PREVIEWS

MUSIC

KUUNATIC @ THE CLUNY 2

Words: Jake Anderson

Music fatigue hits us all at some point. Sometimes, what we need is something that’s a bit out of our comfort zone, and something that I’d bet doesn’t usually appear on most people’s radar is that of Japanese psychedelic rock. Which is the genre label that is probably the simplest way to describe three-piece Tokyo-based band Kuunatic.

Formed in 2016, each member of the band brings a unique style and expertise, into the soundscape of Kuunatic. Their 2021 album, Gate of Klüna, brought in elements of desert blues, Japanese folk and Shinto ritual into their experimental sonic environments.

The band will bring their ethereal atmosphere to Newcastle’s Cluny 2 on Sunday 29th May, where audiences can expect them to perform songs from their positively received debut album, such as Dewbow, which features ritual-like chanting alongside traditional Japanese keys, or the crescendo-fuelled natural feeling of Titian, as well as tracks from their more heavily experimental 2017 EP Kuurandia, making it the perfect show for those looking for something new to dig into, alongside the die-hard fans.

Kuunatic play The Cluny 2, Newcastle on Sunday 29th May. www.kuunatic.bandcamp.com

STAGE

GAMBLE @ NORTHERN STAGE

Words: Sara Jane Perovic

Northern Stage welcomes back the popular pairing of dramaturg and facilitator Rosa Postlethwaite and autobiographical theatre maker Hannah Walker for a limited run of topical touring show Gamble from Thursday 19th-Saturday 21st May.

Billed as glittering and glamorous, Gamble is a bittersweet multimedia personal narrative that unashamedly challenges compulsive gambler stereotypes and courageously spotlights the omnipresent online gambling industry. Depicting Hannah’s resonant relationship experiences with a recovering online gambling addict, this hard-hitting play is informed by compulsive gamblers’ personal experiences, interviews with industry experts and comment from loved ones.

Centre stage are the devastating addiction consequences including family break-ups, home and job losses and ultimately the highest suicide rate of all addictions. In 2020 a House of Lords report, Gambling Harm – Time for Action, found that almost half the UK’s adult population gamble online with the pandemic leading to a crisis. Post-show discussions with Dr Matthew Gaskell, Clinical Lead and Consultant Psychologist for The NHS Northern Gambling Service are accompanied by trigger warnings and supported by helplines.

Online gambling is bigger and easier to access than ever before; Hannah Walker’s Gamble reveals the repercussions are all day, all night, every second, right now.

Gamble is at Northern Stage, Newcastle from Thursday 19th-Saturday 21st May. www.facebook.com/thehannahwalker

Gamble by Hannah Walker

MUSIC

INSIDE/OUTSIDE FESTIVAL @ THE CUMBERLAND ARMS

Words: Lee Fisher

When Jo Hodson from The Cumberland Arms was planning their 20th anniversary events, one aim was to involve people who had played a part in the pub’s recent history. One such person was Steve Jefferis, who as well as being half of the mighty Warm Digits has recorded and performed as Cathode. “I always thought Cathode was on hold rather than over, and so when I got chatting to Jo last year and realised it was her 20th anniversary this felt like the perfect reason to reboot. It was the site of both Cathode album launches and the first gig venue I ever visited when I moved to Newcastle.” Jefferis stresses that this is a one-off comeback for the time being, but who knows…

The Cathode comeback gig on Saturday 14th May has, characteristically, morphed into an all-dayer called Inside/Outside, with a variety of electronically-inclined acts and DJs performing in the venue in the evening and out on the terrace in the daytime. Cathode is ably supported by a pretty goddamn stunning line-up upstairs – Nathalie Stern, SL Walkinshaw, Faye MacCalman and Madeleine Smyth – while out in the sunshine you’ll find DJ sets and performances from DJ Kitty, Stagger Lee and Iris Brickfield, with more TBC.

Inside/Outside takes place at The Cumberland Arms from midday on Saturday 14th May. www.facebook.com/thecumby

COMEDY

THE CABARET OF DANGEROUS IDEAS @ THE STAND

Words: Mera Royle

As the latest Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas readies itself for a new show at Newcastle’s Stand on Thursday 26th May, three top-of-their-game academics prepare to enter the debating ring to discuss all things weird and wonderful about the world we live in. Led by comedian Susan Morrison, this show dives into topics that trigger our inner desires for strange facts – is Alexa spying on us? Can criminals hack our toothbrushes? Why do people write in toilet stalls?

In a bid to find answers, The Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas provides opportunities for audiences to discuss and debate cutting edge and controversial research with experts. Entering its tenth year, the show is set to bring its wisdom to Newcastle in 90-minutes of rapid-fire research. With the addition of Susan Morrison’s hilarious, tension-breaking compering, the night brings incredibly entertaining and insightful research to our attention.

Challenging preconceptions, received opinions and asking tellingly uncomfortable questions of their audience is key to Cabaret of Dangerous Ideas. Do you have a burning question about the peculiarity and magnificence of the modern world? Then this is the place to bring it.

The Cabaret Of Dangerous Ideas is at The Stand, Newcastle on Thursday 26th May. www.cabaretofdangerousideas.com

My Mate Ren by Davey Poremba

STAGE

MY MATE REN @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Claire Dupree

Concerned with creating Queer work from fresh perspectives, brand new theatre company Sticky Theatre was begun by Live Theatre associate artist Tamsin Rees and ARC Stockton associate artist Holly Gallagher in 2018. Aiming to create unpretentious, engaging theatre, their debut production hits the boards of venues across the region this month.

My Mate Ren is a coming of age story about growing up in the North East, from first kisses to sex, tinnies, cherry sourz and the power of friendship. Tamsin explains their thinking behind the play and the characters of Alex, portrayed by sole actor Jackie Edwards, and her best mate Ren. “I wanted to write a Queer coming of age story set in County Durham, specifically from a Queer non-male perspective and showing Queer joy, as well as the difficulties and hardships of navigating it in a small North East town. Because you just don’t see it on stage.”

Although not an autobiographical tale, Tamsin explains they’ve borrowed from their own experiences growing up a Queer person in rural County Durham. “For my own craft it’s important for me to have a healthy distance between myself as the writer and the story I am telling in order to create the best work possible with space, perspective and not being scared to kill off a couple of characters on the way.”

My Mate Ren is performed at Alphabetti, Newcastle from Tuesday 3rd-Thursday 5th, Hartlepool Town Hall on Monday 9th, and Queens Hall Hexham on Thursday 19th May. www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk

STAGE

HOLD ON, LET GO @ ARTS CENTRE WASHINGTON

Words: Lizzie Lovejoy

Memory is a funny thing. Some things remain in our minds as clear as day, while others drift off into the void. Hold On, Let go considers the power of memory and how we interact with it, why we hold onto it and who we choose to share our memories with. After debuting at Edinburgh Fringe in 2019, Unfolding Theatre is bringing this introspective show on tour, starting with Arts Centre Washington on Thursday 5th May.

