SEPTEMBER PREVIEWS

MUSIC

LAURA JURD @ SAGE GATESHEAD

Words: Ben Lowes-Smith

As part of Sage Gateshead’s Innovative New Music programme, Laura Jurd brings her album tour to Hall Two on Wednesday 28th September. Jurd’s music is a beautiful amalgamation of alt. rock, folk and blues. As a composer she has collaborated with the London Sinfonietta, the Festival of New Trumpet Music, the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and the Ligeti Quartet to name a few. She regularly performs throughout the UK, Europe and beyond with her Mercury-nominated band Dinosaur, having played the likes of North Sea, Montréal and Molde International Jazz festivals among others. She can also be heard playing alongside London jazz band Kansas Smitty’s and leading a number of exciting projects in UK jazz and improvised music. Recent collaborators include drummer Seb Rochford, pianist Huw Warren and accordionist/sound artist Martin Green. With patronage from BBC Radio 3’s new generation of artists, Jurd’s profile as one of the UK’s finest composers is exponentially growing and Sage Gateshead’s Hall Two provides the perfect surrounds for what promises to be an energetic, memorable performance. Laura Jurd plays Sage Gateshead on Wednesday 28th September. www.laurajurd.com

STAGE

REASONS YOU SHOULD(N’T) LOVE ME @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Lizzie Lovejoy

Writer and performer Amy Trigg is bringing their debut show, Reasons You Should(n’t) Love Me, to Live Theatre in Newcastle from Wednesday 7th-Saturday 10th September ahead of its national tour, which also calls in to Arts Centre Washington on Monday 10th October and Middlesbrough Town Hall on Wednesday 19th October. Love is already a complicated thing, and the character of Juno is feeling the weight of all of it. Amy Trigg uses a wheelchair and seems like they could be writing from experience when discussing the impact of other people’s comments about Juno’s sex life. Disability has been a long time challenge for the performance industry to understand, and Trigg is breaking down the barriers by focusing exclusively on a character with spina bifida, as well as the usual struggles of a woman in her 20’s. Reasons You Should(n’t) Love Me is an exploration of love and loneliness, as well as how we look at ourselves. Juno views herself as an unfinished project, and we all have work to do developing who we are, but navigating that feeling while dating is hard work! Funny, challenging and heart-warming, this show is a must see for anyone who is trying to work themselves out in a world that isn’t as straightforward as we’d like. Reasons You Should(n’t) Love Me is at Live Theatre, Newcastle from Wednesday 7th-Saturday 10th September, Arts Centre Washington on Monday 10th October and Middlesbrough Town Hall on Wednesday 19th October. www.amytrigg.com

Image by Marc Brenner

ART & LIT

WRITE FESTIVAL @ THE WORD

Words: Matt Young

The excitement around the ‘in person’ return of one of the North East’s hugely popular writing festivals is palpable. The sixth instalment of The Word’s Write Festival follows two years spent cloistered online, and now guests and attendees alike are eager to experience the workshops and events in person again throughout September. No matter whether you’re an established writer or an aspiring one, there’s a month-long programme tailored to everyone seeking tips, feedback and advice from a wealth of experienced industry insiders and some of the region’s bestselling authors like LJ Ross, Kate Fox, Stuart MacBride, M.W. Craven and Vera creator Ann Cleeves all featured this year. Working in tandem with New Writing North there’s a Summer Film School for those aged 12-19. There are also live performances by numerous theatre groups planned throughout the month both for children and adults. The most anticipated festival highlights are often the In Conversation With… presentations with new and well known authors as well as the talks and workshops under the Ready To Get Published banner, where those in the industry offer practical advice on everything from how to attract an agent and how to self-publish and promote your work, all geared towards demystifying the process of writing and publication. There is also a New Writers Showcase and a Writers Retreat, aimed at hearing from the writing community, sharing experiences, providing feedback on your writing and Q&A sessions discussing new writing across a variety of genres. The main venue for full programme is South Shields’ The Word but also encompasses other library buildings. Pre-booking is essential in a lot of cases – check online for the full programme. Write Festival takes place at The Word, South Shields from Wednesday 31st August-Tuesday 30th September. www.theworduk.org

Rose City Band, aka Ripley Johnson by the artist

MUSIC

ROSE CITY BAND @ THE CLUNY

Words: Matt Young

Ripley Johnson, guitarist and songwriter (Wooden Shjips/Moon Duo) serves up bucolic country psych with Rose City Band when they come to play The Cluny on Tuesday 6th September. We can expect pedal steel tinged and wistful meditations, played out in a classic, but highly personal, reflection on West Coast Americana. Johnson’s an assured storyteller and a songwriter who traps heart tugging moments and emotions in amber like golden treasure. On his most recent album Earth Trip, written and recorded mid-pandemic, he plaintively covered everything from summers with friends, the vastness of space, curiosity in nature’s cycles and life ‘off the road’. Sounds ‘far out’ right? But it’s deeply immersed in the human experience, in his understanding and questioning; full of wonder and hope lyrically, it shines through with brightly chimed riffs and melodies. The fuzzy feeling of warm sun on the skin, the peace affords you that time to pause. Now very much back in the touring saddle again, Johnson ventures out like a troubadour comet orbiting the globe to share a set filled with gentle trippy odes to his Pacific North West home, nature, beauty, love and fascination with earth’s shifting rhythms. Rose City Band play The Cluny, Newcastle on Tuesday 6th September. www.rosecityband.bandcamp.com

COMEDY

SOFIE HAGEN @ ARC/ NORTHERN STAGE

Words: Laura Doyle

When was the last time you heard a fat joke? Speaking as your local friendly fat culture journo who has been at the receiving end of such “humour,” the worst is probably, “You don’t sweat much for a fat lass.” First of all, it’s rude. Secondly, can we stick to one form of body policing at a time please? Sofie Hagen doesn’t tell fat jokes, even if the title of her stand-up show (which drops in to Stockton’s ARC on Friday 16th September and later at Northern Stage on Tuesday 11th October) would imply otherwise: she tells jokes, and she is fat. And when she’s not telling jokes, Hagen is taking her quest to reclaim the F word seriously. How wild is it to open up a ticket page for a comedy show and be greeted with “fat accessibility information” that gives her fellow fat folks seat dimensions? Now, we can know exactly how uncomfortable we’ll be for the duration of a show, or if we can avoid the dreaded armrest digging into fleshy thighs for 90 minutes. Contrary to popular belief, fat people are just people who enjoy many of the same things as non-fat people, and we’d really appreciate a night out at a comedy show without being the butt of any jokes – even if our posteriors look like they can take it. Sofie Hagen performs at ARC, Stockton on Friday 16th September and Northern Stage, Newcastle on Tuesday 11th October. www.sofiehagen.com

