PREVIEWS

Image: Grandma's House by Rosie Carne

MUSIC

GRANDMA’S HOUSE @ LITTLE BUILDINGS

Words: James Hattersley

Hot off the back of their latest single Golden, Bristol-based queer punk trio Grandma’s House will play Newcastle’s Little Buildings on Thursday 21st October for what is sure to be an absolutely manic affair.

The band will present their raucous post-punk furry that’ll knock your socks off, rip them up and bury them in a nameless grave. Spurred on by the criminal lack of female representation in the punk genre, Grandma’s House combine the endless energy of the Slits and the vocal styles of The Raincoats, while channelling the spirit of riot grrrl. What you’re left with is dense and murky punk surf melodies, relentless and suffocating bass and an onslaught of pounding drums, all topped with a throat wrenching howl that invites you to criticise at your own peril.

Support is local and at this time unknown, but the band are reaching out to any band that consist of female, non-binary, LGBTQ+ and ethnically diverse members, which is something the North East should adopt more of in the future. Uncompromising in their ideology and sound, Grandma’s House are slowly becoming one of the UK’s most invigorating punk bands and now is your chance to be part of the evolution.

Grandma’s House play Little Buildings, Newcastle on Thursday 21st October www.grandmashouseband.bandcamp.com

MUSIC

BILLY NOMATES @ THE CLUNY

Words: Ali Welford

One of the pandemic’s more peculiar consequences is the clutch of emerging artists whose careers feel jumbled; performers who’ve broken through, enjoyed acclaim and success yet scarcely made a dent on the live circuit. Tor Maries – aka Billy Nomates – is case in point; a newcomer behind one of 2020’s finest debut albums whose cult status grew further after featuring on one of last year’s definitive singles, Sleaford Mods’ Mork n Mindy.

A terrific EP, Emergency Telephone, followed in March, but it’s only now that she’s embarking on a maiden UK tour – including a keenly anticipated visit to The Cluny on Thursday 7th October. Moved from Think Tank? due to the initial involvement of a certain disgraced promoter (a factor which likewise prompted her withdrawal from last month’s This Is Tomorrow festival), the Cluny show offers fans a first in-person glimpse of a truly idiosyncratic performer. Set to bare post-punk instrumentals, trademark cuts such as No, Hippy Elite and Heels confront societal issues with barb, wry humour and no shortage of compassion, bristling with defiance yet never shy of self-examination.

Her stage act is equally expressive – who needs a backing band when you can act on sheer impulse, busting moves which are equal parts awkward, angular and involuntary? She’s back on Wednesday 24th November too, opening for Sleaford Mods at O2 Academy.

Billy Nomates plays The Cluny, Newcastle on Thursday 7th October, and supports Sleaford Mods at O2 Academy, Newcastle on Wednesday 24th November www.iambillynomates.com

Billy Nomates

MUSIC

THE AGENCY… @ THE CLUNY 2

Words: Hope Lynes

Shoegaze meets Nick Cave when it comes to The Agency… Prepare for an album launch like no other. The Newcastle rockers released their new album In The Haunted Woods in October 2020 and have been patiently waiting to bring the music to the live stage ever since.

The celebration will take place at The Cluny 2, Newcastle on Sunday 17th October, where audiences can expect mellow rock with powerful lyrics from the eclectic collective. The Two Pennies Choir, a full community-orientated ensemble from North Shields, are also joining the band on stage, providing a previously unseen level of experimentation from the Newcastle band.

In The Haunted Woods is a dystopian album which is strange and intriguing, particularly on the passionate album opener, Numb. Having already received plenty of acclaim, including a recommendation on Steve Lamacq’s BBC 6Music show, and a beautiful set performed for BBC Introducing Newcastle, their live show promises to be uncompromising realisation of the recorded material, which will be available on exclusive vinyl at the gig. Support comes from Meiosis, who create dreamy guitar fused with electro beats, and psych solo act Spider Noises, whose musical style can be encapsulated by the iconic song title Mac DeMarco Might As Well Retire.

The Agency… and The Two Pennies Choir, Meiosis and Spider Noises play The Cluny 2, Newcastle on Sunday 17th October www.theagencyinthehauntedwoods.com

Plastic Ray 2020 Oil Acrylic and Oil Sticks On Canvas, 132x106x4cm, by Juliet E P Gibbs

ART & LIT

JULIET E P GIBBS @ BISCUIT FACTORY

Words: Kate Relton

The relationship between humans and the natural world has been a creative stimulus for countless generations, but for artists like Juliet E P Gibbs, viewing the world through the lens of a global pandemic provided new levels of inspiration.

Fascinated by the conflict of man vs. nature, she was chosen as the winner of The Biscuit Factory’s Contemporary Young Artist Award in 2019, and her latest exhibition at the venue explores the exotic and highly curated environment of glasshouses. Inspired by English garden estates, Gibbs says the recent health crisis has heavily influenced her latest work: ‘’I often look at the push-and-pulled effect occurring between man-made architectural forms and the dominance of nature. I think it’s safe to say with the past few years we have all had, nature has shown itself to be the more dominant force.’’

Showcasing her characteristically bold use of colour in oils and acrylics, the exhibition features close-cropped botanical paintings, the lush and vibrant greens contrasting with steely man-made structures and architecture. Running until Friday 26th November, the exhibition is free to attend and offers a window into the development of Gibbs’ work over the past three years, including a painting shown at her degree show in 2018.

Juliet E P Gibbs’ exhibition is at The Biscuit Factory until Friday 26th November www.julietepgibbs.co.uk

STAGE

DANCE EDITS @ DANCE CITY

Words: Evie Lake

Dance City present their popular Dance Edits night, previewing fresh and exciting work from the North East’s performers and creators, on Saturday 16th October. Each work sets out to immerse us in their themes through various mediums, disrupting our reality and enveloping us in their concepts.

Stress is a product of modern life, one we cannot shake easily. Often, we find ourselves seeking the natural remedies: the singular feeling of being outside, away from emails, Zoom and social media. Pelican Theatre’s Blue Mind offers an antidote to the over-stimulating world we find ourselves in. An immersive hybrid of performance and installation, Blue Mind uses the meditative and healing properties water boasts as its inspiration. Through images, sound, movement and light, water becomes a remedy to the load of our monotonous routines.