Main characters Alex and Luca have wildly different experiences and interpretations of the world. One is 56, the other half that age. There are some memories that Alex will keep forever, and others that have slipped through his fingers. In an age of information overload, Luca worries that she can’t remember what’s important. This show owns how much we forget, and how easy that is for all of us to do. Featuring original songs composed by Maximo Park’s Paul Smith, Hold On, Let Go forces audiences to consider what memories we truly want to pass on to future generations. Analysing the fragility of memory, but celebrating the wonders of the everyday human experience, this is a piece that challenges us to be more conscious and observant in day-to-day living.

Hold On, Let Go is at Arts Centre Washington on Thursday 5th May. www.unfoldingtheatre.co.uk

Hold On, Let Go

MUSIC

KARKARA @ LITTLE BUILDINGS

Words: Michael O’Neill

Hell hath no fury like a glorious power trio. From Cream to Hüsker Dü and Sleater-Kinney, the format has regularly proven to be the foundation for glorious boundary-pushing in the grand annals of guitar music. Karkara are a phenomenal addition to the power trio pantheon. Hailing from Toulouse, France, the trio merge the unique stylings of the Middle Eastern psychedelic movement with classic garage fuzz and wonky Krautrock, with the occasional sprinkling of didgeridoo. It makes for a transcendental journey in left-field psychedelic, and a refreshing tonic to hush the “guitar music is dead!” dullards.

Joining them at their show at Little Buildings on Tuesday 3rd May are (in my eyes) local astral psych, desert rock royalty Cave Suns, who have carved out a solid reputation as Newcastle’s answer to Kyuss. Their unique brand of stoner blues is gloriously eclectic and perfectly at home in a diverse line-up like this. Rounding off the bill is Fuzz Club Records-signings Veik, who centre their experimental post-punk around vintage synths and abrasive instrumentation, taking influence from a multitude of 70’s avant garde movements, such as No Wave and Krautrock. All in all, it’s a delightful three-course serving of phenomenal, boundary-pushing, relentless entertainment at the glorious Little Buildings.

Karkara, Cave Suns and Veik play Little Buildings, Newcastle on Tuesday 3rd May. www.karkaraband.com

Karkara

MUSIC

CRACK CLOUD @ THE CLUNY

Words: Evie Nicholson

Crack Cloud are so much more than a band. Initially the solo project of singer and drummer Zach Choy, the Vancouver-based mixed media collective now includes 30 musicians, artists, filmmakers and dancers all living and working together. On Saturday 14th May they take on Newcastle’s Cluny.

Where Crack Cloud’s debut LP had channelled a more orthodox post-punk restlessness akin to Gang of Four and Television, 2020’s Pain Olympics brought in elements of funk and hip-hop. It’s a shared mindset rather than skillset or sound that brings Crack Cloud together.

A lot of bands flirt with political outrage and sensitive themes without any real integrity. Crack Cloud take their first-hand experiences of addiction and trauma and create vulnerably moving art out of it. Working closely with social workers, overdose prevention services and their local community, Crack Cloud refuse to create music that has no bearing on reality. Tracks like The Next Fix read like diary entries in the way they intimately expose the reality of getting clean.

In interviews Crack Cloud describe their music as a vehicle for recovery, but it feels more radical than that. The collective may have been born out of addiction recovery programmes but its music transgresses the clinical austerity of medical spaces. Defiant and energising, this might just be the soundtrack of the revolution.

As they grace the stage, Crack Cloud may look like they’re a seven-member Canadian art punk band. Yet, their music is simply a shadow of something much, much greater…

Crack Cloud play The Cluny, Newcastle on Saturday 14th May. www.crackcloud.ca

Dylan Moran

COMEDY

DYLAN MORAN @ TYNE THEATRE & OPERA HOUSE/ MIDDLESBROUGH TOWN HALL

Words: Laura Doyle

BAFTA and Perrier Award-winning comic Dylan Moran returns for another round of psychedelic scathing wit and morose outlooks on modern life, as he brings his We Got This tour to Tyne Theatre & Opera House in Newcastle on Wednesday 25th and Middlesbrough Town Hall on Thursday 26th May.

No one looks at things in quite the same way as the creator of acclaimed TV series Black Books; bookstore owner Bernard shares Moran’s on stage sardonic bitterness to a worrying degree. But at long last, it seems like his perpetually bad mood is well placed to provide insightful commentary on the mess of the past couple of years. Sometimes the best way to release tension is just to rip into anything and everything that causes even the mildest of inconveniences. Brain won’t focus on a task for longer than ten minutes? Neighbour’s a pain in the posterior?

Procrastination really getting you down? Maybe instead of dwelling on the myriad of disappointments that seem to make up the diverse tapestry of life, it’s time to bask in life’s small victories, like the knowledge that maybe your life isn’t the absolute worst, and someone probably has it much worse than you. We Got This promises to have you leaving the show if not feeling better, then at least feeling better than Dylan Moran does on the reg.

Dylan Moran performs at Tyne Theatre & Opera House in Newcastle on Wednesday 25th and Middlesbrough Town Hall on Thursday 26th May. www.dylanmoran.com

STAGE

WHALE OF A TIME @ ALPHABETTI THEATRE

Words: Sara Jane Perovic

Join fledgling North East theatre company Peach Plant for a Whale of a Time at Newcastle’s Alphabetti Theatre from Tuesday 17th May-Saturday 4th June.

Familiar faces and fans of Alphabetti, North East actors Lucy Curry and Carl Wylie are a talented team who earlier this year excitedly announced an Arts Council funding award to co-produce their venture with this all-inclusive venue.

Peach Plant aim to tell ordinary stories in extraordinary ways, so like his predecessors Jonah and Pinocchio, 50-year-old Albert has spent half his life inside a whale’s belly before being joined by a much younger Robbie. Although an unlikely pairing, their connection develops as the play takes an insightful look at what it is like to be a man living in different generations.

Knowing nothing of the modern world, including Google and vegan sausage rolls, Albert desperately misses his wife and longs to escape. But the only route is via the whale’s blowhole. Is Robbie Albert’s way out? And more importantly why are they both inside a whale’s belly?

All will be revealed at Alphabetti’s world premiere, that not only imaginatively explores friendship but details how one person can change the rest of your life.

Whale of a Time is at Alphabetti, Theatre in Newcastle from Tuesday 17th May-Saturday 4th June. www.facebook.com/peachplantproductions

MUSIC

THE WAVE PICTURES @ THE CLUNY

Words: Laura Doyle

It’s crazy to think that the world collectively lost an entire year to the still ongoing but now somewhat controlled pandemic. It’s a year we can’t get back, but The Wave Pictures have perhaps gone some way to supplementing what we missed with their new album, When The Purple Emperor Spreads His Wings.

With four sides each representing a new season, the eclectic rock band transports us through a trip around the sun and everything it entails. With each season releasing over the past year to coincide with the turning of the planet, Spring was welcomed in with Never Let You Down, a song out of time which sees psychedelic guitars blend seamlessly with uplifting affirmation – be comforted by the sense of security one feels seeing the first buds turn to blooms.

