APRIL PREVIEWS

MUSIC

OH WONDER @ NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ UNION

Words: Michael O'Neill

Fresh from announcing their upcoming fifth LP, 22 Make (a companion piece to 2021's surprise release 22 Break), the Lond-based alt. pop duo Oh Wonder are setting off on a worldwide jaunt, taking in Newcastle University Students’ Union on Sunday 17th April.

Whilst 22 Break chronicled a turbulent period of upheaval and development for Josephine Vander Gucht and Anthony West (that particular collection of songs dealt with the strain the pandemic brought to the duo’s personal relationship), they consider 22 Make to be the inverse; having worked through their tensions, the couple married and set to create a new body of work that they consider to be “full of love and life-affirming songs that reflect on fate, gratitude and being there for someone.”

It’s an MO perfectly encapsulated in the album’s euphoric, heart-on-sleeve lead single Magnificent, which offers a more direct, assertive and optimistic perspective to the anxious, exploratory mode of 22 Break, and is more representative of the euphoric alt. pop that has won them fans in the likes of Billie Eilish and seen them collaborate with the likes of Lil Uzi Vert.

Oh Wonder play Newcastle University Students’ Union on Sunday 17th April. www.ohwondermusic.com

MUSIC

EADES @ BOBIK’S

Words: Laura Doyle

Eades really deserve the hype surrounding them right now. With the release of their debut record Delusion Spree in the not too distant past, the post-punk five-piece are ready to get on the road in celebration to perform for their ever-growing fanbase, and bring their riotous live show to Newcastle’s Bobik’s on Friday 15th April.

Eades have been hands-on throughout their thus far short lifespan, self-producing their new album in a kitted-out barn in North Yorkshire. Recording as live might simplify some of the production process, but it also means every member of the band has to be at the top of their game to capture their sound at their best. It’s a risky move, but it’s paid off: Eades’ first full-length effort is charmingly crafted; the lazy drawl of recent single Backstreet Politic adds a bit of edge to a classic Britpop sound, while eponymous track Delusion Spree explores modern medicine’s progress in methods of self-medication. It’s not subtle, proclaiming “like CBD was made for me”, but the honest monologue surrounding mental health management is on brand for this frank-talking outfit. Bonus points for the dreamlike Scarborough-based MV, too, because holiday trips there always feel a little liminal. Chilled out but deeper than it sounds, Eades are sure to pass the vibe check.

Support on the night comes from ‘kamikaze’ rock and rollers, Jango Flash. Eades and Jango Flash play Bobik’s, Newcastle on Friday 15th April. www.eadesmusic.com

Image by Sam Joyce

MUSIC

HALF MAN HALF BISCUIT @ GALA THEATRE

Words: Lee Fisher

Eleven years ago, Taylor Parkes wrote a fantastic piece for The Quietus trying to set the record straight about Half Man Half Biscuit. They were not, he correctly asserted, a “comedy band”, despite their reputation, but “are, in fact, an antidote to wackiness, a bulwark against zaniness. Fiercely principled, highly literate, sometimes very close to angry…”. By the end of the piece I was almost on my feet saluting Parkes for getting it right when so many people get it so wrong.

To be clear, HMHB ARE very funny. But there’s an intelligence, anger and focus to Nigel Blackwell’s lyrics that transcends their oft-quoted daytime TV/b-list indie band gags, accompanied by a scratchy, instantly recognisable guitar sound infused with folk and blues riffs and wonky guitar solos. HMHB – who’ve been at it for 16 albums and nearly 40 years with hardly anyone noticing – rarely play live but fetch up in Durham on Friday 29th April promoting their new album The Voltarol Years. You should probably go. Just – please – don’t wear any Joy Division Oven Gloves. It’s annoying.

Half Man Half Biscuit perform at Gala Theatre, Durham on Friday 29th April. www.hmhb.co.uk

Joe Lycett by Matt Crockett

COMEDY

JOE LYCETT @ VARIOUSVENUES

Words: Dawn Storey

It’s been ages since Joe Lycett (formerly and briefly known as Hugo Boss) has done a stand-up tour. Of course he’s had his hands full presenting TV shows such as The Great British Sewing Bee, Life Drawing Live and his consumer show Joe Lycett’s Got Your Back, as well as popping up now and again as a stand-in on Radio 2.

Naturally, all of these things have been done in his usual inimitable, hilarious and sometimes controversial style – just like when he recently caused chaos on Twitter after his spoof ‘leak’ of Sue Gray’s government party report was mistaken for the real thing. Similarly, his new live show is based upon a “secret stunt” he says he devised three years ago which became long and complicated and involves “aliases, opening fake companies, drag queens, Strictly, angry MPs” and more. He is “insanely proud” of the end result and promises to tell all at a handful of shows in the North East over the coming couple of months, as long as the audience promise to keep it all secret afterwards. In true Joe Lycett fashion he’ll probably also show some of his weird paintings and shout inappropriate things at strangers, so it’s guaranteed to be an entertaining evening.

Joe Lycett performs at Stockton Globe on Friday 29th and Saturday 30th April and Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle on Friday 6th and Saturday 7th May. He returns to the region for a big show at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on Wednesday 21st September. www.joelycett.com

Image by Steve Tanner

STAGE

SORRY YOU’RE NOT A WINNER @ NORTHERN STAGE

Words: Lizzie Lovejoy

Touring company Paines Plough bring their new production, Sorry, You’re Not A Winner, to Newcastle’s Northern Stage from Tuesday 5th- Saturday 9th April.

Award-winning playwright Samuel Bailey has developed a powerful story that tackles the world of social mobility and the impact of class-culture. This show challenges the audience to question what is important about life and how we define success in contemporary culture. Following the journeys of Liam and Fletch, two best friends who have taken every step of life together, audiences can watch their growth as people, and the dilemmas that risk to divide them.

They’ve had the same start on the same street and been inseparable since the beginning, but as two people with different approaches to their academic life, they have a seemingly different path ahead of them – one in Oxford and one in trouble. Watch their stories unfold on the stage; lives which reflect the realities of class division and the complexities of aspiring for success.