Sofie Hagen

MUSIC

LOS BITCHOS @ STAR AND SHADOW CINEMA

Words: Ali Welford

There ain’t no party like a Los Bitchos party… With members spanning three continents and a sound which fuses surf guitar with Peruvian chicha, Argentine cumbia, Turkish psych and plenty more besides, this exuberant quartet have already supplied one of the 2022’s jauntiest records in their tequila-swigging debut Let The Festivities Begin! Imbued with vintage western vibes, devilish charm and a barrel load of sass, it’s a collection crammed with playful and heady instrumental zingers. Listen carefully to the likes of Las Panteras, The Link is About to Die or Pista (Fresh Start), and you may even detect echoes of the ice-cool strut of prime Franz Ferdinand – an impression which only intensifies upon seeing Alex Kapranos’ name among the production credits. While summer winds down, Los Bitchos’ antics are only set to amp-up further – and this time in-person, with a euphoric UK tour in the offing and dancefloors up and down the country waiting to be straddled. Among them is Newcastle’s Star & Shadow Cinema, where they rock up on Wednesday 21st September with Manchester-based dream pop experimentalists KYŌGEN adding support. If you’re seeking a splash of much-needed midweek colour, look no further…if all parties were this fun, the mere mention of the word wouldn’t fill some of us with creeping existential dread! Los Bitchos and KYŌGEN play Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle on Wednesday 21st September. www.losbitchos.com

Los Bitchos

COMEDY

RICH HALL @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Cameron Wright

As one of the stand out stand-up exports from America, the Montana-born comic Rich Hall has been a definitive voice in the British comedy conversation for quite some time. With appearances on QI, Cats Do Countdown, Live at the Apollo and Have I Got News For You, Hall is a certified comedy mainstay whose acerbic and droll wit is as deceptively cutting as it is dry and heartless. Constantly irate and always ruthlessly honest, there is a prowess to his disgruntled styling that many comics try to replicate but few can perfect. Riding high on the wave of his latest memoir, Nailing It, the comedic curmudgeon is back with several shows in the region, including The Witham in Barnard Castle, the Forum in Northallerton, Alnwick Playhouse and Queen’s Hall Hexham, which promise to be a rollercoaster of comedy. While previous tours have blasted an onslaught of bracing improvisation, crushing interactions and pristine slices of satirical, cultural lunacy, the ferocious comic is never far from a musical interlude and a dynamic change of pace. If comedy is about misdirection, there is no act more likely to keep you guessing than the master that is Rich Hall, promising that although you pay for the whole seat, you’ll only need the edge of it. Rich Hall performs at The Witham, Barnard Castle on Wednesday 14th, The Forum Northallerton on Thursday 15th, Alnwick Playhouse on Friday 16th and Queen’s Hall Hexham on Saturday 17th September. www.facebook.com/therichhall

EVENTS

GLOBEFEST @ THE GLOBE STOCKTON

Words: Adelle Sutheran

The good folks at Stockton’s Globe are throwing a bash! The recently renovated venue is back to its former Art Deco glory after a serious facelift, and they’re inviting you to join them in their celebrations. GLOBEfest is a free event (with tickets to be sourced online and from the town’s Visitor Information Centre) which will be buzzing with energy and character that reciprocates that of the fine building. The all day event takes place on Saturday 10th September and will be presented over three stages including multifunctional venue space The Link. Top of the musical agenda will be performances from folk songstress Amelia Coburn, indie songwriter Joe Ramsey, Middlesbrough rapper Shakk, dynamic alt. pop artist Nadedja, indie alternative rockers We Tibetans, singer Marina Gears and soulful balladeer Lost State of Dan among others. More eclectic entertainment comes in the form of magician Andy Larmouth, spoken word performances from the Tees Women Poets, not to mention dance troupe Urban Kaos, drumming from Apollo Arts and storytelling courtesy of Chris Bostock, meaning there’s something for EVERYONE. In addition, there will be plenty of interactive fun to be had including singing, stage make up and puppet making workshops (for adults as well as kids), street performers, heritage cinema, treasure hunts, stalls, food and so much more. GLOBEfest takes place at The Globe in Stockton on Saturday 10th September. www.stocktonglobe.co.uk

Frank Carter And The Rattlesnakes

MUSIC

RISEFEST @ NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ UNION

Words: Laura Doyle

RISE has dominated the alt. scene in Newcastle every Saturday since 2016, but that wasn’t enough for the team behind the iconic club night. Get ready to take things to the next level with the introduction of an all-new festival, RISEFEST. With a title that demands to be written in all capitals, expect things to get loud and sweaty at Northumbria Students’ Union on Saturday 10th September. Crowd-pullers Frank Carter & The Rattlesnakes, Boston Manor, Vukovi, As December Falls, Modern Error and Creeper have already been added to the debut roster, making the fifty quid ticket price to see so many faves at once well worth the investment. Not forgetting their locale, RISEFEST have made sure to include North East music scene staples, including future metal legends Rituals and alt. rockers Motherland (RISE veterans may even recognise DJ Dave Hodgkiss on guitar for the latter). With more artists set to be announced across the event’s two stages, a kick off time of 10am, and on-site catering to take you all the way through to the final headline acts, you can enjoy Newcastle’s own mini-festival without the hefty price tag, camping and other general messiness. If an all day alt. festival still doesn’t sound like enough to you, then there’s always the original RISE following straight after to satisfy all your after party needs. RISEFEST takes place at Northumbria University Students’ Union on Saturday 10th September. www.risefest.co.uk

MUSIC

NOISY DAUGHTERS @ THE FORUM MUSIC CENTRE

Words: Claire Dupree

Continuing in their mission to champion women and gender minorities in the region’s music industry, Darlington collective Tracks are putting on a couple of superb events under their Noisy Daughters moniker this month. Keen to encourage more women to get into the technical side of the industry, on Saturday 24th September they’ll be hosting an Introduction to Live Sound workshop at The Forum Music Centre in Darlington. They’ll be working alongside the Yorkshire Sound Women network to bring freelance artist and technician Jo Kennedy to Darlington to deliver the workshop. Jo’s extensive experience both as an artist performing experimental music, as well as a technical and creative workshop practitioner, will ensure her advice is invaluable. Jo gives some insight into what attendees can expect: “This two-hour workshop will provide a friendly, supportive space for you to get your hands on PA equipment and understand the essentials of live sound. The workshop will empower participants who are maybe wanting to run an open mic night or venue, or a performer wanting to speak with more confidence and authority to venue sound engineers.” The workshop is free to attend, but places must be booked. Check out Tracks’ website for more info. The previous evening will also see a live gig held at the venue, with headliner TBA and support from Darlington’s own alluring alternative songwriter Eve Conway. Noisy Daughters events take place at The Forum Music Centre, Darlington on Friday 23rd and Saturday 24th September. www.tracksdarlington.co.uk