May sees the culmination of The Wave Pictures’ efforts with the unified playlist finally complete and unleashed on the world. In celebration, Sunday 22nd May also sees The Wave Pictures perform at Newcastle’s Cluny in honour of this musical feat. It’s not too late to make up for lost time, and The Wave Pictures are here to oblige. Support comes from Fortitude Valley, an indie rock/power pop band based in Durham and London and featuring musicians from such musical titans as Tigercats, Martha, ONSIND and Night Flowers.

The Wave Pictures and Fortitude Valley play The Cluny, Newcastle on Sunday 22nd May. www.thewavepictures.bandcamp.com

Red Rum Club by Marieke Macklon

MUSIC

MUNRO @ THE GEORGIAN THEATRE/ THE GREEN ROOM

Words: Jake Anderson

If I had a pound for the number of artists playing 2022’s MUNRO Festival that ALSO released a cover of Wham’s Last Christmas in December 2020, I’d have two quid. Which isn’t a lot, but it is a peculiar coincidence. (I’ll let you figure out which of the two acts.)

Saturday 7th May signifies the return of MUNRO Festival to Stockton’s Georgian Theatre and The Green Room. After a socially distanced 2021, the event is charging head on for a safe and thrilling 2022. This jam-packed day starts at 2pm, and features some of the most sensational acts from the nation’s indie scene, with a particularly tasty line-up from the North East too.

The all-dayer is headlined by Liverpool’s Red Rum Club, a band that fluently blends indie rock and pop into a joyful concoction, best seen on tracks like the up-beat Eleanor, taken from their celebrated 2020 album, The Hollow of Humdrum, which received much praise. Joining them at the Georgian Theatre will be indie quintet The Rah’s, Newcastle’s own purveyors of electro sounds Motel Carnation, grungy rock act Holly Rees, Stockton Britpoppers The Collectors and Welsh singer-songwriter Megan Wyn. In the Georgian’s bar, catch sets from emotional pop songwriter Sophia, the unique vocal talents of Ruby J and local singersongwriter Jen Dixon.

Over at The Green Room, the headline slot is taken up by London’s Cruel Hearts Club, known for their energetic and punk-influenced bangers. They’ll be joined by hotly-tipped locals The Redroom, alt. rockers Abnorm, Hartlepool songwriter Alfie Blue and post-punk newbies Marines.

MUNRO festival takes place at The Georgian Theatre and The Green Room, Stockton on Saturday 7th May. www.facebook.com/munrofestival

COMEDY

STRATEGEM WITH ALAN PARTRIDGE @ UTILITA ARENA

Words: Cameron Wright

With the world facing unprecedented disarray, as politics spirals into the unthinkable and the climate is teetering on a knife edge, the country is crying out for the comforting touch of wisdom, direction and knowledge. Begging for a natural leader to pick us from the ruins and lead us back onto the straight path, nurturing us to health and rallying us back to a sense of unity, love and compassion, there has never been a time more suited for the return of a hero.

Sadly, we’re stuck with Alan Partridge. A man where no introduction is needed, the veteran broadcaster takes to the stage with his new Stratagem tour, pitching up at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th May. Aiming to inform the general public about his new plan on healing, educating and entertaining the nation in equal measure, Alan welcomes audiences into his new, well-oiled TED Talk-inspired stage show.

With decades establishing Alan as the antithesis of the wisdom, knowledge and direction he strives for, the night is sure to collapse into the trademark hilarity and cringe-inducing madness that established Steve Coogan’s character as one of the country’s most notoriously outrageous.

Strategem with Alan Partridge is at Utilita Arena, Newcastle on Tuesday 3rd and Wednesday 4th May. www.alanpartridgelive.com

MUSIC

DEEP TAN @ THE SHOOTING GALLERY

Words: Evie Nicholson

Take the The Slits, Joy Division and the eclectic disarray of Lizzy Mercier Descloux, blend it all together and you get something akin to deep tan. Yet to release their first album, the East London trio have already making big (dark) waves in the underground music scene. They take on Zerox’s The Shooting Gallery venue on Friday 20th May to mark the release of their second EP.

deep tan sound different to the rest of the male-dominated punk roster; they’re bolder and more seductive. Vocalist Wafah Dufour’s trance-like lyrics are punctuated by prickly baselines,and there’s a joltiness to the music that keeps you on your toes. They play around with keys and speed, some songs transcend four different tempos, making for an unexpected and unsettling sound.

Yes, deep tan’s lyrics are certifiably socially conscious, but this is music you ultimately feel before you think about. Recently released tracks like beginners’ krav maga tackle violence against womxn and rudy ya ya ya critiques the American alt-right, but the lyrics are so oblique that their content verges more on perceptive satirical wallpaper than anything revolutionary.

Above all else, deep tan speak for brooding outsiders. Tracks like hollow scene or deep-fake indulge in alienation, self-deception and paralysis. It’s dark wave pop for a hopelessly dystopian world, yet I find myself dancing to it nevertheless.

deep tan play The Shooting Gallery, Newcastle on Friday 20th May. www.deeptan.bandcamp.com

A-Z Women in Architecture, Janis Goodman. Courtesy of Matrix Open feminist architecture archive

ART & LIT

HOW WE LIVE NOW: MAKING SPACES IN THE NORTH EAST WITH MATRIX FEMINIST DESIGN CO-OPERATIVE @ NEWCASTLE CONTEMPORARY ART

Words: Claire Dupree

A fascinating exhibition of work by radical feminist architecture co-operative Matrix will be held at Newcastle Contemporary Art from Friday 6th May until Saturday 23rd July. Having met while studying at Newcastle University, the four founding members of Matrix came together in the 1980s to bring issues of gender centre-stage with regards to the built environment.

Passionate that buildings and architecture should not control our lives with their limitations, but instead reflect attitudes, values and politics that affect those creating, living and working within them, the collective’s early work explored ways in which women influenced their environments and how feminist movements opened up possibilities in these fields.

The exhibition, entitled How We Live Now: Making Spaces In The North East with Matrix Feminist Design Co-operative, will feature rare films, drawings, photos, architectural models and practice documents to explore the collective’s use of radical methods across a range of projects, past and present.

The pioneering group’s legacy has had far-reaching consequences, from enabling more women from under-represented groups to work in the construction and architectural trades, to creating feminist guidance and support in the sector. The exhibition excellently conveys the collective’s approach and explores inclusive ways of designing, building and occupying spaces.

In addition to the Matrix group’s work, further installations will offer a contemporary perspective, asking questions around gender, accessibility, equality and discrimination, with additional projects on display including Natalie Bamford’s Embodied Knowledge of the City; Louise Mackenzie, Kaajal Modi and Ruth Morrow’s Listen with Mother?; Alison Stenning and Sally Watson’s Women, Children and Play on Streets and Rosie Morris, Harriet Sutcliffe and Gayle Miekle’s Undutiful Spirit, among others.