Sorry, You’re Not A Winner is at Northern Stage, Newcastle from Tuesday 5th- Saturday 9th April. www.northernstage.co.uk

Grayson Perry, The Agony in the Car Park, 2012, Wool, cotton, acrylic, polyester and silk tapestry, Edition of 6 + 2 AP, 200 x 400cm. © the artist. Gift of the artist and Victoria Miro Gallery with the support of Channel 4 Television, the Art Fund and Sfumato Foundation with additional support from AlixPartners

ART & LIT

GRAYSON PERRY: THE VANITY OF SMALL DIFFERENCES @ SUNDERLAND MUSEUM & WINTER GARDENS

Words: Laura Doyle

Yep – they’re back. Grayson Perry’s seminal artwork on class progression has been especially loved by us in the North East thanks to the tapestries’ origins in Wearside. Perry’s 2012 documentary All In The Best Possible Taste featured the artist visiting various regions across the UK to investigate social stratification.

His experiences amongst the working class of Sunderland, alongside those of the upper and middle classes, informed The Vanity of Small Differences: these vivid tapestries depict a modern retelling of William Hogarth’s A Rake’s Progress, an already timeless tale of frivolity and excess leading to personal ruin.

Grayson Perry has long since used his work to unpick Britain’s more uncomfortable aspects, be it our inescapable class system that leaves so many behind, or a rigid obsession with categories within categories to continuously ‘other’ anyone in need. These concepts are further explored in a newer piece which joins Vanity, another tapestry celebrating all efforts to undo the country’s endemic prejudices.

Comfort Blanket represents any warmth shown to those in crisis, and reminds us that, for all this country’s faults, it’s worth fighting to make it the best it can be for those who call or will come to call Britain home.

Grayson Perry: The Vanity of Small Differences is at Sunderland Museum & Winter Gardens from Saturday 9th April-Saturday 5th June. www.sunderlandculture.org.uk

STAGE

THE WHITE CARD @ NORTHERN STAGE

Words: Helen Redfern

Can society progress when whiteness remains invisible? Written in 2019 in an increasingly racially divided America, The White Card uncovers uncomfortable truths about white privilege, cultural appropriation and representation that arise when a wealthy, privileged white couple invite a talented Black artist to dinner.

Written by American poet, essayist and playwright Claudia Rankine, this one-act play, which runs at Northern Stage from Friday 29th April-Saturday 14th May, explores what happens if one is willing to stay in the room when tensions run high and it’s painful to bear the pressure to listen and the obligation to respond.

Having founded the Racial Imaginary Institute in 2017, an interdisciplinary collective established as a think tank for artists and writers who study whiteness and examine race as a construct, Claudia Rankine is well-placed to guide us through this conversation. In this, her first published play, she explores the white spaces of the living room, the art gallery, the theatre, and the imagination itself that engender racial divisions.

Be an ally, be in the room, be in the conversation – that’s the invitation extended for the first time to audiences in the UK, as this Northern Stage production is the UK and European premiere of The White Card. Written before the murder of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter protests that rippled across the globe, The White Card invites us to all to play our part in the debate.

Do you have what it takes to stay in the room?

The White Card is at Northern Stage, Newcastle from Friday 29th April-Saturday 14th May. www.northernstage.co.uk

COMEDY

RAUL KOHLI @ THE STAND COMEDY CLUB

Words: Lizzie Lovejoy

The Stand Comedy Club has a soft spot for improv…but it also enjoys a bit of pre-planned comedy as well. Raul Kohli presents both disciplines in one gig at the venue on Monday 25th April as he tours his shows The Kohli Bible and Raul Kohli Makes It Up As He Goes Along. The latter is an hour of improvisation that is based entirely on audience interaction. If you’re looking to be so engaged with a show that you are part of it, then this one is for you – be prepared speak up and laugh at yourself in a performance where there is no guarantee on what you will see.

Part two, The Kohli Bible, looks at all kinds of belief and how Kohli found God, a performance he planned to share in 2019. Now, in a post pandemic work, he feels even more than belief of many kinds are rational – from Christians, Flat Earthers and conspiracy of every kind, no kind of faith is off limits! Having won considerable acclaim for previous shows Newcastle Brown Male and All My Heroes Are Dead, In Jail Or Touched Up Your Nan, which delve into his unique take on ethnicity, culture and class, this intelligent and humorous ‘two-for-one’ show is not to be missed!

Raul Kohli performs at The Stand, Newcastle on Monday 25th April. www.raulkohli.com

Mounira Al Solh Paper Speakers 2020, hand and machine stitched embroidery. Courtesy the artist and Sfeir-Semler Gallery, Beirut Hamburg

ART & LIT

MOUNIRA AL SOLH @ BALTIC

Words: Eugenie Johnson

Mounira Al Solh might just be the epitome of what we think of when we hear the term ‘multidisciplinary artist’. Her work spans a huge variety of media, from paintings and work on paper to embroidery, films and performances. It’s an approach that has seen her showcasing her work all across the globe. Her latest exhibition, A Day Is As Long As A Year, showcases both new and recent works and is showing at Gateshead’s BALTIC from Saturday 9th April until Sunday 2nd October. Al Solh uses her multi-faceted craft to explore the impact of war and oppression on people living in the Middle East.

In this series of works, Al Solh draws on her personal conversations and experiences with people who have been affected by conflicts in Syria, Lebanon and the wider Middle East. Through this, she explores themes of displacement and uncertainty, with a particular focus on the struggles women in the region face. The works range from intimate sketches and writing on sheets of lined paper, to larger canvases and a parasol installation that doubles as a tent (one of the pieces that show off an occasionally humorous side to this otherwise heart-rending topic). Through the exhibition, Al Solh illuminates the crucial place of oral histories in bringing the stories of the oppressed into focus.