Jessica Fostekew by Matt Stronge

COMEDY

JESSICA FOSTEKEW @ GALA DURHAM/THE STAND

Words: Jake Anderson

The ever-so quick-witted Jessica Fostekew’s new show Wench – not to be confused with her previous stand-up hour (and now Amazon Prime show) Hench – received high praise from Edinburgh’s Fringe Festival, described as having “frenetic energy”. She’ll be bringing her charm to the North East, stopping off in the region at Durham’s Gala on Thursday 22nd and Newcastle’s The Stand on Sunday 25th September. Tackling life in a post-Covid world has been popular among British comedians, yet Fostekew is managing to stand out. The material performed has Fostekew struggling, feeling like the only person who still does the Wordle and facing a never-ending battle with her own lack of social skills – something we can all definitely relate to on some level. The comic isn’t afraid to explore deeper topics; a highlight of her set includes a dissection into the end of her relationship with the father of her child and her own sexuality. Fostekew also runs a highly successful podcast called Hoovering, in which she interviews celebrities about food, and she’s also a consistently hilarious regular on The Guilty Feminist Podcast. Jessica Fostekew performs at Gala Theatre, Durham’s on Thursday 22nd and The Stand, Newcastle on Sunday 25th September. www.jessicafostekew.com

COMEDY

DOUG STANHOPE @ TYNE THEATRE & OPERA HOUSE

Words: Michael O’Neill

It seems to be an argument as old as time itself. A war that’s been waged on battlefields as vast as inane Twitter threads, clickbait tabloid articles and mundane debates on This Morning: “Can you say anything without offending people nowadays?” My perception? It’s a boring and redundant argument that very quickly falls apart when you try and analyse it. I could expand on it further, but there’s little need to try and deconstruct it when one simple fact remains: Doug Stanhope’s on tour again. Whilst Daily Mail readers continue scream into the void about ‘cancel culture’, the Massachusetts-hailing provocateur is returning to our shores, taking in Newcastle’s Tyne Theatre & Opera House on Wednesday 14th September on the way, proving that there’s very little substance to their vitriol. In his three decade-plus stand-up career, Stanhope has (much like his idol Bill Hicks) been widely welcomed in Britain for his close-to-the-bone brand of comedy, which takes aim at the state of culture, politics and religion with a no-holds-barred approach that has won him admirers such as Charlie Brooker, who regularly featured Stanhope in his acclaimed Screenwipe series. Expect to have your jaw thoroughly dropped. Doug Stanhope performs at Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle on Wednesday 14th September. www.dougstanhope.com

STAGE

WELCOME TO THE JUNGLE @ ARC

Words: Steve Spithray

Welcome To The Jungle is a brand new show from Stockton-based writer, director and actor, Umar Butt. Exploring issues around identity, migration, belonging, family and community, Welcome To The Jungle is an epic, intensely personal tale of how two strangers came to meet each other in the middle of the night, on an empty bridge. Umar hopes that the story will help us all find connection with each other and celebrate our differences. “I am so excited to bring this story into people’s lives. We’re telling a global story about connection and family, but one that is very much grounded in Teesside. It’s about you and your neighbour as much as it is about global issues that we’re facing. But while dealing with those issues, it will be fun, and exciting, and full of warmth and heart.” Umar has worked with ARC since 2018 and he aims to use his position as an Associate Artist of ARC to develop work for people of colour. As a first-generation migrant, born in Pakistan, brought up in Glasgow and now an honorary Teessider, Umar is passionate about exploring, learning and sharing global human stories of belonging, family, community and displacement but closer to home. Welcome To The Jungle takes place at ARC, Stockton on Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st September. www.arconline.co.uk

Deadletter by Spela Cedilnik

MUSIC

DEADLETTER @ HEAD OF STEAM

Words: Dominic Stephenson

Newcastle welcomes yet another white-hot prospect from the bubbling South London music scene in the form of DEADLETTER, who perform at Head of Steam on Friday 16th September. Yorkshire-bred and comprised of former members of garage punk outfit Mice On Mars, the six-piece emerged with debut single Good Old Days back in 2020. However, it was their subsequent track, Fit For Work, that really set them apart from their peers; a whimsical yet piercing anecdote on the welfare state. They’ve since honed their sound to the tune of razor-sharp guitar hooks, winding bass-heavy grooves and squealing sax, commanded by quick-witted, sprechgesang vocals. Latest single Pop Culture Connoisseur is a marker of their early progress: a riotous, dance-punk anthem that makes it irresistible to move. The B-side to aforementioned banger, Hero, was also of such quality that it garnered a place on BBC Radio 1’s Introducing playlist. Conquering fertile ground between modern post-punk politicism and the art rockers of the early-00s, the sextet’s biting sound has earned them ranking in the roster of the burgeoning Nice Swan records. Having supported the likes of Viagra Boys and Squid in their previous incarnation, they also have upcoming sold-out shows with Yard Act, alongside this headline tour. Rapidly becoming one of the most coveted bands in the UK, there’s only one place to be when DEADLETTER commence their maiden headline voyage. DEADLETTER play Head of Steam, Newcastle on Friday 16th September. www.deadletter-band.bandcamp.com

ART & LIT

SAHEJ RAHAL @ BALTIC

Words: Lizzie Lovejoy

BALTIC’s new exhibition from Sahej Rahal, Mythmachine, is a body of work actively exploring the concept of play and challenging our understanding of what it means to be a player, transforming the space in response to visitors over time. From Saturday 24th September until September 2023, visitors will be able to immerse themselves in the many forms of art that Sahej Rahal has developed, including sculpture, performance, film, installations and AI programmes. The work responds to chance and luck, weaving together new mythologies and questioning contemporary narratives. Sahej Rahal’s focus is as a storyteller, and he has created this virtual playground as a way to blend both fact and fiction as well as of countering preconceptions and altering the present. Influenced by many areas, including science fiction and the ancient world, there is something familiar and futuristic in the works presented. Mythmachine is an exhibition of research, response and continued alteration, developing and showcasing a possible future of both the human and non-human in innovative ways, including speech, song and rhythm, resulting in a unique exhibition and experiment. Sahej Rahal: Mythmachine is at BALTIC, Gateshead from Saturday 24th September- Sunday 3rd September 2023. www.sahejrahal.com

Image by Sahej Rahal, courtesy of the artist

MUSIC

HEELAPALOOZA BIG SUMMER BLOWOUT @ PLAY BREW CO

Words: Jake Anderson

An unfortunate fact, or maybe fortunate with the mini heatwaves we’ve suffered, is that summer is coming to an end. But coming off a stacked and successful Heelapalooza festival in June, which featured the likes of Dylan Cartlidge, Luke Royalty and Pit Pony, Play Brew Co in Middlesbrough will play host to summer’s fond farewell in Heelapalooza – the Big Summer Blowout, on Friday 9th September. For this show, the emphasis is on quality over quantity, and the selection is immaculate, featuring four of the most striking artists on the North East scene. The hefty line-up includes the chamber-pop inspired, psychedelic sounds of Trunky Juno; the cheery and danceable Marketplace; the deep groves and alternative sounds of Mr Matthew Fisher; as well as the energetic and crowd moving beats and flows of rapper Abi Nyxx. A diverse selection of sounds, ranging from pop and rock to hip-hop that perfectly showcase why the North East scene is so exciting right now, Heelapalooza’s Summer Blowout surely couldn’t get any better...And yet...each attendee will be given a free slice of pizza! Result. Heelapalooza present the Big Summer Blowout at Play Brew Co on Friday 9th September. www.facebook.com/heelapalooza