How We Live Now: Making Spaces In The North East with Matrix Feminist Design Co-operative is on display at Newcastle Contemporary Art from Friday 6th May until Saturday 23rd July. www.visitnca.com

COMEDY

SI BECKWITH: BRICKS @ LAUREL’S

Words: Mera Royle

A seven-minute walk away from Whitley Bay beach, Laurel’s Theatre is soon to play host to a stunner in the world of comedy. Si Beckwith’s newest stand-up show entitled Bricks, which he performs at the venue on Thursday 12th May, is a show about all about the good things in life, from family, Lego and goths, to good trainers, wrestling and people trying their hardest. Compiled together into an hour of daftness, it’ll be hard to resist a hearty giggle at Beckwith’s cheeky and charming way with words.

The Newcastle native is no newbie to winning over audiences, as his sharp wit and hilarious monologues have toured the country and he’s performed at some of the UK’s biggest and respected comedy clubs. Through what at times can be hard-hitting narratives, his routines are woven together with silliness and humour, and he spreads joy with his endearing, relatable stories.

Cracking open his latest life chapters on becoming a step-parent and figuring out what it actually means to be a family, Bricks brings Beckwith’s unique view of the world to warm hearts and lighten spirits.

Si Beckwith performs Bricks at Laurel’s, Whitley Bay on Thursday 12th May. www.sibeckwith.com

Snapped Ankles by Laura Lewislogs

MUSIC

SNAPPED ANKLES @ THE GEORGIAN THEATRE

Words: Mera Royle

Making waves comes as second nature to Snapped Ankles, who since emerging in 2011 have bewitched fans with their stunning visual appearance and swirling, post-punk sound. To describe this band is to describe a sight one might previously think could only exist in a wild dream; forest creatures, doused in ghillie suits, playing hand-made instruments, strapped to – if there was ever a band who knows how to make a memorable show, it’s Snapped Ankles.

Having spread frenzied havoc across continents, the band is set to hit the stage at Stockton’s Georgian Theatre on Sunday 22nd May in support of their latest album, Forest Of Your Problems. Filled with ancient forest rhythms, electronica, electric guitars and maniacal beats, this music crackles with energy – it’s too hard to resist a dance along to their ecstatic post-punk colours. As a band, their immersive live performances have also become sites of promoting awareness for the destruction of our planet’s ecosystems and the importance of building a world that looks after and values all people and creatures. These messages are pulled together in a free and unconventional musical experience which will have audiences on their feet all night long.

Snapped Ankles play The Georgian Theatre, Stockton on Sunday 22nd May. www.snappedankles.com

STAGE

GIRLS, GIRLS, GIRLS @ ARTS CENTRE WASHINGTON

Words: Lizzie Lovejoy

Uncaged Aerial Theatre have been hard at work developing a new show which will be taking place at Arts Centre Washington on Thursday 26th May. After a residency at ARC Stockton in early April, the trio have been finalising their production of Girls, Girls, Girls, which tackles the complicated question of what it is like to be a woman, from three different perspectives.

Emma Bloomfield, Sarah Dobbs and Rosie Vleugels have come together to create a showcase of three unique performances which share their own experiences and understandings of womanhood, with all the challenges and questions that come along with it.

Considering all of the pressures from society, as well as the pressures we put on ourselves, Girls, Girls, Girls explores not only the causes but the effects; as they learn more about themselves, this show will ask audiences how a woman can break free from these boundaries.

With over 20 years of combined aerial experience, these brilliant Sunderland-based creative practitioners will use their skills to tell emotive and challenging narratives, using both physical strength and emotional power, making for a visually dynamic way of opening up the question of what it means to be female.

Girls, Girls, Girls is at Arts Centre Washington on Thursday 26th May. www.facebook.com/uncagedaerialtheatre

MUSIC

KAE TEMPEST @ SAGE GATESHEAD

Words: Françoise Harvey

Kae Tempest tours this Spring for the first time since 2019, with their new album The Line Is A Curve, which brings a new, more communicative approach to their performance, with Tempest more willing to both embrace the spotlight and welcome people into the music. Audiences can experience the thought-provoking work, which fuses spoken vocals with beat-driven backing and tackles bold themes of time, growth and love, at the final show of the tour which takes place at Sage Gateshead on Saturday 21st May.

Tempest explains their approach to recording, which involved inviting audiences into the studio, recording three vocal takes in one day, to three different generations of people: “a man of 78 who I’d never met, a woman of 29, the poet Bridget Minamore, who is a good friend of mine and then to three young fans of 12, 15 and 16 who had responded to a social media post. What we discovered went beyond our expectations...There were different meanings in the words depending on the generation I was speaking to.”

The resulting music “has a beautiful heart,” says Tempest. “It was built on love and there is deep love running through it.”

Kae Tempest plays Sage Gateshead on Saturday 21st May. www.kaetempest.co.uk

Kae Tempest by Wolfgang Tillmans

MUSIC

SONGS FROM NORTHERN BRITAIN @ THE GEORGIAN THEATRE/THE GREEN ROOM

Words: Maria Winter

If you’re in the market to discover new musical acts from Scotland and the North East, then this event is for you. Tees Music Alliance and The Kids Are Solid Gold bring back the highly anticipated Songs From Northern Britain to The Georgian Theatre, The Green Room and the Georgian’s Bar on Saturday 21st May, with a full day of endless talent from the deep North.

The all-dayer will be headlined by the incredibly talented singer-songwriter from Edinburgh, Hamish Hawk. Recognised for creating a fantastical world of musical diversity, Hawk magically encapsulates his audiences through his artistic and imaginative exploration of music and innate lyricism. This is recognised in his first fully-formed album Heavy Elevator, which emotionally combines characters and geographical references to enhance his evocative storylines.

An abundance of other accomplished artists will also feature on the line-up, including ‘laptop rock’ duo Memes, the observational sounds of Our Man In The Field, Dundee songwriter Theo Bleak, Teesside garage rockers Onlooker, fast rising young Glaswegian artist Connor Fyfe, Yorkshire/London sextet Deadletter, acclaimed folk songwriter Katie Doherty and many more.

Songs From Northern Britain takes place at The Georgian Theatre and The Green Room, Stockton on Saturday 21st May. www.georgiantheatre.co.uk

Hamish Hawk by Gabriela Silveira

MUSIC

SOAP @ LITTLE BUILDINGS

Words: Jake Anderson

Don’t let the baby blue and pink advert by organisers Neversleep fool you. Their show at Little Buildings on Friday 6th May will be stuffed with harsh and brutal soundscapes from groovy tuned artists Soap, Leeds based three-piece Muckle, Geordie duo Boy Latex and Newcastle’s Gonzo Dog.

Boy Latex kick off the night, known for their eerie and disturbing sonic environments. Sometimes their sound feels heavy and metallic, while others it’ll feel gruesome and vexed. The average listener will be able to hear familiar elements in noise rock band Muckle’s tracks, but the distortion suffocates the listener as they’re dragged into an array of harsh sounds. It’s a genre that seems hostile, but once you find the beauty behind the sounds it becomes something truly special. While actual soap might be associated with cleanliness, the band Soap’s noise is grimy and antagonistic. Relentless drums and lo-fi vocals are at the forefront of their sound, especially on bangers like Montreal 1976 with its coarse strumming.

