JUNE PREVIEWS

STAGE

EVERYDAY @ NORTHERN STAGE

Words: Helen Redfern

Combining British Sign Language and spoken English in a unique bilingual style for deaf and hearing audiences, Deafinitely Theatre presents Everyday, a curious gathering of four people performing a ritual of community and catharsis, at Northern Stage on Tuesday 24th-Wednesday 25th June.

Drawing on interviews with women and non-binary people exploring domestic abuse in the deaf community, nationally acclaimed writer and director Paula Garfield creates a witches’ coven like no other – with a cauldron of newts’ eyes and butterflies, deep scars and blazing signs. The cast of Fifi Garfield, Kelsey Gordon, Zoe McWhinney and Bea Webster together create a visually-rich, playful and pulsatingly urgent performance, proclaiming “We are warriors. We are survivors. If you need our help, let us know.”

Commissioned by New Diorama Theatre, this defiant and empowering new work from Deafinitely Theatre marks the company’s 20th anniversary. Deafinitely Theatre has always been, and continues to be, a field leader in the promotion of deaf led theatre. Artistic Director Paula Garfield believes there is much to celebrate: “We’re so thrilled to be breaking down taboos and stereotypes of deaf people and showing what we can achieve and what makes up our rich and diverse deaf community in 2022 and beyond.”

Everyday will not be an everyday performance. Far from it. More like a revelatory glimpse into the everyday lives of the warriors and survivors who live amongst us.

Everyday is at Northern Stage, Newcastle on Tuesday 24th-Wednesday 25th June. www.deafinitelytheatre.co.uk

COMEDY

STEVE BUGEJA @ THE WITHAM/THE STAND

Words: Laura Doyle

Even if you’ve never heard the name Steve Bugeja, you’ve probably heard the words of Steve Bugeja. With writing credits scattered across TV shows from the Russell Howard Hour to the Now Show, Bugeja is one of the most prolific comedians on telly right now without you even knowing it. That means there’s a high probability that you already love his work – so maybe now is the time to put that theory to the test to see his latest stand-up show, Tried To Start His Own Nickname, which comes to The Witham in Barnard Castle on Saturday 18th and The Stand in Newcastle on Thursday 30th June.

We all knew that kid at school who thought of a potentially amusing pun on their name all by themselves. But no matter how hard they try, a self-applied nickname simply won’t stick (even if it’s as good as Moulin Booj). Be careful what you wish for anyway, because does anyone actually recall someone gaining a nickname that wasn’t via some horrendously embarrassing life event… Or was that just me? Hopefully Steve Bugeja hasn’t suffered badly from nickname-related trauma – although given that tragedy + time = comedy, it wouldn’t be the worst thing for his show if he had.

Steve Bugeja performs at The Witham, Barnard Castle on Saturday 18th and The Stand, Newcastle on Thursday 30th June. www.stevebugeja.com

MUSIC

MIRNA RAY @ THE CUMBERLAND ARMS

Words: Ali Welford

Now firmly back in the swing of things, promoter Endless Window kicks off a series of summer gigs with a characteristically eclectic feast of internationalist psychedelia at The Cumberland Arms on Friday 3rd June.

With just a couple of EPs – 2015’s 22 and 2019’s III – to their name, Mirna Ray nonetheless carry a palpable word-of-mouth stature on the back of stints supporting the likes of Acid Mothers Temple, Wax Machine and The Cult of Dom Keller. What’s more, this London-based collective of Polish and Argentinian musicians achieve the improbable through crafting a fresh, distinctive sound amidst a congested field. With foundations hewn from hefty dollops of garagey crowd-pleasing fuzz, their pot is stirred further with splashes of experimental percussion, desert woodwind and subtle yet influential electronics – a heady brew primed to make a lasting impression on their maiden North East outing.

As with every EW show, there’s a similar level of care and enthusiasm poured into the choice of supports. Causing quite the stir with their aptly titled recent EP The New Nuisance, chaos merchants No Teeth bring the ruckus wherever they land with inimitably maximalist Fall-meets-Beefheart stupidity. Less unhinged (though only by a whisker!), Emergency Librarian 2’s peculiar take on folk song materialises via a meandering melange of primitive psych, modular synth squall and Reed/Cale-recalling indulgence – an ever-morphing racket that’s well worth early admission!

Mirna Ray, No Teeth and Emergency Librarian 2 play The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle on Friday 3rd June. www.mirnaray.bandcamp.com

STAGE

ANKLES: A BOOK OF SPELLS @ NORTHERN STAGE

Words: Michael O’Neill

Based upon a wealth of real-life experiences amassed from interactive workshops with young women and non-binary people from both East End schools and Newcastle’s Shieldfield Youth Project, BRASH Theatre Company have conjured up Ankles, a multi-disciplinary production which explores the complexities of how the educational system, with its oft-demeaning school uniform policies, enables a culture of victim-blaming and sexual harassment.

The production, which comes to Northern Stage on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th June, makes a compelling argument that children need to be discouraged from thinking that the responsibility of preventing gendered violence should only fall upon girls, and instead emphasising the part that every person, of every gender and age group, has to play in preventing these behaviours from persisting in society as a whole.

As BRASH’s Artistic Director Bethan Kitchen makes clear: “It forces adults to sit up, listen and make the changes necessary to make the world a safer, fairer place for people of all genders.” All roles within the production are handled by actor Brogan Gilbert (who’s previously starred in the BBC’s The Dumping Ground and Inside Out), rapper/performer Kay Greyson and a debut co-lead performance from India Barnett, with sound design and scoring from Roma Yagnik.

Ankles: A Book Of Spells is performed at Northern Stage, Newcastle on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th June. www.brashtheatre.co.uk

Bobby Benjamin, Feckless + Drunk, 2022, mixed media

ART & LIT

BOBBY BENJAMIN: OBJECT @ VANE GALLERY

Words: Steve Spithray

Newcastle’s Vane Gallery celebrates its 25th anniversary with a new gallery space on the Gateshead side of the Tyne alongside the Orbis Community. Teesside’s Bobby Benjamin has the honour of opening the new space with his celebrated Object show.

Object challenges cultural hegemony while embracing the history of found objects and the materiality of paint. Benjamin’s work is site specific and transient, with deinstallation and destruction often going hand in hand. Object features such found items as flyaway footballs, metal hoops from old beer barrels, snooker balls and discarded fast food (something of a recurring theme in the artist’s work), all articles that symbolise his keen advocacy of the role art has to play in the lives of young people and their communities.

Bobby explains: “the show is called Object because the word’s dual meaning captures the ‘how’ and ‘why’ of what I do. I make art from found objects about things that piss me off. It’s weird how going to the opera is more prestigious than going to a football match. Why are we so hierarchical about culture? I live on a council estate, I work in the art industry; this show is about me trying to reconcile the two.”

Bobby Benjamin: Object is at Vane Gallery, Gateshead from Thursday 9th June-Saturday 2nd July. www.vane.org.uk

MUSIC

THE OFTEN HERD @ THE CLUNY 2

Words: Maria Winter

Acclaimed North East bluegrass band The Often Herd prepare to unveil their highly anticipated debut album, Where The Big Lamp Shines, at The Cluny 2 on Friday 3rd June. Known for their American string band style, The Often Herd’s transatlantic sound is intensely shaped by the natural and industrial landscapes of Northern England.

The band’s songs are often manufactured through both varied personal experience alongside an array of musical influences, from retro pop to folk rock. Where The Big Lamp Shines is a superb representation of those assortments, providing a taste of various instruments, textures and harmonies, whilst still remaining true to their bluegrass-inspired background. With exquisite musical and vocal technique, the album emanates a sense of beauty and joy.