Choreographed by Ester Huss, Stairwell – Or Other Things We Climb sees three artists merge their individual imaginations, extending their personal journeys on stepping up with the audience. Self-proclaimed as “abstract, absurd and accessible”, the piece explores self-growth at the human level. Beth Veitch’s Waiting On It investigates the transitional moments we exist in – waiting for a bus, for the storm to clear, or the right time to make a decision. You Can Take Me Home Toni by Lorraine Smith explores the experience of having a not-so-great role model when growing up, transporting us back to our younger years through a fusion of music video recreations, costume performance and choreography. Using 80s pop artist Toni Basil as its inspiration, the show is set to feature upbeat bangers, warped through the personal stories and experiences of Lorraine Smith.

Dance Edits is at Dance City, Newcastle on Saturday 16th October www.dancecity.co.uk

Pelican Theatre’s Blue Mind

STAGE

HANG @ ALPHABETTI THEATRE

Words: Kate Relton

Could you decide someone else’s fate? If they’d committed a crime against you, would it affect your choice? These are the questions at the heart of Debbie Tucker Green’s dark drama entitled hang.

Opening at the Alphabetti Theatre on Thursday 28th September, this intense production follows the victim of a crime and two officials as they wait for her to choose a fitting punishment for the man responsible. With her characteristically black humour and poetic style, Tucker Green examines the themes of morality, justice and revenge in forensic detail.

Directed by Yolanda Mercy, hang was first performed in 2015, moving and challenging audiences with its stark look at complex emotional dilemmas.

Though we never discover the details of the crime, the clinical setting allows audiences to relate to the experience of wrestling with ethics and morality, and serves as a timely reminder that if we consider every side of a story, we might be more inclined to forgive. Ultimately, hang leaves us contemplating our definitions of right and wrong.

hang is at Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle from Thursday 28th September–Saturday 16th October. Tickets are pay as you feel, with accessible performances every Wednesday and Saturday www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk

STAGE

REDCOAT @ LIVE THEATRE

Words: Cameron Wright

A personal, nostalgic romp through the life of a children’s performer, the energetic and exhilarating show opens up the curtains on the life of Lewis, an enthusiastic and eager Redcoat. Dripping in charm, the dynamic theatre piece sparkles with vibrant dance routines, balloon modelling and iconic songs, yet despite this Redcoat focuses on the humanity and tenderness hidden behind the bravado and smile.

Written and performed by Lewis Jobson, the one man show will debut at Live Theatre from Wednesday 27th-Saturday 30th October, and has been influenced by the hoards of stories, experiences and memories he has amassed from his years as a Butlin’s performer. At its heart, Redcoat is a fun, indulgent and immersive experience that provides an infectious and enchanting evening. Created in collaboration with Newcastle-based theatre company The Six Twenty, the production explores the role of the performer and our pursuit of happinesses, striving to not only entertain, but to touch and inspire.

Redcoat is at Live Theatre, Newcastle from Wednesday 27th-Saturday 30th October www.live.org.uk

Lyra Pramuk by Joseph Kadow

MUSIC

FRESH @ COBALT STUDIOS

Words: Claire Dupree

Newcastle’s Cobalt Studios is a special place for many reasons; developed as a nurturing and welcoming home for creatives of all kinds, their approach to programming aims to keep audiences as their core focus, and they strive to bring innovative, interesting and diverse artists to the region – many of whom would likely have skipped the North East altogether if it wasn’t for Cobalt’s dedication to discovering them.

Their FRESH nights take place every Thursday and are where Cobalt really show off their eye for talent. Comprising of performances from new and established musicians who often take the left-field as a matter of course, plus a home-cooked veggie meal thrown in for good measure, all for a tasty tenner (or splash out on a season ticket, which nets you 13 gigs and dinners for £100).

Like many of us, they’ve been itching to get back to live music, so their autumn season of FRESH shows are more than worth making a beeline for. October sees performances from Norwegian cellist Maja Bugge and Theo Alexander, whose use of piano, tape loops and synths is beguiling and original (Thursday 7th); there’s more looping genius and raw pop vibes from Hyperdawn, who are supported by experimental duo ‘upsetters and activists’ Mermaid Cafe (Thursday 14th); and futurist folk act Lyra Pramuk and synthesist and producer Toby Lindenbaum perform on Thursday 28th.

Later in the season, highlights include classically trained cellist and gossamer vocalist Alice Robins with support from local artist Haar (Thursday 4th November); electronic soul quartet Noya Rao and North East neo-soul band Lyras (Thursday 18th November) and much more besides. Nights like FRESH are what make Newcastle’s music scene the exciting and vibrant place we’ve been missing for so long – embrace it!

FRESH takes place at Cobalt Studios, Newcastle every Thursday www.cobaltstudios.co.uk

MUSIC

DO NOTHING @ THE CLUNY 2 / THE GEORGIAN THEATRE

Words: Jake Anderson

Glueland might sound like an untrustworthy theme park but unfortunately, it isn’t. It is, however, the name of Nottingham’s alt. indie band Do Nothing’s latest EP and their upcoming tour, which pulls in to Newcastle’s Cluny 2 on Monday 11th and Stockton’s Georgian Theatre on Friday 29th October, which is equally as exciting.

The band haven’t been living by their name, as since Do Nothing last played in the region in November 2019 they’ve released their acclaimed EP and collected new fans thanks to tracks like the dark Gangs. Their sound blends art rock, no wave and post-punk into a rock-based concoction, and it’s a soundscape that has seen a sharp rise in popularity, with bands like Black Country New Road, Squid and Protomartyr leading the way. The influence from legends of these genres, including the likes of David Byrne and James Murphy, can be heard being channelled through the deadpan performance and lyrics of frontman Chris Bailey and the band’s avant-garde instrumentation, as evidenced on the likes of rhythmic single LeBron James and the roaring Handshakes.

Do Nothing play The Cluny 2, Newcastle on Monday 11th and The Georgian Theatre, Stockton on Friday 29th October www.donothingband.com

Do Nothing

ART & LIT

THE NEWBRIDGE PROJECT MOVE TO SHIELDFIELD CENTRE

Words: Claire Dupree

Artist-led community The NewBridge Project celebrate the opening of their new home at the Shieldfield Centre this month. Having become known as a supportive community for creative practice, offering curatorial opportunities to artists and providing artist-led programmes of exhibitions, commissions and events, NewBridge’s new home will provide their hands-on team with an opportunity to engage with local residents and encourage them to interact with art in their communities.

