NOVEMBER PREVIEWS

Image: Phoebe Green

MUSIC

PHOEBE GREEN @ THE CLUNY

Words: Matt Young

Lucky Me, Phoebe Green’s debut album, was released in August and even the most cursory listen would be enough to identify the vulnerable themes at its core: the heartbreak, anxieties, outright fears, regrets and resentments. Every personal trait scrutinised, chastised and hopefully a learning experience. It could be, you know, kind of a lot, yet cocooned in fat bouncy electro beats and shiny synth washes her ‘lucky me’ manta keeps lifting things up as she assuredly spills her guts. One thing that you can guarantee is that seeing Green live when she plays The Cluny on Monday 28th November, is an experience full of energy, raw honesty and catharsis. Think about Robyn’s Dancing On My Own as a communal bonding sad bop – it’s the sort of killer electro tune Green’s album is packed with – the collective shared emotions dissipating like a form of crowd-sourced therapy. There are also moments in her music that evoke the kitchen sink ordinariness of the Pet Shop Boys but getting glitzed up, ready for a show and a damn good dance. You’ll grin, your heart might break and there may be tears; Phoebe Green is a rare artist capable of touching every emotion easily as she’s figuring herself out in front of everyone. Phoebe Green plays The Cluny, Newcastle on Monday 28th November. www.phoebegreenmusic.bandcamp.com

MUSIC

ME ME ME PRESENT: WILLIAM BASINSKI & BED WETTER @ SAGE GATESHEAD

Words: Lee Fisher

Sometimes Sage Gateshead pulls something really special out of the bag, and this looks likely to be one of those nights. Resulting from a recent Artist In Residence collaboration, they’ve enabled Wallsend-born electronic musician Geoff Kirkwood – now internationally known as Man Power – to curate this remarkable line-up on Friday 4th November under the auspices of his Me Me Me label. Billed as the North East’s first contemporaryclassical event, the evening’s line-up is intended to give expression to Kirkwood’s ideas about blurring identities and cultural boundaries, and artistic expression in working-class contexts. Heading the bill is the perennially brilliant William Basinski: most people will know him (if at all) via his Disintegration Loops project, a truly heartbreaking sonic experience conjured from decaying magnetic tape loops but infused with the tragedy of 9/11. He’ll be performing his 2020 album Lamentations, one of his richest and elegiac works. As well as his curation, Kirkwood’s contribution is a performance as Bed Wetter alongside composer Fiona Brice and the Royal Northern Sinfonia for the premiere of NXS8, a combination of electronic and classical practices that will be performed alongside footage assembled by local artists and filmmakers that seeks to capture the essence of the North East. Finally, Radio6Music DJ Tom Ravenscroft will be providing a carefully chosen set. William Basinski, Bed Wetter, Brice and Novak with RNS and Tom Ravenscroft perform at Sage Gateshead on Friday 4th November. www.sagegateshead.com

Divide and Dissolve by Billy Eyers

MUSIC

DIVIDE & DISSOLVE @ STAR & SHADOW CINEMA

Words: Lee Fisher

Metal of all kinds has been burdened with a not entirely deserved reputation for being predominantly white, macho (or at least blokey) and apolitical for most of its lifespan (in fact, whenever politics does come up it seems to be in relation to yet another black metal outfit being exposed as espousing some trve kvlt-wanker pagan fascism). But things are shifting, and one of the key outfits in that shift are Divide & Dissolve, who use an especially intense form of sludgy, doom-laden metal as a righteous battering ram against all that needs dismantling. That they attack colonialism, racism, misogyny and the rest with music that’s almost entirely instrumental has parallels in Godspeed You! Black Emperor, and they share some of that band’s awesome dynamics too. The Melbourne-based duo come with a fearsome live reputation and an intelligence and insight in their approach that’s genuinely thrilling, so props to the TUSK team for bringing them to Newcastle. Support is from our very own Penance Stare, another drums/guitar duo who are doing plenty to subvert metal cliches without sacrificing any heaviosity. Divide & Dissolve and Penance Stare play Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle on Tuesday 15th November. www.divideanddissolve.com

MUSIC

NICK OLIVERI @ ANARCHY BREW CO

Words: Cameron Wright

The name Nick Oliveri, may not initially ring a bell, but it’s fair to suggest that his CV will. Oliveri’s first burst into the musical zeitgeist came with his pioneering role in Kyuss, one of metal’s strongest voices in leading the stoner movement that swept the genre in the 90s. With their early records paving the way for the genre, their influence on metal is undeniable and inescapable, yet this isn’t where Oliveri’s career reaches its most notorious point. As Oliveri pursued a side project with his band mate and guitarist Josh Homme, they gave birth to Queens of The Stone Age. The discography and influence of QOTSA can’t be told in a way that hasn’t already been screamed from the mountains a thousand times before, but suffice to say they made an impact. As Oliveri arrives at Anarchy Brewery with his Death Acoustic tour on Thursday 17th November, we can expect songs from throughout his career as the 90’s bass icon runs through songs old and new, including his time with bands such as The Dwarves, Mondo Generator and Stöner, making this a night of rock ‘n’ roll that feels essential for any product of the 90s rock scene. Nick Oliveri plays Anarchy Brew Co, Newcastle on Thursday 17th November. www.twitter.com/nickoliveri

Lande Hekt by @gingerdope

MUSIC

LANDE HEKT @ POP RECS LTD.

Words: Matt Young

Former Muncie Girls co-founder Lande Hekt brings her charming singer-songwriter indie rock to Sunderland’s Pop Recs Ltd. on Wednesday 23rd November in support of House Without A View, her second solo album release in as many years. Anyone familiar with 2021’s Going To Hell album knows Hekt gives voice to her own introspection, adds her personal perspective on socially aware issues and combines her experiences with an often bewildering outside world. Her new album focuses on these and plenty of other concerns, not least being part of, and a strong advocate for, the queer community, all delivered in her usual self-effacing and tenderly (for the most part) modest manner. Support comes from Newcastle’s achingly endearing and poetically earnest indie rock songwriter Holly Rees, pitched somewhere between Laura Marling and Courtney Barnett, she’s an instant favourite the moment you hear her perform. Also on the bill are Middlesbroughbased garage rockers Onlooker, promising to bring their short, sharp, angry songs in a major key, to the gathered audience. Set your antennas to sonic melodic threat. This is a free entry/£5 suggested donation gig so there’s really no excuse for not getting along and having your musical nerves tickled. Lande Hekt, Holly Rees and Onlooker play Pop Recs Ltd., Sunderland on Wednesday 23rd November. www.landehekt.bandcamp.com

