AUGUST PREVIEWS

Image: Cate Le Bon

MUSIC

CATE LE BON @ NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ UNION

Words: Cameron Wright

Producing albums for American indie rock band Deerhunter, Scottish newcomer Josh Grant and recently joining alternative legend John Cale for three nights in Paris, Cate Le Bon has blossomed on a myriad of stellar products and produced a plethora of pristine, enthralling and intriguing projects which sit beautifully alongside her own varied output. Having carved out a reputation as a quirky and eclectic woman of many visions with a distinct visual presence, the immediacy of her idiosyncrasies don’t halt there. Pompeii, her release earlier this year, contained a swirling and jarring sound; it had something intangible, as it collated a sweep of genres and turned them into something angular and pointed. With a divisive sound, these songs beg to be consumed live and in an intimate setting Cate Le Bon’s character and the nervous energy of Pompeii can manifest. The Welsh songstress will bring her magic and mystery to Newcastle University Students’ Union on Tuesday 16th August, where she’ll demonstrate her remarkable creative prowess. She’ll be joined by fellow Welsh musician Alice Low, whose sound has been described as a “glambuoyant and emotionally raw”. Cate Le Bon and Alice Low play Newcastle University Students’ Union on Tuesday 16th August. www.catelebon.com

MUSIC

B.O.P FESTIVAL @ GLENHOLME PARK

Words: Michael O’Neill

Although the name very much fits the kind of atmosphere that its sprawling, diverse line-up promises, the Jack Drum Arts-founded B.O.P Festival was created with a goal that goes far deeper than to simply get your feet shuffling; ‘B.O.P’ stands for Building Our Planet, and brilliantly encapsulates the festival’s goal of offering a positive but engaging message on the impacts of climate change, and the actions we can take to make a positive change in our everyday lives. The free entry event will take place in Crook’s Glenholme Park on Sunday 14th August, and boasts a strong line-up including headliners Dilutey Juice, whose upbeat and relentlessly entertaining brand of brass-driven, groove-heavy, anything-goes splendour has previous seen them supporting the likes of TOO MANY ZOOZ and Nubyian Twist. Joining them are the Afro-Latin percussion and brass duo Ladies of Midnight Blue, multi-disciplinary local supergroup Nel Unlit, Afro-Brazilian maracatu outfit Baque de Ogum, local singer/ songwriter Chloe Nattrass, the diverse eight-piece Brazilian/Columbian outfit Colibri Cobra, a high-energy performance from the Get Set Samba drum ensemble, four-piece rock band Violet Uproar, the funkadelic Cuttlefish Orchestra and many, many more, with additional activities including graffiti art workshops, a swap shop and speakers who will discuss a range of environmental topics. Even more impressively, the whole event has been organised by the youth board – a group of 13-19 year olds – at Jack Drum Arts, a tremendous local social enterprise who provide cultural opportunities for communities in County Durham. B.O.P Festival takes place at Glenholme Park, Crook on Sunday 14th August. www.jackdrum.co.uk

Dilutey Juice by Isaac Johnson

COMEDY

TOM TAYLOR @ HOPS & CHEESE

Words: Jason Jones

Quirky comedian Tom Taylor brings his distinctive brand of neurotic musicality to Hartlepool’s Hops & Cheese for Hilarity Bites’ New Material Night on Thursday 4th August. A multi-award winning talent who has performed on BBC Radio 2 and Radio 4 Extra, the Yorkshire comic mixes the daft with the deft to produce a delightful riot of witty and tuneful one-liners. Joining Taylor will be loquaciously nimble heavy hitter Chris Brooker – an improvisational force of nature whose proclivity for feeding off the energy of a crowd means that any two of his sets are rarely, if ever, the same. Described as the comedy world’s very own “ginger Viking”, Brooker has amassed considerable recognition on both sides of the Atlantic, and never fails to light a spark. Rounding out the bill is North East native Tony Jameson, who has previously enjoyed notable Edinburgh Fringe success with his breakout show Football Manager Ruined My Life. One of the region’s brightest comedic prospects, the well-travelled star is renowned for his tendency to meander and crash between whimsical ramblings and darkly poignant punchlines. Tom Taylor, Chris Brooker and Tony Jameson perform at Hops & Cheese, Hartlepool on Thursday 4th August. www.hilaritybites.co.uk

When Chai Met Toast

MUSIC

WHEN CHAI MET TOAST @ BOBIK’S

Words: Luke Waller

Harking all the way from Kochi in Southern India, folk pop band When Chai Met Toast are set to play Jesmond’s intimate Bobik’s venue on Monday 8th August. An all-round chilled-out and comforting sound flows through their music, accompanied by breezy vocals which are most often in English, but also feature Hindi, Tamil and Malayalam lyrics, as evidenced on 2020 Hindi single Kahaani. Bright and uplifting guitar interwoven with celestial banjo lines, at times even wind chime-reminiscent, has underpinned the group’s sound since Firefly, their convivial 2016 debut single. After a gig in London three days beforehand, the Newcastle show will be When Chai Met Toast’s first UK show since their first album’s release, the short-but-sweet When We Feel Young, launched in 2020. The title track and leading single of this album somewhat broke their mould, incorporating a Latin American charango and electric guitar – but singer Ashwin Gopakumar states constant self-development as an aim of the group. Whimsical from head to toe (even in their name, which is a reference to their worldwide influences and multicultural mix-matching), When Chai Met Toast are instantly likeable, and are bound to offer a splendid evening of tender sounds. When Chai Met Toast play Bobik’s, Newcastle on Monday 8th August. www.whenchaimettoast.com