Rebecca Huggan, director of The NewBridge Project, explains their focus: “We will work with artists, communities and residents to shape the space and our programme so we can be responsive to the interests and needs of those around us and will continue to produce an ambitious programme of exhibitions, off-site project, events and artist development. We want to continue to create new work that is experimental, responsive to its environment, builds solidarity and places communitycentered, collaborative and socially conscious programming at its heart.”

Blazing New Worlds is the well-titled first exhibition in their new space and also serves to celebrate their 11th birthday. In turning the lens on themselves, they’ll explore the current and future role of artist-led spaces within their communities with a series of open calls and funding opportunities, with commissions by artists Graeme Hopper (Grassi Art) and Cassie Thornton, as well as a residency on Slack’s Radio.

Also located within the space, The Radical Reading Room will provide access to books, reading groups and talks with authors on a variety of subjects, with the aim of becoming a catalyst for creative thinkers and critical minds. The NewBridge Project opens at the Shieldfield Centre, Newcastle on Friday 22nd October.

Blazing New Worlds runs until Saturday 29th January (open Weds-Fri & every other Sat) www.thenewbridgeproject.com

Gender Roles

MUSIC

GENDER ROLES @ BASE CAMP

Words: Luke Waller

Gender Roles – the Brightonian alt. rockers in all their absurd and pink-mulleted glory – are due to take their often heavy yet upbeat sound to the stage at Middlesbrough’s Base Camp on Thursday 21st October. If you’re looking for a good rowdy night out to get the party out of your system, they’re likely to be just your cup of tea.

The three-piece has been consistent in their loud, fun-loving sound, having released their debut album PRANG in 2019, alongside two EPs in the previous two years, followed this year by their new double A-side, Dead Or Alive/ So Useless. In addition to this, there is no shortage of witty lyrics and wordplay to be found in their back catalogue, their somewhat poppier track Hey With Two Whys being a case in point.

This excitingly fresh group draws fans from a broad range of musical tastes, having played the Leeds/Reading festival in August, and being booked for next year’s Donington Download festival. Accompanied by their off-the-wall style, Gender Roles embody the hip and happening air of their native Brighton – the perfect band for a night out a bit different to most.

Gender Roles play Base Camp, Middlesbrough on Thursday 21st October www.genderrolesuk.com

STAGE

ROAD @ NORTHERN STAGE

Words: Lizzie Lovejoy

Northern Stage is sharing a new adaptation of the Jim Cartwright play Road from Friday 8th-Saturday 30th October. Northern Stage’s new Housewarming programme sees audiences welcomed back to the venue and brings attention back to this culturally important piece, which was originally written and performed in the 80’s.

Director Natalie Ibu takes on the challenge of keeping the party alive on stage while making sure reality isn’t too far from our grasp, in her debut production for the venue since her appointment as artistic director last year.

Acting as both a criticism of Thatcher’s Britain, but also a celebration of intersectional working-class culture, this show is both gritty and uplifting. By exploring the world of Britain under a conservative government, high unemployment and a clear disregard for the working-class North, it’s a way of ensuring our people do not become forgotten.

Considering the personalities and experiences of everyday people, Road shows the beauty in the ordinary. Although originally based in Hull, this production has been re-set the Northumberland town of Blyth, and paints an abstract portrait of these Northerners using poetry, protest, painful honesty and moments of humour.

Road is at Northern Stage, Newcastle from Friday 8th-Saturday 30th October, with BSL signed performances on Thursday 21st and Saturday 30th www.northernstage.co.uk

MUSIC

THE OLD PINK HOUSE EP LAUNCH @ COBALT STUDIOS

Words: Michael O’Neill

The Old Pink House, Newcastle’s premier purveyors of cosmic pop are back, ready to pick up where they left off before the pandemic hit with their upcoming release Digital Romance. After initially starting life as a bedroom project founded by frontman Christopher Brown, the quartet have been on a steady ascent over the last few years, releasing a stream of quality singles and bagging prestigious support slots with the likes of Foals, Manic Street Preachers and The Cribs.

They consider the upcoming six-track EP to be a change of pace which, despite sharing some musical DNA with their previous releases, opts to go to more introspective, darker corners both musically and lyrically. The title track goes to task on the soulless monotony and subterfuge of online dating, and highlight The Crack is inspired by, in Brown’s words “a dead cheery dream” in which he died in a plane crash (not that you’d realise, given how much of a filthy banger it is).

The band are celebrating the EP’s release with a headline Halloween show at Ouseburn’s Cobalt Studios on Saturday 30th October, with support from local neo-soul wunderkind DELPHii, whose recent release Lilac is a subversive and soulful world of sound, and a brilliant match to TOPH’s otherworldliness.

The Old Pink House release Digital Romance on 22nd October. They play Cobalt Studios, Newcastle on Saturday 30th October

The Old Pink House by Alex Robson

COMEDY

BETHANY BLACK @ THE FORUM MUSIC CENTRE

Words: Michael O’Neill

Over fourteen illustrious years, Hilarity Bites have consistently succeeded in bringing some of the biggest and best names in stand-up (including the likes of Russell Kane and Reginald D. Hunter) to venues throughout the region, and their upcoming line-up at Darlington’s Forum on Saturday 2nd October is no exception.

Leading the bill is the legendary Bethany Black, actor, stand-up comedian and trans activist who, in a prolific career, has performed alongside the likes of Alan Carr and Tim Minchin and starred in No Offence, the Cucumber/Banana/Tofu trilogy and Doctor Who, as well as receiving a great deal of acclaim for her debut show Beth Becomes Her (which was nominated for Best Debut at the 2008 Leicester Comedy Festival).

Support comes from Liverpool-hailing comedian Adam Staunton, who has performed with John Bishop and Sarah Millican (alongside performing as part of the Big Value Comedy Show at the Fringe Festival), and the evening will be hosted by Pete Otway, whose razor sharp wit has seen him bag acclaim, win the BBC New Comedy Award and perform as part of Just The Tonic’s prestigious Big Value Showcase.