COMEDY

DAVE GORMAN @ TYNE THEATRE & OPERA HOUSE/ MIDDLESBROUGH TOWN HALL

Words: Laura Doyle

Woe betide anyone who has had to deal with a poor Powerpoint presentation. Oh wait – that’s pretty much everyone on the planet by this point. From dodgy university lecturers charging nine grand a year to read from the slides, borderline unbearable team building exercises delivered through misplaced Powerpoint transitions, or having to build the damn thing yourself for some school project in an underfunded IT lesson, slideshow presentations have become an unavoidable fact of modern life. That is, until Dave Gorman got his hands on a projector. He’s already demonstrated his love and fascination with the software on Dave (the channel)’s Modern Life Is Good(ish), and now you can see for yourself, live on stage at Tyne Theatre & Opera House and Middlesbrough Town Hall, just how effective a Powerpoint can be when in the right hands. With a love for focussing on life’s most mundane aspects, from what the red bit in a Finish dishwasher tab actually is (spoiler: it is not a red Smartie) to music choices on daytime home auction TV shows (Andrew WK’s Party Hard does not an appropriate soundtrack for a kitchen refurb make), it’s anyone’s guess what seemingly innocuous aspect of the human experience will get analysed with microscopic detail. Expect to be confused, yet weirdly educated. Dave Gorman: Powerpoint To The People is at Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle on Thursday 10th and Middlesbrough Town Hall on Friday 11th November. www.davegorman.com

MUSIC

SOUMIK DATTA @ SAGE GATESHEAD

Words: Adam Paxton

Fans of world music – a reductive and generic phrase, but the simplest way of describing an openness to the musical forms of other cultures – won’t want to miss Soumik Datta as he brings his Hope Notes tour to Sage Gateshead on Thursday 3rd November. Datta is a genuine forward thinker, combining elements of traditional Indian and Bengali music with an astonishingly diverse array of music from disparate cultures. His ensemble includes Syrian, Kenyan and Ugandan contributors and musical influences, as well as incorporating electronic, spoken word and elements of arts activism. Spoken word refugee stories, music homages to the various cultures, Hope Notes is an altogether uplifting and positive testament to the transcendental possibilities of true open-minded multi-culturalism, both in the arts and more generally. A living testament to the possibilities that can be explored when cultures don’t collide but coexist in harmony, Hope Notes can be enjoyed entirely on its own musical merit as well as with more thoughtful intellectual engagement. If you know anyone who is unsure about what world music can offer to someone of a dyed-in-the-wool Western music orthodoxy, bring them along. We bet they will have their minds changed by the end of the evening. Soumik Datta plays Sage Gateshead on Thursday 3rd November. www.soumikdatta.com

COMEDY

FINGERS AND FRINGE PRESENTS… @ TYNE THEATRE & OPERA HOUSE

Words: Jason Jones

Tyne Theatre & Opera House plays host to a star-studded night of comedy on Wednesday 23rd November, courtesy of local promoters Fingers and Fringe. Bringing together some of the most renowned stand-ups in the country, the gala will boast a stacked bill brimming with household names and emerging talents alike. American heavyweight Reginald D. Hunter and Scottish whirlwind Fern Brady (now of Taskmaster fame) will be joined by Britain’s Got Talent finalist Daliso Chaponda, Live At The Apollo favourite Scott Bennett, All Killa No Filla podcast queen Rachel Fairburn and local up-and-comer Louise Young, with Kiwi compere extraordinaire Jarred Christmas wrangling proceedings with his irrepressibly hysterical knack throughout. Speaking about the show, Fingers and Fringe’s Matty and Luke said: “It’s always been a dream of ours to put on a show of this size together, and to do it at Tyne Theatre & Opera House is an absolute joy. Strip Fingers and Fringe down and you have two die-hard fans of comedy wanting to put on a great show with an incredible line-up.” Fingers and Fringe Presents… takes place at Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle on Wednesday 23rd November. www.facebook.com/fingersandfringe

ART & LIT

LUCIE RIE @ MIMA

Words: Lizzie Lovejoy

Visit The Adventure of Pottery and step into the world of Lucie Rie in MIMA’s new exhibition of her life’s work from Friday 11th November to Sunday 12th February. Ground breaking in her time, she was one of very few female potters who led the world of ceramics with innovative and experimental processes. The exhibition will feature works spanning over six decades and will provide a chance for a new generation to interact with Lucie Rie’s influential work, which is imbued with a playful sense of experimentation and uses techniques of sgraffito and glazes to interesting effect. MIMA’s director Elinor Morgan explains: “Lucie Rie’s ceramics and incredible making techniques laid the groundwork for many others. It is an opportunity to focus on a lifetime of her pots and we are excited to welcome to MIMA those encountering Rie’s work for the first time as well as art and craft enthusiasts who know her work.” Middlesbrough has a rich creative history, particularly with industrial processes, and it’s easy to see the parallels between the production of pots and ceramics and our own local cultural history. You can witness the evolution of Lucie Rie’s work and learn more about the adventurous and often surprising world of pottery, in what promises to be an interesting and inventive exhibition. Lucie Rie: The Adventure of Pottery is at MIMA, Middlesbrough from Friday 11th November-Sunday 12th February. www.mima.art

GNOD

MUSIC

GNOD @ THE LUBBER FIEND

Words: Lee Fisher

It’s inevitable somehow that the core members of Gnod would end up in Hebden Bridge and Todmorden, the ‘Keep Calderdale Weird’ occult/psychedelic nature of the valley a perfect home for their reliably powerful explorations. A new base meant a new version of the band – by all accounts, one of their most intense yet – and that’s the Gnod that’s heading up to Newcastle on Saturday 19th November. As if that weren’t enough, they’re playing The Lubber Fiend, the still fairly new underground venue that has been going from strength to strength in its bookings and has now added a reputedly terrifying new PA to their armoury. Given Gnod’s fearsome reputation for volume, this is an equal parts delicious and terrifying proposition. Support comes from local space rock noiseniks Smote. Gnod and Smote play The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle on Saturday 19th November. www.gnod.bandcamp.com

STAGE

REIVER – TALES FROM THE BORDERS @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Laura Doyle

Northumberland, Cumbria and Southern Scotland, circa 400 or so years ago: too far North for London to care about them and too far South for Edinburgh to have much effective influence. Sound familiar? Despite the sense of deja-vu, the borderlands were rougher still, rife with tribal warfare between clans scrapping over food and supplies in the harsh climate. Now, as part of this year’s celebrations of 1900 years of Hadrian’s Wall, storyteller Steve Byron showcases his trilogy of modern folklore at venues across the region this month, based on some of the tales that came out of these lawless times. Reiver – Tales From The Borders was first enjoyed as one of North East theatre company Elysium’s Covid Monologues, online shows which kept the company afloat during the pandemic. From one turbulent time to another, these stories are apparently always in vogue. These adapted folk tales of corruption and greed, violence and injustice, and the never-ending battle for humanity’s survival through the lens of individuals fighting against less than ideal circumstances make the borders of yesteryear sound like an alien land – but beneath lies relatable tales of human beings taking a stand against an oppressive regime that left the North East desperately wanting. What other lessons could be learnt from this page in history? Reiver – Tales From The Borders takes place throughout November at Alnwick Playhouse (16th & 17th), The Exchange, North Shields (18th), Ushaw, Durham (19th), Hatfield College, Durham (23rd), Dufton Village Hall (24th), Mickleton Village Hall (25th), Wark Village Hall (26th), Allendale Village Hall (27th), Newcastle Castle (29th), Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham (30th) and Dovecote Centre, Amble (1st Dec). www.elysiumtc.co.uk