Scott Matthews

MUSIC

SCOTT MATTHEWS @ MIDDLESBROUGH TOWN HALL/THE CLUNY

Words: Adelle Sutheran

Boldly going where he has not gone before, Scott Matthews will perform tracks from his recent album New Skin, which are bipolar in terms of his previous back catalogue. An album described as being reborn in a new guise, circumstances contrived to force the artist to undergo a fundamental reinvention. Taking the hand that was dealt him and other artists alike (ie. the horrors of Covid) he set about cleverly moulding a thing of ambient and electronic exquisiteness. New Skin is the Ivor Novello award-winning artist’s seventh studio album, and he’ll be regaling audiences at Middlesbrough Town Hall on Tuesday 20th and The Cluny in Newcastle on Wednesday 21st September with tunes from both the new record and the as-yet-unreleased companion album New Skin: The Acoustic Sessions. The gigs promise an evening which will intertwine both the new and old; the notoriously haunting, clear water lyrics, blues and folk hues synonymous with the likes of Nick Drake, Jeff Buckley and Paul Simon which he has crafted for his audiences over the years. An evening of simple, intense bliss and inventive musical alchemy awaits those who choose to immerse themselves in the sounds of Scott Matthews. Scott Matthews plays Middlesbrough Town Hall on Tuesday 20th and The Cluny, Newcastle on Wednesday 21st September. www.scottmatthews.uk

Summer, Lower East Side. Weegee © ICP (International Center of Photography)

ART & LIT

CLASSIC STREET STYLE @ SIDE GALLERY

Words: Joseph Spence

Paris, New York and yes, Newcastle! Side Gallery’s Classic Street Style brings together works from the AmberSide collection and is currently on display in the UK’s only gallery dedicated to documentary photography. Running until Sunday 9th October at Newcastle’s Side Gallery, the exhibition draws together work from three well-regarded photographers, Weegee, Robert Doisneau and Jimmy Forsyth. Viewers can expect to see photographs spanning three decades covering everyday life in three very dissimilar cities; Paris, New York and Newcastle. Weegee’s black and white photographs depict savage crime and everyday life in New York City during the fallout of the Great Depression’s economic strain. Contrastingly, a selection of playful and often poetic photographs by Robert Doisneau are on display; Le chien à roulettes (Dog on wheels) is an example of Doisneau’s keen interest in photographing the unexpected moments in the Parisian streets. Drawing attention away from New York and Paris, Jimmy Forsyth’s photographs of Newcastle’s West End portrays the socially changing environment and the everyday experience of the area. Side Gallery first exhibited Forsyth’s photographs in 1981, since then the Welsh-born photographer’s images have become a significant and indispensable document of the environment around Newcastle’s Scotswood Road. Classic Street Style: Weegee, Doisneau, Forsyth is at Side Gallery, Newcastle until Sunday 9th October. www.amber-online.com

MUSIC

ANNA ASH @ BASE CAMP/THE GLOBE

Words: James Barker

Pitched as “Americana country rock with a Kate Bush edge”, Anna Ash is all that and more. The Los Angeles-based Michigan-born singersongwriter released her fourth album, Sleeper, earlier this year to rave reviews and is returning for her second UK tour this month, pitching up at Middlesbrough Base Camp on Thursday 8th and Newcastle’s Globe on Friday 9th September. Ash’s music works across many different genres: folk, rock, jazz, Americana and country, and wields them all into her unique sound. At centre stage is her voice, both tender and soaring. Yet Sleeper is also a richly lyrical album – her songs capture life’s shifting emotions: having regrets but moving forward; dealing with loss (both large and small), but still living in the moment. Never staying in one mood (or tempo) for too long, Ash’s music explores the full range of human emotions. This is music you can just get lost in: the voice, the melodies, the storytelling, and the perfect music for an intimate venue like The Globe. In Newcastle, Ash will be joined by local musician Bridie Jackson, whose voice the Guardian described as ‘remarkable... beautiful yet haunting’. Jackson previously achieved success with her band The Arbour and more recently worked on the community project Unsung Heroes using folk song to tell the untold stories of people in Northumberland. Anna Ash performs at Base Camp, Middlesbrough on Thursday 8th and The Globe, Newcastle on Friday 9th September. www.annaash.com

Cri du Canard by Elly Lucas

MUSIC

OUSEBURN FOLK FESTIVAL @ THE CUMBERLAND ARMS

Words: Lee Fisher

Although The Cumberland Arms’ big anniversary fortnight is sadly over, there’s scarcely any let-up in their activities. September means Ouseburn Folk Festival, run alongside but separately from the pub by Isiobel Stewart and Jo Hodson. This year it’s taking place over four days from Thursday 15th until Sunday 18th September, things kicking off with a show from lauded folk/bluegrass artist Ana Silvera. Support comes from the magnificent Yakka Doon, with her ‘oak-aged heartcraft from the pit-scarred heathland of County Durham’. Friday begins with a family ceilidh hosted by Ruth Brown and Nathan Armstrong which starts at 5.30pm, runs for an hour and is completely free. That’s followed by a terrace performance from Colibri Cobra, a local collective playing various forms of traditional music from Colombia and Brazil. On Saturday, there’s a Singing For Children session at midday with Becky Graham, before an evening line-up including local folk collective Pons Aelius, new trio Cri du Canard, who work with the French folk dance repertoire, and Heather Ferrier, the Stockport-born but Newcastle-based accordionist and clog dancer. And finally, Sunday sees the Autumn iteration of The Season Of Song series from Will and Rosie. There will be harmony singing workshops in the afternoon to prepare for a concert that evening, followed by a singaround. Ouseburn Folk Festival takes place at The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle from Thursday 15th until Sunday 18th September. www.facebook.com/ouseburnfolk

The Death of Anna Mann by Linda Blacker

COMEDY

COLIN HOULT: THE DEATH OF ANNA MANN @ THE STAND

Words: Lizzie Lovejoy

Colin Hoult presents a funny and existential show at The Stand Comedy Club in Newcastle on Thursday 29th September, with the long-awaited return of the character Anna Mann. Though perhaps not for long, as the show is themed around her death! Anna Mann is a critically acclaimed actress and singer, as well as a welder, just in case a career change is called for. After a hiatus of five years, she takes to the stage to tell the tale of her life, from the beginning until the bitter end, which is where this show is set. Expect one hour of discussion about life, death and all of the pieces that fill the space inbetween, Anna Mann is not only designed for hilarity but also for self-reflection. This fantastical character exists to be incredibly real for the entire audience for the show’s duration. After working on Ricky Gervais’ hit TV show After Life, it’s easy to see how Colin Hoult has blended the lines of the morbid and the comedic. Join him as Anna Mann to learn about her life story in depth, as well as reflect a little bit about your own. Who says that introspection and laughter don’t go together? Colin Hoult: The Death of Anna Mann is at The Stand, Newcastle on Thursday 29th September. www.facebook.com/colinhoultcomedy