Composer and mandolinist Evan Davies elaborates: “This record is a melting pot of all of our experiences and influences. We reflect on our lives as musicians, stories we hear around us and try to convey a sense of our place in the world whilst also being somewhat introspective.”

Having received praise from musical connoisseurs and with an abundance of achievements under their belts, The Often Herd’s fiery sound ensures this upcoming album is definitely not one to miss.

The Often Herd launch Where The Big Lamp Shines at The Cluny 2, Newcastle on Friday 3rd June. www.theoftenherd.com

Image: The Often Herd by Amelia Read

MUSIC

GIGGLE WATER COMEDY @ PROHIBITION CABARET BAR

Words: Steve Spithray

Giggle Water Comedy is an exciting new ‘pay what you feel’ comedy night at Prohibition Comedy Bar in Newcastle. Founded in April by Rachel Selkirk, Giggle Water is an open-mic stand-up night that positions some of the best rising stars in comedy alongside more experienced acts. The event has already hosted an array of exciting new acts, and saw some brilliant, experienced comics from the North East comedy scene trying new material. The laid-back nature of the nights mean anything can happen, no two shows are the same but all are in the safe hands of an experienced compere each month.

On Thursday 2nd June Giggle Water present a Pride Special hosted by Sunderland’s quick-witted Matt Reed, a touring stand-up of nearly twenty years’ experience. He will be joined on the night by comedian and musician Eppie Brilliant, funny man Bryan James, Northumbrian Stew Simpson as well as Deborah Healey, Kathryn Cardose and Isabelle Evans.

The Pink Lane venue is fast becoming something of a mainstay of Newcastle’s underground circuit, subsequent events take place on the first Thursday of every month, with future shows featuring hosts Bryan James (7th July) and John Scott (4th August). Giggle Water Comedy takes place at Prohibition Cabaret Bar, Newcastle on Thursday 2nd June, and the first Thursday of every month.

www.facebook.com/gigglewatercomedy

MUSIC

JEFF BECK @ SAGE GATESHEAD

Words: Adam Kennedy

You would have to look back to 2004 for the last time Jeff Beck performed in the North East. And much like a lot of tours, fans have had their wait extended by two years due to Covid. But finally, the guitar virtuoso performs at Sage Gateshead on Thursday 2nd June.

Throughout his distinguished career Jeff Beck has played in groups such as the Yardbirds, where he replaced none other than Eric Clapton; he fronted the Jeff Beck Group performing alongside esteemed peers Rod Stewart and Ronnie Wood; and subsequently formed the power trio-come-supergroup Beck, Bogert and Appice whilst simultaneously pushing the boundaries of rock guitar.

The award-winning artist and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee has shared the stage with countless legends, as well as being a musical icon in his own right. With a career spanning over fifty years, the gifted axeman has been ranked by Rolling Stone as one of the 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time, and with a career like his who could argue with that sentiment?

Jeff Beck performs at Sage Gateshead on Thursday 2nd June with support from Sharon Corr. www.jeffbeck.com

Yama Warashi

MUSIC

YAMA WARASHI @ THE WAITING ROOM/ COBALT STUDIOS

Words: Ben Lowes-Smith

Formerly of proto-Melt Yourself Down outfit Zun Zun Egui, Yama Warashi is the kaleidoscopic musical vision of Yoshino Shigihara. In support of her third record Crispy Moon, Shigihara graces the quaint intimate confines of The Waiting Room in Eaglescliffe on Sunday 12th and Ouseburn’s cutting-edge Cobalt Studios on Thursday 16th June.

Yama Warashi produce Anglo-Japanese psych music, which is outward-facing and ambitious; Shigihara draws on free-jazz, freak folk and African high-life to truly scintillating effect. Her new record has been recorded by Capital K, who in recent years has produced work by Thurston Moore, Dry Cleaning and The Comet Is Coming. She has had praise and radio play from NTS and BBC 6Music, and found a real patron in Stuart Maconie. Having been on tour with psych favourites Vanishing Twin, Shigihara and her band are embarking on their own European tour. Take the opportunity to catch Yama Washari in venues this intimate while you still can, as their trajectory is guaranteed to rise.

Yama Warashi performs at The Waiting Room, Eaglescliffe on Sunday 12th and Cobalt Studios on Thursday 16th June. www.yamawarashi.com

MUSIC

NEUROFEST @ NE VOLUME MUSIC BAR

Words: Jason Jones

Stockton’s NE Volume Music Bar plays host to Neurofest this month, with a day of live performances from local acts looking to raise money for a good cause. Organised by local musician Jamie Sample, proceeds from the festival will go to Tees Valley Buddies, a neurodiverse self-advocacy and peer support charity network helping to provide assistance and services to people living with neurodiversity across the region.

Starting early afternoon on Saturday 18th June, the all-day event will stretch well into the evening, with a stacked bill that should provide a little bit of something for everyone. From the up-and-coming indie rock of Eve Kills The Sun, to the ‘80s-influenced balladry of Lost State of Dan and the no-nonsense prog rock of ManFrog, Neurofest’s line-up promises to be a varied celebration of exciting local talent, capped off by sets from Brass Eyed Dragons, Screemplay, Nicky Chapman, and Thought Trumpet.

A full day of excellent live music at one of Stockton’s best independent venues, all in the name of charity – what’s not to like? Neurofest takes place at NE Volume Music Bar, Stockton on Saturday 18th June. www.facebook.com/nevolumemusicbar

STAGE

ALL WHITE EVERYTHING BUT ME @ ALPHABETTI

Words: Tom Astley

The one-person play All White Everything But Me comes to Alphabetti from Tuesday 14th June until Saturday 2nd July, promising a fascinating insight into the life of an often overlooked sporting great. The play recounts the life of American tennis player Althea Gibson, one of the first athletes to cross the colour line in tennis. Gibson won the French Open in 1956 – the first Black female to win a Grand Slam – and went on to win both the US Open and Wimbledon twice in ‘57 and ’58. Gibson also had a career in professional golf and in Hollywood, both hindered by the persisting racial prejudice rife in late-50s America.

Though Gibson’s success in two separate sports provides a dramatic sporting narrative in itself, All White Everything But Me, the work of acclaimed actor-writer Kemi-Bo Jacobs, insightfully raises questions that have resonances well beyond the niche worlds of tennis and golf. Jacobs’ work asks the still-pressing questions of who is remembered, immortalised in sporting narrative, and who is forgotten, bringing back to public consciousness a true sporting hero in the process.

All White Everything But Me is performed at Alphabetti, Newcastle from Tuesday 14th June-Saturday 2nd July. www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk

Joan As Policewoman by Lindsey Byrnes

MUSIC

JOAN AS POLICE WOMAN @ WYLAM BREWERY

Words: Lizzie Lovejoy

On Sunday 26th June, revered songwriter and musician Joan As Police Woman will be taking over Wylam Brewery in Newcastle as part of her 2022 tour. Audiences can expect a blend of alternative folk and indie pop, with a smidge of rock ‘n’ roll thrown in for good measure, from the brilliant mind of this American musician.

Starting her early career with classical music, playing violin and piano, Joan Wasser expanded her experience collaborating with a range of creative people such as Tony Allen, Rufus Wainwright and Beck, to name just a few. Following the release of her 2021 album The Solution Is Restless, which tackles the experiences of lockdowns as well as the relationship between mathematics and sexuality (because nothing is off limits), this show will celebrate Joan’s new music as well as some older classics from the full Joanthology.

Joan As Police Woman plays Wylam Brewery, Newcastle on Sunday 26th June.

STAGE

GET LOUD @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Steve Spithray

Menstrual Rage is a feminist theatre company that strives to explore issues that universally affect women by aiming to create a safe and inclusive place that celebrates positivity and womanhood. If there is anything more punk rock than that in 2022 I would like to see it, even their press pack reads like a micro-zine.