FILM

OPENING THE CLOSET DOOR @ DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

Words: Laura Doyle

We may never heal the gap in LGBTQ+ social history that exists across the world, so deeply embedded is their mistreatment in our societies – but we can damn well try to rectify past wrongs. That’s exactly what the film project Opening The Closet Door, which is screening at Darlington Hippodrome on Thursday 11th August, seeks to do. In response to a variety of themes, histories and stories, people from the LGBTQ+ community have come together to create their own narratives relating to their own lived experiences. These contributions from artists hailing from a variety of disciplines will feature anything and everything from animation, puppetry, poetry, musical theatre – you name the creative medium, you’ll probably get the creative medium. This collage of film balances informative with educational, with representation as its main aim and priority. Following its screening, there will be further opportunity to learn and engage with a presentation by the creative minds behind Opening The Closet Door to continue to open up the dialogue. With a Pay What You Can ticket price, BSL interpretation, and a wholly safe space, all are welcome to partake in the unveiling of Darlington’s LGBTQ+ artistic documentary. Opening The Closet Door is screened at Darlington Hippodrome on Thursday 11th August. www.darlingtonhippodrome.co.uk

Buffalo Nichols by Dustin Cohen

BUFFALO NICHOLS @ THE CUMBERLAND ARMS

Words: Cameron Wright

There’s moments in any musical journey when you stumble onto an artist that exudes passion, love and an infatuation with their roots and their talents. Houston-born, Milwaukee-raised Buffalo Nichols is one of those artists; how else could you explain the ease at which his fingers fly across the frets of his guitar, tossing out earnestly sincere songs of love and pain? The fingerpicking blues man has been tasked with the difficult balancing act of bringing the blues back into the present day, and where others have failed, Nichols is growing from strength to strength. At its core, that husky voice is used for storytelling, while his guitar prowess provides a heart and momentum to each track. Join the journey of Buffalo Nichols, marvel at his fingerpicking and be haunted by his voice during his appearance at The Cumberland Arms in Newcastle on Friday 26th August. Nichols’ music, seasoned beyond his years, is a refreshing reminder of what the blues can be. Creating a sound that has travelled, seen, experienced and grown, his music encompasses and emanates the hardship and the hope which has always been the backbone of the blues. Buffalo Nichols plays The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle on Friday 26th August. www.buffalo-nichols.com

MUSIC

THE CUMBERLAND ARMS 20TH ANNIVERSARY

Words: Ali Welford

We love The Cumberland Arms here at NARC. One of the region’s finest pubs, venues and supporters of live music, this Newcastle institution’s 20th year under the stewardship of landlady Jo Hodson is absolutely worth celebrating – and with a full two-week programme of festivities, there’s no reason why you can’t join in! From Tuesday 2nd to Sunday 14th August, the Cumby hosts a veritable feast encompassing everything that’s made it such a beloved hub, with successive evenings of live music, resident DJs, food from local vendors, talks, dancing and – of course, great beer. We haven’t space to list everything they’ve lined-up, but with a mix of free and ticketed, indoor and outdoor events, a visit is sure (even more so than usual!) to be worth your while. As far as highlights go, there’s free performances from The Cornshed Sisters, Georgia May, Beccy Owen on Thursday 4th, Back Chat Brass on Friday 5th and The Baghdaddies on Thursday 11th. Regular promoter Prancey Dog curates an all-dayer on Saturday 13th with perennial favourites including Nev Clay, Thomas Truax and No Teeth, before proceedings draw to a close on Sunday 14th with ‘Full On Folk,’ featuring Amy Thatcher & Frank Knowles, Holly & The Reivers and Rachel Hamer, among others. Head to The Cumberland Arms’ website to view the full programme! www.thecumberlandarms.co.uk

The Twilight Sad

MUSIC

THE TWILIGHT SAD @ THE GEORGIAN THEATRE

Words: Jake Anderson

Born amongst the same indie rock/post-punk revival scene that launched the Arctic Monkeys into stardom, Glasgow’s The Twilight Sad peddle an altogether different tone which fuses Scottish miserabilism with a heady indie punk sound. The band’s first album, 2007’s Fourteen Autumns & Fifteen Winters, aimed to tear down the restrictions which resulted from the post-Britpop music scene, with anthemic tracks like Walking For Two Hours and the expressive vocals found on the title track. It’s an album that’s stood the test of time, even more so when you consider how the 2020’s rock sound has been transforming and developing. Their most recent release, 2019’s It Won’t Be Like This All The Time, brings those modern sounds to the fore and showcases in awe-inspiring and goosebump-inducing splendour a noisy, shoegaze-inspired soundscape which demonstrates why this band were always ahead of the curve. The band’s live show is just as thrilling as their recorded output, and their forthcoming show at Stockton’s Georgian Theatre on Thursday 25th August is one of their rescheduled shows before they spend the rest of the year on tour with The Cure. The Twilight Sad play The Georgian Theatre, Stockton on Thursday 25th August. www.thetwilightsad.com

MUSIC

THE SOAPGIRLS @ TRILLIANS

Words: Jake Anderson

Newcastle’s rock headquarters, Trillians, will be welcoming South African noisemakers The SoapGirls on Wednesday 3rd August as apart of their Don’t Give A Damn World Tour, which celebrates their new album In My Skin. Having made their voices stand out with their 2011 debut album, Xperience, aged just 15, they’ve since become known for their inimitable firework-strewn live shows and take-no-shit attitude, and they’ve only refined their style since. Made up of sisters Millie and Mie Debray (alongside a rolling cast of drummers), the band have been praised for their raw sound which is as gutsy and innovative as you’re likely to find. New track Heart In Bloom is a clear standout, with its mesmerising riffs, layered vocals and a deep expression of longing that gives the track a life of its own. Also joining the fray are exciting punk band LoGOz, who will bring positive vibes, aggressive lyrics and singable choruses to the line-up. It’s been some time since they released new music, but they’re regulars at Trillians and will no doubt have a firm fanbase. North Yorkshire’s Hot Rockets will be the other group joining this stacked evening, where their intense riffs and high energy rock sound will no doubt go down a storm. The SoapGirls, LoGOz and Hot Rockets play Trillians, Newcastle on Wednesday 3rd August. www.thesoapgirls.com