Mounira Al Solh: A Day Is As Long As A Year is at BALTIC, Gateshead from Saturday 9th April until Sunday 2nd October. www.mouniraalsolh.com

Rachel Sermanni by Gaelle Beri

MUSIC

RACHEL SERMANNI @ THE CLUNY

Words: Eugenie Johnson

Over the course of the last decade, Scottish folk singer-songwriter Rachel Sermanni has been steadily building up a catalogue of songs that that turn personal experience into compelling narratives. Back in 2019, Sermanni released her third full album, So It Turns, a collection filled with subtle intricacies that examined a vast array of topics, from her time spent in a Buddhist monastery in the Scottish borders to the woes of long-distance relationships and the desire to act in the face of troubling times.

After initially being postponed, her show at The Cluny on Tuesday 5th April follows on the back of her 2021 EP, Swallow Me. Chronicling a once-unknown journey into motherhood, it moves from the tender title track, which lovingly retraces the more joyous moments of being pregnant, to contemplating the darker sides of motherhood. While the four tracks on Swallow Me are likely to feature in the live show, Sermanni’s growing canon means that she has a wealth of material to draw upon that, while never straying too far away from the Celtic-inspired roots, draws upon a wider breadth of musical influences. Likely to be an intimate showcase of her oeuvre, this is a chance to be thoroughly warmed by her comforting charm.

Rachel Sermanni performs at The Cluny, Newcastle on Tuesday 5th April. www.rachelsermanni.com

MUSIC

ALEX CAMERON @ NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ UNION

Words: Jake Anderson

Australia’s king of satirical songwriting graces Newcastle University Students’ Union with his presence on Wednesday 13th April. Receiving much praise online, Cameron’s newest album, Oxy Music, weaves a fictional story relating to drug abuse and online behaviour over synth pop and jazz-influenced pop rock. Cameron’s music should be taken as that: stories. On his previous albums Cameron has meticulously crafted storylines revolving around a bitter washed-up musician, found on 2017’s Forced Witness, and a deconstruction of unpleasant politics on 2019’s Miami Memory.

This time, Oxy Music places its focus on an egotistical, drug obsessed romantic. K Hole glamorises unhealthy addictions, while the lead single, Sara Jo, breaks down disillusionment and misinformation from the internet. It’s his impressive songwriting that makes Cameron stick out amongst his peers, and why songs such as the hilarious Marlon Brando and the insanely catchy Politics of Love are considered classics of his discography.

The soft sounds and humour of Oxy Music makes it one of the best albums of 2022 so far, and an excellent reason not to skip his performance in Newcastle. Previous shows have seen him adopt his personas on stage, although hopefully not to the fullest extent considering the topics of his songs…

Alex Cameron plays Newcastle University Students’ Union on Wednesday 13th April. www.alkcm.bandcamp.com

Bethany Black

COMEDY

HILARITY BITES THE HIPP @ DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

Words: Michael O’Neill

If you’re in the market to be hurled head-first into a barrel full of laughs, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a more splendid and varied setup than the broad offerings during this comedy extravaganza at Darlington Hippodrome.

Across three days, local promoters Hilarity Bites offer a broad array of comedy legends, alongside some fledgling new talent, guaranteeing a diverse and frenetic frenzy of side splitting wonder. Kicking off proceedings on Wednesday 6th April is Radio 4’s Daliso Chaponda, Britain’s Got Talent finalists Nabil Abdulrashid, Danny Posthill and Rob Deering, compered by host Steve Royle (also a previous Britain’s Got Talent finalist). Friday 8th’s line-up is headlined by the pun-tastic Hal Cruttenden, along with Lucy Porter, Ria Lina and Doctor Who actor and comedian Bethany Black, hosted by Laura Lexx. The festival is rounded off on Saturday 9th, headlined by The Chase’s Paul Sinha, alongside Shooting Stars’ Angelos Epethemiou, local comedian Tom Houghton, Edinburgh Comedy Award-nominated Lauren Pattison and host Hayley Ellis, who joins midway through supporting Sarah Millican on her UK tour. Tickets are a mere £17 per night, but you can save £6 if you book for all three, and with talent like this, why wouldn’t you?!

Hilarity Bites The Hipp takes place at Darlington Hippodrome on Wednesday 6th, Friday 8th and Saturday 9th April. www.hilaritybites.co.uk

Image by Ozge Cone

MUSIC

JAMES HEATHER @ GOSFORTH CIVIC THEATRE

Words: Jonathan Coll

Critically acclaimed pianist James Heather plays Newcastle’s Gosforth Civic Theatre on Friday 29th April, hot on the heels of his forthcoming album Invisible Forces, released a week prior. His latest project is via Ahead of Our Time, the first record label established by Ninja Tune founders Coldcut. As is typical for much of Ninja Tune’s output, James’ music is a gorgeous fusion of orchestral, ambient and electronic sounds. He lists his inspirations as a curious mix of the likes of Beethoven and listening to his neighbour’s Acid House pirate radio.

This musical grounding led to the release of his 2017 debut album Modulations EP:1, which drew support from the likes of Nils Frahm and Flying Lotus’ Brainfeeder. Acclaim also came from artists including Cinematic Orchestra, who invited James to rework their single A Caged Bird/Imitations of Life for a remix album which landed on Ninja Tune in 2020. Invisible Forces will be James’ first full-length release since his much vaunted debut; described as a uniquely personal collection which shows off his incredible piano playing and adeptness at manipulating sounds, the album takes in big questions around life and death, and the natural world around us.

James Heather performs at Gosforth Civic Theatre on Friday 29th April. www.jamesheather.com

Swim School by Rory Barnes

MUSIC

SWIM SCHOOL @ HEAD OF STEAM/STOCKTON CALLING

Words: Hope Lynes

‘swim school, band from Edinburgh’ seem to lowercase near everything on their social media, but there’s nothing lowercase about their sound. Headlining Head of Steam on Thursday 14th April and popping up again at Stockton Calling on Saturday 16th, their gigs in the region provide an opportunity to discover a band that have really nailed their sound; loud, dark, and confident.