By creating innovative shows that challenge femininity and stereotypes, Menstrual Rage strive to make work that is accessible to all. Their latest production, Get Loud, is about four girls and their fight against the patriarchy, accompanied by live riot grrrl-inspired punk music. The show aims to tackle a sense of hopelessness while finding empowerment in the places you would least expect by turning it into an inspired piece of gig theatre, which will tour the region, coming to Base Camp, Middlesbrough (Monday 27th-Tuesday 28th June); The Central, Gateshead (Thursday 30th June-Friday 1st July) and The Peacock, Sunderland (Wednesday 6th-Thursday 7th July).

Companion piece, And Me, will also be performed alongside Get Loud at Base Camp, as well as at Durham Fringe Festival in July, and explores sexual harassment through movement, spoken word and music. The group have stated: “How young do you start experiencing harassment? Why are young girls sexualised so much from an early age? And Me showcases the real-life stories of the micro harassments young women experience every day.”

Get Loud by Menstrual Rage is performed at Base Camp, Middlesbrough on Monday 27th-Tuesday 28th June, The Central, Gateshead on Thursday 30th June-Friday 1st July and The Peacock, Sunderland on Wednesday 6th-Thursday 7th Jtakes place at Base Camp Boro on June 27.uly.June 27. www.facebook.com/menstrualrage

Menstrual Rage

MUSIC

HEELAPALOOZA @ PLAY BREW CO.

Words: Michael O’Neill

After a long three year wait, Teesside’s almighty answer to Perry Farrell’s Lollapalooza empire returns with a gloriously diverse line-up that offers a staggering who’s-who of local musical powerhouses, boasting 18 acts across two stages in Boro’s Play Brew Tap Room on Saturday 18th June.

Headlining proceedings is phenomenal rapper and musician Dylan Cartlidge, whose rapid ascent since the release of 2021’s Hope Above Adversity has been nothing short of extraordinary, including extensive features on Danger Mouse and Black Thoughts’ upcoming Cheat Codes LP. He’s joined by Darlo’s genre-hopping Luke Royalty; brat-pop siblings ZELA; soulful six-piece Moon Wax; almighty alt. quintet Pit Pony; indie pop savants Motel Carnation; groove popsters Club Paradise; psych pop octet Ronald Raygun; singular noise-makers Kkett; the vivid delights of quintet Marketplace; indie mainstays Deep.Sleep; the spectral funk pop of Picnic; rapping polymath Jack Fox; DIY duo Regal Cheer; post-punk quartet Marines; singer-songwriters Josh Newell Brown and Cosial, and rounded off with the crystalline pop quartet The Lulas.

All this for a staggering £12.50, over a whole day, with no clashes guaranteed and a wealth of street food too. All in all, it’s a staggering showcase of our brilliantly talented and diverse region, and it’s glorious to see a phenomenal local festival back at it again.

Heelapalooza takes place at Play Brew Co. Tap Room, Middlesbrough on Saturday 18th June. www.facebook.com/heelapalooza

STAGE

MAGNOLIA WALLS @ NORTHERN STAGE

Words: Jason Jones

Tyneside-based company Workie Ticket Theatre return to Northern Stage on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th June with their first production since the start of the pandemic.

Written by JoJo Kirtley, Magnolia Walls is based on research undertaken by Dr Alice Cree and Dr Hannah West of Newcastle University, and aims to challenge broadly-held stereotypes surrounding military spouses, while also exploring how home life and personal relationships are impacted by war.

Set in Northumberland, the Corinne Kilvington-directed play focuses on a blossoming friendship between two military wives, Roxie and Pen, who look to step out from the shadow of their husbands’ careers to shine, or rebel, in their own right.

Starring Rachel Brownstein and Alexandra Tahnée, alongside a specially pre-recorded ‘chorus’ performed by the loved ones of military personnel, Magnolia Walls brings together shared experiences from interviews, focus groups and theatre-based workshops to address themes of racism, suicide, domestic abuse and the trauma of war, all with a commitment to opening a discussion on the long-term consequences of conflict and service on families associated with the armed forces. Newcastle University will also be hosting a Q&A session to accompany Friday’s performance of the play.

Magnolia Walls is performed at Northern Stage, Newcastle on Friday 24th and Saturday 25th June. www.workietickettheatre.com

Blk Jks by Brett Rubni

MUSIC

BLK JKS @ THE CLUNY

Words: Jonathan Coll

South African art rock band Blk Jks take to the stage at The Cluny on Tuesday 21st June. They’ve been honing their craft since the early 2000s, though the band initially had somewhat of a changing cast having been founded by childhood friends Mpumelelo Mcata and Lindani Buthelezi in their native Johannesburg. They received huge critical acclaim in early 2008 after the band were signed to the record label of international superstar DJ Diplo, and an extensive US and European tour ensured they were dubbed “Africa’s best new band” by Rolling Stone magazine.

For a band of their longevity, their discography is smaller than you might expect. Their debut album After Robots was released in 2009, and was Dave Grohl’s record of the year. The album is an infectious mix of ambience, ska, reggae and jazz, and one which captured the attention of an international audience. What followed throughout the 2010s is more complicated, however, with the band splintering off into several separate musical projects. The good news is that the original iteration is still going strong, and last year’s album Before Humans is a fantastic return to form, carrying the sort of energy that makes their live show so unmissable.

Blk Jks play The Cluny, Newcastle on Tuesday 21st June. www.blk-jks.bandcamp.com

STAGE

ELIOT SMITH DANCE: LIFE @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Jason Jones

Eliot Smith Dance celebrate a full return to live performances this month by touring LIFE, a four-part contemporary show with an emphasis on increasing awareness surrounding the ongoing global climate crisis, at venues across the region.

Centred around an eponymous key piece, created by ESD’s creative director Eliot Smith himself, the show will also feature original music by award-winning composer Adam Johnson, and stunning backdrops from renowned artist Bernadette Koranteng. Further performances include works by award-winning guest choreographers Martin Hylton and Balbir Singh, as well as ESD Rehearsal Director, Yamit Salazar.

Speaking of the forthcoming show, Smith says: “I have never been more convinced that the powerful sense of movement that identifies this season’s performances will help our audiences make a more conscious connection to nature and the climate crisis, and that the dancers will draw inspiration from the personal and emotional connection that results from being in the physical presence of a live audience.”

LIFE will be performed at Hexham’s Queen’s Hall on Thursday 23rd June, with further shows at The Maltings in Berwick on Friday 24th June, The Bowes Museum on Wednesday 29th June, and Gosforth Civic Theatre on Saturday 7th July. With an additional online screening taking place on Saturday 25th June. www.eliotsmithdance.com

MUSIC

TV GIRL @ NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ UNION

Words: Jake Anderson

Those caught in the niche Venn diagram overlap of 2010’s indie pop and walletcrippling vinyl record spending habits will get post-apocalyptic flashbacks when someone even mentions TV Girl.

The Californian band’s excellent 2010 album French Exit is notoriously difficult to acquire a vinyl copy of, most likely because the album is pure bliss from start to finish. Blending sampling with their indie pop soundscape in a lush fusion of hip-hop and bubblegum pop, the band create nostalgia-fuelled bangers which feel like happiness in music form. Tracks like Birds Don’t Sing and Lovers Rock radiate a summery energy, while the innate catchiness of Hate Yourself and the upbeat and jangly jaunt of Cigarettes Out The Window is certain to get this writer on the dance floor.