MUSIC

CHLOE CASTRO @ BOBIK’S

Words: Ben Lowes-Smith

Born in London and now based in the North East, British-Brazilian artist Chloe Castro began writing songs aged 11. After dropping out of school early and working as a waitress, Chloe took her vocals out of the bedroom and pursued her dreams of studying music before going on to reach the Quarter Finals of The Voice UK 2016. She has since been working alongside producer and co-writer Jake Karno to nurture a sound which infuses elements of R&B, trap and soul to create a fresh sound that is all her own. Chloe’s highly original vocals blend luscious melodies and strikingly raw lyrical content to draw you in and clear the way for a new artist in your favourites. After her 2019 single Drunk was picked up and featured on BBC Radio 1 by Huw Stephens, Chloe self-released her debut EP AMID in October 2020 and received radio play from DJ Target on BBC 1XTRA and multiple local stations. Chloe brings her trap-influenced music to Bobik’s on Saturday 3rd September, alongside Mathias Skye, who presents his unique blend of R&B, hip-hop and acoustic music, plus a set from soul singer Maxine. Chloe Castro, Mathias Skye and Maxine play Bobik’s, Newcastle on Saturday 3rd September. www.chloecastro.co.uk

EVENTS

FESTIVAL OF THRIFT @ KIRKLEATHAM MUSEUM

Words: Laura Doyle

It’s hard to believe that we’ve had ten years of the Festival of Thrift, yet here we are celebrating this landmark event. The last weekend in September will once again see Kirkleatham Museum taken over by thrifters seeking their fill of workshops, market stalls, and entertainment all following the thought-provoking theme of Our Common Wealth. Festival attendees are invited to go beyond the theme’s financial definition and explore what we have in common throughout our rich, but often forgotten, shared cultural heritage as citizens of Planet Earth. Seek new skills with one of the festival’s many affordable (and often free) workshops, including crafting with ceramics, textiles, wood and many more sustainable materials to learn more about living with a smaller environmental impact. Between sessions, seek out some of the festival’s entertainment options and enjoy a variety of performances from comedy concerning the climate crisis, a fashion show featuring designs sourced from recycled materials put together by fashion students across the country, to family friendly dance sessions. And between it all, there’s the opportunity to relax and indulge in the fine cuisines supplied by local vendors. Festival of Thrift takes place at Kirkleatham Museum, Redcar on Saturday 24th and Sunday 25th September. www.festivalofthrift.co.uk

Luke James Williams

MUSIC

LUKE JAMES WILLIAMS @ CLAYPATH DELI/THE ENGINE ROOM

Words: Matt Young

Returning to the region for a couple of gigs in September at Durham’s Claypath Deli and The Engine Room in North Shields, Luke James Williams showcases his beautifully constructed debut album, Our Blood Is Red. A self-described indie folk party pooper, Williams’ distinctly English vocals actually blend raw, heart breaking tones with gentle sensitivity – think Sufjan Stephens or Nick Drake singing PJ Harvey, and you’ve got some idea. He has a knack for picking phrases and melodies that stay in the mind and fix in the psyche like snapshot memories you’d swear you share too. That gift for latching into a collective experience adds further poignancy to a rich vein of material. Mixing light and dark perfectly, the ugly rubs up against the beautiful but also sweeps in with a grand, soaring pop sensibility at times too, definitely a voice to hear live. Support for both gigs comes in the form of local artists, Durham’s own harmony laden duo FAWNS and Hartlepool hailing Jasmine Weatherill with her lushly melodic folk both feature at Claypath Deli on Saturday 17th, with Jasmine playing another support stint along with North Shields singer/songwriter Aaron Duff’s full band project Hector Gannet adding their atmospheric North East life via Manchester Orchestra’s musical tinged tones at The Engine Room on Sunday 18th September. Luke James Williams plays Claypath Deli, Durham on Saturday 17th and The Engine Room, North Shields on Sunday 18th September. www.lukejameswilliams.co.uk

STAGE

ALL THE BEDS I HAVE SLEPT IN @ NORTHERN STAGE

Words: Ben Lowes-Smith

After a very successful tour last Autumn that saw nearly 500 refugee audience members and multiple sell-outs across the UK, Northern Stage welcomes a brand new version of All The Beds I Have Slept In to Stage 2 on Thursday 8th-Friday 9th September, featuring a new refugee cast from Afghanistan, Syria, Sudan, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Morocco. Using a simple set of just a bed on stage, the play recalls the hundreds of beds the actors have slept in on their journeys from their homelands to the UK. It explores the kindness of strangers who offered help, from a guard in a Greek detention centre to a passenger at a train station who shared a room in his house; these are the real people who kept the actors moving forward. It also tells the fictional story of Sameer (Syed Haleem Najibi) and Youssof (Mohamad Aljasem) created out of hundreds of refugee experiences we’ve heard. First meeting in a foster home in London they stay best friends, only Sameer has Right to Remain and Youssof doesn’t, so their lives take very different paths. All The Beds I Have Slept In uses Phosphoros theatre’s trademark wit and energy to reveal the intimacy created between friends when family is absent, and how to stay hopeful in a world that isn’t fair. All The Beds I Have Slept In is at Northern Stage, Newcastle on Thursday 8th and Friday 9th September. www.northernstage.co.uk

MUSIC

INDEPENDENT CELEBRATE THEIR 16TH BIRTHDAY

Words: Jake Anderson

Saturday 3rd September 2022 marks the 16th birthday of Independent, a cornerstone of the Sunderland music scene. The venue has hosted some of the best gigs in the region over its lifespan, and the excellent team behind the venue are planning on celebrating in style with an evening featuring some fan favourite regulars for free. The celebration will include a perfect mix of singer-songwriter heart pullers and indie rock head bobbers. Kicking off with Lottie Willis, who will perform personal ballads over piano-based melodies, there’s also poppy sounds from Bodacious (aka CP Thompson); the raw rock and roll of Casual Threats; retro-influenced vibes from Club Paradise; Elizabeth Liddle’s soft vocal and lovely storytelling; wistful tunes from Eve Cole and loud and confident rock ‘n’ rollers Ten Eighty Trees. If you’re still wanting to dance your socks off (although we do recommend your socks should remain on), DJ WFN, VIP LOUGHLIN and Ben Deacon will be DJing a mix of classic and modern bangers through Indie’s three rooms post-10pm. Independent in Sunderland celebrate their 16th birthday on Saturday 3rd September with sets from Ten Eighty Trees, Lottie Willis, Eve Cole, Club Paradise, Casual Threats, Elizabeth Liddle and Bodacious. www.facebook.com/independentsunderland