With a debut EP, Making Sense Of It All, under the belt, tracks such as ‘see red’ are angsty and exactly what post-punk needs. With an upbeat tempo and a thrilling vocalist, the soundscape is addictive and staged perfectly for mosh pits. Also in the mix are dancier tracks, and there’s a flexibility to the songs; their track ‘outside’ flexes between hard backing tracks and preppy guitars with a catchy chorus, creating a fluidity in their understandings of the alt. rock genre.

Hilariously, the band describes themselves as “Tesco Value Wolf Alice”, but they are more Tesco Finest, with an exquisite sound FFO the likes of Wolf Alice, but definably swim school in the darkness of their alt. rock soundscapes.

Swim School play Head of Steam, Newcastle on Thursday 14th and Stockton Calling on Saturday 16th April. www.facebook.com/weareswimschool

STAGE

HEAD GIRL @ CENTRAL BAR

Words: Lizzie Lovejoy

All-female theatre company Girl Next Door present their debut show, Head Girl, at Central Bar in Gateshead on Friday 8th and Saturday 9th April.

In a world where living ‘your best life’ looks a lot like being over-worked, over-pressured and under-rested, Head Girl shares a coming of age story with some very familiar themes in 21st Century life. Working with the ‘Girl Boss’ mentality and a packed routine of expected self-care and ambition, this production explores how women and non-binary people navigate this very often overwhelming world. The three theatre makers who brought this show to life are Caitlin Fairlamb, Rowan Miller and Rosie Bowden, with Bowden as director saying: “It feels like there is a part of us in this show, it will be a beautiful and bittersweet piece for audiences to enjoy together.”

Head Girl is ultimately the story of falling in and out of love with yourself. Although there is a focus on themes of how toxic-aspiration can derail us, this tale is told through a Northern lens, from the people involved in its production, to the venue itself. “We want to nurture a strong cultural identity for Gateshead,” says Bowden. “And be a part of that culture growing.”

Head Girl is at Central Bar, Gateshead on Friday 8th and Saturday 9th April. www.instagram.com/girlnextdoortc

MUSIC

THE LOVELY EGGS @ POP RECS LTD.

Words: Laura Doyle

The Lovely Eggs are as authentic as could possibly be, unabashed and unapologetic in their self-sufficient approach that eschews formal management. This attitude allows for a full laissez-faire attitude that many in iron-clad contracts could only envy. While such a mentality might sound terrifying to some – after all, there’d be little safety net – their risks have paid off tenfold as The Lovely Eggs have become legends of the independent music scene.

The psychedelic duo work best with the most creative freedom possible; since their formation in 2006, The Lovely Eggs have been the recipients of mountains of accolades and frequently graced the top of the indie chart. Latest release I Am Moron had to sit on many a shelf for months waiting for its live debut, but now there is no time to be wasted getting these tracks out to their adoring fans; if you have yet to experience the kaleidoscopic nature of The Lovely Eggs, there’s still time to join the inner circle at their show at Sunderland’s Pop Recs Ltd. on Friday 15th April. Expect madness, reality questioning and light existentialism.

Support comes from Welsh trio The Bug Club who recently enjoyed two near sell-out shows in Newcastle thanks to their idiosyncratic brand of fun-filled garage rock.

The Lovely Eggs and The Bug Club play Pop Recs Ltd., Sunderland on Friday 15th April. www.thelovelyeggs.co.uk

Callum Easter by John Mackie

MUSIC

CALLUM EASTER @ WESTGARTH SOCIAL CLUB/THE ENGINE ROOM

Words: Jake Anderson

A common phrase you’ll hear from parents, students and kids soon is “I’m excited for Easter”, and a small minority of them won’t be talking about those glorious four weeks off – they’ll be counting the days towards Callum Easter’s grand return to Middlesbrough’s Westgarth Social Club on Friday 8th and North Shields’ The Engine Room on Saturday 9th April.

Easter will be performing as apart of his F*** The S**tem Tour, playing bangers from his 2021 album, System. The album puts politicians on blast, tackling the unpleasantness to our current system, layered onto electronic guitar riffs and alternative yet impulsive instrumentation. It’s an album that feels as if it will burst into anger at any moment, but keeps a level head. Tracks like What You Think? and the riotous title track are great examples of the passionate and intense tunes that’ll be blasted throughout the night.

Support in North Shields is Newcastle’s own Bugman, best known for his decade-long indie punk career. Support for the Middlesbrough show is yet to be confirmed.

Callum Easter plays Westgarth Social Club, Middlesbrough on Friday 8th and The Engine Room, North Shields on Saturday 9th April. www.linktr.ee/callumeaster

MUSIC

RIVERSIDE RAGAS: DIVERGENCE @ SAGE GATESHEAD

Words: Mera Royle

Stretching the boundaries of the cultural sounds of South Asia is key to the talents of Giuliano Modarelli and Kitha Balakirishnan, who perform as a double bill at Sage Gateshead on Friday 29th April.

The two musicians delve deeply into traditional features of South Asian culture to form their styles. Having performed previously alongside some of the biggest names in Indian classical tradition, Modarelli brings his vast experience and highly skilled guitar playing together in his composition, Lost Ragas, in which he combines his electronic and jazz sensibilities with ancient tradition. The music will uncover the secret history of ragas, merged with his contemporary influences to reshape sound expectations. Meanwhile, Balakirishnan’s violin performance of The Infinite Road offers a musical journey that is not only engaging but enlightening, embracing tradition whilst simultaneously breaking all of its rules. In her words: “I am seeking a mindset in which I am released from the conventional rigid structure and expectation of recital. I want to explore expression and making statement.”

Presented by local arts organisation Gem Arts, Riverside Ragas: Divergence is set to provide a spectacular insight into the music of South Asian culture, whilst exploring how it can be incorporated with a bold diversity of ideas to create new and masterful sounds.

Riverside Ragas: Divergence takes place at Sage Gateshead on Friday 29th April. www.gemarts.org

MUSIC

LAZY HABITS @ THE CLUNY 2

Words: Cameron Wright

Nobody really sounds like Lazy Habits. The London-based sextet have been merging alien genres old and new to create three consecutive and indulgently expansive albums over 10 years. With their third instalment, Vermillion Sands, reaching its final stages just before the pandemic, its time has come to step into the limelight.