Bethany Black, Adam Staunton and Pete Otway perform at The Forum Music Centre, Darlington on Saturday 2nd October www.hilaritybites.co.uk

Kema Kay and Kay Greyson

MUSIC

KEMA KAY & KAY GREYSON INTRODUCING... @ GOSFORTH CIVIC THEATRE

Words: Jon Horner

Having joined forces with regional arts promotion charity Northern Roots to seek out the best new hip-hop talent in the North East, local MCs Kema Kay and Kay Greyson host an evening of fresh talent at Gosforth Civic Theatre on Saturday 2nd October.

Kema Kay’s words are grounded in the Tyneside streets that he grew up on. With razoredged production and a fierce delivery, he rages against inequality and intolerance and encourages his peers to join together rather than fight amongst themselves. Multi-talented Kema has just finished another successful run of his autobiographical play, Shine, and audiences may also recognise him as neighbour and friend to Daniel Blake in Ken Loach’s Palme d’Or winning movie.

With bright bouncing fanfare behind her, Kay Greyson’s music showcases her lyrical skill and infectious message of hope; a veteran of the Tyneside music scene, the recently released EP Paris saw her gain praise for her optimistic outlook and joyous sound.

Together they’re ideally placed to nurture the talents of fresh new voices, and they’ll introduce performances by new and emerging acts including Nitro Nick, Fabz and R3. An exhibition will also run at the venue throughout October, featuring portraits of Kema, Kay and many of the young people they worked with as part of the Youth Music and Community Foundation-run programme.

Kema Kay and Kay Greyson present Nitro Nick, Fabz, R3 and more at Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle on Saturday 2nd October www.gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk

MUSIC

TV DEATH @ BOBIK’S

Words: James Hattersley

We’re gonna have a TV party tonight! Alright? Well, maybe not tonight, but soon! More specifically, on Wednesday 13th October, psychedelic proto-punk adours TV Death will bring their ferociously trippy rock ‘n’ roll show to Newcastle’s Bobik’s.

Sounding like the Doors being mashed together in a blender with the Stooges, TV Death replicate their intense and darkly groovy 2021 spring EP Isolation, named of course, after the last eighteen hellish months. Formerly known as Radio Silence, the four-piece have a little something for any early rock savant. Expect songs like Repo Man; an all out swinging assault that blasts riff after riff while quickly stalking your ears, and The Hanging Tree, which is a nightmarish jaunt and middle finger to the government’s handling of the pandemic.

If TV Death’s live show has half of the vivid frenzy displayed on their studio work, then some people are going to get their faces melted. Supporting are Galway-based post-punk rowdy noise makers Turnstiles, who promise to bring their own brand of social political muddy slog of jarring guitars and thumping rhythms. Newcastle will be on fire by the end of the night.

TV Death and Turnstiles play Bobik’s, Newcastle on Wednesday 13th October www.facebook.com/tvdeathofficial

TV Death

MUSIC

GALAXIANS @ THE CUMBERLAND ARMS

Words: Evie Lake

Summer may now be well behind us as the nights grow darker and longer, but luckily Leeds-based disco band Galaxians are set to combat the onset of the winter blues, synths and lasers blazing, as they bring their irresistible disco boogie to the Cumberland Arms stage on Friday 15th October.

Promoted by the well-regarded Endless Window, Galaxians are touring off the back of their sophomore album Chemical Reaction, with a mix of headline shows, such as this one, and support slots for indie funk heavyweights and local heroes Field Music.

Galaxians’ undeniable 80s disco tunes would be mighty as instrumental stand-alones, thanks to the music of Jed Skinner and Matt Woodward. However, vocalist Emma Mason refocuses the funk and soul and demands it revolve around her energy; her gravitational pull transforms the retro electronics into anthems of female emotion and joy.

Support comes from Leeds-based Straight Girl, the self-proclaimed ‘grave rave succubus’, who is guaranteed to hypnotise with their dark synths and moody performance, and John Dole, whose cerebral lyrics and emphatic beats have an established hold over the North East hip-hop scene.

Galaxians, Straight Girl and John Dole play The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle on Friday 15th October www.supergalaxians.com

Alex Rex

MUSIC

ALEX REX @ THE CUMBERLAND ARMS

Words: Ben Lowes-Smith

Since Trembling Bells disbanded a couple of years ago, drummer, songwriter and auteur Alex Neilson has ploughed a prolific and unique furrow under the moniker Alex Rex. Dipping into the psych folk he is known well for while incorporating glam rock and choral music amidst his releases, Alex Rex is an altogether more direct affair than Trembling Bells. His CV is unparalleled as a drummer too, having played with Bonnie Prince Billy, Shirley Collins, Jandek and Current 93.

Bringing his genuinely mesmerising show to the Cumberland Arms on Thursday 14th October, he’ll be playing songs from his already enviable catalogue. Alex’s presence as a magnificent drummer and a fervently passionate singer are significant, and the band’s performances are truly a force of nature and something to behold.

Support comes from Yakka Doon, aka Claire Welford, who has become known for her work in Bad Amputee as well as her exquisite solo work, which is gorgeously melancholic and poetically incisive.

Alex Rex and Yakka Doon play The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle on Thursday 14th October www.alexrex.bandcamp.com

COMEDY

SHAZIA MIRZA @ GALA THEATRE

Words: Laura Doyle

A moment of silence, please, for comedians trying desperately to salvage what they can from routines that have suffered from eighteen months of irrelevancy. Imagine having a full show written, memorised and rehearsed only for the world to practically end?

Writer and comic Shazia Mirza had that exact problem when the country went into its first lockdown back in March 2020. But, instead of leaving the routine in the garbage, Mirza instead tried to salvage what she could of the shreds and reform them into something that could work for an (almost, but not really) post-pandemic audience. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, she’ll bring her new(ish) show Coconut to Durham’s Gala Theatre on Friday 8th October.

Our priorities and tastes have changed a lot over these past few months; where Mirza once would have poked fun at celebrities and reality TV, she instead wants to do what a lot of us have learnt to do recently: focus on the bigger picture. Social injustice, starving kids and institutional racism were second on the news, only behind Miss Rona’s ongoing shenanigans. With all this, as well as an impending climate crisis, what better subjects are there to make light of than our planet’s imminent destruction at the hands of its dominant species?