MYCELIUM - Image by Andrew Parr

ART & LIT

MYCELIUM @ HATTON GALLERY

Words: Joseph Spence

Newcastle University’s postgraduate Fine Art exhibition Mycelium is the summer show that brings together works from 28 artists from both MFA and PhD programmes. The exhibition, which is at Hatton Gallery from Saturday 20th August-Friday 2nd September, is a celebration of a group of graduating artists who have examined and responded to challenges, working independently and collectively. Professor Richard Talbot explains: “It is always fantastic to see such determination amongst all the students to achieve something special for their shows in August. Yes, it is about individual achievements and ambitions, but it is also about working together and supporting each other.” Visitors can expect to see a varied mix of work on display including painting, sculpture, performance and film among others from a broad range of disciplines. Artists of note include Hazel Soper, who has recently exhibited in How We Live Now at Newcastle Contemporary Art; George Robertshaw, an abstract artist who frequently investigates painting both physically and conceptually; Cody Sowerby, whose highly visual work delves into belief systems, mythology and ideology; political artist Eliot Lord; multidisciplinary artist Raphaella Davies- Brennan, who explores humour and comedy in her work; and mixed media artist Andrew Parr, alongside many others. Mycelium is on display at Hatton Gallery, Newcastle from Saturday 20th August-Friday 2nd September. www.hattongallery.org.uk

MUSIC

KEIRAN BOWE @ NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ UNION

Words: Maria Winter

Local indie artist Keiran Bowe has recently unveiled his hard-hitting ballad The One That Got Away. Following his hit indie anthem Left It All Behind, the Gateshead-based breakout indie artist continues to showcase his intimate approach to songwriting thanks to an emotionally charged signature sound. Describing the track, Keiran notes: “The One That Got Away is about someone that throws their life away for all the wrong reasons, leaving and forgetting everyone and everything in the process of doing so. It’s a song with a message of hope and salvation, hoping that one day that person can fix what they lost and a reminder that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side.” Hoping to build on the momentum of the release, Keiran will be embarking on a summer tour which drops into Newcastle University Students’ Union on Friday 19th August, where he’ll share headline duties alongside indie rock band The Redroom, who have themselves been the subject of serious praise thanks to their fun and infectious sound. Keiran Bowe and The Redroom play Newcastle University Students’ Union on Friday 19th August. www.facebook.com/keiranbowemusic

MUSIC

GOSFORTH BEER FESTIVAL @ GOSFORTH CIVIC THEATRE

Words: Michael O’Neill

Is there any truer sign of civilisation returning to some semblance of ‘normality’ than the long awaited return of the Gosforth Beer Festival? After three years, the beloved celebration of canny pints, cracking live music and phenomenal scran returns to Gosforth Civic Centre from Friday 5th to Sunday 7th August. Boasting 20 keg and cask beers, both local and national (as well as low-alcohol, wine and soft drink options) and food from Meat:Stack (Friday), Scream For Pizza and Acropolis (Saturday) and Chuchos and Parmo-rama (Sunday), it’s a veritable who’s-who of quality local bevmeisters and scran-wizards. Families are well entertained with the likes of Alison McGowan’s Ugly Bug Ball and the return of GCT’s retro gaming experiences. There’s plenty of live music on the cards too, with DJ sets from renowned selectors DJ Awkward Black Girl (Friday) and Helen Walkinshaw (Saturday) and live performances from five-piece outfit The King Bees (also Saturday), who pay homage to the vast R&B songbook of the 1940s through to the 60s. Meanwhile, Sunday plays host to their New Music Stage, boasting performances from singer-songwriter This Little Bird, folk/country/ soul artist Tommy (of Holy Moly and the Crackers) and rounded off by a performances from acclaimed neo-soul artists Kate Bond and Dayna Leadbitter. We can’t wait! Gosforth Beer Festival takes place at Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle from Friday 5th-Sunday 7th August. www.gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk

Nancy Kerr and James Fagan by Elly Lucas

MUSIC

SALTBURN FOLK FESTIVAL @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Mera Royle

Bringing its captivating energy and music to the sunny shores of Saltburn, the Saltburn Folk Festival is all set to charm once again in a four day showing of music, singing, storytelling and dancing from Thursday 11th-Sunday 14th August at venues across the town. This year sees its return live and in-person for the first time in three years, with a dazzling line-up of local talent, as well as fab folk acts from further afield which will please old and new fans alike. Among the stellar line-up are the mesmerising Nancy Kerr & James Fagan, who will bring their ecstatic, whimsical sounds as one of best-known and most experienced folk duos on the British circuit today; O’Hooley & Tidow, the musical pair who have brought folk to the mainstream with their incredible acclaim (and composition of the theme song for the hit BBC drama, Gentleman Jack); leading light of the UK folk and acoustic music scene Jez Lowe; the supreme musicianship of Granny’s Attic; ethereal and genre-shifting Middlesbrough artist Amelia Coburn; accordionist Heather Ferrier; acclaimed folk duo Janice Burns & Jon Doran and many more. Engaging and entertaining local people and visitors alike is central to this festival, at which entertainment is provided both free and via tickets, making it accessible to all and proving itself to be the perfect event for all fans of folk and the beautiful seaside! Saltburn Folk Festival takes place at various venues in Saltburn from Thursday 11th-Sunday 14th August. www.saltburnfolkfestival.com

MUSIC

SCRANNABIS @ INDEPENDENT

Words: Hope Lynes

Don’t let the tongue-in-cheek name fool you, Newcastle-based hip-hop artist Scrannabis (aka Jack Speight) is as serious as they come. With a sound which mixes soulful beats, melodic lyrics and a gorgeous Northern twinge to a soft rap vibe, you’d be wise not to underestimate this versatile artist, who performs at Independent in Sunderland on Saturday 6th August. Scrannabis is now performing alongside a full band, which is sure to elevate the magic of his soulful and rich backing tracks. More than just an artist, Scrannabis is also a talented creative who runs his own radio show and is a master collaborator; releases including the chilled and contemporary vibe of How Low have seen him team up with grime-inspired artist Too Common. Also performing at Independent will be Dayna Leadbitter, previously of R&B group Badmind. Armed with a soulful sound, Leadbitter has instilled herself as one of the top talents of the neo-soul genre thanks to a sound which crackles with Northern spirit. Debut single Time’s Up, which garnered considerable support on BBC Introducing, is a powerful track that makes her mark on the industry as a force to be reckoned with. Scrannabis and Dayna Leadbitter play Independent, Sunderland on Saturday 6th August. www.facebook.com/scrannabis