The band bring their iconic indie pop to Newcastle University Students’ Union on Saturday 18th June, where they may even play their TikTok hit, Not Allowed, if we’re lucky. Support for the night is Sidney Gish, who blends together twee and bedroom pop in a flawless way, while also tackling quite mature subject matters, making her textured songs a standout of the genre.

TV Girl play Newcastle University Students’ Union on Saturday 18th June. www.tvgirl.bandcamp.com

COMEDY

AMY MATTHEWS @ ALPHABETTI

Words: Jake Anderson

A relatively new face on the UK’s comedy scene, Amy Matthews has previously been on the BAFTA winning Scot Squad and presented on BBC Radio 4.

Performances of her highly anticipated debut comedy show, titled Moreover, The Moon, has had audiences in stitches, and this month sees the show head to Newcastle’s Alphabetti Theatre on Saturday 18th June.

Moreover, The Moon centres around the curious phenomenon of ‘main character syndrome’, a predominant trope on social media sites like TikTok used to describe self-centred people who see their lives taking centre stage, with other people merely supporting extras. Matthews places herself in this mindset, and takes a somewhat sympathetic look at the trials of modern living.

It sounds a little egocentric, and that’s because it is, but it is currently one of the funniest shows touring, being considered one of the highlights from the Glasgow Comedy Festival.

Amy Matthews performs at Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle on Saturday 18th June. www.amymatthewscomedy.com

Amy Matthews by Matt Crockett

STAGE

SURGE @ SAGE GATESHEAD

Words: Helen Redfern

SURGE is all about water, the world’s most threatened resource to life. This immersive performance, which comes to Sage Gateshead on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th June, brings to life our lost connection with water, that is at once a life-giving and destructive force.

SURGE is real-time production, fusing game-engine technology with live performance and spatialised sound, in which the roaming audience will enter a multi-dimensional installation which uses immersive technology, electronic music, dance and poetry to bring the spirit of the surge. Scottish composer and performer of electronic and acoustic music Anna Meredith brings the soundscape, while spoken word performer Vanessa Kisuule – you might know her for her poem on the historic toppling of Edward Colston’s statue Hollow which gained over 600,000 views on Twitter in three days! – brings spoken word poetry. The PappyShow, formed in 2013 to platform “the marginalised identities that we believe society could do better with”, brings live performance. Within this dramatic immersive performance, which makes use of multi-sensory elements including haze, scent and wind, two audience members will play an active role, driving the narrative with full body motion capture and virtual reality headsets.

The darkness has descended and the surge is upon us. Monolithic LED screens act as windows into the tumultuous world of SURGE. Are you ready to take the plunge? Surge is at Sage Gateshead on Saturday 4th and Sunday 5th June. www.sagegateshead.com

COMEDY

DALISO CHAPONDA @ BISHOP AUCKLAND TOWN HALL

Words: Cameron Wright

Hilarity Bites Comedy Club are determined to bring great comedy to the North East. Bringing some of the country’s sharpest comics to a litany of venues across the North, their latest endeavour at Bishop Auckland Town Hall on Friday 17th June is no exception.

Since storming his way to the final of Britain’s Got Talent, Daliso Chaponda has stayed in the public eye in a way very few contestants do. The Malawian stand-up leapt into the nations eyeline when he became a 2017 finalist, with his cheeky routines poking fun at the differences between African and British culture.

The hilarious comic has refused to slow down since his time on the show, with his career ascending to remarkable heights; appearing on shows such as QI, the writer stars in his own hit Radio 4 show, Citizen of Nowhere and has just filmed two separate stand-up specials, ready to be released over the course of the next year.

The comedian is no stranger to topical news stories, frequently satirising the crazy world of the political and playfully twisting it into something non threatening and teaseable. Having just completed the majority of his Apocalypse Not Now tour, the comedian is a well oiled machine that is determined to make you laugh.

Daliso Chaponda performs at Bishop Auckland Town Hall on Friday 17th June. www.dalisochaponda.com

MUSIC

ROLLING BLACKOUTS COASTAL FEVER @ BOILER SHOP

Words: Jake Anderson

Australia’s much-hyped indie rock band Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever are finally gracing Newcastle while touring their newest album, Endless Room, playing at the Boiler Shop on Monday 6th June.

The band are have become one of the most discussed indie bands of late, with their two previous releases, Hope Downs and Sideways To New Italy, receiving much praise. New album Endless Room has seen the band refine their sound even further, with lead singles such as the joyfully upbeat The Way It Shatters and the thumping Tidal River featuring the band’s signature playful vocals and strong guitar riffs.

Support comes from another Aussie, Stella Donnelly, whose 2019 album Beware of the Dogs has become one of those ‘if you know you know’ albums in the indie scene. Her album conforms to a lot of the indie pop norms, yet she executes them with such an honest and emotive expression that it’s impossible to not find yourself humming the melodies long after the songs are done.

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever and Stella Donnelly play Boiler Shop, Newcastle on Monday 6th June. www.rollingblackoutsband.com

Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever by Nick Mckk

ART & LIT

HEXHAM BOOK FESTIVAL @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Jonathan Coll

The 16th annual Hexham Book Festival returns to the idyllic Northumberland town between Friday 10th-Sunday 19th June. As always, there is a stellar list of authors scheduled to pop up at venues across the town, which this year includes the Queen’s Hall and The Spiegeltent (a large, travelling tent brought in from the Netherlands).

This year a children’s book festival will also run concurrently to the main festival, with funding being set aside to bring children from the more remote parts of the region into the area to enjoy the festivities. It’s a nice initiative that speaks to the accessible, inclusive nature which has typically embodied the ten day programme.

Alongside the other various workshops, shows and opportunities for young authors to perform their work, there is an awful lot to look forward to at this year’s edition. Some of the names to look out for include highly regarded author and broadcaster Lemn Sissay, Vane Women Poets, bioarchaeologist Cat Jarman, comedian Miles Jupp, poet Hollie McNish, local thriller writer LJ Ross and suspense writer Louise Welch. The festival will look to cater to a wide range of tastes, with additional highlights including a night of comedy, circus and sauve surprises courtesy of Confetti Cabaret, and a comedy evening featuring Ade Campe, Anth Young, Aaron Simmonds, Jonny Awsum and John Robertson also taking place on the opening night.

Check out their website for much more. Hexham Book Festival takes place at various venues in Hexham from Friday 10th-Sunday 19th June. www.hexhambookfestival.co.uk

Lemn Sissay by Hamish Brown

STAGE

THE GUILTY FEMINIST @ TYNE THEATRE & OPERA HOUSE

Words: Eugenie Johnson

95 million downloads across six years, Pod Bible Best Lifestyle and Culture Podcast, and an Apple Best Listen, a spin-off book, as well as plaudits from Emma Thompson and Fleabag star and writer Phoebe Waller-Bridge… it’s not an exaggeration to say that The Guilty Feminist is a podcast phenomenon. Created by Deborah Frances-White and Sofie Hagen in 2015, it splices together comedy, thought-provoking discussion and activism to create an empathetic forum discussing what it’s like to be a 21st Century feminist – including all the insecurities and hypocrisies that might come with it.

Frances-White is taking the live podcast on tour this summer and heads to Newcastle’s Tyne Theatre & Opera House on Thursday 16th June. She’s not alone, and after welcoming a huge range of stellar guests to the podcast previously (including Aisling Bea, Dawn O’Porter and Gemma Arterton), it’s no different for the live version. Joining Frances-White is Kemah Bob, star of Netflix’s comedic retrospective Death To 2020, Allison Spittle of Wheel of Misfortune podcast fame, and rising stand-up Ceyla AB. Bringing class and seriously whip-smart wit from the podcast to the stage, prepare for an evening of celebrating and examining the noble goals often aspired to, while also still being able to say: “I’m a feminist, but…” The Guilty Feminist is at Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle on Thursday 16th June. www.guiltyfeminist.com

ART & LIT

CROSSING THE TEES FESTIVAL

Words: Steve Spithray

Crossing The Tees, Teesside’s biggest literary festival, returns with their first ever dedicated coordinator in author Kirsten Luckins. Lovers of both reading and writing can look forward to a variety of events in-person, and online.