Shazia Mirza is at Durham’s Gala Theatre on Friday 8th October www.shazia-mirza.com

Plastic Mermaids

MUSIC

PLASTIC MERMAIDS @ THE GEORGIAN THEATRE

Words: Michael O’Neill

Fresh from the release of the brain-melting single Disco Wings, Isle of Wight-hailing five-piece outfit Plastic Mermaids are taking their delightfully wonky psych-pop show on tour (which has previously drawn acclaim from figures as esteemed as Wayne Coyne for its use of costumes, lasers and glitter cannons) taking in Stockton’s Georgian Theatre on Monday 18th October, for what promises to be a chaotic evening of hyperkinetic psychedelia.

If the chameleonic delights on offer in 2019’s Suddenly Everything Explodes LP are anything to go by, I can guarantee that they’ll make for a totally transcendental live act, with a heavy emphasis on groove, melody, dissonance and batshit left-turns; their music rarely stays in the same place for too long, and it is utterly fresh and relentlessly entertaining. Guitarist Chris Newnham is thrilled to be back in the region, “We’re so stoked to be playing back in Stockton. We were lucky enough to play this venue on our last tour and it’s got such a rad vibe and the audience always provides such good energy. We can’t wait to try some out some new tunes at our Northern second home.”

Support comes from singer-songwriter Maja Lena, whose recent LP The Keeper is a rich collection of astral folk with a strong emphasis on atmosphere and intricate melodies, making for a satisfyingly eclectic and profoundly forward-looking bill of talented and daring acts.

Plastic Mermaids and Maja Lena play The Georgian Theatre, Stockton on Monday 18th October www.plasticmermaids.com

MUSIC

LYR @ THE CLUNY 2

Words: Ali Welford

When musician Richard Walters and poet laureate Simon Armitage first crossed paths a decade ago, their intention was a one-off collaboration; the latter providing words to match the former’s lush melodic sensibilities.

Nevertheless, the result – Walters’ solo track Redwoods – left its mark on both men, to the point that neither hesitated some years later at the prospect of picking up where they left off. With multi-instrumentalist Patrick Pearson also in tow and Armitage taking up vocal duties, the trio set about establishing a fully realised band-focused project; “not just poetry with music underneath.”

Presented under the guise of LYR, this meeting of minds manifested in resplendent fashion on last year’s Call In The Crash Team, an album of cinematic soundscapes hewn from all manner of sonic components, focused thematically on personal crises in an age of post-industrialisation, relentless austerity and recurring recession. “I think it’s open-ended as to what we do,” Pearson states. “There’s no set of rules.”

Now, the trio are finally poised to showcase this synergy on their inaugural string of live dates; a tour which swings by Newcastle with a date at The Cluny 2 on Thursday 21st October. With local multi-instrumentalist and neo-classical composer Benjamin Fitzgerald added as support alongside his spellbinding Ensemble, an evening of serene, enriching sounds lies in wait!

LYR and Benjamin Fitzgerald perform at The Cluny 2, Newcastle on Thursday 21st October www.lyrband.com

LYR by Steve Gullick

MUSIC

CESCHI @ THE GREEN ROOM

Words: Lizzie Lovejoy

After two years of waiting, rapper and singer Ceschi Ramos will finally return to the stage, brought to Stockton’s Green Room on Friday 22nd October by alt. spoken word/rap band Ceiling Demons and their dual tree promotions arm.

US-born Ceschi blends folk and punk with his genre-bending style. Baring his soul in his music, and frequently using the whole venue as his stage, this night is bound to be an engaging experience. Taking a listen to his single The One Man Band Broke Up, I found myself reminded of the emotional honesty of Amanda Palmer and the experimental style of Astonautalis.

North Yorkshire’s Ceiling Demons will be will be sharing their latest studio album, Snakes & Ladders, which was recently released via Darlington’s Butterfly Effect records. The band are known for their powerful performances, with a unique style that is caught somewhere between beautifully haunting melodies and hard-hitting slow rap. During the shows, Art Demon will join the crew, creating art whilst the band are playing.

Supporting these acts is Teesside-based performer stebee whose raw sound is manifested in punky acoustic songs tackling themes of mental health and the impact of trauma.

Ceschi, Ceiling Demons and stebee perform at The Green Room, Stockton on Friday 22nd October www.ceschi.bandcamp.com

Simon Amstell

COMEDY

SIMON AMSTELL @ TYNE THEATRE & OPERA HOUSE

Words: Cameron Wright

Rising to fame through his devastatingly rapid wit and cutting humour, Simon Amstell made himself a household name through his hosting spots on shows such as Popworld and Never Mind The Buzzcocks. The scathing jokes and whirlwind put-downs were always delivered with a smug charm and bravado, yet through the years Amstell has revealed layers of tenderness and vulnerability that consume his life.

Stepping behind the camera, Amstell directed the 2017 mockumentary Carnage, which focused on the necessity of veganism and held a lens up to the brutality of the meat industry. Following this, Amstell directed the 2018 nervous romance film Benjamin, and his 2019 Netflix special Set Free was lauded in praise, as Amstell delivered something introspective, sobering and delicate. The show revolved around the pain of living, the difficulties of mental illness and his pursuit to live a healthier, happier life. The introverted comedian fused candid observations with heartbreak and humour beautifully.

Coming to Newcastle’s Tyne Theatre & Opera House on Saturday 2nd October, Amstell’s new tour Spirit Hole is set to be the next step in his self-help journey. As an exploration of love, beauty, sex and shame, Spirit Hole is an intimate but unmistakably personal show that is sure to be spellbinding.

Simon Amstell is at Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle on Saturday 2nd October www.simonamstell.com

COMEDY

ADAM BUXTON @ TYNE THEATRE & OPERA HOUSE

Words: Cameron Wright

Having been rescheduled once again, Adam Buxton’s new show Rambles is set to finally arrive at the Tyne Theatre & Opera House on Wednesday 13th October. The night will involve Buxton reading from his book of the same name, elaborating, expanding and ultimately rambling on an array of topics and themes, in a personal reflection on his life and the influences that have affected his journey and career.

Rising to fame through his sketch show The Adam & Joe Show (alongside Joe Cornish) as well as numerous panel show appearances, podcasts and a role in Hot Fuzz, the charismatic conversationalist will bring his observations, achievements and tribulations to the stage.

Touching on his childhood, the show will talk about his upbringing, family and his obsession with pop culture. The laughs are inevitable as the comedian rambles away on his fascinations and his experiences, yet will also touch on serious and intimate subjects as Buxton reflects on the questions he has asked throughout his life, and settles on the answers he has learnt through time. After the show, Buxton will be signing books and engaging with fans.