STAGE

YOUR VOICE, YOUR FUTURE @ LIVE THEATRE

Words: Michael O’Neill

Live Theatre’s forthcoming productions of Your Voice, Your Future are a tantalising prospect: eight plays by eight writers and one question: what is the future we want for ourselves and how might the world be reimagined? To get some answers to that question, Live Theatre sought out a cohort of emerging writers/artists from the North East, and found Lydia Brickland, Miles Kinsley, Lizzie Lovejoy, Fleur Nixon, Nic O’Keeffe, Susannah Ronnie, Jenni Winter and Jack Young, who have each been commissioned to create, as the theatre’s creative producer Graeme Thompson states: “stories that reflect a contemporary North East and its future, [providing] a glimpse into life today and a boldly imagined future.” And boy, have they delivered! From Thursday 15th-Sunday 18th September, Your Voice, Your Future takes in prospects as broad as eventful lunch breaks, cabaret, the prospect of a wall dividing England and Scotland, free speech, labels, the rise and fall of a Northern Prime Minister, the pains of coming of age and the emotional journey of returning home after a sore break-up. It’s eclectic, enthralling and a glorious showcase of the wonderfully diverse and fresh talent that the region’s producing. Your Voice, Your Future is at Live Theatre, Newcastle from Thursday 15th-Sunday 18th September. www.live.org.uk

Maisie Adam by Matt Crockett

COMEDY

MAISIE ADAM @ ARC/ THE STAND

Words: Cameron Wright

There’s a chaotic charm to Maisie Adam which is undeniably infectious. A Mock The Week alumni, Adam has blazed her way into the comedy scene in the most spectacular way. With hilarious moments on QI, The Last Leg and Would I Lie To You, the comedian is uniquely joyful and entrancing with her every appearance. Drenched in a distinctly Northern veneer, the Best Newcomer Award nominee and Amused Moose National New Comic Award winner has been entrancing a growing fan base with her clumsy and boisterous brand of immediately accessible and persistently relatable anecdotes, which leave audiences cringing and cackling with equal measure. On her latest tour, Buzzed, she is shining with all her might. Addressing her infamous haircut, the lockdown, her engagement and all the things that have her buzzed, the comic brings the tour to Stockton’s ARC on Friday 23rd September and later rocks up at Newcastle’s Stand Comedy Club on Thursday 6th October. With a contagious energy that oozes from every fibre, Adam effortlessly ensnares an audience and delivers a riveting showcase of storytelling, craftsmanship and comedy. Offset by a jaunty swagger and approachable demeanour, Maisie Adam is one of comedy’s brightest stars. Maisie Adam performs at ARC, Stockton on Friday 23rd September and The Stand, Newcastle on Thursday 6th October. www.maisieadam.com

COMEDY

CATHEDRAL OF COMEDY: PHIL WANG @ NEWCASTLE CATHEDRAL

Words: Cameron Wright

Kicking off its debut with panel show royalty David O’Doherty, Cathedral of Comedy at St Nicholas Cathedral welcomed an electric night of hilarity from a range of comics, showcasing local talent as well as some of the circuit’s biggest names. On Saturday 24th September the Newcastle landmark will embrace another hilarious night of comedy which also includes a spectacular line-up. Regular attendants of The Stand will already be well acquainted with Newcastle’s comedy mainstay Hal Branson, who has made quite the name for himself over the years as a hilarious MC. As Branson guides you through the night, Cathedral of Comedy supplies a range of exciting acts, showcasing some of the North’s finest comedy chops such as Lauren Pattison and Anja Atkinson, alongside a myriad of eye-catching up and comer’s like Stephen Bailey. Headlining the night is Phil Wang who, fresh from the success of his Netflix special, has been making the nation roar with laughter through his awkward and self-effacing humour. The entertainment doesn’t stop there though, as alongside an eclectic range of comics punters can also enjoy street food from FAB Bakery and Big Fat Donut Co alongside a fully stocked bar. Let the hilarity commence! Cathedral of Comedy featuring Phil Wang, Stephen Bailey, Lauren Pattison, Anja Atkinson and Hal Branson takes place at St Nicholas Cathedral, Newcastle on Saturday 24th September. www.facebook.com/leeanddavidproductions

Coach Party by Hattie Neate

MUSIC

COACH PARTY @ THE GEORGIAN THEATRE

Words: Hope Lynes

Taking over the Georgian Theatre just as they’ve taken over this year’s festival season, Coach Party bring their infectious indie sound to Stockton on Sunday 11th September. With appearances across the UK over the summer at the likes of Y Not, Truck and Tramlines, this really feels like Coach Party’s moment. New releases such as Weird Me Out cement a sound for the indie rockers, perfectly blending rock, indie and pop punk into a sound that defines the four-piece, managing to be both nostalgic of the 00’s and refreshing to listen to. Previous tracks such as FLAG (Feel Like A Girl) bring a feminist edge to the band’s lyrics, with lyrics like “wanna hurt you bad just like how you hurt me” reminiscent of the social commentary-style songwriting of the likes of Dream Wife. The band share a record label with Wolf Alice and their influence is felt in Coach Party’s style. The gig is part of the national Revive Live tour, created by Music Venue Trust and The National Lottery to support independent venues like The Georgian Theatre, as the continuing effects of the pandemic are still being felt. For audiences, this means tickets are subsidised and are ‘buy one get one free’. Support comes from songwriter, multiinstrumentalist and alt. rock producer Soren Bryce under her Tummyache moniker. Coach Party and Tummyache play The Georgian Theatre, Stockton on Sunday 11th September. www.coach-party.com

MUSIC

MUSH @ POP RECS LTD.

Words: Laura Doyle

Some people just find inspiration around every corner, and art rock ensemble Mush are a fine example of this given that their latest record Down Tools is their third full-length release in as many years. Granted, they’ve not been left wanting since their inception in 2015, with a particularly tumultuous political and social landscape from which they have been able to reap their stories. But at least the previous twelve months haven’t been a complete write-off, giving us a new album with some semblance of a positive vibe. The twang-tastic, twisting grooves of lead single Get On Yer Soapbox sounds like what would happen if you put the DeLorean in a blender and, as a band known for their improvisational approach to music making, it’s unlikely that any live rendition will be a carbon-copy of the recorded version. That doesn’t matter, though, because it will still be mint. The band pull up at Sunderland’s Pop Recs Ltd on Friday 30th September, where support comes from Wearside lads Roxy Girls. It’s all been a bit quiet in their corner for the past few months, but with a new drummer in place and a rise in support slots on the horizon, it might be time to see some new material coming from the punctual punks soon enough. Mush and Roxy Girls play Pop Recs Ltd., Sunderland on Friday 30th September. www.mushband.bandcamp.com