The festival launches on Saturday 11th June with Into the Wild Blue Sea by Kate Fox, a short reading of uplifting poetry at TunedIn in Redcar followed by a writing workshop and a quick chat with the poet. Elsewhere that day, a more eclectic afternoon at Base Camp provides an opportunity to make ‘junk journals’, attend a Zoom watch party with novelist Katie Hale, or mingle at Apocalypse How, Apocalypse When, the launch of a gorgeous photobook of Teesside’s post-industrial landscape, in some of Base Camp’s maze of rooms.

In the evening, Stockton’s ARC will host the exclusive premiere of A Time Capsule of Hopes, a short piece created by filmmakers in residence Laura Degnan and Chris Bradburn, followed by a screening of the classic feel-good book adaptation, The Princess Bride. On Sunday 12th June, crime fiction fans are invited to board the Teesside Princess River Cruise for The Plot Is Murder, an interactive murder mystery. Tickets also include entry to Bodies in the Library, an evening with members of the Northern Crime Writers Syndicate in Stockton Library.

Further highlights include an evening of poetry with Bob the festival closes with An Evening with Ian McMillan and Lucy Holden, two authors at either side of the generational divide using memoir as a method to look back and laugh at their very different experiences of life. Beagrie, which serves as a launch for Judi Sutherland’s poetry collection Following Teisa (Middlesbrough Reference Library, Monday 13th); in The Women Who Saved The English Countryside, Matthew Kelly traces the lives of four women - Beatrix Potter, Octavia Hill, Pauline Dower and Sylvia Sayer - who preserved the essence of landscape (Cockerton Library, Darlington, Wednesday 15th); quirky indie label Bluemoose presents readings by Devika Ponnambalam and Ronan Hession (online, Thursday 16th); explore the wilderness with Professor Dee Heddon at The Walking Library (Stockton Central Library and South Park Cafe, Darlington on Friday 17th); and the festival closes with An Evening with Ian McMillan and Lucy Holden, two authors at either side of the generational divide using memoir as a method to look back and laugh at their very different experiences of life (ARC, Stockton).

Crossing The Tees takes place at various venues on Teesside from Saturday 11th-Friday 17th June. www.crossingthetees.org

MUSIC

DEATH VALLEY GIRLS @ THE CLUNY

Words: Adelle Sutheran

Tripped out, flipped out garage rock with psychedelic undertones on the one hand, upbeat synth dance melodies on the other, AND a bit of everything in between; Death Valley Girls have got it all.

With numerous releases at their disposal to draw from (four albums and one remastered), their gig at The Cluny on Thursday 16th June has the potential to be something quite special. This Los Angeles left-of-leftfield four-piece really know how to mix it up; musically indulgent and bohemian in feel, their show promises to be unorthodox and ubiquitous – if The Craft was about a band, it would be about this one.

Keep an ear out for Street Justice from 2018 album Darkness Rains and The Universe from 2020’s Under The Spell Of Joy release, which ably demonstrate the band’s often opposing sounds, evolving from dark tones in their earlier material to a somewhat lightness in sound on recent releases. Their sound is expressive, spellbinding and bewitching, and it’s in your interest not miss it.

Death Valley Girls play The Cluny, Newcastle on Thursday 16th June. www.deathvalleygirls.bandcamp.com

Death Valley Girls by LG

MUSIC

DIZRAELI/SQUARMS @ COBALT

Words: Michael O’Neill

Poet, producer, Firestarter, songwriter/MC, multi-instrumentalist and raconteur Dizraeli initially gained a frenzied underground fan base fronting the raucous outfit Bad Science, before abandoning that to tour the world, release acclaimed LPs like 2013’s chameleonic Moving In The Dark, collaborate with the likes of Jam Baxter and Kae Tempest, and pick up an Album of The Year nomination from tastemaker Gilles Peterson for 2019’s The Unmaster along the way.

To say he’s been on one hell of a journey is quite the understatement, propelled by his sheer passion for the form and his hunger to defiantly experiment and cross the boundaries of genre every step of the way.

At his show at Cobalt Studios on Friday 1st July he’ll have quite the act to follow, with local stalwart auteurs SQUARMS supporting. Having made a strong impression with a string of singular offerings, including the unforgettable stomp of What You Doin’ Here? and Could Do, the duo have steadfastly earned a name for themselves with their wholly ground-breaking approach to pushing the absolute boundaries of genre, sound and song, making for a brutal juggernaut on the live stage, and the ideal complement to Dizraeli’s singular sounds.

Dizraeli and SQUARMS play Cobalt Studios, Newcastle on Friday 1st July. www.dizraeli.com

STAGE

THE SECRET GARDEN @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Lizzie Lovejoy

Celebrated local writers Lisette Auton and Becci Sharrock return with yet another brilliant, Northern-based piece of work which has themes of kindness and nature at its core. Their newly adapted version of the classic tale of The Secret Garden is set within the more familiar local landscape of Northumberland. Commissioned by Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, the tale is on tour at venues across the region, starting at Hexham Book Festival on Sunday 12th June.

When the character of Lennox is sent away to Northumberland and excluded from school, she finds herself lost and alone. Maybe she can find herself amongst the mysteries of a secret garden that no one else knows? The production includes a range of brand new folk songs, bringing to life the magic of this story once again, with themes of friendship, spirit and personal growth shared in a warm, family-friendly performance which has much to teach us all about the magic of nature.

Young actors Michael Blair, Sarah Boulter, Ellen Carnazza, Wambui Hardcastle, Zoe Lambert, Shreya Patel and Lauren Waine will between them share the roles of the five main characters, with the driving force of the production aiming to be inclusive and remove access barriers which prevent disabled artists from engaging, making for a forward-thinking piece of theatre.

The Secret Garden is performed at Hexham Book Festival on Sunday 12th, Arts Centre Washington on Thursday 16th; Gosforth Civic Theatre on Saturday 18th; Fishburn Youth & Community Centre in Stockton on Sunday 19th; Gala Theatre in Durham on Saturday 25th; The Word in South Shields on Sunday 26th June; Coundon & Leeholme Community Centre on Friday 1st and Lady Waterford Hall in Berwick-upon-Tweed on Saturday 2nd July. www.carolewproductions.com/ thesecretgarden

Rag N Bone Man

MUSIC

RAG’N’BONE MAN @ NEWCASTLE RACECOURSE

Words: Cameron Wright

2017 is the year the Rag’n’Bone Man took the nation by storm. His thick, husky voice and rugged exterior set him apart from his contemporaries and he ushered in a new era of earnest, heartfelt pop ballads that felt mustered from his soul. With his lead single Humans remaining a hit after all these years, the platinum album by the same name was a smash success.

In 2021, we were finally treated to more from the Brit-award winning artist. Life By Misadventure was the singer’s follow-up, providing more piano ballads that showcase his raw, unpretentious songwriting and emotional vocals. Featuring a collaboration with pop icon P!nk, the album shows the artist finding his feet and refining his sound. Carrying the torch for a new age of blue-eyed soul, the contemporary artist creates pop music that’s both affecting and hard-hitting.

To support the singer’s huge voice, a huge venue is required, and Sunday 26th June sees the chart topper performing at Newcastle’s Racecourse, and the event offers the opportunity to see one of the country’s brightest stars in full flow.