Adam Buxton is at Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle on Wednesday 13th October www.adam-buxton.co.uk

ART & LIT

PHYLLIS CHRISTOPHER @ BALTIC

Words: Beverley Knight

San Francisco’s lesbian community during the 1990s is the subject of the first major institutional survey of photographer Phyllis Christopher’s work, taking place at BALTIC and curated by Laura Guy, the editor of a new book dedicated to Christopher’s work, Dark Room: San Francisco Sex and Protest, 1988-2003.

Beginning to document the lesbian community in her home town of Buffalo, New York, she moved to San Francisco in 1988 to continue her visual study of the ever-increasing voice of women’s and gay liberation. Victories and changes were acknowledged from the previous decade, and Christopher was one of several artists who felt a magnetic pull to capture the next period, honing in on an increasing group of people who protected, understood and looked out for each other. Christopher’s tenderly hand-printed and tinted pieces present a look into the lesbian and queer politics of the time, when tensions were high in a period of homophobic violence and state censorship amid the US AIDS crisis.

Her work incorporates pro-choice protests and demonstrations against pharmaceutical profiteering to the queer punk scene and lesbian-run sex clubs, all representing political activism in their way. Christopher encourages thought on what it means to be presented and observed as lesbian, both then and now, and shares her representation that truly came straight from the source.

Phyllis Christopher: Contacts is at BALTIC, Gateshead from Saturday 23rd October-Sunday 20th March www.phyllischristopher.com

Phyllis Christopher, Castro Street Fair, San Francisco, 1989. Image courtesy of the artist

ART & LIT

HOME: REVISITED @ ARC

Words: Elodie A. Roy

Ever since graduating from The Northern School of Art, illustrator Lizzie Lovejoy has been drawing people and the neighbourhoods where they live, work and meet. Lovejoy’s previous work as Artist of Change at ARC explored aspects of Northern working-class identity and their new curated exhibition, opening at ARC on Monday 4th October (and also accessible online), focuses on home – a particularly resonant and fragile concept in an age of uprootedness.

Lovejoy explains: “I’ve asked 15 different Northern-based creatives to fill up a sketchbook I’ve provided to them, specifically looking at their journeys. It’s a consideration of the concept of Home in relation to travelling around, asking if home comes with you, if it’s region based, or if it’s even more localised than that.”

Drawing from ethnographic methods, the illustrator has also meticulously documented the physical journeys of the sketchbooks, collected stories through interviews and transformed them into spoken word poems which can be heard throughout the gallery. Lovejoy’s social art practice shares affinities with that of Glasgow visual artist Mitch Miller who, for many years, has been drawing ‘dialectrograms’ charting the movements and everyday routines of people in urban places. Like Miller, Lovejoy knows that every image may tell, disrupt or produce a story, and concretely draw us together.

Home: Revisited is at ARC, Stockton from Monday 4th October-Monday 1st November www.arconline.co.uk

Me Lost Me by Amelia Read

MUSIC

ME LOST ME RELEASES NEW EP, THE CIRCLE DANCE

Words: Ali Welford

We’ve a diverse range of musical and cultural preferences here at NARC. towers. One thing we’re pretty unanimous on though, is Me Lost Me representing one of this region’s very finest gems – a collective conviction which receives further affirmation this month with the arrival of yet another dazzling release.

Putting paid to any question of last year’s astonishing The Good Noise being her artistic ceiling, new EP The Circle Dance paints an optimistic and utopian image; a future planet and society built from the idyllic bedrock of balance and harmony. Conceived during her stint as Artist in Residence at Sage Gateshead, and unveiled on 1st October, the five-track release reflects this delicate equilibrium with her most textural and sonically adventurous music to date. That sonorous, crystalline vocal remains as prominent as ever, but here her electro folk experiments are spun into a captivating drone and jazz-fuelled melange – thanks in no small part to contributions from two local stalwarts in double bassist John Pope and clarinet player Faye MacCalman (both of Archipelago, John Pope Quintet, Ponyland).

The Circle Dance’s release precedes a UK jaunt alongside similarly transcendental electro-drone-folk extraordinaire Nathalie Stern – a stellar double-bill which calls in at Middlesbrough’s Base Camp on Saturday 16th October. For those not yet acquainted with either artist, now is high time to take the plunge.

Me Lost Me releases The Circle Dance EP on 1st October. She performs alongside Nathalie Stern at Base Camp, Middlesbrough on Saturday 16th October. Me Lost Me also performs at Karma Coast in Tynemouth on Saturday 23rd October, Songs From Northern Britain at The Georgian Theatre, Stockton on Saturday 20th November and at Brave Exhibitions at The Cluny on Sunday 21st November www.melostme.com

STAGE

HADDOCK & CHIPS @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Kate Relton

Stories of kindness and solidarity saw us through the darkest moments of a global crisis, and as theatre doors reopen, the CaroleW production of Haddock & Chips delivers a much-needed dose of humour and hope.

Embarking on a tour of the North East, Janet Plater’s play is a moving exploration of human kindness and irrepressible community spirit. A snapshot of British seaside life, the action takes place in Frankie’s, a Whitley Bay chippy. As news breaks of a missing girl, the community must work together to find her.

A poignant tale of enduring hope, the production is accompanied by an original soundtrack by Bridie Jackson, and dance scenes by Lee Proud. Despite the unfolding drama, director Jake Murray believes it’s a story of optimism: ‘’The play has a big heart, a shrewd eye for human character and a real community spirit.’’

The tour will showcase artwork by Newcastle-based Michael Davies based on the play’s themes, and theatregoers will take home a limited edition salted chocolate from Gosforth’s North Chocolates.

Haddock & Chips offers a heart-warming night of theatre and a reminder of the power of hope.

In October, Haddock & Chips comes to Gosforth Civic Theatre (Thursday 21st-Saturday 23rd) Alnwick Playhouse (Tuesday 26th), Queen’s Hall Arts Centre in Hexham (Thursday 28th), Gala Theatre in Durham (Friday 29th), Frosterley Village Hall in Bishop Auckland (Saturday 30th). In November, see the play at The Witham in Barnard Castle (Wednesday 3rd), Arts Centre Washington (Thursday 4th), Ushaw, Durham (Tuesday 9th) Saltburn Community Theatre (Wednesday 10th) and The Exchange in North Shields (Thursday 11th-Saturday 13th) www.carolewproductions.com

Max Fosh

COMEDY

MAX FOSH @ THE STAND

Words: Cameron Wright

Forging himself a name in the British YouTube community for over three years, Max Fosh has cut out a niche as the pedantic yet affable southerner.