COMEDY

HILARITY BITES THE HIPP @ DARLINGTON HIPPODROME

Words: Michael O’Neill

Having established themselves as one of the North East’s premier purveyors of all side-splitting delights since their humble beginnings in 2007, Hilarity Bites Comedy Club have made it their mission to ensure that quality comedy is never in short supply throughout all the corners of the region. Proof that they’re far from running out of steam in their conquest can be found in the return of Hilarity Bites The Hipp, in partnership with Darlington Hippodrome, which finds them bringing a barrel of laughs to Darlo’s premier venue on Thursday 24th November. Headlining is the legendary Reginald D. Hunter, who hardly needs any introduction given his almost ubiquitous presence on the who’s-who of comedy panel shows within the last twenty years, with his signature style of brutal and honest wit. Joining Reg is Ivan Brackenbury, the hapless hospital radio DJ and creation of Tom Binns, the creator, star and writer of the cult BBC series Hospital People; Nina Gilligan, who has been going from strength to strength since winning the Leicester Mercury Comedian of the Year Award in 2021; and Brennan Reece, Live at the Apollo alumni, fresh from supporting Joe Lycett his huge UK arena tour! Get ready for the stitches! Hilarity Bites The Hipp takes place at Darlington Hippodrome on Thursday 24th November. www.hilaritybites.co.uk

Whitney K

MUSIC

WHITNEY K @ THE LUBBER FIEND

Words: Jason Jones

Whitney K graces The Lubber Fiend on Monday 14th November with his arrestingly frank brand of lo-fi folk Imbued with a bluesy magnetism and a knack for pensive introspection, K is the wandering troubadour alter-ego of Konner Whitney, a Whitehorse, Yukon resident whose erstwhile rambles have taken him from Vancouver to Montreal to Burnaby to Los Angeles in years gone by. First unveiled to the world more than half a decade ago through the intoxicating, four-track candour of manifesto Goodnight, K hurtled along on a potent cocktail of romance and escapism before opting for a clean break on third album Two Years. Earnest, witty and daring, K’s latest record lends dashes and pinches of inspiration from a roll call of greats as towering as Willie Nelson, Harry Nilsson and John Cale to sew together a sound that rallies and rails against the hypocritical and the corrupt with a raw precision. What was once outsider folk now rings with the stubborn discontent of political poetry, and is delivered with an honesty and perceptiveness that speaks to K’s gift for seeing the momentous in the mundane. Whitney K, Hank Bee, Stannington and Nev Clay play The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle on Monday 14th November. www.whitneyk.bandcamp.com

ART & LIT

COMPANION @ WORKPLACE FOUNDATION

Words: Claire Dupree

Dedicated to supporting and promoting regional and under-represented artists, Workplace Foundation continue their spotlight of emerging practitioners with their new exhibition, which runs at the Newcastle gallery from Saturday 29th October-Saturday 14th January. Companion asks artists to turn their gaze inwards, and reflect on how they view and describe their own work, while also placing themselves in context with other artists when exhibited together. The exhibition has been put together by Newcastle-based researcher and curator Gayle Meikle and includes work which spans mediums, from painting and photography to installations. British Nigerian photography Tayo Adekunle’s self-portrait work explores issues of race, gender and sexuality, often in the context of racial and colonial history; Catherine Bertola’s practice spans installation, sculpture, drawing and film, and seeks to delve further into untold stories of women’s roles in society, the home, craft production and labour; while Claire Dorsett’s paintings are inspired by what she terms as “casual, seemingly insignificant things”. An accompanying series of sonic elements throughout the show will take the themes of companionship and interaction further, as Meikle talks to each artist about how they view their own work. Companion runs at Workplace Foundation, Newcastle from Saturday 29th October- Saturday 14th January. www.workplacefoundation.art

MUSIC

SNAKERATTLERS @ THE GLOBE

Words: Cameron Wright

Snakerattlers are a two-piece band, comprising of married couple Dan and Naomi Gott, who create a fierce, hell-bound voyage of death rock, garage punk and fragments of the oldest, dustiest rockabilly. Those genres combine to make the York-based band’s own frenzied and furious take on music, known as rattlerock. The sound of Snakerattlers is acerbic, ruthless, erratic, dark and uncompromising, and is delivered with blasting guitars, thunderous drums and howled vocals. Scouring the sordid underbelly of rock ‘n’ roll, Snakerattlers are the band taking rockabilly and making it impactful; ingesting surf guitar riffs with a frightening and explosive energy, Snakerattlers have a knack for short, snappy sounds that refuse to let the listener go. As a punk mentality meets the jangling guitars, there’s a raucous energy that propels the band’s sound, that is epitomised in their live performances. Thriving on energy, anarchy and noise, Snakerattlers provided everything you might expect from a band with such a name, and the band will be bringing their show to Newcastle’s Globe on Saturday 12th November, where big riffs and mosh pits are guaranteed as the duo further their penchant for immediate, intense punk mania. Snakerattlers play The Globe, Newcastle on Saturday 12th November. www.snakerattlers.com

Matriarchy: Liiva Salme by Anne Helene Gjelstad

ART & LIT

MATRIARCHY @ SIDE GALLERY

Words: Jen Wilson

The concept of a matriarchal society in which women dominate all aspects of their community including the economy can seem fantastical to us in the UK, despite our newly appointed Prime Minister. Matriarchy is a photography exhibition at Side Gallery showing the work of two incredible photographers that celebrate the women-led communities of the indigenous Zapotec people in Juchitán, Mexico and the small Estonian Islands of Kihnu and Manija – often considered the last matriarchal society in Europe. Graciela Iturbide, a world renowned and influential photographer from Mexico, immersed herself in the small town of Juchitán and found the political, sexual and economic freedom of the Zapotec women profoundly inspiring. Although the photographs fall within the documentary tradition, Iturbide always adds a mysterious or surreal element to her pictures. Her work helped to bring forth a new wave of feminism in Mexico which is about as influential as art can get. Award winning photographer and educator Anne Helen Gjelstad’s Big Heart, Strong Hands is a story about female strength and resilience in Estonia. These women take care of everything on land while the men are at sea. The exhibition explores the harsh conditions of this unique society on the Islands of Estonia and their daily lives and activities. Matriarchy is at Side Gallery, Newcastle from Saturday 29th October-Friday 23rd December. www.amber-online.com

MUSIC

BELLE & SEBASTIAN @ O2 CITY HALL

Words: Cameron Wright

Belle & Sebastian have been heralded as one of Britain’s most notoriously wonderful indie rock bands for decades. Merging the charm and strutting confidence of a bygone era with delicate and introspective characters struggling to understand the world and be accepted by it, the themes of otherness which populate Stuart Murdoch’s penmanship attract a tenacious cult following, finding semblance in his gentle poetry and being swept away by the breezy musicianship. With Murdoch offering a respite from life’s harsh realities, there’s a purity in the band’s catalogue which has carried them through a series of glimmering releases, verging on masterpieces of the genre. 2020 saw the delivery of the sprawling double live album What To Look For In Summer, in which Belle & Sebastian provided undeniable evidence of their evolution from twinkling indie releases to powerful live performances. What feels most potent about the immersive release is the sense of community and unity between anyone who has found a safe haven in the band’s lyricism or the worlds they create. With the band touring the country once more, and performing their rescheduled show at Newcastle’s O2 City Hall on Thursday 24th November, Belle & Sebastian will be opening up their arms and welcoming members old and new into that beautiful community. Belle & Sebastian play O2 City Hall, Newcastle on Thursday 24th November. www.belleandsebastian.com