Finishing off the night is a DJ set from Gonzo Dog, who will blast their gloomy electronic beats to culminate in a night packed with vicious vibrations.

Soap, Muckle, Boy Latex and Gonzo Dog play Little Buildings, Newcastle on Friday 6th May. www.facebook.com/neversleepncl

ART & LIT

CAROLINA CAYCEDO @ BALTIC

Words: Eugenie Johnson

London-born, Los Angeles-based Colombian artist Carolina Caycedo’s multidisciplinary works reflect her participation in resistance movements and strong interest in environmental justice. By harnessing participation and collective practice, her works spans sculpture, performance, photography and video to reflect on and interrogate ways in which we construct historical environmental memory, energy transitions and cultural biodiversity. Through her works, she challenges the viewer to reassess our relationship to nature, seeing it not as a resource ripe for exploitation but instead a living, transcendent entity that fosters human connection.

Her first survey exhibition in Europe is being hosted at Gateshead’s BALTIC from Saturday 28th May until Sunday 29th January 2023, providing an overview of her works from the past two decades. The collection will include pieces from many of Caycedo’s major series, including the ongoing work Be Dammed, which uses mixed media to take a critical eye to the impact of hydroelectric dams and similar large-scale infrastructure projects on both human lives and the wider environment.

Continuing to explore Caycedo’s long-standing interest in humans’ relationship to bodies of water, the retrospective also features a new commission inspired by the Tyne, an expansion to her River Book series. Diverse and thought-provoking, this exhibition will give a unique overview of a contemporary artist dedicated to placing environmental justice at the heart of her works.

Carolina Caycedo’s exhibition is at BALTIC, Gateshead from Saturday 28th May until Sunday 29th January 2023. www.carolinacaycedo.com

Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman

MUSIC

KATHRYN ROBERTS & SEAN LAKEMAN @ OLD CINEMA LAUNDERETTE/ GOSFORTH CIVIC THEATRE

Words: Maria Winter

Long-standing folk partners Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman make a couple of trips to the region this month, with shows at Durham’s Old Cinema Launderette on Sunday 1st and Newcastle’s Gosforth Civic Theatre on Monday 2nd May.

Having established themselves as one of the UK folk scene’s most rewardingly enduring partnerships, Kathryn and Sean are celebrating this achievement by revisiting and reinterpreting key songs which have defined their career so far. From the early days of their tremendous folk group Equation, through to their recent release Personae, their sets will take you on an artistic journey representative of their own; the duo’s dynamic relationship is demonstrated through captivating performance and astonishing musical trust, which is a pure joy to witness on stage.

Whether they’re performing songs about wicked mermaids or Norwegian legends, the duo’s oeuvre ranges from the bittersweet to the fiercely political, and these shows will provide a perfect set list for fans, or an ideal introduction to their wonderful catalogue.

Kathryn Roberts & Sean Lakeman play Old Cinema Launderette, Durham on Sunday 1st and Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle on Monday 2nd May. www.kathrynrobertsandseanlakeman.com

EVENTS

ANARCHIST BOOK FAIR @ STAR AND SHADOW CINEMA

Words: Eugenie Johnson

Celebrating the region’s radical past, present and future, the Star And Shadow Cinema are hosting the very first Newcastle Anarchist Book Fair on Saturday 21st May, in memory of artist, musician and activist Ewan Brown, who passed away in 2019.

The event will feature a range of diverse social movements gathering together, with stalls from AK Press, Amorphous Pieces, Borderline Books, Dog Section Press, Earth First, Freedom Press, Kate Sharpley Library, Sisters Uncut and the Tyneside Anarchist Archive among many others. As well as stalls, there’s also the chance to get involved, from learning how to make your mark with stencil art and an exploration on Chav Solidarity by D. Hunter, to a workshop on mixed martial arts with the Newcastle Fight Center.

As if the offering wasn’t already substantial, the event rounds off with music featuring an appropriately anarchistic edge, with punks Slalom D, hardcore outfit Decontrol and anarcho-punk-poet Andy T among those performing.

Films made by Ewan Brown will be screened in the cinema from 5pm, including No Pasaran – Resisting Neo Nazis in Magdeburg, and Gentle World, which tells of the veganic haven nestled in the mountains of the far north of New Zealand, alongside film shorts, and at 7.30pm, there’s a screening of Ken Loach’s film Land & Freedom. If you want to get immersed in region’s more revolutionary side, there’s no better place to start than this one-of-a-kind event.

The Anarchist Book Fair takes place at Star And Shadow Cinema, Newcastle on Saturday 21st May. www.newcastlebookfair.org.uk

MUSIC

IST IST @ INDEPENDENT

Words: Jake Anderson

There are many art forms I’ve mastered. The art of procrastinating. The art of sleeping. But one art I’ve never mastered is that of the art of lying, it’s why I’ve never pursed a career as a politician. But truth is a theme that’s at the forefront of Ist Ist’s sophomore album.

The Manchester band will be playing songs from The Art of Lying, as well as their debut, on their UK tour, which will take them to Sunderland’s Independent on Friday 6th May. If you didn’t already need an excuse to go get yourself one of the venue’s blue pints, then seeing the group perform their post-punk anthem, You’re Mine, is a great reason to. The track flaunts repeating song structure which empowers their rhythm section, and it’s an effect the band has carried into their follow-up album, on tracks such as the hazy It Stops Where It Starts.

Supporting them will be the North East group Wax Heart Sodality, an elegant garage rock four-piece who are known for strutting on stage in theatrical outfits, replete with hypnotic vocals and punchy guitar riffs. Their latest single, I Would Like Your Face, is a dark tune that demonstrates a mastering of the art of creating hypnotic bangers.

Ist Ist and Wax Heart Sodality play Independent, Sunderland on Friday 6th May. www.ististmusic.com

Ist Ist

MUSIC

MAN ON MAN @ THE CLUNY

Words: Michael O’Neill

It’s slightly difficult, in so few words, to try and surmise the staggering influence that metal auteurs Faith No More have over the last thirty-odd years of left-field riff-laden tuneage, with the likes of the anything-goes opus Angel Dust still being as vital now as it was in 1992.

Those with a keen ear will be readily familiar with the key role that keyboardist Roddy Bottum had to play in all this, with his complex, multi-layered washes of keys being a key ingredient in what made them so unique, both in the pantheon of metal, and further afield.

That very same anything-goes spirit is alive and well in Bottum’s new project Man On Man, which he co-founded with boyfriend Joey Holman, and will be bringing to Newcastle’s Cluny on Sunday 15th May. The duo’s eponymous LP, written and recorded at home, is an evocative and eclectic exploration of their love, separation, fear and isolation in the face of Covid-19, that deals in euphoria, liberation and introspection. It’s a brilliantly intimate collection of deeply personal and compelling music, which will readily appeal to disciples of Bottum’s past work and anyone who loves their tunes to be eclectic, thought-provoking and euphoric.