With a grit and rhythmic drive that is unmistakably homegrown, Lazy Habits set apart their urban London swagger by injecting a myriad of influences into each track. As crunching percussion has clattered across their 2016 release, other cuts feature a drunken, almost debaucherous kinship to New Orleans’ jazz scene. With soul, jazz and industrial tendencies all becoming brushstrokes contributing to an extravagant and unique painting, Lazy Habits seem ever determined to make something new and challenging.

To accompany the upcoming record, the band embark on a headline tour, bringing their brooding basslines and ominous performance to The Cluny 2 on Friday 15th April. With a plethora of new content, there has never been a more obvious time to dive into the world of Lazy Habits.

Lazy Habits play The Cluny 2, Newcastle on Friday 15th April. www.lazyhabits.com

Anthony Amoako-Attah, The Umbrella, 2021. Image by Colin Davison

ART & LIT

TRANSITION IV @ SUNDERLAND MUSEUM & WINTER GARDENS

Words: Claire Dupree

Drawing on his Ghanaian heritage and identity, Sunderland-based contemporary glass artist Anthony Amoako-Attah has produced a new glass artwork – titled Transition IV – for the museum’s collection. Viewing glass as a ‘western material’, his work manipulates glass to make it look like woven fabric, with tremendous and often surprising results. Awed by the way traditional fabric molds and drapes itself around the mental and physical expressions of the weaver and wearer, Anthony’s artworks carry a similarly sinewy movement thanks to his use of Ghanaian cultural Adinkra symbols and native Kente patterns.

He explains that his Transition series of works depict the journey of his life; from childhood dreams to the realities of everyday life. His work for Sunderland Museum was also influenced by the museum’s collection, and the artist drew inspiration from the region’s shipbuilding, glass production and pottery making heritage. “Sitting alongside these symbols of Sunderland’s industries are Ghanaian Adinkra symbols that together represent my dual identity.” He explains. “The River Wear flows though the glass work in the same way my identity flows between Ghana and Sunderland.”

Transition IV, alongside other works in Anthony Amoako-Attah’s Transition series, will be on display at Sunderland Museum & Winter Garden’s art gallery between Saturday 2nd April-Sunday 5th June. www.sunderlandculture.org.uk

MUSIC

KEG @ BASE CAMP

Words: Michael O’Neill

The astonishing post-punk melting pot that has been steadily brewing across the globe over the last few years seems to be far from running out of steam, with many musical mavericks finding miraculous common ground in the genre’s love of complex, left-turn heavy, abrasive wonder. KEG are a marvellous addition to the canon.

The Brighton-based outfit have been on a steady rise which has seen them support Squid, have their first EP (2021’s Assembly) championed by Steve Lamacq, and witness their debut London show sell out in minutes. Before they get stuck into a busy summer with appearances at End of the Road, The Great Escape and Stag & Dagger, they’re going on a broad EU/UK tour, with an early stop at Boro’s Base Camp on Thursday 28th April.

If their five track release is anything to go by, it’s no surprise they’re turning so many heads. It’s a cacophony of atonal fury, bursting with wit, taut rhythms and complex melodies that has drawn comparison to the anything-goes cacophony cooked up by the likes of Pere Ubu and Cabaret Voltaire. It’s clear that 2022 will be a milestone year for the seven-piece.

KEG play Base Camp, Middlesbrough on Thursday 28th April. www.kegkegkeg.bandcamp.com

STAGE

OPOLIS @ ALPHABETTI THEATRE

Words: Lizzie Lovejoy

Calling all lovers of dystopian sci-fi: Alphabetti has something just for you! Opolis is a new production written and directed by the award-winning Ali Pritchard, opening at Alphabetti Theatre in Newcastle on Tuesday 19th April and running until Saturday 7th May.

Ali Pritchard is known for his ability to create dramatic tonal shifts from frank humour into a more serious contemplative experience, and Opolis promises much of the same. This psychological thriller tackles political and emotional themes of idealisation and striving for the concept of perfection. Breaking down the difference between what we really experience, what we share to the world and how we believe we should live, through an allegorical analysis of contemporary life through a sci-fi lens.

Following the journey of Julie, set in a bleak time of crisis after tragedy, the complicated world of Opolis is a world run by an algorithm, where existence is bartering and bargaining for many aspects of life; memorable characters navigate this world and make hard choices for what they would sacrifice and how far they would go for that picture perfect life.

Opolis is at Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle from Tuesday 19th April-Saturday 7th May. www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk

Image by Elafris Photography

STAGE

YOURS SINCERELY @ GALA DURHAM

Words: Eugenie Johnson

In the age of email, text messages and WhatsApp, sending letters has become something of a novelty. When was the last time you sent a letter to someone you know? That’s not a problem for writer and performer Will Jackson in his latest show; in Yours Sincerely, which comes to Gala Theatre in Durham on Friday 8th April, he has a specific reason for wishing to send more than a few hand-written correspondences. He’s managed to accidentally steal 300 second class stamps from the post office.

How does that happen? Well, finding that out is just one reason why you’ll want to catch Quick Duck Theatre’s hit show. Beyond the mix up is a funny and heart-wrenching queer coming of age tale based on real-life correspondence, combining comedy, storytelling and lip sync cabaret into a singular package about the pitfalls of modern communication. As Jackson starts using his unusual haul to reconnect with old friends and ex-boyfriends (as well as get into a tussle with the marketing department at John Lewis), he also puts the spotlight on a lost art. Emerging from a time when social distancing and isolation has strained our social lives, Yours Sincerely shines a light on the importance of human connection.