N’Famady Kouyate

MUSIC

N’FAMADY KOUYATÉ @ THE CLUNY

Words: Tracy Hyman

N’Famady Kouyaté is no stranger to the North East, having played at Sage Gateshead back in 2019, supporting and playing in Gruff Rhys’ band on the Pang! tour. Those who were there would surely remember his infectious and energetic performance. Now N’Famady is back with his own twenty date headline Balafô Douma tour, which drops in to The Cluny on Saturday 5th November. Cardiff resident N’Famady is a talented multi-instrumentalist whose primary instrument is the balafon, the traditional wooden xylophone sacred to West African culture and his family heritage of the griot/djeli. Originally from Conakry in Guinea, he wows audiences with modern interpretations of traditional West African Mandingue songs, fusing jazz, pop, indie and funk influences, with instrumentation ranging from balafon and djembe to saxophone and trumpet. A collection of these songs were released last year in the form of his debut EP, Aros I Fi Yna, with new Welsh lyrics. Recorded at the legendary Rockfield Studios, the EP featured a full band line-up with guest appearances from Gruff Rhys, Lisa Jên Brown and Kliph Scurlock. This year N’Famady’s Balafô Douma tour coincides with the release of new single Dere Ma, recorded once again in Rockfield Studios, this time with London-based producer Dustin Dooley. N’Famady Kouyaté plays at The Cluny, Newcastle on Saturday 5th November. www.nfamady.com

STAGE

ROMA @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Helen Redfern

In this semi-autobiographical work, Anglo-Sicilian choreographer Anthony Lo-Giudice brings together a team of internationally renowned performers, both dancers and musicians including violinist Bradley Creswick MBE, to explore notions of cross-cultural identity, border and nationhood. He explains: “ROMA is a recollection of memories and reflections on how my family, heritage and nationality have made me the person I am today. These musings, although personal, form the basis of a wider study of contemporary society.” And he’s right, these are pertinent topics in contemporary Britain today. Ultimately, it all comes down to what it is to belong. Anthony talks about the inspiration for his work: “My work as a choreographer is often a blend of folklore fantasy, nostalgia and working-class anxieties that are communicated through the visual aesthetics of dance and the moving body. I have created ROMA to enable me to understand my parents at a deeper level, whilst they are still alive to tell their stories.” And so Anthony crafts the intimate musings of his English mother and Sicilian father’s accounts of one another, shaping them into a series of fleeting memories and imaginations that become the beautiful evocative work that is ROMA. He sensitively depicts their tempestuous jostle between love and cultural divide, the struggles of loneliness and conflict that they face, and the inevitable complexities of heritage, tradition, language and family. Touring theatres and other venues throughout the North of England over the next couple of months, ROMA portrays through movement and music one particular love story, yes, but the quest is universal. We all want someone to love. We all want a place to call home. We all want to feel like we belong somewhere. ROMA is performed at Durham Cathedral on Friday 18th November, Middlesbrough Town Hall on Thursday 1st December, Queen’s Hall Hexham on Friday 2nd December and Dance City, Newcastle on Friday 9th December. www.anthonylogiudice.com/roma

ART & LIT

BOOKS ON TYNE @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Lizzie Lovejoy

After a three year hiatus, Books on Tyne is proudly stepping back into the spotlight with the 10th instalment of this beloved Newcastle -based book festival taking place from Saturday 19th-Saturday 26th November. The programme is packed with varied content from local life to the natural world, current affairs and music plus so much more. Highlights of the programme include Maya Goodfellow discussing her work, Hostile Environment, which explores the dark world of using immigration as a scapegoat for contemporary political struggles; novelist Ashley Hickson-Lovence talks to Sarah Tyson about his brilliant novelisation of the life of Uriah Rennie, the Premier League’s first and only Black referee; Saint Etienne musician Bob Stanley speaks with award-winning historian Brian Ward about his new book about the birth of modern pop, Let’s Do It (all City Library, Saturday 19th). There are poetry and short story readings from the Red Squirrel Press Showcase, which includes a range of local authors (City Library, Monday 21st); and there’s a range of North East-based books to discover when Barry Hindson, Ken Smith, Paul Ferris and Paul Brown discuss their novels (City Library, Tuesday 22nd); there’s a reading from the lyrical and fearless new novel by celebrated author Nancy Campbell, Thunderstone (Lit & Phil, Wednesday 23rd); Newcastle-based poet Sean O’Brien reads from his 11th collection of poems, Embark (Lit & Phil, Thursday 24th); documentary filmmaker Rob Kilburn talks about the weird and wonderful world of social history with his book Tyne & Weird; and in celebration of the release of her new novel Lost And Found, author Elizabeth Garner is joined by folk duo Patterson Dipper for a special event where folk songs and stories venture into unknown lands (both City Library, Saturday 26th). Books on Tyne takes place at various venues in Newcastle from Saturday 19th-Saturday 26th November. www.booksontyne.co.uk

Wesley Gonzalez

MUSIC

WESLEY GONZALEZ @ HEAD OF STEAM

Words: Matt Young Former

Let’s Wrestle frontman Wesley Gonzalez hits the highways on tour to showcase his recent Wax Limousine album, roaring into Newcastle’s Head of Steam on Friday 18th November. No longer sticking to the melodic eccentric punk tunes of his former band, now a few albums removed from their highs, Gonzalez expands on his own eclectic musical palette further and he’s an extremely broach church when it comes to paring styles and sounds; it sounds like waking up hungover, where things are slightly off-kilter and fuzzy at the edges. When he sings there’s that same authoritative, swooning tone of the 80’s that acts like Scritti Politti, Prefab Sprout, Phil Oakey or Edwyn Collins exuded. His confident vocal swells upfront and is backed by various disco pop grooves of synth and Chic-riffed guitars from the same exploratory pop era, anchored by funk bass and glistening in surround sound. Gonzalez manages to be simultaneously sincere – earnest even – but never too far from being self-deprecating too, and makes his presence strongly felt while baring parts of his soul and thrusting his hips. He delivers his songs with equal quantities of swagger and a fair helping of pathos. We recommend you get up to the front, let yourself go and enjoy the whole sweaty party. Wesley Gonzalez performs at Head of Steam, Newcastle on Friday 18th November. www.wesleygonzalez.bandcamp.com

Dancing on the Tables by Jenn Curtis Photography

MUSIC

SONGS FROM NORTHERN BRITAIN @ THE GEORGIAN THEATRE

Words: Cameron Wright

Annual micro festival Songs From Northern Britain returns to Stockton on Friday 25th November. Spread across The Georgian Theatre, the Georgian’s bar and neighbouring venue The Green Room, the event provides a roster of fresh talent from across the North East and Scotland. With artists like The Howl & The Hum and The Snuts having played the event before, organisers The Kids Are Solid Gold and Tees Music Alliance are keen to provide a platform for the new names in the scene. Having played the festival several times already, Scottish alt. rock band Dancing On Tables are stepping up to headline position, straight off the release of their debut album Colour In The Grey, which has won praise for its fusion of anthemic indie pop. The band also venture back to the region for a show at Independent in Sunderland on Thursday 1st December. Also on the bill are Newcastle’s thrillingly raw fuzz rockers Pave The Jungle; the melancholic and tear-stained pop of Jen Dixon; Sunderland’s phenomenally euphoric and funky dance music experience Vandebilt; the alt. folk sounds of Callum Pitt; cellist and vocalist Ceitidh Mac; Glaswegian indie popsters False Friends; Teesside garage rockers Onlooker and experimental riff rockers The Wife Guys of Reddit, with more to be confirmed. Songs From Northern Britain takes place at The Georgian Theatre and The Green Room, Stockton on Friday 25th November. www.georgiantheatre.co.uk