Man On Man play The Cluny, Newcastle on Sunday 15th May. www.manonmanmusic.com

EVENTS

MIDDLESBROUGH LOCAL HISTORY MONTH

Words: Robert Nichols

This year’s Middlesbrough Local History Month will be really important for the future as well as a celebration of the past. In this Jubilee year, the Teesside town looks back through all seven decades of the reign as they impacted on local places and faces. The month-long focus will look back to the early pioneering years of the new planned town while also peering back through time to discuss tantalising clues unearthed recently by archaeologists from a far earlier Middlesbrough.

The will be a diverse programme of events that aims to have widespread appeal; walk in the footsteps of a young James Cook, explore the resting place of some of the town’s celebrated engineers or open a scrapbook of footballing memories. The hidden history of town buildings is unveiled and the roles of women at work and in war are uncovered. Recent social history will also be explored through individuals interviewed in a recent Leeds University Northern Exposure project.

Many of the events of this annual festival take place in a town centre that is still redefining itself after the pandemic. It is now vitally important that we get out and about and fully utilise our venues again – this local history month can be an important step to help regenerate Middlesbrough.

For all walks, talks, open day and events of the month-long Middlesbrough Local History Month check out the website or Discover Middlesbrough social media pages.

www.wearemiddlesbrough.com

MUSIC

PET DEATHS @ COBALT STUDIOS

Words: Michael O’Neill

Taking equal influence from Alice Coltrane, Bitches Brew-era Miles and the sacred duo of Talk Talk’s Spirit of Eden and Laughing Stock, the London-based folk/art rock outfit Pet Deaths are a dream prospect for those who prefer music that challenges the boundaries of the art form, but still remains delightfully unpretentious and wholly enthralling.

Consisting of duo Graeme Martin and Liam Karim, their 2019 debut LP To The Top Of The Hill and Roll… won plaudits from the likes of Huw Stephens (who described it as “beautiful, understated and special” – noting it as one of his favourite albums of the year) and bagged them support slots with acts as prestigious as Elbow and Arab Strap.

Their upcoming sophomore effort, unhappy ending (due for release 27th May) is a worthy successor, finding the duo further ploughing the depths of introspective innovation. They consider it to be “both explored and sat with [and] deliberately and acutely considered to be a journey of its own; nine new songs but one whole immersive piece for the listener to climb inside.” It’s an ambitious undertaking, and one that will indisputably make for an immersive experience on-stage when they play Cobalt Studios on Saturday 28th May.

Pet Deaths play Cobalt Studios, Newcastle on Saturday 28th May. www.petdeaths.co.uk

Pet Deaths by Andrew G Hobbs

MUSIC

SEA GIRLS @ BOILER SHOP

Words: Cameron Wright

Sea Girls have been growing their fanbase for years now. No strangers to a Newcastle audience, the band are stepping up their game with a show at the Boiler Shop on Monday 16th May. Latest album Homesick doubles down on their love of hook-heavy, crowd friendly indie pop.

With big choruses ready to light up a room, the heart and euphoria caught in their music is now balanced by songwriting more earnest than the band have ventured previously. Post-lockdown lyricism looks to the past, dwelling on the peaks and troughs of adolescence, home life and growing older. Candid storytelling means these passages feel very familiar and welcome, allowing the band to become emotionally, as well as musically, accessible.

Having already sold out their record shop tour, this extra date is selling fast and is sure to be a night of fun, danceable escapism from the delightful indie group.

Sea Girls play Boiler Shop, Newcastle on Monday 16th May. www.seagirls.net

Sea Girls by Blackksocks

ART & LIT

NEWCASTLE POETRY FESTIVAL @ NORTHERN STAGE

Words: Lizzie Lovejoy

Newcastle Poetry Festival makes its return at Northern Stage from Thursday 5th to Saturday 7th May, with a mix of talent both national and local, celebrating the medium of the spoken and written word. If you’re part of the growing audience for audio-based entertainment, then you may enjoy the various performances that this festival has to offer, including live readings from current poet laureate Simon Armitage.

The theme in 2022 is EMERGENCY, which is investigated in a myriad of ways. The Poetry Book Society will host The Emergency Poetry Summit, where a range of creative writers, performers, producers and readers can come together for discussion. Born Lippy, Newcastle’s leading spoken word night, will present an open mic night which shines a spotlight on our local writers and performers, alongside a performance from Door to Door poet Rowan McCabe.

The festival will also feature a series of workshops run by writers and performers, as well as various talks and seminars, including In The Poet’s Chair, a chat with with awardwinning poet Roger Robinson hosted by Jackie Kay, a professor of Creative Writing at Newcastle University. Other highlights include readings from Costa Book of the Year Award winner Hannah Lowe, who is joined by former UK slam champion Joelle Taylor; three internationally acclaimed poets, Grace Nichols, John Asgard and Imtiaz Dharker, explore themes of displacement, grief and diasporic voices; and meditations on time, family and memory come courtesy of Linda Anderson, John Challis and Denise Saul.

Audiences can enjoy the festival both in person at Northern Stage and online.

Newcastle Poetry Festival takes place from Thursday 5th-Saturday 7th May at Northern Stage, Newcastle. www.newcastlepoetryfestival.co.uk

The Divine Comedy by Kevin Westenberg

MUSIC

THE DIVINE COMEDY @ O2 CITY HALL

Words: Cameron Wright

1993 saw the release of Liberation, the commercial birth of Neil Hannon’s The Divine Comedy. An articulate and well-poised album which, via twee compositions, took the listener on a wry journey through literature greats, chamber pop and even the psychedelic influence of the Kinks. From that moment on, the momentum only built. From Promenade’s phenomenal and ambitious baroque ode to French cinema, to the harrowing and eerie sounds across Fin de Siècle, The Divine Comedy have been challenging boundaries and creating magical realms of sound to the delight of critics and fans alike.

With three decades spent curating a stellar catalogue of whimsically sarcastic, educated and infectious releases, reimagining and fine tuning the grandiose nature of Scott Walker, Lee Hazlewood and The Beatles while streamlining it into modern, engaged pop records, it only seems apt to wholeheartedly celebrate.

Charmed Life is that celebration; the ‘best of’ album, featuring Hannon’s finest penmanship, was released in February and features such gems as Songs of Love, National Express, Generation Sex, Everybody Knows (Except You), Tonight We Fly and many more. Saturday 14th May sees this amazing celebration of hits arrive at Newcastle’s O2 City Hall, promising to be an essential experience for anyone besotted with the prolific artist as well as the perfect starting point for anyone seeking an introduction into the wonderful world of The Divine Comedy.

The Divine Comedy play O2 City Hall, Newcastle on Saturday 14th May. www.thedivinecomedy.com

FILM

BALLAD OF A CHANGING WORLD @ COBALT STUDIOS

Words: Jake Anderson

Ballad Of A Changing World is a 55-minute film made during lockdown by Norwegian cellist Maja Bugge and pianist Sarah Nicholls, which will be screened at Cobalt Studios on Friday 27th May. Intended to be an immersive wake up call on the urgency of the climate crisis, it features interviews with scientists in both Newcastle and Norway, interrupted by the sometimes hilarious attempts to make a music show in lockdown.