Image by Matt Crockett

COMEDY

ISY SUTTIE @ THE STAND

Words: Adelle Sutheran

Funny lass Isy Suttie tours with her new show, Jackpot, in which she’ll regale audiences with stories of thrill seeking and attempts to reframe the hilarities of motherhood and married life. Now she’s got children of her own and a partner who detests surprises, in her return to live stand-up the Peep Show star asks whether it’s enough to try and find that buzz on mums’ weekends away or on family walks in the woods, and quite why she continues to hunt for it at all costs. Visiting Newcastle’s Stand Comedy Club on Tuesday 20th September, Suttie’s irrepressible charm and easy audience rapport is a boon indeed, and her career so far has been bang on trend for all things funny. Whether you’ve seen her as Dobby in Channel 4’s Peep Show, Esther in Shameless, Ally in Man Down, or on Would I Lie To You, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Hypothetical or Q.I., it’ll come as no surprise that Suttie has been nominated for three British Comedy Awards and won a gold Sony Award for her BBC Radio 4 series Isy Suttie’s Love Letters. Furthermore the paperback of her acclaimed second book, Jane Is Trying, was released in spring 2022, further proving that while her thrill seeking days may be over, her career is as riveting as ever. Isy Suttie is at The Stand, Newcastle on Tuesday 20th September. www.isysuttie.co.uk

EVENTS

THE GREAT MARKET CAPER @ GRAINGER MARKET

Words: Michael O’Neill

It’s the Grainger Market, but not as you know it! Newcastle’s iconic market has gained something of a second life in the last few years as a prime destination for fantastic scran and local merchants, proving that there’s still plenty of demand for an alternative experience to the more chain-oriented, corporate sprawl that has engulfed the city centre elsewhere. Inspired by the likes of downtown Boston’s Faneuil Hall and London’s Brixton Market, The Great Market Caper looks to take Grainger Market’s offerings one step further, transforming it into a 2,000-capacity venue boasting great street food, excellent bars, live music and DJs, and a wide programme of other novel entertainment. The Capers will run on the first Saturday of every month from 6pm til midnight, with guest food vendors operating alongside the market’s current mainstays, salsa maestro Chris Pendleton providing free lessons to all comers, comedians from Whitley Bay’s celebrated Felt Nowt, and a line-up of live music and DJs. Saturday 3rd September will see musical performances from the likes of indie folk artist Zac Younger Banks and Gateshead songwriter Hannah Robinson, plus comedy from Gavin Webster, David Hadingham and Rachel Jackson. It’s a welcome addition to the Toon’s cultural happenings, especially given the recent losses we have experienced in the city centre’s creative community. So, with that in mind.. long may the Capers continue! The Great Market Caper takes place at Grainger Market, Newcastle on Saturday 3rd September. www.thecaper.co.uk

MUSIC

PENGUIN CAFÉ @ SAGE GATESHEAD

Words: Lee Fisher

If you watched a nature or travel documentary in the eighties or nineties you’ll definitely have heard the music of the Penguin Café Orchestra, but don’t hold that against them. Born from a literal fever-dream, the original PCO saw Simon Jeffes and a truly stellar line-up record a series of truly lovely albums, pulling in elements of chamber music, neo-classical, ambient, minimalism, African, folk and more. PCO ended with Jeffes’ passing in 1997 but around a decade later Jeffes’ son Arthur picked up the baton with Penguin Café, who operate in a similar but distinctive soundworld to the original incarnation and have released a handful of albums (mostly on Erased Tapes). This year they re-released their debut proper, A Matter Of Life, in slightly amended form and are going on tour to promote it. The tour arrives at Sage Gateshead on Friday 23rd September for a show in Hall Two that is bound to be a gently repetitive delight. Penguin Café play Sage Gateshead on Friday 23rd September. www.penguincafe.com

Blue Orchids

MUSIC

BLUE ORCHIDS @ WESTGARTH SOCIAL CLUB

Words: Laura Doyle

Starting up a band is one thing – picking out a name for your musical ensemble is another thing entirely. It’s lucky for Blue Orchids that they had acclaimed punk poet John Cooper Clarke to advise the start-up Mancunians on theirs all the way back in 1979 – even if a founding member misremembered “blessed” for “blue” – but no matter, because the name they settled on has become renowned in post-punk circles for generations. Over the course of their 40+ year career, there have been a few starts and stops where life got in the way of music-making. But despite line-up changes and fluctuating productivity Blue Orchids persisted, and they’ll bring their show to Middlesbrough’s Westgarth Social Club on Saturday 24th September. They’ve performed alongside the likes of Echo And The Bunnymen and The Velvet Underground’s Nico, and the ripples of their influence has been felt throughout the underground punk scene. The one constant throughout Blue Orchids’ rises and falls is original vocalist Martin Bramah, whose musical vision continues in latest release, Angus Tempus Memoirs. It harks back to the hazy psychedelia of Blue Orchids’ very first record The Greatest Hit (Money Mountain), but with a reinvented sound ready for post-punk’s next wave. Let Blue Orchids be your inspiration to prove that it’s never too late to hit your stride. Blue Orchids play Westgarth Social Club, Middlesbrough on Saturday 24th September. www.blueorchids.bandcamp.com

MUSIC

FAY HIELD @ SAGE GATESHEAD

Words: Dawn Storey

It’ll be third time lucky for Fay Hield’s show at Sage Gateshead on Saturday 10th September following two pandemic postponements, but finally she will bring songs from her most recent album, Wrackline, to a Gateshead audience and regale them with her musical tales of magic and myth, storms and selkies. The evening forms part of a Storytellers series of performances (also featuring Loudon Wainwright, Kate Rusby, Eddie Reader and more) which run from September until December at the venue and which promise magical sounds and storytelling, both of which feature on Fay’s new album in abundance. Alongside her own interpretations of traditional tales, her fifth release features some of her own songs for the first time. One of the most interesting folk musicians of recent years – Fay has a PhD and a day job as a lecturer in ethnomusicology at the University of Sheffield – she will be accompanied by multi-instrumentalists and long-time bandmates Sam Sweeney and Rob Harbron on fiddle, guitar, concertina and more. With her newest release including both light-hearted and darker subject matter, it promises to be an intriguing evening as she explores and enchants with her distinctive voice and her tales of otherworldly spirits and fairies. Fay Hield performs at Sage Gateshead on Saturday 10th September. www.fayhield.com

MUSIC

THE HANDSOME FAMILY @ SAGE GATESHEAD

Words: Lee Fisher

We live in a world where The Handsome Family’s breakthrough song Far From Any Road has been used by Guns’N’Roses as walk-on music. This is remarkable both because, well, what the fuck? And also because this ‘breakthrough’ happened twenty years and around ten albums into a career that saw them adored and feted by a few but not exactly household names. Which is a disgrace of global proportions, because Brett and Rennie Sparks have been writing and performing some of the most singular and affecting music around for three decades now. What they do is Gothic country-folk, if you’re being reductionist, but it’s a music that’s full of melancholy and wonder, frogs and ghosts, broken machinery and damaged hearts. And their live performances – either as a duo or with a guest or two – are unique and glorious. So it’s very good indeed that they’re heading back to the British Isles for a lengthy tour that will bring them to Sage Gateshead’s Hall Two on Friday 9th September. They’re not promoting a new release – although apparently that’ll happen next year – but any Handsome Family gig is an event in itself. The Handsome Family play Sage Gateshead on Friday 9th September. www.handsomefamily.com