Sarah Saeed

STAGE

LAVA ELASTIC @ ARC

Words: Jen Wilson

Lava Elastic is the UK’s FIRST openly neurodiverse night of comedy, poetry and stuff brought to you by neurodiverse performer and host Sarah Saeed, aka comedy diva Marianna Harlotta. A theory has recently emerged that many of us are ‘neurodiverse’ with differences including Autism/Aspergers, ADHD, dyslexia/ dyspraxia, Tourette’s syndrome and other types of brain that do not fall into the ‘neurotypical’ camp. This can make opportunities to perform even harder to come by. Neurodivergent performers can struggle more than most with the admin and fees involved in getting gigs and as a result there are a whole section of niche and brilliant acts that you would simply not get to experience, but Lava Elastic is here to change that with their show at Stockton’s ARC on Friday 4th November which will celebrate ALL the humans doing their thing, including neurotypical performers, who are also part of the show. Expect performances from Scottish comic Lubna Kerr, spoken word performer Lizzie Lovejoy and local comedian Neil Harris. Lava Elastic takes place at ARC, Stockton on Friday 4th November. www.lavaelastic.com

EVENTS

BEING HUMAN @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Laura Doyle

How do you spot a humanities student? They’re probably the one in the corner, vehemently defending the existence of the humanities as academic disciplines to the maths and science lot... Maybe the humanities won’t be sending people to the moon any time soon, but the study of human society and culture is more integral to our collective future success than you might realise. How else are we supposed to learn from our mistakes if we don’t first study them? The festival of the humanities seeks to ensure we don’t lose sight of this. Being Human runs annually, bringing attention to the value of humanities research on an international scale and conveying them at an easily digestible local level. Events this year run from Thursday 10th-Friday 18th November and include late takeovers at the Great North Museum: Hancock, Lit & Phil and Newcastle and Durham Universities where you can dive into the history of Hadrian’s Wall through the medium of LEGO, investigate English language change and Northern dialects since the Lindisfarne Gospels, and learn more about superstitions and regional witchcraft in an interactive dramatic workshop. With activities to suit any age, interest and level of expertise, Being Human offers anyone the opportunity to explore everything that the humanities subjects have to offer – and you might just find out more than you bargained for. Being Human festival takes place at various venues in Newcastle from Thursday 10th-Friday 18th November. www.beinghumanfestival.org

Bored At My Grandmas House

MUSIC

CLUE RECORDS 10TH ANNIVERSARY @ BASE CAMP

Words: Cameron Wright

2012 saw the inception of Clue Records: having been toyed around for years as a potential idea, it was in 2012 that two Teessiders, Scott and Ste, opened the doors to what has become a Northern staple. Clue was born out of a passion for music and a willingness to make mistakes, evolve and grow. Welcoming that evolution with open arms, the Leeds-based company have been responsible for launching a plethora of careers, with recent successes including smashers from Tyneside fuzz rockers Pit Pony and an ambitious year-long series of releases with The Wedding Present. Their artists have gone on to play play Glastonbury, tour internationally and feature widely across national and international press. Now on the cusp of their 10 year anniversary, the duo are looking for more ways to celebrate and connect. As well as releasing a ten year expanded compilation release this month, the next phase of this celebration is a series of live shows, one of which sees Clue coming home for a night at Middlesbrough’s Base Camp on Saturday 26th November. Delivering an evening of superb music with Clue artists old and new, acts like indie punks Gawjuss, post-indie quartet PLAZA, garage rock band HAMER, Leeds’ psych popsters Van Houten, Darlington’s own mysterious dark rockers Wax Heart Sodality and up and coming indie rock artist Sarah Johnsone will perform in Middlesbrough, with a headlining set from alt. pop artist Bored At My Grandma’s House ensuring the night is a veritable feast of Northern talent. Constantly moving forward and giddily morphing the North’s music scene, the show will be a well deserved commemorative night to appreciate the beautiful music of Clue Records. Clue Records 10th anniversary takes place at Base Camp, Middlesbrough on Saturday 26th November. www.cluerecords.com

STAGE

ONE OFF @ LIVE THEATRE

Words: Helen Redfern

One Off is based on the turbulent life story of North East writer and actor Ric Renton. Renton relives his time in prison through his writing and performing. He’ll never forget his time in prison as DV7786, but now he’s found a way to use that experience to demonstrate to audiences that change is possible. Live Theatre has become a platform for artists to tell their most personal and political stories, and this world premiere of Ric’s story, taking place from Thursday 10th-Saturday 26th November, is one of the most astonishing new voices audiences will hear this year. Born in Denton Burn, Ric Renton’s troubled upbringing led to him spending his young adulthood in prison. Whilst in HMP Durham, he learned to read and crucially to write. This is his story. “One Off was all the dignity afforded to those who could take no more. No names. Not even their number. One off,” states prisoner DV7786, who recognises that he too may easily have just been another One Off. Renton’s written this play for all the dead boys, and for night watchman Jock, who, without his invisible, persistent presence in those corridors, he might not still be here to speak his truth. Audiences will be introduced to three young men Knox, Brown and Shepherd, who are passing their time in a prison with the highest suicide rate in the country. They’re energised by their friendship but haunted by the repeated pronouncements of another life lost. The arrival of a nightwatchman, Jock, is what Shepherd needs to find an unexpected way through the darkness. Expect emotion blended with high energy and the blackest humour. One Off is performed at Live Theatre, Newcastle from Thursday 10th-Saturday 26th November. www.live.org.uk

Prima Queen by Barbora Mrazkova

MUSIC

PRIMA QUEEN @ THE CLUNY

Words: Jake Anderson

Did you know ‘Prima’ has two definitions? I didn’t. The first is “the most important performer”, which is what most of us would think. But the second is the ‘the consumption of raw apples’. I’d say surely that isn’t right, but why would free dictionary dot com lie to me?! Anyway, I don’t think Prima Queen are the royalty of raw apples, but they will be the most important performers to see in Newcastle when they arrive during their UK tour, which will take them to The Cluny on Wednesday 23rd November. Having previously supported the likes of Wet Leg, the band are quickly becoming one of the more popular bands from the London alternative rock scene. The melodic and catchy Chew My Cheeks is a great representation of the band, with its electric guitar-driven instrumental that’ll have you chanting “You make it easy” over and over. The band’s newest song, Eclipse, leans more into the rockier elements of their sound, being a fun foot-stomper. Supporting them will be Tapir! – a name to be exclaimed. The group have just released their debut EP, Act 1 (The Pilgrim), which features whispery vocals over beautiful folktronica melodies, and displays some really great songwriting best seen with their song The Nether (Face to Face), which is an ode to a particular 2010s video game. Prima Queen and Tapir! play The Cluny, Newcastle on Wednesday 23rd November. www.facebook.com/primaqueenmusic