Yours Sincerely is at Gala Durham on Friday 8th April. www.facebook.com/quickducktheatre

The Young’uns by Kate Griffin

MUSIC

THE YOUNG’UNS @ THE FIRE STATION

Words: Maria Winter

On Saturday 16th April three-time winners of the prestigious BBC Folk Awards, The Young’uns, will perform at The Fire Station, Sunderland, providing a night of exquisite musicality and powerful emotion. Recognised for their passionate and often humorous interpretations of traditional folk songs as well as their hard-hitting social narrative, The Young’uns are now one of the most in demand groups on the UK folk and acoustic scene. The Teesside trio are comprised of Michael Hughes, Sean Cooney and David Eagle (who is also an award-winning stand-up comedian).

The musicians are able to capture an audience’s attention through gripping storylines constructed from both historical events – such as their musical account of the life of anti-fascist rebel leader Johnny Longstaff; a story which they adapted for the stage to high critical praise – or through themes highly topical of today, like their 2017 album Strangers, which celebrates inspiring people and pays homage to the outsiders of society. Whether it’s shanties, tales of 1950s immigrants or Stockton residents’ reactions to a Benefits Street film crew, the trio’s undoubted talent will ensure a joyous evening of live music.

The Young’uns play The Fire Station, Sunderland on Saturday 16th April. www.theyounguns.co.uk

MUSIC

BENEFITS @ WESTGARTH SOCIAL CLUB

Words: Ali Welford

Given how this young decade is unfolding, is it really any wonder the North East’s hottest breakout sound has been the caustic, searing assault of Benefits? A withering commentary on a floundering nation, the Teessiders’ melange of blistering electronic noise, primal industrial beats and furious political diatribe has proved impossible to ignore, lashing out against the inequality and discrimination before our eyes, normalised through toxic, post-truth bullshit masquerading as mainstream discourse.

With discontent rife, rumblings of this seething project have spread far beyond our regional borders. Spiritual forefathers Sleaford Mods were early advocates, and glowing national coverage followed soon after, yet this too proved the tip of an iceberg, with formidable singles Traitors, Flag and Empire finding admiring ears in Black Francis, Steve Albini and even one Elijah Wood. Frodo Baggins himself – Hobbit; ring-bearer; harsh noise connoisseur. Having ballooned over lockdown, the question remained of how Benefits’ punishing custom would translate to the live stage. Though still a work in progress, February’s rapturously received debut tour offered a tantalising taste, confronting listeners with a formidable show of immersive, throat-ripping intensity. After affording Kingsley Hall’s voice some much needed respite, Benefits return to the road this month for a second round – including an essential date at Middlesbrough’s Westgarth Social Club on Saturday 23rd April. Bring earplugs.

Don’t bring your Tory-voting relatives.

Benefits play Westgarth Social Club, Middlesbrough on Saturday 23rd April. www.benefitstheband.bandcamp.com

Cattle & Cane by Ally McErlaine

MUSIC

CATTLE & CANE @ THE GEORGIAN THEATRE

Words: Dawn Storey

Cattle & Cane’s most recent visit to Stockton was to play at the brand-new Globe venue back in December. This time around they return to their old favourite The Georgian Theatre for a special and stripped-back show on Saturday 9th April comprising solely of siblings Joe and Helen Hammill and a guitar – exactly the way the band first began.

Forever gaining fans, the hard-working folk pop duo are increasingly used to playing sell-out performances with their band, and have notched up over 16 million Spotify streams and gained support from numerous radio presenters at the likes of Amazing Radio and the BBC. They even sneaked onto the soundtrack of the Christmas episode of the wonderful Gone Fishing with fellow local lad Bob Mortimer – a proud moment indeed.

Their last album, Navigator, received excellent reviews, with single Mexico being played on BBC Radio 2 by Dermot O’Leary. As well as all the old favourites they promise to play some as-yet-unheard and unreleased songs to give fans a taster of their new album, due to be finished sometime later this year. While their full band gigs are undoubtedly fantastic, there’s bound to be something even more magical about this intimate, acoustic show from the Teesside twosome back on their home turf.

Cattle & Cane play The Georgian Theatre, Stockton on Saturday 9th April. www.cattleandcane.co.uk

ART & LIT

36000 SEXES OF FUNGI @ ESTON ARTS CENTRE

Words: Claire Dupree

Continuing to expand her experimental CV, Natalie Sharp (fka Lone Taxidermist) embarks on her first solo exhibition this month at Middlesbrough’s Eston Arts Centre.

36000 Sexes of Fungi asks questions around how we can gain enlightenment through our natural environment, and continues the artist’s ongoing journey into the physiological symbiosis with ecology, taking in a variety of mediums.

Speaking about her practice Natalie Sharp said: “I am an octopus artist. I have many tendrils that curiously spread wide and infinitely, therefore the piece will be made up of many forms including: AV, video, sound, costume, performance and sculpture. My specialist interests are: Spume, Oceans, Mycelium and Ecosex!”

Natalie Sharp’s work has received rightful acclaim thanks to her willingness to create open-minded and thought provoking pieces, musical or otherwise. She enjoys challenging existing frameworks, exploring themes around sexuality, gender, pain and the body, and encouraging her audience to meet her in non-conventional settings, confronting them to become non-passive consumers.

Natalie Sharp presents 36000 Sexes of Fungi at Eston Arts Centre from Saturday 16th April-Thursday 15th May. www.facebook.com/natsharplonetaxidermist

COMEDY

TWO SHOWS FOR A TENNER @ LAUREL’S

Words: Cameron Wright

Felt Nowt have swiftly become a North East institution, peddling an ever impressive cycle of comedy throughout the area and ensuring an array of exciting, unique and hilarious nights, each blessed by upcoming and promising talents.

The latest Felt Nowt event to arrive at Laurel’s in Whitley Bay is an affable and affordable night out, as punters are treated to not just one show, but two – the succinctly titled Two Shows For A Tenner promises exactly that.

April’s event takes place on Sunday 24th and features sets from Neil Harris and Joby Mageean. In preparation for his Edinburgh Fringe show A Short History Of The Highjump, Neil Harris brings an abridged version to the stage, dissecting the history of the sport and analysing the various complications and anecdotes he found in his copious research on the subject. Having written for Netflix, BBC and Channel 4, Newcastle comedian Joby Mageean delivers his newest set, Pigman. Catch a flavour of his rip-roaring style on BBC Three’s Laugh Lessons, where the upcoming Northern talent discusses everything from drugs to bananas and Gary Barlow.