COMEDY

TOM HOUGHTON @ BISHOP AUCKLAND TOWN HALL

Words: Mera Royle

Tom Houghton is a comedian with a talent for making his awkward life moments into rib-tickling tales; his knack for winning over audiences through side-splitting stories has seen him amass millions of online followers on TikTok, where he has shared his peculiar life circumstances – from living in the Tower of London to being fired as a stripper in Australia during his gap year for a rather unfortunate all over body rash. He has also found fame as a comic through appearances on Channel 4’s First Dates Hotel, as well as at his sell-out debut Edinburgh Fringe show, which went on tour in early 2018. His stand-up shows are filled with eye-wateringly hilarious and stupendously daft stories and have amassed huge critical acclaim. Previously one-fifth of comedy troupe The Noise Next Door, Houghton is setting course for Bishop Auckland Town Hall on Friday 19th August in the latest stint of his comedy tour, where he’ll display his quick wit, charming persona and ludicrous comedy songs. Come along for a chance to witness this natural comic transform the seemingly unrelatable into relatable, eye-opening, laugh-out-loud tales. Also performing on the night will be rising comedian Clayton Jones and local impressionist Cal Halbert. Tom Houghton, Clayton Jones and Cal Halbert perform at Bishop Auckland Town Hall on Friday 19th August. www.honourabletom.com

Ben Hopkinson

MUSIC

BEN HOPKINSON @ BASE CAMP

Words: Jason Jones

Middlesbrough gig-goers are in for an unmissable treat on Friday 12th August, with Ben Hopkinson pitching up at Base Camp for a rare solo show. The multi-instrumentalist has carved out a reputation as something of a musical polymath through his work with seminal local bands By Toutatis and Kingsley Chapman & The Murder, but will strike out on his own for a performance that could prove to be atypical in more ways than one. A masterful pianist, gifted saxophonist and superlative guitarist who proffers more than a passing nod to the influences of Lindisfarne guru Alan Hull, Hopkinson is almost certain to perform a set that takes on various guises and strides between a whole spectrum of genres and touchstones. Support will come from soulful, ‘80s-inspired balladeer Lost State Of Dan, who pairs soaring vocals with tender melodies and an infectiously affable on-stage persona – as well as rivalling Hopkinson in the breadth of his musical palette. (Whisperings of a possible piano duel continue to mount…) Dirty Little Dumplings will also be hosting a kitchen takeover at Base Camp from 5pm, which sets you up nicely for the 7pm showtime. Ben Hopkinson and Lost State of Dan perform at Base Camp, Middlesbrough on Friday 12th August. www.basecampboro.co.uk

MUSIC

ROCKET BOY RELEASE NEW ALBUM, RESOLUTE

Words: Maria Winter

High octane Morpeth-based rockers Rocket Boy celebrate their debut album, Resolute, which lands on all formats on 30th August. Known for producing anthemic rock and mind blowing guitar riffs, Rocket Boy – made up of vocalist Chris Hill, guitarist Chris McDonald and producer Andy Bell – are kickstarting their repertoire with a pretty incredible debut album which isn’t short of high octane bangers. The group have an abundance of previous performance experience; Chris Hill first began his career playing for various successful bands including Splitz and Sister Ray (which also included The Smiths’ Johnny Marr), but a desire to focus his attention on songwriting during the pandemic led to a collaboration with sought after session guitarist Chris McDonald and producer Andy Bell, resulting in Resolute being recorded at Blast Studios. Air guitar enthusiasts will be captivated by every track on this album, from technical guitar solos and clever hooks to brilliant lyricism and melodic lines, it’s a real study in musicality. There are plans afoot to bring the sound to the live stage, with a fourth member being sought out to help show off those mighty riffs in their full glory. Rocket Boy release Resolute on 30th August. www.rocketboyband.com

Rocket Boy

MUSIC

CLASS OF 2022 @ MIDDLESBROUGH TOWN HALL

Words: Ali Welford

For those who can’t face waiting another two months for Twisterella, the team behind Middlesbrough’s annual award-winning new music fix have concocted an enticing appetiser… Coming to Middlesbrough Town Hall’s courtyard on Saturday 6th August, this first outdoor summer event brings together eight of the region’s brightest emerging artists (the titular ‘Class of 2022’) for a cracking all-ages all-dayer – and all for an inflation-busting £5 advance. Curated with the same something-foreveryone mantra as its older sibling, the bill sports no lack of diversity. Specifically, listeners can enjoy ice-cool soulful funk from Moon Wax; the soaring, euphoric electronic pop of Twist Helix; relatable indie folk songsmith Joe Ramsey and Mt. Misery’s luscious, chiming indie pop, with the earliest birds sampling the bold, multifaceted wares of singer-songwriter Jen Dixon. In addition, Class of 2022 offers a sneak-peek of the main festival with three acts also set to appear at Twisterella itself: dark and imaginative electro brat-pop band ZELA; the intimate, beautifully subdued songcraft of Jodie Nicholson; plus versatile socially-conscious hip-hop from Shakk. Don’t be put off by the weather either – if the forecast looks iffy, the event will simply move indoors to the Town Hall Crypt (although, as I write this preview in a 37°C heatwave hothouse, the thought of being rained on for eight hours is heavenly). Class of 2022 takes place at Middlesbrough Town Hall on Saturday 6th August. www.twisterella.co.uk