His 455,000 subscribers have watched him interview the drunken and confused nightlife of various towns and cities through his viral series Street Smarts, as well as his increasingly elaborate challenges, such as running for mayor of London or hunting down the identity of the model in an old stock image.

The YouTuber has collaborated with some of the biggest names in the community, working alongside The Sidemen and appearing on the Happy Hour Podcast, yet now Fosh has set his sights on something outside of the world he has developed.

Zocial Butterfly is his brand new stand-up tour and has been years in the making. Arriving at Newcastle’s beloved comedy venue, The Stand, from Monday 11th-Wednesday 13th October, Fosh’s debut stand-up show has been refined and adapted for years, and is certain to present a fresh, daring and undeniably posh take on unpredictable and exciting live comedy.

Max Fosh is at The Stand, Newcastle from Monday 11th-Wednesday 13th October www.maxfosh.co

STAGE

BRAIDS AND CHEER UP SLUG @ LIVE THEATRE

Words: Eugenie Johnson

From Thursday 7th-Saturday 23rd October, a double-bill of productions at Live Theatre (originally slated for a 2020 airing) will put the spotlight on growing up in County Durham, both tackling concepts of place and identity.

In Braids, longlisted for the Alfred Fagon Award 2018 for best new play by a Black British playwright of Caribbean or African descent, writer Olivia Hannah and director Chinonyerem Odimba introduce us to Abeni and Jasmine, as the former weaves purple braids into the latter’s hair. She’s given ‘the talk’, which opens Jasmine’s mind to other perspectives and ways of seeing the world around her. Crucially, she’s also opened to the ways in which the outside world might see them, tackling the issue of trying to fit in while also standing out.

In the second work, Cheer Up Slug, we’re transported to a tent in County Durham, the location of part of Will and Bean’s Duke of Edinburgh trip. There, the friends realise that their childhoods are behind them, a fact that complicates their adventure in ways they couldn’t have imagined. Writer Tamsin Daisy Rees imbues their story with an examination of behaviour and boundaries both personal and geographical. The productions both serve as a riveting exploration of identity and place, from some of the region’s most exciting emerging creatives.

Braids and Cheer Up Slug are at Live Theatre, Newcastle from Thursday 7th-Saturday 23rd October www.live.org.uk

Bobby Mair

COMEDY

LAST STOP TO EDINBURGH @ THE GEORGIAN THEATRE

Words: Hope Lynes

Stockton’s independent treasure The Georgian Theatre is the home of the monthly comedy night Shoe Cake Comedy Club, who this month host The Last Stop to Edinburgh Festival. The comedy weekender will feature brand new shows, family-friendly performances and festival favourites, with familiar faces seen on the likes of Never Mind The Buzzcocks and 8 Out Of 10 Cats.

Taking place on Friday 22nd and Saturday 23rd October, the event will feature nine shows taking inspiration from the famous Fringe Festival. Included on the line-up are the interactive Discount Comedy Checkout troupe, who have been a presence on the comedy scene for 12 years – their improv stints will feature both family and adult shows.

The festival also welcomes local talent, as Teesside comedian Fran Garrity and Middlesbrough sensation Ted Hanky will make appearances, alongside award-winning Teessider Catherine Young. Catch big names too, with absurdist TV comedian Tony Law in his new show, Bobby Mair presents a first look at his dark new show Cockroach before it tours, and John O’Sullivan offers up his sophisticated comedy comeback.

Each show is capped at 120 capacity, creating an intimate atmosphere to watch great talent up-close. Tickets are available per show, with flexible multi-tickets to catch all the action, and free tickets available for low-income families.

Last Stop To Edinburgh takes place at The Georgian Theatre, Stockton on Friday 22nd-Saturday 23rd October www.shoecakecomedy.co.uk

COMEDY

COMEDY WEEKENDER @ VERTU MOTORS ARENA

Words: Jake Anderson

Newcastle is a pretty funny city. From the comedy clubs to the metro prices, there’s always something to have a good laugh about. But on Saturday 16th and Sunday 17th October, Fingers and Fringe plan to make that good laugh become a great one with their Comedy Weekender, held at the Vertu Motors Arena (the home of Newcastle Eagles), and the event features some of Britain’s most witty and clever comedians.

The Saturday show will be hosted by Jarred Christmas with acts including Lost Voice Guy, Flo and Joan, Andy Parsons and more. Certain to be a highlight of the programme, Lost Voice Guy gained fans across the UK when he won Britain’s Got Talent in 2018. His comedy style is a unique one; having lost his speech due to cerebral palsy at six months old, his refreshing take on disability uses a voice synthesiser app.

The second show on the Sunday will be hosted by comedian Laura Lexx, known for her appearances on Mock The Week, with performances from Rachel Harris, Paul Sinha and more. For those of us that have our tea in front of the telly, The Chase’s Paul Sinha should be instantly recognisable, he’ll be gracing the North East with his presence after showcasing his skills in every major comedy club in the UK.

The Comedy Weekender takes place at Vertu Motors Arena, Newcastle on Saturday 16th-Sunday 17th October www.fingersandfringe.com

Martha Hill by by Darina

MUSIC

MARTHA HILL @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Claire Dupree

Few local artists can boast of a career trajectory as rapid as Martha Hill over the last three years. Since the launch of Spiders – a deliciously claustrophobic dive into creeping insecurities – in June 2018, Martha’s trademark husky vocal and storytelling style has endeared her to audiences in the region and beyond.

Martha’s time spent as a busker on the streets of Newcastle, as well as a touring musician with folk ‘n’ rollers Holy Moly & The Crackers, has seen her hone her considerable talents to become a sophisticated yet playful songwriter, capable of producing ear-worms like the simple brilliance of Blindfold, with its vocal acrobatics and percussive genius, and lockdown release Grilled Cheese from 2020’s Summer Up North EP, which saw her gain the attention of BBC 6Music. The arrival of new EP Dog Hearted Man this June not only came with Radio 1 airplay, a Radcliffe & Maconie appearance and 6Music playlisting, but also showcased her versatility as a songwriter. Tracks like the sultry Boom rub up alongside stone-cold anthems like Change and 151, which soar with sprightly strings and gigantic choruses, while the likes of 25 and Alter Ego are introspective and satisfyingly catchy.

