looking at events management, they noted what stood out was the lack of disability access at most venues – whether that’s access to the building, facilities or stages. So, Hedley Fest will take place outdoors with a hired stage specifically designed for this purpose. The festival’s overall goal is to showcase the creative talent and bring awareness towards special needs, neurodiversity and disabilities, with the hope the event will grow to feature acts from across the country and demonstrate that music has a place for anyone, of any ability.

This Mixtape was selected by the DJ team and music departments; a rabble of DJs, performers, singers and music aficionados who eat, sleep and breathe music! www.percyhedley.org.uk

GIGI D’AGOSTINO

BLA BLA BLA

Total banger, always lights up the dancefloor

The Wolfman

THE FARM ALL TOGETHER NOW

Unity and togetherness on the dancefloor, an air punching classic

Yorkshire Terrier

RED HOT CHILLI PEPPERS GIVE IT AWAY NOW

Love to see them and go wild!

Dan W

DR. DRE

THE NEXT EPISODE

I love to rap and it’s my favourite song to jam to

David M

THE BEATLES

YESTERDAY

I’ve always wanted to see them and to hear this sung by a crowd

Kev D

REMA & SELENA GOMEZ CALM DOWN

Kick back in the sun with this tropical classic

DJ Chase

TALKING HEADS BURNING DOWN THE HOUSE

It’s a funky banger that everyone knows and joins in with!

Jamie T

GARY NUMAN CARS

It’s a great song, and I like the way it’ll wake up the neighbours!

Frankie P

WANT MORE?

AMY WINEHOUSE REHAB

It’s a great catchy song that everyone loves!

Alex M

RAMONES

BLITZKRIEG BOP

Always bow out in a chaotic style, stone cold classic

Metal Micky

CONFIDENCE MAN OUT THE WINDOW

Perfect trashy disco pop by the perfect festival party band

Wall Of Sound

JUSTICE

LOVE S.O.S.

Just awesome beats that I love Paul ‘BOSSMAN’ N