Baghdaddies by Brendan Clayton

MUSIC

MISH MASH FESTIVAL @ DARLINGTON MARKET SQUARE

Words: Michael O’Neill

With this year’s instalment of Mish Mash Festival, local music collective Tracks Darlington are on a mission to turn Darlington’s Market Square into the ‘Darlo Dancefloor of Dreams’, packing a broad who’s-who of local talent into a mere bank holiday weekend. Saturday 27th August is headlined by the Leeds-based Shades Collective, who offer a full live-band orchestral twist on some house, garage, jungle and D&B anthems. Preceding the collective is local hip-hop from Shakk, the acoustic R&B of Mathias Skye, local legend and fast-rising neo-soul artist Frankie Jobling, and the indie-indebted synth pop connoisseurs Club Paradise. Sunday 28th’s line-up is more indebted to the festival’s origins as a celebration of world music, with a headlining set from the unforgettably named Baghdaddies, who will arrive in Darlo armed with an exhilarating cocktail of Balkan melodies, ska, Latin grooves and sizzling brass. They’re joined by

local favourites Blind Panic Ceilidh Band, Geordie folksters The Belta Rievers, summer trad jazz from Sunnyside Jazz and bluegrass brilliance from The Often Herd. There will also be creative workshops, musical themed crafts from BIGLittleGigs, food and drinks galore and best of all – it’s all free! Mish Mash Festival takes place in Darlington’s Market Square on Saturday 27th and Sunday 28th August. www.tracksdarlington.co.uk

ART & LIT

FIELDJOURNAL @ ARTS CENTRE WASHINGTON

Words: Laura Doyle

Did you know that the human brain can’t make up a face, and so every face you see in your dreams is one you’ve seen somewhere before? It’s so odd to think a stranger you’ve passed in the street could have a starring role in your brainwaves. It’s also something to think about when considering Kim McDermottroe’s latest exhibition, FieldJournal, which comes to Arts Centre Washington from Thursday 28th July-Saturday 27th August. As an autistic artist with intense experiences of pareidolia, McDermottroe sees faces in seemingly random patterns and tries to make sense of the feelings of connection with inanimate objects that result through her artwork. FieldJournal started out as a six-page book of illustrations and a short film – but thanks to funding from Arts Council England, her side project has grown into 100 pages of original characters, all with an identity she has constructed for them. Experimenting in illustration, 3D sculpture and animation, FieldJournal gives form and connection to the characters she sees in her everyday life. In a society that ostracises neurodivergent individuals, an insight into how such a person sees and makes sense of the world around them demonstrates the importance of creative freedom and gives us an opportunity for a little more understanding and empathy. FieldJournal by Kim McDermottroe is at Arts Centre Washington from Thursday 28th July-Saturday 27th August. www.greenerlavelle.co.uk

Artwork by Kim McDermottroe

MUSIC

APOLLO GHOSTS @ BASE CAMP

Words: Jonathan Coll

Four-piece Canadian indie rockers Apollo Ghosts stop by Middlesbrough’s Base Camp as part of their UK tour on Thursday 25th August. They’ve recently released a 22-song epic of an album named Pink Tiger, which is an intimate home recorded acoustic-based cycle that grapples with loss, illness, death and memory. Having first formed in 2008, the band quickly became a key part of Vancouver’s bustling underground music scene, before taking a six year hiatus in 2013. Their celebrated comeback has seen them release their most ambitious project yet. The double album was written in the three years since their return, and is split into two distinct sides. The first half deals with grief and loss to a soundtrack of acoustic melody and piano, whereas the second act packs in energetic guitar rock and catchier melodies. This versatility bodes well for the band’s live shows, and their Middlesbrough date also sees Hartlepool’s slacker pop star James Leonard Hewitson return to Base Camp, this time flying solo with an energetic and thought provoking set. The stacked line-up also finds room for Teesside’s Sorry Escalator to round off the evening with dreamy rock, chiming guitars and pure pop melodies. Apollo Ghosts, James Leonard Hewitson and Sorry Escalator play Base Camp, Middlesbrough on Thursday 25th August. www.apolloghosts.bandcamp.com

Martha Wainwright by Gaëlle Leroyer

MUSIC

MARTHA WAINWRIGHT @ WYLAM BREWERY

Words: Cameron Wright

Martha Wainwright’s debut album opened with nothing more than a frail vocal lamenting over a lost romance. It was tender, it was raw and it was the birth of Wainwright’s musical takeover. The Canadian folk singer comes from a family filled with revered and acclaimed musical icons – including polymath brother Rufus Wainwright, father and songwriting icon Loudon Wainwright III and mother and acclaimed folk artist Kate McGarrigle – yet she has forged her own voice, as testament to her own talent. Over the years, Wainwright’s music has demonstrated a vulnerability and pain which is often cloaked in unassuming vignettes. Her recent release is two-fold – encompassing a memoir, Stories I Might Regret Telling You, and her latest album Love Will Be Reborn. The highly anticipated memoir documents a litany of brutally self-effacing and honest accounts of the tribulations, pressures and emotions she has experienced growing up in a vocal and talented household. Rammed full of candid tales, it was a striking contrast to the more guarded output of her musical career, and the accompanying album contains songs discussed in the publication, mirroring the honesty and heart which sets the memoir apart. Her forthcoming show at Wylam Brewery on Sunday 7th August will no doubt see performances of recent tracks and old favourites. Always a mesmerising performer, it’ll be a truly special show made more so by supporting artist Roseanne Reid – herself no stranger to a famous family, as her father is The Proclaimers’ Craig Reid – and whose folky roots style is as beguiling as Martha’s is heartbreaking. Martha Wainwright and Roseanne Reid play Wylam Brewery, Newcastle on Sunday 7th August. www.marthawainwright.com

David, woodcut print on Japanese paper, 90cm x 180cm 2021

ART & LIT

I AM SOMEBODY @ NEWCASTLE ARTS CENTRE

Words: Laura Doyle

Some people get too bogged down on statistics. We read “81% increase in food bank use” or “66,000 more people will be homeless by 2024”, but those numbers can never really account for the fact that behind every percentage, pie chart and news story, there are real people trying to live their lives in desperate times. Multimedia artist Mark Carr has worked for years with Newcastle’s People’s Kitchen, on the frontline providing services for society’s vulnerable. After spending time with Friends of the People’s Kitchen, he decided it was time to put out a reminder that every person who has the need to access these services is just that: a person. I Am Somebody highlights the humanity that is often erased in commentaries on poverty and homelessness with a multimedia exhibition featuring real-life people who have benefited from the hard work of the People’s Kitchen. From Friday 26th August-Saturday 10th September, Newcastle Arts Centre will house the 31 life-size woodcut print portraits and varnished canvas artworks of friends who wished to be involved, as well as screening Carr’s 18 minute video which serves as a poetic tribute to all those Friends who deserve much more than to be a statistic. I Am Somebody is at Newcastle Arts Centre from Friday 26th August-Saturday 10th September. www.markcarrart.com