While the news might be currently preoccupied with other world threatening stories, we should not forget that still looming over us is the destruction of our planet from the ongoing climate crisis. Something, I believe, might’ve lost its punch. So, reread that first sentence – “the DESTRUCTION of OUR PLANET”. It should be scary.

The film is intended to re-ring the alarm bells on the subject matter, with a focus on how the planet is changing; bringing the plight of local wildlife, such as the Quayside’s kittiwakes, into sharp focus, as they change their current migration due to global warming. In the film, poetic moments mingle with musical elements, with an overall hopeful atmosphere.

The screening will also feature what’s certain to be an insightful Q&A with the artists and Dr Helen Wilson from Durham University.

Ballad Of A Changing World is screened at Cobalt Studios, Newcastle on Friday 27th May. www.majabugge.com

COMEDY

DAVID O’DOHERTY @ NEWCASTLE CATHEDRAL

Words: Cameron Wright

When you think of the comedy scene in Newcastle, there are a plethora of places that jump to mind, but it’s unlikely that The Cathedral Church of St. Nicholas is one of them – until now.

The Cathedral of Comedy is a new event coming to Newcastle’s beautiful 14th Century Grade I listed Cathedral. Soon to be known as the hottest comedy joint in the city, the inaugural event takes place on Saturday 21st May and will also include local food vendors Dot Bagels and Bigfatdonutco and a bar.

The night will feature performances from some of Newcastle’s comedy veterans including Steffen Peddie, Anth Young, Kelly Edgar and Matt Reed, with the headline set coming from irresistible comic, David O’Doherty. The dishevelled Irish comedian will be bringing his absurd observations and ludicrous songs to the stage; having established himself through QI, Cats do Countdown and his fringe tours, the comedy heavyweight is the first in a series of quality bookings lined up for the 500 capacity venue.

Run by Lee & David Promotions, the events will offer a unique way to experience one of the city’s iconic buildings, with future bookings including Phil Wang, Catherine Bohart, Larry Dean and Lou Sanders.

David O’Doherty, Steffen Peddie, Anth Young, Kelly Edgar and MC Matt Reed perform at Newcastle Cathedral on Saturday 21st May. www.lndproductions.co.uk

MUSIC

L.A. WITCH @ THE CLUNY

Words: Laura Doyle

If any of us could have even half the accidental success that garage rockers L.A. Witch have managed, we’d be well on our way to quite the fruitful career. The trio really did stumble onto a winning formula through allowing their natural creative flow to take them wherever it felt right. That place ended up being their debut self-titled record which catapulted the group into the limelight.

With growth comes a need for a more systematic approach: this brings us neatly to their sophomore effort, Play With Fire. The 2020 record was created under very different circumstances to their previous efforts: years of fine-tuning was replaced with a two month cramming session to put together something truly spectacular. The album carries that sense of claustrophobia that goes hand in hand with self-imposed isolation; fuzzy guitars packed with reverb leave you with little escape from the trio’s grime-laden funk. Yet you keep coming back for more – and thanks to L.A. Witch’s tendency for extensive touring, they’re ready to supply that hit more often than you’d think, and bring their fiery show to The Cluny in Newcastle on Thursday 19th May, where they’ll be supported by the North East’s very own firebrand fuzzy garage rockers, Pit Pony.

L.A. Witch and Pit Pony play The Cluny, Newcastle on Thursday 19th May. www.lawitches.bandcamp.com

LA Witch by Robin Laananen

MUSIC

STICK IN THE WHEEL @ SAGE GATESHEAD

Words: Lee Fisher

Stick In The Wheel emerged with a singularly austere approach to folk, eschewing any kind of crowd-pleasing fusion and simultaneously bucking against the Keepers Of The Trad. Since that year zero approach, they’ve proceeded to fuck with expectations from one album and mixtape to the next, with the addition of autotune and synths and contemporary electronic textures (but still without every slipping into any kind of fusion).

This reached its apotheosis (so far at least) on last year’s stunning Tonebeds For Poetry mixtape, which sees Nicola Kearey’s keening voice autotuned and distorted, Ian Carter bringing metal guitars and eightbit programming into the mix and the whole thing reaching outwards and upwards in redefining what a folk song can be. It is, to sum up, fucking remarkable. And it’s this release they’re touring in May, a run of their biggest dates yet that brings them to Sage Gateshead on Friday 6th May. It’s their first show on Tyneside for a few years, and you really need to come and see where folk is going next.

Stick In The Wheel play Sage Gateshead on Friday 6th May www.stickinthewheel.com

Stick In The Wheel

MUSIC

FRIDAY NIGHTMARES @ BASE CAMP

Words: Claire Dupree

Aiming to kickstart your weekend with a night of rock ‘n’ rollin’ goodness, Teesside fuzzy rockers The Shakin’ Nightmares gear up to present a series of shows at Middlesbrough’s Base Camp, complete with some out of town guests and local friends.

They promise their regular Friday Nightmares gigs will feature “raw bands and a carefree vibe”, as Ryan from the band explains: “It’s a place to let loose after a busy week with some kindred souls. The line-ups will be fuzzy, punk, trashy, garagy, high energy and fun.”

The inaugural event will take place on Friday 6th May and they more than deliver on their promises with the line-up. Hartlepool’s Marines kick off proceedings with their punk-derived raucous racket, Halifax blues rock duo The Hazy Janes bring their bouncy beats and big riffs, and The Shakin’ Nightmares themselves take the headline billing, topping the night off with a healthy dose of party-starting riffs and rock ‘n’ roll vibes.

Ryan explains their thinking behind the line-up. “Marines have this fresh energy and unlimited creative vision, they’re big and noisy, so it’s gonna be really cool to see what they grow into. The Hazy Janes are a ridiculously good power duo making some cool blues rock tunes and they put on an energetic live show – they’re the ideal band for your Friday night.”

With more shows in the pipeline, including a summer special in July, Friday Nightmares will make your rock ‘n’ roll dreams come true.

The Shakin’ Nightmares, The Hazy Janes and Marines play Base Camp, Middlesbrough on Friday 6th May. www.the-shakin-nightmares.com

The Shakin’ Nightmares

COMEDY

LOU SANDERS @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Cameron Wright

I’m not sure there’s a comedian who has caught my eye with such prowess as Lou Sanders.

Smashing onto our screens and appearing on everything from her co-host role on Mel Giedroyc’s Unforgivable to the season she won Taskmaster, Lou has been cementing her reputation as the ridiculous, chaotic and utterly disarming comedian next door. At every turn, Lou showcases a keen intuition for speaking the unspoken and veering any conversation into a complete shambles.

The creator and conversationalist fronting the hilarious Cuddle Time podcast is delivering an equally engaging and beautifully derailed show with her latest tour One Word: Wow. Visiting several venues in the North East, the new tour is a romp through the delirious and delectable details of her roller-coaster life. Jam packed with the most abstract, befuddling anecdotes, fuelled by a charmingly unleashed energy and pizazz, there are few comedians providing the same delightful carnage as Lou Sanders.