Jarboe by Machilyn Chen

MUSIC

JARBOE @ THE LUBBER FIEND

Words: Adam Paxton

Fans who wish to experience something a little bit different from the usual in their live shows are in for a treat this month, as former Swans vocalist and keyboard player Jarboe brings her eclectic show to Newcastle’s Lubber Fiend on Friday 11th November. Jarboe mixes the soothing and the sweeping with the abrasive and dangerous, producing a kind of music that drips atmosphere and feels best listened to in the dark, by candlelight. Musically, Jarboe is typically eclectic in her sound, informed by a wide variety of influences. Her latest album Skin Blood Women Roses offers slow, brooding ballads, dominated by haunted, soaring vocals, piano and keys, with swells of dissonance, materialising and fading out again, all contributing to the occult atmosphere of the album. There is a distinct absence of a rhythm section on most of the album, allowing the songs to meander at their own pace. Plus, this month 1995’s seminal album Sacrificial Cake gets an anniversary reissue on vinyl. Supporting Jarboe is avant-garde composer and lutenist Jozef Van Wissem, deepening the overall atmosphere with his stark, haunting melodies. The atmosphere Wissem is able to create with just one instrument is impressive, seeming to play two or three intertwining melodies at a time. Jarboe and Jozef Van Wissem play The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle on Friday 11th November. www.thelivingjarboe.com

FILM

NORTH EAST INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Laura Doyle

Move over, Cannes – the North East is the place to be for film lovers this November thanks to the North East International Film Festival. Venues from Whitley Bay to Stockton will be playing host to the Festival’s curated selection of films, including Oscar-winners, BFI-funded projects and locally made features from Monday 14th-Sunday 20th November. A highlight of the jam-packed programme includes the premiere of documentary Dirty, Sexy and Totally Iconic, a 50th anniversary celebration of North East staple Get Carter which has been created by original producer Michael Klinger’s son and local filmmaker Tony. Cinephiles can grab day tickets for a measly £12.50 or a three-day pass for just £25 and catch as many screenings as they can manage across the North East, including those of the shortlisted for NEIFF awards. Beyond the silver screen, NEIFF also promises exclusive events from networking events with industry professionals, free workshops to provide valuable insight and experience to budding local filmmakers, and of course the prestigious closing gala where the winner of the festival will be selected from the finalists. Whether you want to catch the odd show, make a day of it, or dedicate your whole weekend to North East spectacles, the North East International Film Festival is worth a look-in. Check the website for full listings. North East International Film Festival takes place at venues across the region from Monday 14th-Sunday 20th October. www.neiff.co.uk

Rachael Dadd

MUSIC

RACHAEL DADD @ COBALT STUDIOS

Words: Ali Welford

Rachael Dadd’s name has fluttered in fringe folk circles for the best part of two decades, yet it’s only in recent years that the Bristolian has begun to enjoy some crossover traction. This breakthrough can be attributed to several factors – signing with indie heavyweight Memphis Industries; her proximity to a thriving scene featuring the likes of This Is The Kit and Rozi Plain – but by far the most significant has been the characteristic enterprise and individuality listeners have discovered in her ever-developing craft. Having delighted with 2019’s label debut Flux, this creative blossoming reaches full bloom on Kaleidoscope, an eighth album housing some of the boldest, most dextrous and outright gorgeous music of her career. A mini-opus of ethereal melody, playful idiosyncrasy and bewitching string embellishments, this latest endeavour represents a fresh zenith – and if past form is any indicator, should only flourish further on the live stage. That’s something which anybody present for her January 2020 full-band show at Cobalt Studios will attest to – and plenty will doubtless be back for more upon her welcome return to the same venue on Friday 18th November. Support on the evening comes from Maja Lena, a Stroud-based songwriter fixated on nature and touring in advance of her sophomore album Pluto, plus Tobias Sarra, a local artist dealing in improvised collages of distorted ambience, lo-fi wanderings and found sound. Rachael Dadd, Maja Lena and Tobias Sarra play Cobalt Studios, Newcastle on Friday 18th November. www.rachaeldaddmusic.com

MUSIC

HENRY PARKER @ CLAYPATH DELI/THE ENGINE ROOM

Words: Jake Anderson

Self-described as Yorkshire psych-folk, Henry Parker will be touring the UK this November alongside fellow artist David Ian Roberts, with both artists sharing headline duties. The tail end of their journey will take them to the North East, as the duo will be stopping at Durham’s Claypath Deli on Saturday 12th and North Shields’ The Engine Room on Sunday 13th November. With only two albums under his belt, Lammas Fair and Silent Spring, Parker has developed a dedicated loyal fan base. His music is less about the written lyrics, and more about the emotion carried through its instrumentals. These acoustic guitar compositions create a dynamic and folk-driven sonic atmosphere to get lost in. Highlight track Nine Herbs Charm prominently features a flute that playfully joins Parker’s vocals, with excellently demonstrates his mesh of differing, calming sounds. If you enjoy Parker, you’ll enjoy David Ian Roberts too; the artist shares the same relaxing atmosphere as Parker but has a higher emphasis on his gentle vocal performance. The track Rushing from his latest album, In Clover, best shows off the artist’s craftsmanship, being a vibrant and bright ballad. Henry Parker and David Ian Roberts play Claypath Deli, Durham on Saturday 12th and The Engine Room, North Shields on Sunday 13th November. www.henryparkermusic.co.uk

Kathryn Williams

MUSIC

KATHRYN WILLIAMS @ GOSFORTH CIVIC THEATRE

Words: Michael O’Neill

Across a prolific fourteen studio albums, including this year’s acclaimed Night Drives and 2021’s Midnight Chorus, as well as a lengthy list of collaborations with the likes of Carol Ann Duffy, Thea Gilmore, John Martyn and Bombay Bicycle Club, Kathryn Williams has carved a veritable reputation as a songwriter’s songwriter, with her prolific output being a regular source of critical acclaim, and a regular mainstay of Best Of lists year in, year out. There’s no doubt that the staggering impact that this body of work has on record will translate impeccably to the glorious surrounds of Gosforth Civic Theatre when she performs at the venue on Tuesday 1st November. Night Drives is further evidence of Kathryn’s determination to push her craft into bold and different frontiers, with a more filmic, ensemble-based sound that is wonderfully complemented by the production of wunderkind Ed Harcourt. It’s a bold release, and one that brilliantly testifies to the relentlessly creative and boundary-pushing spirit that has seen Kathryn be regularly held in the same regard as many of the canon’s most revered singer-songwriters, staying true to the roots of the craft at a time where many have turned to more play-it-safe, commercial and bland approaches. Kathryn Williams plays Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle on Tuesday 1st November. www.kathrynwilliams.co.uk

ART & LIT

OUSEBURN OPEN STUDIOS @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Jake Anderson