Wrest by Trash Panda, Craig Robertson

MUSIC

WREST @ THE GEORGIAN THEATRE

Words: Matt Young

Imagine if you will you’re a hotly tipped new Scottish band called Wrest. Freshly minted, delivering indie rock that invites comparisons, in the national press and overseas, to beloved bands like Frightened Rabbit, Idlewild and The National. You put out your debut album, Coward of Us All, in 2019 and tour Europe to acclaim and sold out shows. You’re declared Scotland’s best new band and everything is building towards bigger and better things. Then you can’t tour for almost 18 months. The pandemic hit every band and venue hard of course, but it seems particularly cruel for those just connecting with an audience. Thankfully this foursome rode out the storm and recorded a brand new album, End All The Days in the interim. Wrest began touring again last year and it’s here they showcase their soaring, poetic and occasionally unruly songs best. Songs like Kingdom and Second Wind sound ferocious, barely tethered at times, whilst nestled amongst more reflective material, all of it able to hold you spellbound. However lengthy the wait has been to catch Wrest play live again, existing fans and the scores of new ones to follow will undoubtedly feel it’s worth it at their Georgian Theatre gig on Saturday 17th September. They’re a band capable of reaching the highest heights with a fair wind, and their chiming anthems in waiting are there to be sung by massed crowds. Wrest play The Georgian Theatre, Stockton on Saturday 17th September. www.wrest.band

STAGE

FAMILY HONOUR @ DANCE CITY

Words: Laura Doyle

When you have two left feet, seeing someone tell as intricate a story as the one found in Kwame Asafo-Adjei’s award winning performance Family Honour is spellbinding and mind-boggling. It was originally performed as a duet to critical acclaim, winning the prestigious Danse Élargie in 2018. Now, it will be shown in an expanded form across the country to spread its provocative question, how far would you go to uphold your family values? On Saturday 10th September Dance City plays host to the Spoken Movement company, who blend contemporary dance styles with a range of musical genres to push the boundaries of hip-hop theatre. Company leader Kwame Asafo-Adjei infuses his lived experiences as a dance artist with a Ghanian background into his work to share with his audience his perspectives on social tensions that make up the day-to-day for so many. Family Honour is confrontational and thought-provoking, but ultimately might be only 60 minutes out of your day should you seek it out. Remember that what this show represents, while entertainment for some, is the reality for many. Family Honour is performed at Dance City, Newcastle on Saturday 10th September. www.dancecity.co.uk

MUSIC

HARTLEPOOL FOLK FESTIVAL

Words: Michael O’Neill

After a challenging couple of years for the industry, it’s been heartening to see so many iconic festivals finally making a full comeback this summer. You’d be forgiven for thinking that the fun was all over with the impending summer’s end, but Hartlepool’s legendary Folk Festival is making a long overdue full comeback after an understandably challenging two years. From Friday 30th September-Sunday 2nd October the festival will return to its previous multi-venue form, with the main stage returning to the 1200-capacity Borough Hall, and shows also being played at the nearby Royal Museum of the Royal Navy, and even on board the HMS Trincomalee (the oldest war ship in Europe!). As always, the line-up is a staggering who’s-who of the burgeoning folk universe, with headliners including Edward II, Flook, Urban Folk Quarter, Daoirí Farrell, Melrose Quartet, Urban Folk Quartet, Hannah James & Toby Kuhn, Nick Hart, Sam Carter, The Shackleton Trio, Sam Baxter, Ríoghnach Connolly and Banter, alongside a staggeringly extensive selection of other artists, and entertainment including plays, interactive workshops, dance events and even cabaret! Hartlepool Folk Festival takes place from Friday 30th September-Sunday 2nd October at various venues in Hartlepool. www.hartlepoolfolkfest.co.uk

MUSIC

THE GOA EXPRESS @ THE GEORGIAN THEATRE

Words: Jake Anderson

Six-piece ensemble The Goa Express are rocking their way through their leg of the Revive Live UK Tour which will take them to Stockton’s iconic Georgian Theatre on Thursday 8th September. The band released a new single earlier in the year, titled Everybody In The UK. The track tackles a subject all young people relate to; growing up, and how it’s okay to not want to. The track follows the new wave of heartland rock coming from the indie scene, blending the two into a guitar-driven, up-tempo, instantly chant-able banger. Having six members has given the band a lot of freedom with each song’s sound, resulting in a kaleidoscopic sound with each instrument popping through the mix. This special tour isn’t for any release, but rather a part of the national scheme by the Music Venue Trust and National Lottery Fund to help support independent music scenes and venues. As a part of the scheme, ticket bundles are available for National Lottery players in which gig-goers get a free plus one, so you can take your favourite gig buddy or that mate who urgently needs to update their playlists! The Goa Express play the Georgian Theatre in Stockton on Thursday 8th September. www.thegoaexpress.bandcamp.com

Tiwiza, who play Allen Valleys Folk Festival

MUSIC

ALLEN VALLEYS FOLK FESTIVAL

Words: Michael O’Neill

Now in its ninth year, the Allen Valleys Folk Festival is returning to Allendale in Northumberland with what promises to be yet another eclectic and enthralling line-up of artists from all over the globe from Friday 23rd-Sunday 25th September. After being an online-only festival (for obvious reasons) in 2020 and 2021, the festival is returning to the eponymous valleys for a three-day celebration of music, dance and heritage, taking place in a selection indoor venues including The King’s Head, The Golden Lion, the Village Hall and the picturesque St Cuthbert’s Church. As always, the festival promises a broad line-up; festival chairman Peter Aldcroft tells us more: “[The festival boasts] broad appeal with a mix of styles from traditional folk to world music. Saturday headliners include Tiwiza, a band steeped in African tradition but with a modern, driving rock spirit, and Balkan Hot Club, whose pulsating style has been wooing festival goers throughout the UK.” Headliners also include acts such as BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards winners The Rheingans Sisters (Saturday) and popular Scottish outfit Talisk (Sunday). Other artists to look forward to include Diddley Squat, Belta Reivers, Brothers Gillespie, Claire Hastings, George Welch & Christine Jeans and Chris Ormston among others. You hardly need much of an excuse to visit the beautiful surroundings of Northumberland, but this sure is a fine excuse at that! Allen Valleys Folk Festival takes place at various venues in Allendale from Friday 23rd-Sunday 25th September. www.allenvalleysfolkfestival.co.uk