Moments away from becoming one of the country’s brightest shining stars, One Word: Wow showcases a brilliant, albeit deranged mind, primed for a fantastic career of laughter and perfectly harnessed lunacy.

Lou Sanders performs at The Forum, Northallerton on Thursday 12th, The Witham in Barnard Castle on Friday 13th, Alnwick Playhouse on Saturday 14th and The Stand, Newcastle on Sunday 15th May. She returns to Newcastle Cathedral for a headline show on Saturday 16th July. www.lousanders.com

Pillow Queens by Rich Gilligan

MUSIC

PILLOW QUEENS @ THE CLUNY

Words: Laura Doyle

If Pillow Queens sound familiar, maybe you saw their recent appearance on The Late Show with James Corden. Or maybe you caught their last release, the highly rated debut LP In Waiting. High profile achievements aside, April saw the release of their sophomore album, Leave The Light On, and Saturday 7th May will see them perform at The Cluny; their new material sees the indie rock outfit take an introspective turn that celebrates the romantic side of loneliness.

Pillow Queens’ brave concept is that loneliness isn’t always synonymous with isolation: it can give vital time for personal reflection and growth. Where other bands might get comfortable in the niche carved out for them, Pillow Queens have decided to keep fans on their toes with an experimental edge to this next chapter. Recorded in only three months over Spring 2021, making this music must have come as naturally as listening to it does. It’s time for them to lay their heart on their line with larger than life sounds which maintain a sense of intimacy with the listener thanks to crooning lyricism and carefree beats. Like a venting session with your best pal, let Pillow Queens ease your mind and soul with their cleansing tunes.

Pillow Queens play The Cluny, Newcastle on Saturday 7th May. www.pillowqueens.com

STAGE

INFINITE WAYS HOME @ DANCE CITY

Words: Eugenie Johnson

Internationally renowned for his choreography rooted in collaboration, emotional connection and notions of co-authorship within dance, Richard Chappell has created works for theatres including the Royal Opera House, National Dance Company Wales and the English National Ballet as well as leading his own ensemble since 2013.

His company’s latest work, Infinite Ways Home, which comes to Dance City in Newcastle on Friday 27th May, continues to draw upon the theme of community that has been a running thread in his work, taking it to new heights. Featuring a pulsating electronic soundtrack from experimental duo Larch and live violin by soloist Enyuan Khong, Infinite Ways Home takes six people on a journey that emphasises humans’ innate need for connection. Combining traditional ballet, contemporary dance and improvisational passages, the work also takes inspiration from both connection with the natural world found in Druidic practices and the human bonding of rave culture. In synthesising its influences into an exhilarating 55-minute piece, Infinite Ways Home takes the audience on as much of a multisensory, ritualistic trip as its leading figures. After the turbulence of the past few years, Chappell’s work acknowledges that finding home can be restorative and reflective.

Infinite Ways Home is at Dance City, Newcastle on Friday 27th May. www.richardchappelldance.co.uk

Infinite Ways Home by Jack Thomson Photography

ART & LIT

CITIZENS OF OUR TIME/WHAT HAPPENED HERE @ SIDE GALLERY

Words: Jake Anderson

One of Newcastle’s best alternative spaces, the Side Gallery, finally reopened its doors in late April. Run by the Amber Collective, the gallery is devoted to showcasing documentary photography, and strives to give a voice to those who find themselves on the edges of society, telling stories of those often marginalised.

Running at the gallery until Saturday 16th July will be a joint exhibition between photojournalist Gary Calton, Izabela Jedrzejczyk and Amber Films. Gary Calton’s Citizens Of Our Time focuses on the communities that feel forced to protest, influenced by the ongoing ‘Kill The Bill’ movement and exploring their motivations. Representing everyday people, Calton’s powerful selection of images focus on the personal reasons behind campaigning, and covers a wide range of issues which have engaged the UK population over the last 25 years. One of the most important stories featured is that of Richard Ratcliffe, the husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who rallied for their partner’s release for six years from an Iranian detention centre.

Audio-visual installation What Happened Here incorporates prints from Izabela Jedrzejczyk’s Striking Women series, which documented the women in Easington Colliery who supported the miners’ strike of 1984. Amber’s own contribution comes from the 2019 film which gives the exhibition its name, and which remembered the women’s efforts 35 years later.

Citizens Of Our Time and What Happened Here are exhibited at Side Gallery, Newcastle until Saturday 16th July. www.amber-online.com

MUSIC

MICHAEL KIWANUKA @ O2 CITY HALL

Words: Ikenna Offor

There’s no denying that Michael Kiwanuka is one of the brightest lights on the vastly talented yet maddeningly undervalued contemporary UK soul scene. Across a trio of acclaimed albums over the last decade, the 34-year-old British-Ugandan troubadour has been a persistent testimony to individualism, and he brings that talent to Newcastle’s O2 City Hall on Wednesday 18th May. From the jump, Kiwanuka’s protean ability and non-restricted approach to everything his musical tastes favour – from fuzzy indie tones to shapeshifting psychedelic flourishes and inescapable melodies – have made perhaps the most clear-cut case for why analogue textures still matter in an increasingly digital world.

Whilst the high bar set by both of his first two albums led to slightly reductive comparisons to Bill Withers and Terry Callier (Black man + supple voice + acoustic guitar = go figure), Kiwanuka’s defiant, self-titled third LP – which earned him a well-deserved Mercury win after two previous shortlistings – saw him fully come into his own. Following on from his Mercury triumph, Kiwanuka’s stirring new single, the ethereally melancholic yet indelibly exultant Beautiful Life, further builds on his well-honed penchant for vividly abstracted yet intuitively coherent songcraft. Kiwanuka’s gospel is simple yet profound: true strength of spirit springs from finding beauty in all situations, even difficult ones. Can I get an ‘Amen’?

Michael Kiwanuka plays O2 City Hall, Newcastle on Wednesday 18th May. www.michaelkiwanuka.com

Michael Kiwanuka by Olivia Rose

COMEDY

CHLOE PETTS @ THE STAND

Words: Laura Doyle

Comedy is a career often pursued not for the recognition, but for the love of the craft. Luckily for some, they get to enjoy both. Chloe Petts is one fortunate individual who has managed to turn her dedication to comedy into an emotionally profitable venture. The creator of London-based all woman and non-binary queer comedy night The LOL Word brings her debut stand-up tour, Transience, to Newcastle’s Stand on Sunday 29th May.

It’s an apt name, since we’re living in such changeable times that it’s often difficult to remember where we’re at as a society. Transience therefore suits her own comedy, which focuses on the trials and tribulations of life. Petts is so desperate to live in the moment that she sometimes ends up sending very much the wrong vibe to male pals who sometimes fail to grasp the concept of interaction without ulterior motives. Seriously guys, some women really don’t want to get in your pants. For one so supportive of her local comedy scene, it’d be so nice to reciprocate with some equally platonic support as Chloe Petts takes her first tentative steps into the nationwide circuit. Go see.

Chloe Petts is at The Stand, Newcastle on Sunday 29th May. www.chloepetts.wixsite.com/chloe-petts

Chloe Petts by Matt Crockett