Ouseburn is surely the most delightful of Newcastle’s neighbourhoods for music and the creative arts, and this creativity will be on full show this winter with the return of the annual Ouseburn Open Studios on Saturday 26th-Sunday 27th November. The weekend sees seven venues opening their doors to the public, including 36 Lime Street, B. Box Studios, Biscuit Tin Studios, Cobalt Studios, Northern Print, The Jim Edwards Studio Gallery and Mushroom Works. People will be able to get an insight into some of these studios and the artists that call them home, with a huge range of creative work on display, plus a range of activities for all ages. Coming at an excellent time for Christmas gift shopping for that particularly choosy friend, attendees will be spoiled for choice, with prints and paintings to ceramics and jewellery plus much more on display. The Biscuit Factory’s offering in particular will be a real celebration, as they mark their 20th anniversary with pop-up offerings from local artists throughout the weekend; while Cobalt’s offering is typically inventive, with a monoprint embossing powder workshop on Saturday and a risograph print market with added DJs, food and more on Sunday. 36 Lime Street will also be holding a raffle to fundraise for Disasters Emergency Committee Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal, which will include covetable letter press tickets, hand-printed by Hole Editions’ Lee Turner. Ouseburn Open Studios takes place at various venues in the Ouseburn Valley, Newcastle on Saturday 26th and Sunday 27th November. www.ouseburnopenstudios.org

W. H. Lung by Aubrey Simpson

MUSIC

W.H. LUNG @ COBALT STUDIOS

Words: Ali Welford

When W.H. Lung rock up at Cobalt Studios on Friday 11th November, they’ll do so a very different outfit to that which last thrilled a Newcastle audience back in 2019. Introduced by that year’s Incidental Music as the latest disciples to a lineage of infectious, expansive modern psych, the Mancunians have since undergone a technicolour transformation, fuelled by an expanded five-piece line-up and culminating with a stellar sophomore album in last autumn’s Variants. Trading lengthy durations and sprawling instrumentals for punchy choruses, gleaming pop hooks and intoxicating dancefloor verve, the new record is both an expansion of their horizons and fulfilment of their vast early potential, capped emphatically by one of the finest singles released by anybody in 2021 in the pulsing synth pop banger Pearl In The Palm. The group’s live shows have enjoyed an adrenaline burst too; reviewers noting an “invigorating,” “indecently rousing” vim with fresh arrivals spurring Joseph Evans’ reinvention as an active, livewire frontman par excellence. For early birds, the Cobalt date will also feature support from Moderma – a project from multi-instrumentalist and producer Emily Z promising synthesised vocals, pop sensibilities and influences ranging from Björk to Caroline Polachek and Everything But The Girl. An intriguing tee-up for a performance that’s not to be missed… W.H. Lung and Moderma play Cobalt Studios, Newcastle on Friday 11th November. www.whlung.bandcamp.com

Seazoo

MUSIC

SEAZOO @ LITTLE BUILDINGS

Words: Michael O’Neill

Taking cues from the likes of Yo La Tengo, Courtney Barnett, Pavement and Grandaddy, Wrexham-based Seazoo have secured themselves a steadfast reputation for their off-kilter pop wonders that have garnered them comparisons to indie royalty, plus plenty of acclaim from the likes of NME and bagged them coveted support slots for the likes of IDLES, The Lovely Eggs and Circa Waves, as well as appearances at SXSW, The Great Escape and Green Man. One listen of recent single Beaten By The Rain, the first release from their upcoming third LP, is a testament to why they’ve so quickly bagged such a brilliant seat at the table of exciting upcoming prospects. The band initially found life as a bedroom-recording outfit by Ben Trow

and Llinos Griffiths, before blossoming to a fivepiece unit, leaving their lo-fi roots behind in favour of a full-fledged anything-goes sound that is propelled by their impeccable command of melody and the quality craftsmanship of their songwriting, which will find a brilliant home in the iconic Little Buildings on Saturday 19th November, as the final date in a whistle-stop UK tour in preparation for their bold next step. Seazoo play Little Buildings, Newcastle on Saturday 19th November. www.seazooband.com

FILM

DOC ’N’ ROLL FILM FESTIVAL @ TYNESIDE CINEMA

Words: Jason Jones

Female-led film agency Doc ‘n’ Roll return to Tyneside Cinema from Tuesday 1st-Wednesday 9th November with their second annual (and now nationwide) film festival. Known for championing independent film and marginalised voices in the film and music industry alike, the collective have carved out a niche with their passionate support for compelling documentaries that celebrate the performers, labels, scenes and stories which make up music’s most intriguing subcultures. This year’s selection of films includes A Film About Studio Electrophonique, directed by James Taylor, chronicling the story of the Sheffield council-house-turned-recordingstudio that nurtured the likes of Pulp, The Human League and Heaven 17 throughout the late ‘80s and early ‘90s. Other showings include a feature on the rise of New Romanticism entitled TRAMPS!, an intimate account from documentary photographer and filmmaker Lilly Creightmore capturing the story of a cadre of disparate artists who influenced a resurgence of psychedelia; and ENERGY, a film about enigmatic CAN frontman Damo Suzuki that tenderly addresses the musician’s cancer diagnosis and his efforts to continue a never-ending world tour. Screening on consecutive nights across the first week in November, the festival aims to shine a light on the vital musical stories that might otherwise pass you by. Doc ‘N’ Roll Film Festival takes place at Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle from Tuesday 1st-Wednesday 9th November. www.docnrollfestival.com

Mark Thomas by Tony Pletts

COMEDY

MARK THOMAS @ THE STAND

Words: Leigh Venus

Performing for an astonishing 35 years, Mark Thomas is one of our oldest surviving alternative comics. Writer of five books, maker of six series of the Mark Thomas Comedy Product for Channel 4, and still a Guinness World Record holder for holding 20 protests in 24 hours, he remains an incendiary, seething, preternaturally hilarious presence. Credited with changing the law on tax avoidance, exposing irradiated pigeon shit and starting a comedy club in Palestine, he self-identifies as “the left-wing Superman” and describes his work as a mix of stand-up, theatre, journalism and performance art. Now 57 years old, he’s long stopped caring if that description sounds pretentious. Back at Newcastle’s Stand on Tuesday 29th November after a sold-out run at this year’s Edinburgh Fringe, the political godfather of UK comedy is back to take down politicians, muck about and find hope. Still white hot and raging after two years-plus of lockdowns, isolation and yearning for the experience of being live in front of an audience, Black And White promises to be a funny, passionate night of sharp observations, searing critique – maybe even a singalong – and ultimately nothing less than the simple act of bringing strangers together in a room for a good laugh and to topple international capitalism. Mark Thomas performs at The Stand, Newcastle on Tuesday 29th November. www.markthomasinfo.co.uk

Rime of the Submerged Forest

EVENTS

HARTLEPOOL WINTERTIDE FESTIVAL

Words: Claire Dupree

With the intention to animate the streets and engage, inspire and spark curiosity, Wintertide Festival returns to Hartlepool’s historic headland on Saturday 26th November. The theme this year is Renaissance, and paves the way for an ambitious three year plan to scale up their activities after a turbulent couple of years which saw cancellations due to Covid and Storm Arwen. Visitors are promised outdoor art, music, performance, creative workshops, a makers market, carnival and fireworks, plus much more besides. Highlights of the programme include Curious Arts’ illuminated performance of their fun, floral pop-up show Wildflower; a UV puppet show from folk storytellers Whippet Up; an interactive illumination with artist Dan Brobble at St Hilda’s Church and a hypnotic sculptural installation from Stellar Projects, The Stars Come Out At Night. Workshops will include opportunities to learn how to make wreaths and rings, plus gain insights into papermaking, screen printing and ceramics. There’s more visual installations at Croft Gardens, where artwork will be on display by Rachel Gretton Glass, Northern School of Art and We Make Sound; plus there’s roaming theatre performance from Thingumajig Theatre and Rime of the Submerged Forest. Live music includes sets from soulful balladeer Lost State of Dan, surf superstars The Milk Lizards and honest songwriter Gaz Price, with more to be announced. Wintertide Festival takes place in Hartlepool on Saturday 26th November. www.wintertidefestival.co.uk