For a night to remember that will hurt your sides but not your wallet, look no further!

Felt Nowt present Two Shows For A Tenner: Neil Harris and Joby Mageean at Laurel’s, Whitley Bay on Sunday 24th April. www.feltnowt.co.uk

Ellen Trevaskiss in The Hunger

STAGE

THE HUNGER @ LAUREL’S

Words: Jamie Lunnon

Coming to Laurel’s in Whitley Bay on Monday 11th April, Madeleine Farnhill’s The Hunger offers a chilling exposition of what her and Helen Denning’s Black Bright Theatre is all about.

A Yorkshire motto meaning ‘very dirty’, Black Bright is a fitting title for a company whose drama explores the grittier, darker corners of the human experience. However, like the paradox of ‘Black Bright’, this darkness is used to enlighten in The Hunger. Difficult questions are asked, and shocking realities dramatised, but all with a wider vision to force viewers to listen more attentively and reflect more deeply. Their vision is to bring “complex female characters to the forefront” where rather than acting as “plot devices for the male leads”, they can exist in their own right. Their project retains a theatrical independence too, refusing pigeon-holing and melting genres together.

Described as a kitchen-sink drama meets post-apocalyptic horror, The Hunger captures a mother-daughter relationship played out in a remote farm in the Yorkshire Dales. The daughter differs from the “strong, no-nonsense, pragmatic and Northern” mother and their relationship fractures with the appearance of a young boy.

The Hunger promises to drive straight into the very marrow of the human, and more specifically, female condition, dancing on the intersection of feminism, environmentalism and post-apocalypticism. The Yorkshire Dales, with their expansive beauty matched with a dramatic emptiness, are the perfect setting for a post-apocalyptic drama of intimate connection, isolation and horror. The themes of plague also raise environmental concerns about humankind’s invasive relationship with animals.

The Hunger will be bold, unusual and shocking but, in brilliantly intense and absolutely unmissable.

The Hunger is performed at Laurel’s, Whitley Bay on Monday 11th April. www.blackbrighttheatre.co.uk

MUSIC

YUCATAN @ BASE CAMP

Words: Jake Anderson

Yucatan are playing Base Camp in Middlesbrough on Friday 15th April, and be advised when trying to purchase tickets, as the first thing that comes up when you google ‘Yucatan Base Camp’ is actually a restaurant at Tokyo Disney Sea. It left me a little confused, to say the least…

Luckily, seeing this legendary Welsh post-rock band won’t be quite as expensive as a trip to Japan. The elusive band’s last album was released in 2015; titled Uwch Gopa’r Mynydd, it’s an enchanting album which meanders with its listener, resonating with those active in their sonic adventure. Flooded by melancholic vocals, and magical instrumentation that washes over you, it’s a release that stays with you long after the last track.

Supporting them on the night are Middlesbrough-based five-piece ensemble Silver Trees, whose sonic environment is pitched somewhere between heavy electro-infused post-rock and easy-going psych-induced stoner rock. They’ll be the perfect noise makers to set up Yucatan for a night of excellently made and wistful tunes that’ll tug at the heartstrings.

Yucatan and Silver Trees play Base Camp, Middlesbrough on Friday 15th April. www.facebook.com/yucatanambyth

Gwenifer Raymond by Jinnwoo

MUSIC

GWENIFER RAYMOND @ THE CUMBERLAND ARMS

Words: Michael O’Neill

Almighty promoters Wandering Oak return with an all-killer line-up headlined by the left-field Americana artist Gwenifer Raymond at The Cumberland Arms in Newcastle on Friday 22nd April.

Kicking off proceedings is local artist and composer SL Walkinshaw, who utilises found sound, tape recordings and electronics to create haunting and hypnotic works of sonic wonder. Recent debut LP Tape/String has bagged plaudits from the likes of Electronic Sound Magazine. Additional support comes from Anglo-American folk duo Cath & Phil Tyler, whose shared love of traditional narrative song and folk stylings fuses to create a highly concentrated and intimate musical experience that succeeds in embodying the very rawest essence of folk tradition.

Headliner Gwenifer Raymond’s musical career began as a guitarist for various punk outfits in the Welsh valleys, before the discovery of Appalachian folk and pre-war blues awakened a passion for the guitar players of the American Primitive genre, as evidenced in the gloriously unique stylings present on 2020’s Strange Lights Over Garth Mountain. The resulting concoction of unique sound has been equally embraced by devout disciples of folk tradition and ardent lovers of left-field out-there-ery, with Gwenifer’s undeniable guitar skills and esoteric outlook making for a delightfully singular combination.

Gwenifer Raymond, Cath & Phil Tyler and SL Walkinshaw play The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle on Friday 22nd April. www.gweniferraymond.com

ART & LIT

PROMISES FROM PARADISE @ NEWBRIDGE PROJECT

Words: Claire Dupree

Shieldfield’s NewBridge Project welcomes a new exhibition which investigates the role of community healers and our increasingly discussed search for ‘wellbeing’. Taking place from Friday 1st April until Friday 25th June, Promises From Paradise has been curated by Beatriz Lobo and features textiles, ceramics, sound and performance from contributors Rebeca Romero and Igor Tavares.

To investigate the exhibition’s subject matter, the artists collaborated on research to explore themes of ancestral knowledge, cultural identity and belonging, looking at how communities build around healers in the Global South, while also debating the challenges associated with the search for wellbeing.

The exhibition continues to build on the gallery’s five-year framework proposed for their Blazing New Worlds project; asking questions around practices of care and what that may look like in the future, the exhibition delves into the healing potential of everyday ritual, touching on technology, the human quest for spiritual experiences and creating connections with ourselves and the wider world.