2020’s enforced downtime prolonged the anticipation of live shows, and displaying a commendable work ethic Martha and her band spent the majority of the summer zooming around festivals. A full-on tour commences this month, with several stops in the region, where she’ll finally be able to show off her considerable talents. The last three years may have seen Martha hit her stride, but we can’t wait to see where she’ll be within the next three.

Martha Hill plays The Cluny, Newcastle on Sunday 17th, Westgarth Social Club in Middlesbrough on Friday 22nd and Old Cinema Launderette, Durham on Saturday 23rd October www.marthahillmusic.com

MUSIC

BEABADOOBEE @ NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' UNION

Words: James Hattersley

It’s impossible to skirt around the fact that the last year for musical artists has been trying. However, it has been rejuvenating to see others rise from the ashes of despair and break through to the mainstream consciousness; and none has been more gratifying to witness than that of alternative pop singer-songwriter beabadoobee.

After receiving rave reviews for her Leeds/ Reading performances and in true postpandemic fashion, beabadoobee will be hitting the UK motorways to support her 2020 breakthrough debut album, Fake It Flowers, and will drop in to Newcastle University Students’ Union on Saturday 2nd October.

Although she has since shed her humble DIY bedroom indie beginnings, Beatrice Laus has connected to her audience with her 90’s influenced slacker retro pop which wouldn’t feel out of place at the start of late decade teen flick. Soaring vocals are matched with intimate lyrics backed with a bubblegum grunge aesthetic of anthemic choruses, with luscious string arrangements that never intrude on the main chuck of the guitar. One can’t help but be whisked away in the hazy dream world that beabadoobee creates.

beabadoobee performs at Newcastle University Students’ Union on Saturday 2nd October www.beabadoobee.com

beabadoobee

MUSIC

NORTH EAST WOMEN IN SOUL MUSIC @ HOOCHIE COOCHIE

Words: Claire Dupree

Over the last few years the North East has seen a burgeoning cohort of young and exciting soul artists take the genre to new and interesting places. Bristling with contemporary cool, and often blurring genres to create wondrous new amalgamations, artists such as John Dole and Hartlepool-based band LYRAS, to name just two, have striven to broaden horizons.

Newcastle venue Hoochie Coochie is a fine place to witness this explosion of talent, as they play host to an evening of soulful sounds featuring five of the region’s hottest female soul artists. Entitled North East Women In Soul Music, the event on Thursday 28th October showcases a collection of artists who may have roots in the soul genre, but who each bring something new and exciting too.

Georgia May’s unique and luscious vocal timbre reveals poetic lyricism and notes of the 90’s hip-hop and R&B she’s influenced by; neo-soul and R&B artist Kate Bond explores intersectional feminist perspectives; fast-rising Durham-based songwriter and producer Phibi digs for inspiration amid the sounds of metal, folk and rap; alt. soul artist FALLU’s unique sound features notes of psychedelia and funk; and Frankie Jobling’s contemporary vibe echoes with old school soul and jazz.

NEWISM featuring Georgia May, Kate Bond, Phibi, FALLU and Frankie Jobling takes place at Hoochie Coochie, Newcastle on Thursday 28th October www.hoochiecoochie.co.uk

L-R Kate Bond, Frankie Jobling, Phibi, Georgia May, FALLU. Image by Victoria Wai

STAGE

JOHN LYDON @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Cameron Wright

Indisputable rock royalty, enigmatic anarchist John Lydon became the archetypal face of the punk movement, fronting the revolutionary musical uprisings that were The Sex Pistols and Public Image Limited. The legacy of John Lydon’s music is carved into the evolution and upsurgence of rock music, dismantling the foundations of musical niceties and holding a megaphone to the furious adolescent voices of the nation.

50 years on from the rise of The Sex Pistols, Lydon’s wit is as devastating as ever and his voice refuses to quiet with age. The outspoken, anarchic and insightful mind of Lydon has been spilled across the pages of his newest novel, I Could Be Wrong, I Could Be Right. The ramblings, anecdotes and hysterical observations of a man who has experienced, endured and altered the world are transcribed in detail, yet Lydon is ready to share more.

In support of the book’s release, John Lydon is launching into action, touring the country with a string of conversational gigs that encourage audience questions and unscripted, honest dialogue (which may nor may not include his recent legal spat with Sex Pistols bandmates). Coming to a couple of venues in the region this month, this unique experience is guaranteed to be an eye opening and poignant event, as Lydon recounts the adventures of his phenomenal career.

John Lydon brings his Q&A tour to Whitley Bay Playhouse on Wednesday 13th, The Forum in Northallerton on Friday 15th, Gala Theatre in Durham on Sunday 17th and The PAA in Yarm on Tuesday 26th October www.johnlydon.com

John Lydon by Paul Heartfield

MUSIC

I SAW NICK DRAKE @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Luke Waller

Nick Drake, the fabled folk singer-songwriter of the late 1960s and early 1970s, revolutionised the genre with his uniquely sage and sophisticated style of music. In a short span of time, producing just three albums including 1972’s legendary Pink Moon, Drake would send ripples through music from his obscure corner of experimentation of the period. It’s this which I Saw Nick Drake, a three-night event taking place across the North East, will be honouring; with five contemporary musicians and groups performing songs written and inspired by Nick Drake.

Katherine Priddy made her debut in 2018 with her much-esteemed EP Wolf, and has earned her name as an accomplished songwriter. George Boomsma, with whom Priddy has collaborated, has gained a similar reputation, including as a member of Kathryn Williams’ band. Meanwhile, cellist Ceitidh Mac’s fantastically modern folk promises to demonstrate the sheer breadth of Drake’s influence, alongside Luke James Williams, former frontman of The October Game, who provides a poppier take on the genre. Finally, appearing only in North Shields, Hector Gannet will bring their folk rock sound, heavily influenced by Northern heritage.

Katherine Priddy, George Boomsma, Ceitidh Mac (Stockton & Durham only), Luke James Williams and Hector Gannet (North Shields only) perform at The Engine Room, North Shields (Thursday 14th), The Georgian Theatre in Stockton (Friday 15th) and Claypath Deli, Durham (Saturday 16th October) www.downbytheriver9.com