MUSIC

NEVERSLEEP ALL DAYER @ ANARCHY BREW CO

Words: Jason Jones

Promoters Neversleep take over Benfield Road’s Anarchy Brew Co for a full day of lovely heaviness in aid of a good cause on Saturday 13th August. Bringing together a veritable onslaught of the region’s best hardcore and alternative bands, as well as a smattering of blisteringly hot acts from across the rest of the country, the charity event will be looking to raise money to support victims of domestic abuse through the ever-wonderful Newcastle Women’s Aid. Representing the North East are the likes of Wise Up, Unified Action, Reprobate, The Heffleys, Soap, Raising Romulus, Muckle, LULL and Mally, with further deliciousness provided by London’s Negative Frame and Churchgoers, Leeds’ Option B and FIELDING and Birmingham’s Ordeal. Kicking off at noon with a run of local talent, the evening’s chaos is set to commence at 6pm, with a relentless line-up of tasty bands and the promise of an NEHC Karaoke session to cap things off. Tickets are available for a minimum donation of £5, and the event will be open to all ages. Expect a busy day of glorious noise and canny bedlam, all in the name of a brilliantly selfless and deserving local initiative. Neversleep All Dayer takes place at Anarchy Brew Co, Newcastle on Saturday 13th August. www.facebook.com/neversleepncl

Lightning Bolt by Scott Alario

MUSIC

LIGHTNING BOLT @ THE CLUNY

Words: Jonathan Coll

US rock duo Lightning Bolt touch down at Newcastle’s Cluny on Saturday 13th August as part of a summer tour that has already seen them perform at Primavera Sound Festival, among several of Europe’s most revered stages and festivals. Having formed back in 1994, their latest album Sonic Citadel is the seventh in an illustrious career which has seen them carve out a reputation for inventive, primal instrumentals which defy any genre tag given to them. Their most recent album is also one of their most accomplished, with Pitchfork describing it as “the most life-affirming music they’ve ever made.” It’s a sound which has translated well into live performance too, gaining the band even more accolades. Drummer Brian Chippendale’s balaclava has become iconic, and bassist Brian Gibson has a similarly eccentric and thrilling stage presence. All of this adds up to a rare treat for Newcastle fans. Lightning Bolt play The Cluny, Newcastle on Saturday 13th August. www.lightningbolt.bandcamp.com

ART & LIT

DAUGHTERS OF THE SOIL @ VANE GALLERY

Words: Michael O’Neill

The culmination of 12 months’ work researching gender and agriculture in Northumberland and the Scottish Borders, Daughters of the Soil is an insightful and powerful portrait exhibition from critically acclaimed documentary photographer Joanne Coates. The work, which will be exhibited at Gateshead’s Vane Gallery (every Wednesday to Saturday between Thursday 11th August- Saturday 3rd September) shines a spotlight on the significant, but often overlooked, role that women have to play in the agricultural industries that we so often rely on. Joanne has worked as a farm labourer and lives in a rural area with her farming partner, which affords her a unique insight and perspective. To create the exhibition, she collaborated with Professor Sally Shortall (the Duke of Northumberland Chair of Rural Economy and an expert on gender and agriculture) as well as over 40 women from the farming industry within the regions, finding herself inspired by the increasing visibility of women within the farming industry, who currently make up a mere 15% of the UK’s farming workforce. Although this visibility is welcomed, Coates’ work still highlights the vast need for change in an industry that is still so male-dominated and often presents women with underlying barriers such as access to land, class, motherhood, and lack of clear leadership roles. Joanne comments. “Women aren’t as visible as men on farms, but we are seeing them more often. The female workforce is driving tractors, having a social media presence, and can be seen on the TV, but they don’t often inherit land or work in leadership positions.” Daughters of the Soil by Joanne Coates is at Vane Gallery, Gateshead from Thursday 11th August-Saturday 3rd September. www.joannecoates.co.uk

Poppy, vet and farmer’s daughter, taking a break from driving the combine during harvest, 2021, photograph

FILM

WOMEN X FILM FESTIVAL @ DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

Words: Lizzie Lovejoy

This September marks the return of WomenX, the North East short film festival celebrating the creative work of women and non-binary people in the world of moving image. These directors, writers and producers will share their work in a programme of diverse and original pieces, considering both fiction and reality. Organisers have strived to make the festival as accessible as possible, with attendees able to take part both in person at Darlington Hippodrome and online via Leeds Film Player. Covering comedy, off-beat romance, animation, horror and other experimental genres, this festival of over 40 short films will showcase the wide range of storytelling techniques used by the brilliant women and non-binary film makers. Particular focus is dedicated to films created by women in the North East too, with a whole screening curated by award winning Darlington filmmaker (and the festival’s director) Caris Rianne. WomenX not only gives audiences the chance to watch exciting films, it will also include two industry talks and workshops intended to aid people in developing their creative career pathways, and there’s the opportunity to be part of an interactive networking session, awards ceremony, and film quizzes too. WomenX Film Festival takes place online and at Darlington Hippodrome from Friday 2nd-Sunday 4th September. www.riannepictures.com

MUSIC

NOYOU @ INDEPENDENT

Words: Jake Anderson

Known for their electric energy and their stimulating guitar riffs, North East rockers noyou will be blasting their sound across Sunderland’s Independent on Friday 19th August. The show is set to be their biggest yet, building upon their recent successful opening for Plastic Glass’s farewell show at the venue last month, and this time they’re taking the headline slot. The band have released a couple of singles already this year, including the danceable Driving You Crazy and the synth heavy Coping Over Again. With these releases they’ve successfully cemented themselves as one of the region’s rising bands, and their performances are perfect for fans of the electronic-influenced pop rock that permutated the 2010’s Joining the bill will be one of the cornerstones of the Sunderland scene, Picnic. It’s been a good while since the punky pop act have released new material, but their shows are always a blast and they’ll be filling the room with their signature bouncy sound and joyful sax solos. If two bands weren’t enough, Violectric are also on the roster for the night. The five-piece are fairly new to the scene, having only released their debut single in June, which features a dark twist on indie rock riffs. noyou, Picnic and Violectric play Independent, Sunderland on Friday 19th August. www.facebook.com/noyoumsc

Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler

MUSIC

JESSIE BUCKLEY & BERNARD BUTLER @ PLAYHOUSE WHITLEY BAY

Words: Laura Doyle

An award-winning West End actress and one of the greatest guitarists of a generation walk into a bar… It sounds like the start of one hell of a joke, but really it is the origin story of one of the most exciting collaborations to hit our eardrums this year, and one North East audiences can witness in person at Playhouse Whitley Bay on Thursday 25th August. It feels like Bernard Butler has worked with every artist under the sun since his departure from rock band Suede in 1994. So for this latest work to be garnering such attention speaks volumes. Creative partner Jessie Buckley has come a long way since her break-out appearance on BBC’s I’d Do Anything (back in the day when every musical needed a TV competition to find its lead role) but she’s more than proved her worth on screen and stage since then. Teaming up with the former Suede guitarist sounds a bit left-field, yet their collaborative album For All Our Days That Tear The Heart has ended up making more sense than we could have expected. This acoustic folk rock record showcases the best of Buckley’s intensely emotive vocals and Butler’s technical musical skill. Lead single The Eagle And The Dove is an epic orchestral adventure. This project has wings, and it’d be foolish to miss its fantastical flight. Jessie Buckley and Bernard Butler perform at Playhouse Whitley Bay on Thursday 25th August. www.buckleyandbutler.com

EVENTS

STOCKTON INTERNATIONAL RIVERSIDE FESTIVAL

Words: Claire Dupree

SIRF, Stockton’s free celebration of outdoor art and street theatre returns to the Teesside town from Thursday 4th-Sunday 7th August. The family favourite has much to enjoy for all ages, with a host of unusual and interesting diversions. Installations and events are myriad, with many looking to provoke discourse around global issues as well as entertain. The Rivers of the World installation saw pupils from local schools work alongside artists Rachel Laycock and Emma Wheetman from BloomInArts to interpret the River Tees and explore global and local issues alongside a partner school in Lebanon; in Harmonic Fields, Pierre Sauvageot presents a ‘wind symphony’ of 500 instruments, from harmonic cellos and vibrating drums to bamboo whistles and gyratory music boxes, which reveals unexpected musical compositions using the power of the wind; storytellers Daniel Bye and Aidan Moesby’s installation C’Mon In, The Water’s Lovely is set in an Antarctic research station and investigates the contradictions often at the heart of environmentalism; Safekeeping is an immersive audio experience featuring original music by composer and multi-instrumentalist Holly Khan; 0AR includes a collection of short dance works in augmented reality; local company Whippet Up tell tales inspired by local folklore in For The People, By The People; interactive spectacle FLOOD uses circus, music and acrobatics to understand the challenges faced by our coastlines; Joli Vyann’s unique dance, circus and theatre piece, Timeless, takes place on a seven-metre high rotating hourglass, exploring the fragility of time and nature; while the poetic Mayfly is a spectacular fusion of water, dance and song which expresses the transformative strength of women. In addition, there’s family activities at the Tees Barrage to mark the Canal & River Trust’s 10th anniversary; colourful displays of aerialists and acrobatics; and travelling Indian street market The Grand Indian Bazaar will present a vibrant and colourful extravaganza of intrigue, feats of daring, music and surprise. SIRF takes place in Stockton from Thursday 4th-Sunday 7th August. www.sirf.co.uk

MUSIC

COLA @ POP RECS LTD.

Words: Jonathan Coll

Montreal-born Cola first started collaborating in 2019 when two former members of post-punk rockers Ought reached out to an old friend. The band’s current line-up comprises of Tim Darcy, Ben Stidworthy and latest addition Evan Cartwright, and their latest project looks to recapture much of what made Ought so essential, without becoming a tribute act. As the band put it themselves, Cola sees the trio “look to see how far we can stretch our compositions with just one guitar, one bass, drums and one voice.” The result so far has been a collection of skeletal songs speaking of modern anxiety and isolation. The band’s name is an acronym for ‘Cost of Living Adjustment’, which is both a dry source of inspiration for a rock band and incredibly prescient for the times we’re living in. Ought’s 2014 debut album More Than Any Other Day was a masterclass in tetchy, talkative art punk and Cola’s debut carries on a similar vein. Darcy’s lyrics speak to human connection and introspection just as they always have, but the music has evolved into more minimalist soft rock and moody piano. The latest iteration of this project arrives at Sunderland’s community hub Pop Recs Ltd., on August Bank Holiday Sunday. Cola play Pop Recs Ltd., Sunderland on Sunday 28th August. www.bandcola.bandcamp.com

Cola

MUSIC

JOHN FRANCIS FLYNN @ POP RECS LTD.

Words: Mera Royle

An Irish musician of profound talents and deeply expressive music, the spellbinding John Francis Flynn has begun to make a bellowing impact across worldwide folk scenes. Following the release of his 2021 album, I Would Not Live Always, which topped The Guardian’s Folk Albums of the Year list, Flynn has been travelling the world with his astounding and highly acclaimed folk virtuosity. You may know him as a member of the Dublin band Skipper’s Alley, who have carried their gritty, ancient, yet rebelliously contemporary sounds across Europe and America, disseminating interest internationally for the ecstatic energy of Dublin folk. The next stop for Flynn’s solo tour is his gig at Sunderland venue Pop Recs Ltd. on Tuesday 9th August. Supporting him is Glaswegian multi-instrumentalist Iona Zajac, as well as the renowned folk musician Sarah Hayes, three times BBC Radio 2 Young Folk Award finalist, and Scots Trad composer of the year nominee. This is a night filled with promises of masterful artistic reverie from some of the biggest names on the modern folk scene. Don’t miss it. John Francis Flynn, Iona Zajac and Sarah Hayes play Pop Recs Ltd., Sunderland on Tuesday 9th August. www.facebook.com/johnfrancisflynnmusic