Rag’n’Bone Man plays Newcastle Racecourse on Sunday 26th June. www.ragnboneman.com

MUSIC

YUNG LOTUS RELEASES NEW ALBUM, ELYSIAN

Words: Jason Jones

Sunderland hip-hop artist Yung Lotus returns with new album Elysian this month. Following on from a smattering of well-received singles in 2021, the rapper is gearing up to drop his first full length release, and his most substantial body of work since 2020’s Saint XIV – an EP that represented something of a rebirth following a testing period of mental health struggles and financial hardship.

Combining his trademark ethereal sound with a canny ear for stubbornly memorable hooks, Yung Lotus both consolidates and grows his musical palette on Elysian, all while championing a mantra of unrelenting positivity. Looking ahead to his upcoming release, the Wearside artist says: “While staying true to my roots and expanding my sound, Elysian is a positive, thriving piece of art that I hope resonates with people on an uplifting level. I’ve been working on this project for the best part of a year now and hope it delivers on experience.”

Creatively diverse, Yung Lotus’ tendency to pair otherworldly beats with psych-infused melodies and leftfield flows makes for an impressively unique take on an increasingly prevalent sub-genre of hip-hop, and Elysian looks set to take a bold new step in the rapper’s promising career.

Yung Lotus releases Elysian on 3rd June. www.linktr.ee/yunglotus

Yung Lotus

STAGE

A WAY HOME @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Eugenie Johnson

In 1951, a third of villages in County Durham were classified as ‘D’, meaning they were no longer considered to be worthy of further investment, and were expected to quietly fade away over time without any resistance; they were the only areas in the country to be labelled as such. Yet, over the next quarter-century their communities fought to save the villages that 85,000 people called home. It’s this story that Christina Castling brings to life in her new production A Way Home.

Castling spent four years researching and working alongside people across the county to ensure authenticity and that their stories and perspectives were a central part of the production. Centring on the journey of a single family residing in one of the ‘D’ villages across the span of a year, A Way Home brings wit, grit and a distinctly human touch to its wider narrative surrounding identity and belonging. By bringing the production to a host of locations across the region throughout June, including both theatres and community centres, Castling illuminates the story of the ‘D’ villages and the true stories of their people 60 years since the pivotal town planning decision.

A Way Home premieres at Gala Theatre, Durham on Tuesday 7th June, with performances taking place in village halls and community centres throughout the region, as well as at The Witham, Barnard Castle (Wednesday 8th), Arts Centre Washington (Thursday 9th) and Live Theatre, Newcastle (Thursday 23rd-Friday 24th). See the website for full listings. www.a-way-home.co.uk

COMEDY

JOSH BERRY & RAFE HUBRIS @ THE WITHAM/LIVE THEATRE

Words: Eugenie Johnson

On paper, does forty minutes of whingeing and mocking people who went to a marginally more prestigious private school than the act sound like fun? No? Well, that’s probably because it’s on paper and not being delivered by stand-up Josh Berry. A Radio 4 regular and an Edinburgh Fringe sensation, Berry is best known for his online impressions and parodies of the upper classes, which have gained hundreds of millions of views.

In his latest show, which comes to The Witham in Barnard Castle on Friday 24th and Newcastle’s Live Theatre on Saturday 25th June, he might do one or two of those impressions alongside his sharp stand-up, even though he likes to think he’s past that now. Joining him on the night is Rafe Hubris, who you’ve probably never heard of, but is really a rather important person. That’s because Hubris is a graduate in PPE from Oxford University (he might remind you of that quite a bit) and is also (by his own admission) “the most promising” special advisor to the Conservative party. He’ll be sharing anecdotes about his role during the pandemic and will also answer some submitted questions from the audience. He might also look a bit familiar too? Can’t quite put a finger on it…

Performances by Josh Berry and Rafe Hubris take place at The Witham, Barnard Castle on Friday 24th and Live Theatre, Newcastle on Saturday 25th June. www.joshberryofficial.com

MUSIC

FLAT WORMS @ THE CLUNY

Words: Adelle Sutheran

In an overdue, COVID-hit and long awaited return to the North East, Los Angeles three-piece Flat Worms will be executing their consistently superior sound on stage at The Cluny, Newcastle on Saturday 4th June.

Frenetic and kinetic, with whirling psych guitars which bend and screech alongside fast-paced drums and repetitive vocals, their live show promises to be dynamic indeed. With a further album release, 2020’s Antarctica, and latest single The Guest, under their belts since their last visit, there is definitely a plethora of options to be performed.

It’s fair to say their newer music has more direction and seems tamer than 2017’s Motorbike or the earlier release Petulance; which feels fanciful and instrumentally-led without being intoxicating. By far though, Red Hot Sand from their debut EP is the track for me – a euphoria-inducing trip out which takes me back to my youth!

All in all, expect a fuzzy, blissed-out garage rock freak out with flares of post-punk genius; you can guarantee this will be a hot, sweaty, sticky one and if it’s not, were you even really there?

Flat Worms play The Cluny, Newcastle on Saturday 4th June. www.flatworms.bandcamp.com

Flat Worms

MUSIC

SOFT RIOT @ STAR & SHADOW CINEMA

Words: Adelle Sutheran

Think Eurotrash, Sisters of Mercy, Soft Cell and of ALL the synthesisers. If this appeals to you then State Mandated Entertainment presents a line-up at Star & Shadow Cinema on Saturday 18th June that not only compliments one another but is an absolute must for fans of dark synth joy.

Serving as the Newcastle debut for the headlining solo artist, Soft Riot has accrued 25 years of musical experience and has established himself as an acclaimed artist, with a catalogue of seven albums to pull from for your auditory pleasure. Elements of synth-based film soundtracks and psychedelic synth pop is fused with a black humour that’ll tantalise and titillate.

Local support comes from Vigilance State, whose dystopian dissonance offers a different kind of darkwave-fuelled fun, while Holy Braille’s stark and dark soundtrack is as visceral as they come. And, while both supports compliment the headliner, they bring their own unique sounds to the table; this night should entertain anyone who’s synth head – got to be using MOOGs right?

Soft Riot, Vigilance State and Holy Braille play Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle on Saturday 18th June. www.softriot.bandcamp.com

ART & LIT

LUBNA CHOWDHARY: ERRATICS @ MIMA

Words: Steve Spithray

MIMA stages the largest solo exhibition yet of Lubna Chowdhary’s work this month. Chowdhary’s work demonstrates a skilled approach to modern artmaking, referencing multiple cultures and times. With Erratics, Chowdhary brings the ambition of her public artworks into a gallery setting.

Erratics constructs a dialogue between various visual languages and cultural references from Northern Europe and South Asia, with the name referring to large rocks that have been displaced from their original geological context through glacial flows. While the rocks retain their material integrity they are permanently settled in a new context.

The Tanzania-born artist moved to Rochdale aged five. Often working with materials found in urban environments, Chowdhary’s work builds on years of making architectural interventions in the public realm. The exhibition will occupy MIMA’s internal architecture and invites the viewer to think about the structures of the institution, both physical and conceptual. Lubna has said of the show: “My first visit to MIMA, witnessing the curious sight of the Transporter Bridge on the horizon, felt like an invitation to draw on the language and iconography of heavy industry and to respond to my loyalty to industrial landscapes.”

Erratics by Lubna Chowdhary runs from Saturday 25th June to Sunday 9th October at MIMA, Middlesbrough. www.lubnachowdhary.co.uk

MUSIC

QUEER FOLK: THE PRIDE TOUR @ SAGE GATESHEAD

Words: Laura Doyle

What do you think of when you hear ‘Pride Month?’ Pride marches? Pride events with Queer icons headlining? Social justices and injustices? Maybe every corporation donning rainbow colours in a half-hearted attempt at ‘inclusivity’? Pride means many things to many people, but there are some in the LGBTQIA+ community who don’t feel super represented by the current mainstream approach to celebrating their identities. The fact of the matter is that Pride celebrations should be as varied and complex as the community they represent, which is far more than you’re going to see on TV or in the news. It’s as a result of such chronic under-representation or acknowledgement in all aspects of life that such clear cut stereotypes surrounding the community have formed – and rectification is long overdue.