Promises From Paradise is exhibited at NewBridge Project, Newcastle from Friday 1st April until Friday 25th June. www.newbridgeproject.com

MUSIC

SEAN NOONAN & LIGETI QUARTET: BARTALK @ THE GLOBE

Words: Laura Doyle

Artists are rarely one thing any more, as many seek to break free of the confines of a single medium to express their creativity. While in some cases this might be as simple as dabbling in watercolours and sculpture, Sean Noonan is a lot more fusionistic with his art form. In the most basic of terms, he is a drummer – but such a reductive term ignores the swathes of skill and knowledge he brings to any table.

His true range is revealed in his work, the latest of which aims to raise awareness of the inhumanity surrounding the long since controversial topic of solitary confinement. Known as a punishment inflicted on misbehaving prisoners, the psychological stresses of the phenomenon are enough to take even the strongest minds to breaking point. Performed at Newcastle’s Globe on Sunday 10th April, Bartalk encapsulates Noonan’s interest in the topic which has recently been exacerbated by the events of the ongoing pandemic. As millions were forced into essentially solitary confinement, the mental health of the nation suffered. Through his rhythmic storytelling and with the help of the Ligeti Quartet, this percussive classical monodramatic collaboration tells the story of those isolated by necessity for the sake of global health.

Sean Noonan and Ligeti Quartet present Bartalk at The Globe, Newcastle on Sunday 10th April. www.seannoonanmusic.com

What If by Two Destination Language

STAGE

GIFT FESTIVAL @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Claire Dupree

Always a highlight on the theatrical calendar, this year’s Gateshead International Festival of Theatre present a three-day programme of performance, discussions and workshops, taking place both in person at locations across the town, and online.

With the aim of “prioritising care and catalysing conversation”, GIFT will celebrate connection, creativity and collaboration. Chief among the highlights will be Hello Neighbours, a workshop taking place in Chopwell Woods hosted by Canadian artist duo Mia & Eric, who have previously worked with the festival on a remote ‘off-site’ residency, connecting the artists from their home in Calgary to those based in Gateshead (Friday 29th April). Presenting their award-winning performance piece, Bertrand Lesca and Nasi Voutsas will dance the end of their relationship, imagining what their future will look like without each other, with an accompanying strand of narrative also looking at the ongoing ecological crisis (BALTIC and online, Friday 29th April). Also of note, Olivia Furber and Ramzi Maqdisi present their acclaimed guided audio tour The Lands’ Heart Is Greater Than Its Map, an emotional investigation into who has the right to claim the history of places and objects (Friday 29th April-Sunday 1st May); and on a similar tip, The Acquisitions Panel is an interactive performance by immersive theatre makers Fast Familiar, exploring the legacy of colonialism (Shipley Art Gallery, Saturday 30th April). On the final day at BALTIC (and online), award-winning duo Two Destination Language, alongside a host of local artists, host What If?, a party by and for optimists!

With much more going on besides, check out the festival’s website for full listings.

GIFT Festival takes place at various venues from Friday 29th April-Sunday 1st May. www.giftfestival.co.uk

Amelia Coburn by Howy White

MUSIC

AMELIA COBURN RELEASES NEW EP, THE EBB AND THE FLOW

Words: Claire Dupree

It’s always a delicious surprise when an artist become famous for one thing but then absolutely blows all expectations away by producing something completely different.

Teesside ukulele maestro Amelia Coburn has blossomed into a fully fledged folk star; BBC Radio 2 think so too, as they tipped her as one of their Young Folk Award nominees, and she’s performed “show-stealing” gigs across the UK. Her EP of brand new material, The Ebb And The Flow, is released this month, and sees the beguiling songwriter muse on themes of ageing, family and mortality amid forceful strummed acoustic guitar, meandering piano and her transporting voice. Amelia’s songwriting comes into its own on the four tracks as she spins yarns peppered with beautiful imagery. The heart-wrenching Please Go Gently was written during her grandfather’s period of failing health and subsequent death; despite the subject matter it remains a beautiful paean to a loved one rather than a mawkish tribute, thanks to a baritone ukulele and lush piano lines courtesy of Harriet JM Bradshaw, who also performs sublime cello interludes on Sandra, which tells a true story of an elderly lady Amelia lived with in Paris who had revenge on her abusive husband by cremating him against his dying wishes. Elsewhere, Oh Captain! Guide Me Home is a toe-tapping shanty and tribute to those who help you navigate life’s journey.

Amelia will showcase the EP at Eaglescliffe’s The Waiting Room on Sunday 3rd April. Amelia Coburn releases The Ebb And The Flow on 1st April via Shoebox Records. She performs at The Waiting Room, Eaglescliffe on Sunday 3rd and The Link at Stockton Calling on Saturday 16th April. www.ameliacoburn.co.uk

ART & LIT

BEE LINES THROUGH THE CITY @ SHIELDFIELD ART WORKS

Words: Mera Royle

With the world looking like such a scary place at the moment, it’s affirming to see how communities in our local areas are responding with positive action. Newcastle’s own Shieldfield Art Works (SAW) is taking on the danger of ecological disaster with their latest project, Bee Lines Through The City, to celebrate the importance of bees in our ecosystems.

These small creatures have faced huge threats in recent years, from use of agrichemicals, loss of habitat and climate change. From Friday 1st April until Friday 25th June, SAW hosts an array of bee-focused activities and artworks to highlight how we ourselves face challenges as a result of bee depletion, including Symphony In C, a contemporary dance commission which uses music by Chris Garrard, Rupert Embleton-Smith and Wildwood Kin, with dance by Francesca Willow, is inspired by the vibrations bumblebees make to unlock pollen from plants. The project is filled with creative opportunities for attendees to get involved too, including creating fabric dyes from local plants, making seed paper honeycomb and venturing out on pollinator corridor walks. Filled with arts, dance, music and crafts, this latest exhibition from SAW will bring us together in an exploration into how collective care for the natural world and communal action is our greatest defence in the fight against climate change.

Bee Lines Through The City takes place at Shieldfield Art Works from Friday 1st April until Friday 25th June. www.saw-newcastle.org