MUSIC

DEERHOOF @ THE CLUNY

Words: Jason Jones

Veteran American indie rockers Deerhoof bring their irresistible experimentalism to The Cluny on Monday 29th August, for a show that promises to be infectiously joyous and mind-bendingly intricate in equal measure. Over the course of 18 – count them, that’s 18 – albums, the San Francisco natives have garnered a reputation for their raw eclecticism and daring brand of narrative storytelling, and have showed few signs of easing up on either front in recent years. Critically acclaimed 2020 effort Future Teenage Cave Artist, a fairytale-inspired rumination on postapocalyptic unravellings, proved to be achingly prescient in a world that continues to teeter on the brink of the void, while last October’s release Actually, You Can was a genre-spanning journey through kaleidoscopic radicalism. Speaking about the album at the time, the band said: “Think of all the beauty, positivity and love that gets deemed ugly, negative and hateful by the self-proclaimed guardians of ‘common sense.’ We’d hardly be destroying society by dismantling their colonial economics and prisons and gender roles and aesthetics. We’d be creating it!” It’s in that space, nestled between celebration and revolution, that Deerhoof continue to thrive. Deerhoof play The Cluny, Newcastle on Monday 29th August. www.deerhoof.website

Deerhoof

MUSIC

BETWEEN WOODS & STREAMS FESTIVAL @ WEST BENRIDGE FARM

Words: Claire Dupree

Trust me when I tell you that Between Woods & Streams will be the most exciting thing to happen in Morpeth since the floral clock was repaired in 2018. I’m being (slightly) flippant, sure, but as a resident of the Northumberland town myself I can tell you with authority that not much goes on around these parts for those with an interest in alternative culture. Which is just one reason the forthcoming Between Woods & Streams festival, which takes place on a farm just outside the town on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th August, is a fine thing indeed. The other reason is that the line-up is pretty darn great, and when you add a bucolic location, camping, plenty of North East food and drink, not to mention pigeon release and whippet racing (yes, you read that right), you’d be foolhardy not to give it a second glance. The line-up is made up of some of the region’s most exciting up and coming artists as well as a couple of well thought of staples. Chief among them are everybody’s favourite spiky Mackem pop stars The Futureheads, Durham’s pit pop band Dennis, Northumberland’s own joycore misfits Kkett, emotive songwriter The Lake Poets, slacker popster James Leonard Hewitson, pop songwriter and producer Cortney Dixon, poetic lyricist and multi-instrumentalist St James Infirmary and North Shields’ revered songwriter Hector Gannet, alongside other names including Bugman, China Shop Bull, Gogo Midgets, Sanction This, The Shooting Of, Chango Munks, Jenny Lascelles, Holly Rees, Cosial, Eve Simpson, Maxine and Chloe Castro. Presented by Guerilla Promotions in partnership with Generator (who will be hosting a workshop on the Saturday), it’ll literally be the most fun I’ve had within a mile of my house since that clock got a new battery. Make the trip, you won’t be disappointed! Between Woods & Streams Festival takes place at West Benridge Farm, Morpeth on Friday 12th and Saturday 13th August. www.bit.ly/bwasfestival

MUSIC

SIRF FRINGE @ THE GEORGIAN THEATRE

Words: Ali Welford

After a two-year hiatus, this month finally sees the return of Stockton International Riverside Festival – a long-awaited 35th edition promising four fabulous days of street theatre, music, dance and outdoor arts. Along with opening its doors for the full weekend, venue and community hub The Georgian Theatre is set to supplement the action with its own SIRF Fringe event – a live music all-dayer on Saturday 6th August, presenting 10 terrific local acts over a pair of stages, plus a Sunday social the following day complete with pizza, drinks, board games, crafts and a maker’s market. On the Saturday, the venue’s main stage looks especially stacked. Here, punters can sample the theatrical delights of reformed blues rockers The Purnells; funky psych pop groovemeisters Ronald Raygun; plus Rudi Betamax’s ‘glam-stomp’ rock ‘n’ roll thrust. They’re preceded by intense industrial electro duo Analogue Blood; retro indie revivalists SHORE; fuzzy, spaced-out rock from Mr, Bigfoot and the frank, angsty vignettes of singersongwriter Charlotte Grayson. The more informal bar stage, meanwhile, offers gems of its own in the form of bedroom DIY artist and multi-instrumentalist Tobias And The Lion; emerging acoustic songwriter Lucy Pottinger and Broken Broadcast frontman J.P. Riggall’s solo ‘anxiety blues;’ with Sound It Out Records’ DJ Tom Butchart ensuring the music doesn’t cease during the intervals. And best of all? As with SIRF itself, this excellent day’s entertainment won’t set you back a penny. SIRF Fringe takes place at The Georgian Theatre, Stockton on Saturday 6th and Sunday 7th August. www.georgiantheatre.co.uk

Cocaine Piss by Thierry Tönnes

MUSIC

COCAINE PISS @ THE CLUNY 2

Words: Jonathan Coll

Belgian punk band Cocaine Piss take to the intimate confines of The Cluny 2 as part of their UK summer tour on Wednesday 31st August. As the name of the band would suggest, they’re slightly unconventional and offer the sort of intense social commentary you’d expect from one of punk’s most exciting acts. Cocaine Piss are comprised of four friends who grew up in a remote town in southern Belgium, and their formation was initially supposed to be for a one show project. However the band continued to grow and now have three albums under their belt with the most recent, 2019’s Passionate And Tragic, earning praise for being an unhinged and vital slab of sound. Many of the tracks from that album take on a life of their own when performed live, with the likes of Pretty Pissed, Every Night I’m Waiting and Poor Decisions displaying raucous bouts of pure energy that beg to be played in a live setting. Iconic track Eat The Rich also comes from that same album, and carries the sort of anti-establishment fury which is so vital and so lacking modern music. This is not one to be missed. Cocaine Piss play The Cluny 2, Newcastle on Wednesday 31st August. www.cocainepiss.com