That’s where Queer Folk come in, whose Pride Tour hits Sage Gateshead on Saturday 25th June. This two person team of folk musicians, Sophie Crawford and George Sansome, have curated a night of entertainment featuring the music of some of the nation’s best LGBTQIA+ folk musicians who seek to unearth their often overlooked contribution to traditional music. They’ve traversed the country in the effort to right the wrongs of the genre’s mainstream, and demonstrate the diversity of a community that’s tired of pigeonholing. Local performers at the Sage Gateshead event include Hannah James, Amy Thatcher, Holly Clarke and Maddie Morris, as well as Sophie Crawford and George Sansome themselves.

Queer Folk: The Pride Tour is at Sage Gateshead on Saturday 25th June. www.queerfolk.co.uk

Queer Folk

MUSIC

THAT LONG MOONLESS CHASE/WILD CINEMA @ COBALT STUDIOS

Words: Michael O’Neill

As part of their regular FRESH series of events, Cobalt Studios present an evening of enthralling and immersive music and film on Thursday 9th June.

Experimental, surreal audio-visual performance That Long Moonless Chase is a collaboration between artists Noriko Okaku and Helen Papaioannou; a mash up of sinister folk horror and fantastical mythical imagery that draws upon two folkloric texts: Sheffield’s demonic Gabriel Hounds and Kyoto’s miraculous water-weeping ginkgo tree, using looping techniques to merge various online translations of the two texts together until they form a bizarre and spectacular new myth unto themselves, culminating in a mixed-media animation replete with baritone sax and electronics.

Local record label and online critical practice journal Felt Beak will add more unusual and surprising elements to the evening with their Wild Cinema project, which will involve experimental artists conjuring up improvised scores in response to a collage of films sent by open submission. The scores will be lead by duo Impossibility Knox, a collaboration between experimental artists Odie Ji Ghast and Gwilly Edmondez, with audience members being actively encouraged to co-score, with auxiliary microphones and Casio keyboards being present for those who wish to make their mark upon what will likely be an enthralling, boundary-pushing and mind-bending excursion into experimental delight.

That Long Moonless Chase and Wild Cinema perform at Cobalt Studios, Newcastle on Thursday 9th June. www.cobaltstudios.co.uk

That Long Moonless Chase

COMEDY

CRIMINALLY UNTRUE @ LAUREL’S

Words: Adelle Sutheran

Heads up Whitley Bay and anyone who loves to expect the unexpected! For the super sleuths, crime buffs and lovers of belly laughs, Laurel’s Theatre hosts the right-in-the-moment improv true crime documentary drama Criminally Untrue, which will be based entirely on the audience’s suggestions, on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th June.

Let me set the scene…The crime is yet to be committed, the circumstances have not been written, the characters have not been defined – the possibilities are endless. Co-create your own experience and collaborate with the cast in something that the Edinburgh Fringe Review described as: “Full of infectious energy… It’s ridiculous, and it’s ridiculously funny.”

Edinburgh Fringe’s longest running improvised comedy troupe The Improverts (who count Miles Jupp, Maria Bamford, Ewan MacIntosh and Kevin McKidd as their alumni) bring the production to the North East alongside sell-out cult cabaret The Wonder Jam, who are bursting to rustle up some silliness with completely off the cuff hilarity. Tickets are reasonably priced too – g’wan, get along!

Criminally Untrue is at Laurel’s, Whitley Bay on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th June. www.laurelswhitley.co.uk

MUSIC

CLUBBING @ COBALT STUDIOS

Words: Evie Nicholson

I’ve never had a bad night at Cobalt. The idea that you can achieve social impact through fun and creativity seems like a no-brainer, but Cobalt feels like one of the few spaces to really get it right. Its grassroots, not-for-profit approach to celebrating under-represented culture feels heartfelt and genuine. The space is open day and night to all, and with ticketed events often facilitating free, community events — the multi-purpose project is able to take on a meaningful social role in a world still plagued by austerity.

Paying an arm and a leg to dance in an anonymous, commercialised club on a Saturday night seems to have become standard procedure. Tired, jet-lagged DJs play to overcrowded audiences. The spaces often feel unsafe. I often wonder if there’s any point in going at all.

Since April, Cobalt has been radically challenging this culture. As part of their Summer Season, an emphasis on DIY, grassroots clubbing has witnessed an emphasis on localism, diversity and clubbing history, as evidenced by forthcoming events featuring party planner and founder of the infamous Queer sex rave Crossbreed, DJ Kiwi (Saturday 11th June); Cobalt’s ongoing L.A.D.S (Ladies and Decks) project sees two events promoting gender and musical diversity (Wednesday 22nd June). A film screening of The Kick, The Snare, The Hat & A Clap depicts the Ouseburn clubbing scene as captured by artist and filmmaker Susie Davies, followed by a night of old/new skool warehouse sounds (Saturday 25th June). The Summer closing party (Friday 8th July) sees eight-piece Hotsteppas present a night of full-on reggae, ska, dub and Afrobeat.

As the months get warmer and the urge to dance stronger, I don’t think I can imagine a more positive and progressive safe space to have fun.

www.cobaltstudios.co.uk

MUSIC

KRIS DREVER AND RACHEL BAIMAN @ GOSFORTH CIVIC THEATRE

Words: Maria Winter

On Friday 3rd June, Gosforth Civic Theatre will welcome the brilliant Kris Drever and Rachel Baiman as part of their joint UK and Scotland tour. Featuring both solo sets and unique collaborations, the pair will play the night away, drawing on their respective original material. Acclaimed guitarist, songwriter and contemporary folk musician Kris Drever has won numerous awards including seven BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards and two shortlist nominations for Scottish Album of The Year with his trio Lau. Drever has also collaborated with many well-respected musicians such as Cream’s Jack Bruce and Julie Fowlis among other.

Americana songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Rachel Baiman rose to fame with her 2017 debut Shame, and is now recognised as a courageous voice of the American female experience. By exploring a grittier musical medium within her new full length album Cycles, Baiman expresses her unique songwriting abilities with creativity and skill. This special concert will marry together the valuable sounds of various folk traditions whilst incorporating modern inflections, as the pair unpack their wide pool of musical influence. Featuring impressive vocal harmonies and instrumental techniques, these performances are sure to be appreciated by all.

Kris Drever and Rachel Baiman play Gosforth Civic Theatre on Friday 3rd June. www.krisdrever.com www.rachelbaiman.com

Kris Drever & Rachel Baiman

STAGE

ZINZI MINOTT: BLACK ON BLACK @ BALTIC

Words: Tom Astley

Zinzi Minott’s solo dance performance Black On Black offers a space in which narratives of Blackness and Queerness are explored, constructed, moulded and retold through the physical work of movement. Minott’s movements positions the body itself as an archive, where such movements are stored, to be accessed, shared, passed on and remade. The performance will take place on at BALTIC on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th June, and will also be supported by a video installation, running on Saturday 11th, Sunday 12th and from Wednesday 15th-Sunday 19th June.

The dance is comprised of gestures and movements donated by a network of Black dancers, creating a constellation of shared kinetic memories. Minott’s own body then constructs a narrative from these borrowed pieces, making a work that, in its own ephemerality, threatens to erode itself in exhaustion and repetition, but in so doing passes on narratives of Blackness and Queerness that are its central concern. In so doing, the work acts as another link in that vulnerable, radical chain stretching temporally and spatially. It also calls into question the ostensible permanence of other types of archive, other forms of passing on identity, recognising their inherent frailty, their inherent susceptibility to erasure and change.