MUSIC

THE ORB @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Adam Paxton

Rightfully-revered legends of 90’s rave culture, The Orb were pioneers of ambient house, and they’ll be bringing their legendary and extensive live show to venues in the North East throughout November. Whilst remaining true to their roots through the decades, maintaining their sci-fi aesthetic and tendency towards elegiac, liquid soundscapes, The Orb have nonetheless adapted and shown impressive range without abandoning their defining characteristics. Classic dreamy ambience coexists side by side with more upbeat, danceable stuff such as Daze and Ital Orb from 2021’s Abolition Of The Royal Familia. With such an extensive and ever-evolving back catalogue, it is impossible to predict exactly what the shows will comprise of; we expect deep-cuts and obscurities alongside timeless classics such as Little Fluffy Clouds. The Orb are as experienced as it gets, and know how to perfectly craft a set-list to feel as cohesive a journey as a studio album, the atmosphere augmented by an elaborate and ever evolving light-show, imagery and aesthetic having always been a focus of The Orb’s carefully curated image. Any fans of 90’s electronic music won’t want to miss this opportunity to see genuine royalty from the golden age. The Orb play Wylam Brewery, Newcastle on Thursday 3rd, Independent in Sunderland on Friday 4th and The Georgian Theatre, Stockton on Sunday 13th November. www.theorb.com

Tomorrow’s Parties by Hugo Glendinning

STAGE

TOMORROW’S PARTIES @ LIVE THEATRE

Words: Helen Redfern

Tomorrow’s Parties is pure speculation. Throughout the show at Live Theatre, which takes place from Tuesday 29th-Wednesday 30th November, the two performers on stage enjoy the pleasure of invention as they speculate about what the future might bring. It’s a simple premise and simple setting framed by coloured fairground lights, but don’t be fooled. This seemingly minimal performance soon reveals itself as a lo-fi theatrical explosion. Their suppositions take them in different directions as they imagine futures both possible and impossible: utopian and dystopian visions; science fiction scenarios; political nightmares and absurd fantasies. The result is playful, poignant and at times delirious. The artists at Sheffield-based theatre company Forced Entertainment have been collaborating to make original theatre and performances together since 1984. For them, it’s all about collaboration: co-operating as equals over the years and building up a truly shared language, repertoire, skills and ways of working. The group is deeply committed to live theatre and the way the performance generates energy and tension from its presence in a room with other people. There’s a commitment to making performances that explore the contemporary world too, performances that excite, challenge and entertain audiences. Tomorrow’s Parties does just that, for who among us has not entertained notions of an alternative future, grappling with the hopes and fears that arise from our present reality? Ultimately, of course, the future depends on what we do today. Taking time out to explore various futures with Forced Entertainment at Live Theatre seems like a good plan to me. Tomorrow’s Parties is at Live Theatre, Newcastle from Tuesday 29th-Wednesday 30th November. www.live.org.uk

Rob Auton

COMEDY

ROB AUTON @ THE STAND

Words: Cameron Wright

Poet, podcaster, comedian. Over the years, Rob Auton has delved deeper into what makes him special. From his roots as an absurd, deadpan comedian, brilliantly tossing together one liners in a sort of British homage to Mitch Hedberg, Auton’s career has seen his output emerge beautifully out that cocoon, allowing room for the philosophical, lyrical ponderings of his nature that may have gone previously overlooked. With his daily podcast allowing us tiny, two-minute insights into his mind, his poetry is a true manifestation of his humanity, sensitivity and brevity. While his transformation has been a decade in the making, there are unflappable parts of Auton’s act that are here to stay. That surreal look in his eyes, that penchant for monotony and that allure in the bizarre. Finding the oddities in the most rudimentary parts of life has been a centrepiece of Auton’s act, as every year from 2012 he has brought a show to the Edinburgh Fringe which hyper-focuses on a specific subject. This year, and coming to Newcastle’s Stand on Saturday 5th November, Rob Auton brings forward ‘The Crowd Show’. Be part of the crowd as the performer delivers a spoken word piece that is both simultaneously stand-up and theatre. Profoundly original and undeniably a master of his craft, Rob Auton is one to see. Rob Auton performs at The Stand, Newcastle on Saturday 5th November. www.robauton.co.uk

MUSIC

BOB VYLAN @ NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ UNION

Words: Cameron Wright

Coming off a US tour supporting Amyl & The Sniffers, there has been no better time to see the explosive and dynamic Bob Vylan. Unapologetically political, the duo crank the volume up, combining the growling, enraged voice of England’s youth with the barbaric bars and explosive choruses of an early Rage Against The Machine. Holding more in common with Rage than just a politically outraged band that merges hip-hop with guitars, the duo ramp up the humour, energy and hysteria, with personality dripping off their accelerating rhythms, honest lyrics and combative hooks. Having gained an impressive reputation for their ability to translate their studio energy perfectly to the live experience, their gig at Newcastle University Students’ Union on Friday 11th November will be explosive to say the least. 2022 album The Price Of Life saw them gaining considerable acclaim for their honest approach to laying bare the challenges of modern life, and their heartfelt truths resonate with an audience who know all too well the realities of being downtrodden, misrepresented and disenfranchised. Arguably, in light of today’s political, economical and environmental tumult, there has never been a more apt time for the heart of punk to make an honest comeback, and no act is doing it with more authenticity than Bob Vylan. Bob Vylan play Newcastle University Students’ Union on Friday 11th November. www.bobvylan.bandcamp.com

The Wicked Problem

STAGE

THE WICKED PROBLEM @ ARC

Words: Helen Redfern

One of the UK’s leading climate theatre companies, Ergon Theatre, brings The Wicked Problem to ARC Stockton on Wednesday 16th November. A ‘climate justice’ sell-out show at Contact Theatre and Lancaster Arts as a part of Manchester’s offering to COP26, The Wicked Problem poses a tough question to the audience: “With climate-related disasters on the rise, what would you put first – the future of the planet or your family?” Imagine the scene: the year is 2061. A man breaks a climate law to save his family and entire community, a law in place to save humanity. Is he guilty of a crime? Does he deserve to be punished for this crime? You, the audience, are the jury. Ergon Theatre seeks to make climate science accessible to people in educational, entertaining and empowering ways. And so as jury members, you’ll hear from a variety of witnesses including a woman based in Bangladesh to a global pop star. Then the lights will go up and you’ll discuss what you’ve heard. Your guilty or not guilty verdict will determine what happens next. Between you, you get to decide on the outcome of the show. This uniquely interactive experience allows audiences to investigate the future of Britain as they question their own morals, debate on climate change and consider geographical privilege, and themes around climate change, equity and sustainability come to life. What will you decide? The Wicked Problem is at ARC, Stockton on Wednesday 16th November. www.ergontheatre.co.uk