Zinzi Minott: Black On Black is performed at BALTIC, Gateshead on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th June. www.zinziminott.com

Zinzi Minott

MUSIC

CRO-MAGS @ THE CLUNY

Words: Laura Doyle

To the unfortunate souls unfamiliar with the groundbreaking mash up of punk styling and hardcore sound of Cro-Mags, it might be time for a little bit of education in the New York underground scene. When Cro-Mags formed in 1981, few could have anticipated the twists and turns that would come from their career.

From tumultuous line-ups to an ever evolving sound, Cro-Mags have made their mark on the hardcore punk scene. Now, 40 years since the first iteration of Cro-Mags started making noise, the four-piece have taken to the road to pay homage to 1989’s Best Wishes, which they’ll bring to The Cluny on Monday 27th June.

Their sophomore record advanced Cro-Mags’ journey into the realm of metal; their experiments with this heavier thrash style garnered attention from all corners of the alt. music scene. With this stylistic change also came a further line-up change: the first album to feature current vocalist Harley Flanagan at the helm showcased his vocal technique better suited to the metal slant invoked. It’s clear why this is the record Cro-Mags have elected to celebrate 30 years on – this tour gives Flanagan the opportunity to blast it out for his cult following across the land.

Cro-Mags play The Cluny, Newcastle on Monday 27th June. www.realcromags.com

MUSIC

FLORAL DETECTIVES @ NE VOLUME MUSIC BAR

Words: Jake Anderson

The release of Darlington’s Floral Detectives 2022 album, The Chase, is the perfect reason to buy a leather jacker and just drive. Speeding onto streaming services from 1st June, it’s advertised as a mini album, and will feature seven alternative rock bangers.

To celebrate, the band will be going on their first UK tour, where they’ll make a stop at Stockton’s NE Volume Music Bar on Wednesday 15th June.

The album is chock full of aural blasters. Highlights include If She Returns, a track that mixes sombre and passionate vibes over climatic crashes and a gorgeous bass line, and Golden Smile, a head bobbing, electric guitar-led piece which makes you want to burn rubber in a cathartic, peace of mind kind of way.

Like many artists putting out new material right now, the album came to fruition during lockdown, and sees the four-piece channel their inner speed demons with a rollicking set of high energy rock ‘n’ roll and garage-infused punk.

Floral Detectives release The Chase on 1st June. They play NE Volume Music Bar, Stockton on Wednesday 15th June. www.facebook.com/floraldetectives

MUSIC

LAURA VEIRS @ GOSFORTH CIVIC THEATRE

Words: Laura Doyle

We’re often so keen to reach new pastures that we forget how daunting unfamiliar territory can appear. Indie folk artist Laura Veirs took quite the leap into the unknown prior to the production of her latest record, Found Light, following the split from her husband and long-time collaborator – dealing with a divorce and a pandemic is surely not a feat undertaken lightly.

With independence comes a duality of freedom and responsibility: all decisions are yours, all successes are yours, but so too are all failures. Yet Veirs has been able to overcome her challenges with her newfound autonomy to create an album that best represents the next chapter of her life. Found Light is an ode to solo women in charge of their own destinies, but it is also an ode to Veirs herself as she rebuilt her identities both as an individual and as an artist. Veirs reintroduces herself to her global audience at her (rescheduled from October 2021) appearance at Gosforth Civic Theatre on Tuesday 14th June, with support from indie singer-songwriter Joni, who traverses her personal cosmos of complex inspirations to entrance listeners and take them along for the ride.

Laura Veirs and Joni perform at Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle on Tuesday 14th June. www.lauraveirs.com

Laura Veirs by Shelby Brakken

STAGE

SNATCHED @ NORTHERN STAGE

Words: Lizzie Lovejoy

No one is happy with their body all the time, but it’s difficult to navigate a world where every voice tells you what you should and should not be, criticising all of the pieces you are made from. Snatched is an exploration of being a young disabled woman whose body is placed under the scrutiny of the public eye as her explicit photos are released online. This one-woman performance takes place at Northern Stage on Tuesday 21st-Wednesday 22nd June.

With a history of body dysmorphia, actor Melissa Johns dives deep into her personal experiences and lends a voice to the people who have been body shamed and desexualised for their disabilities. Humorous and heartbreaking all at once, this show is unapologetic in its celebration of female bodies, disabled bodies and breaking down the long held taboos surrounding sex and disability. Melissa Johns has been a long time activist for disabled rights, and the show she has written continues her incredible work, taking ownership of her own story.

With such heavy subject matter, Snatched is still able to be uplifting with a fast-paced and honest tone set to a live 90’s/00’s soundtrack.

Snatched is performed at Northern Stage, Newcastle on Tuesday 21st and Wednesday 22nd June. www.northernstage.co.uk

MUSIC

SHANNON PEARL RELEASES NEW SINGLE, MOUNTAINS

Words: Maria Winter

Local folk pop artist Shannon Pearl’s music takes a focus on ecology and climate change; having captured the attention with her recent single Halcyon, thanks to its powerful lyricism and instrumental vision, Pearl’s new release, Mountains, unveils more of the artist’s innate way with melody.

Continuing in the same nature inspired, folk pop vein, Mountains reflects Pearl’s admiration for all things wild, as she explains: “All of my music is inspired by wild environments. There’s just something about the mountains that I can’t get enough of.” Recorded in Cumbria in 2019, then mixed and produced remotely during lockdown, Pearl found a new, more personal meaning to the song. “When the pandemic happened and the restrictions were brought in, I was so anxious and thought I’d never see my wild places ever again (at least it felt like that at the time). So, the lyrics took on quite a literal meaning after that, and the song became a love letter of sorts, to where I spend a lot of my spare time – the mountains of the Lake District.”

Alongside Mountains, Pearl is developing a unique sound art project, Ghosts, which will be released in November. Based on an auditory response to visual stimuli, the work will feature looped audio, field recordings and percussive embellishments to forge meaningful links to historical events, resulting in a truly immersive experience.

Shannon Pearl releases Mountains on 14th June. www.linktr.ee/shannonpearl

Shannon Pearl

COMEDY

CATCH 22 COMEDY CLUB @ ARC

Words: Jake Anderson

Stockton’s Catch 22 Comedy Club night has featured some of the funniest people the UK has to offer. It’s a wonder why they haven’t reached out to me yet.

Happening on the last Friday of every month at ARC, June’s event on Friday 24th will see MC Mike Wilkinson wrangling performers and audiences with expert zeal. Being a poultry framer by day, dry-wit comedian at night, he’ll make you cluck up laughter (I’m not sorry) as he tells some of the most interesting stories you’ll ever hear. On top of that, he’s known to hand out free vegetables at the end of shows, so your tea will be sorted for the next day too. Aiming to tickle your funny bone will be Njambi McGrath, a Kenyan-born, UK-based comedian, who’s known for the Radio 4 show Njambi McGrath: Becoming Njambi, in which she brings a unique but compelling African perspective to her sets.

After her will be Mike Carter, who in just half a decade has established himself as a veteran of the North West scene, channelling his inner pessimistic Scouse, he puts everything on blast. Ending the night on a high note will be comedy legend Allyson June Smith, describing herself as an “over sharer”, Smith exudes confidence and hooks audience she performs to with her uniquely dynamite material.

Allyson June Smith, Mike Carter, Njambi McGrath and MC Mike Wilkinson perform at ARC, Stockton on Friday 24th June. www.arconline.co.uk

Allyson June Smith by Richard Wood