PREVIEWS

Image by Eddy Maynard

MUSIC

BENEFITS @ MIDDLESBROUGH EMPIRE

Words: Jason Jones

What do Black Francis, Steve Albini and Elijah Wood, aka Frodo Baggins, all have in common? They are all vocal advocates of Teesside’s very own Benefits… but then again, of course they are; they’re only human (and a hobbit). The snarling collective head out on tour again this spring, but will first be dipping a proverbial toe into the waters of the live scene with a triple combo of gigs in early February, including a hometown tear-up at The Empire in Middlesbrough on Friday 3rd February. Melding aspects of electronica, industrial rock, hip-hop and garage to riotous effect, Benefits’ infectious urgency and unforgiving political agenda has catapulted them to a richly deserved status as one of Britain’s most important underground bands. Slashing at the artifice of a mainstream post-truth discourse through frontman Kingsley Hall’s loquacious, ranting diatribes and a backdrop of punishing, savage beats, the group rally and rail with a vital fury that has to be witnessed to be fully appreciated. Formidable and looming larger and larger, Benefits kick lumps out of everything in their path, whether it be the confines of musical pigeonholes, or the heaps of bullshit that the megalomaniacs who run this broken island force us to wade through day after day. Benefits play Middlesbrough Empire on Friday 3rd February. www.benefitstheband.com

COMEDY

ALUN COCHRANE @ BISHOP AUCKLAND TOWN HALL

Words: Michael O’Neill

It isn’t the first time I’ve banged the drum for them, but I can’t understate the brilliance of Hilarity Bites when it comes to being one of the region’s, and indeed one of the country’s, finest purveyors of all things side-splitting and grin-inducing. Take the line-up at Bishop Auckland Town Hall on Friday 17th February for example: headliner Alun Cochrane will almost certainly be familiar to anyone who’s slightly dipped their toes in the panel show waters, with his “no-nonsense comedy about funny nonsense” having taken him as far as Michael McIntyre’s Comedy Roadshow, Dave’s One Night Stand, Have I Got News For You, 8 Out of 10 Cats, Mock The Week and Live At The Comedy Store. His unique brand of comedy takes the mundane, everyday aspects of life, turning them on their heads and finding the goldmine hiding within. Support comes from Pete Selwood, whose witty explorations of twenty-something gloom has bagged him the (deep breath) Lawrence Batley New Yorkshire Comedian of the Year, and local fave Lee Kyle, a former male Spice Girls tribute act, turned professional wrestler, turned professional comedian. There will also be an (as yet unannounced) newcomer thrown into the mix, making for one hell of a proving ground. Alun Cochrane, Pete Selwood and Lee Kyle perform at Bishop Auckland Town Hall on Friday 17th February. www.hilaritybites.co.uk

STAGE

TINY FRAGMENTS OF BEAUTIFUL LIGHT @ ALPHABETTI THEATRE

Words: Lizzie Lovejoy

Almost everyone has had the feeling that they just don’t belong in a group. It’s a subject explored by Northumberland-based creative Allison Davies in her show Tiny Fragments of Beautiful Light at Alphabetti Theatre from Tuesday 31st January-Saturday 18th February. The 75 minute piece explores the story of Elsa who has been feeling as if she were invisible, or as if she was trying to get into a building without any doors…Elsa’s life has never been boring, but has often been a struggle. She doesn’t believe that she could ever fit in with anyone, until she meets Carmen. When Carmen just seems to ‘get her’ Elsa finds herself suddenly thrown down a path of introspection in order to learn why school was always such a nightmare, and romance was a mystery, until now. Taking the time to look at life through someone else’s eyes, Tiny Fragments of Beautiful Light explores one woman’s journey of selfdiscovery, and will chime with anyone who has ever felt like an outcast or has experienced the intensive search for identity, in an immersive and interactive celebration of the joy and freedom that comes when we live as we truly are. Tiny Fragments of Beautiful Light is performed at Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle from Tuesday 31st January-Saturday 18th February. www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk

MUSIC

LYNKS @ THE CLUNY

Words: Lee Fisher

Lynks – aka Brett Elliot – has been causing a special kind of havoc for a couple of years now, the self-proclaimed ‘drag monster’ (occasionally backed by their Lynks Shower Gels) releasing a series of catchy as fuck in-yr-face queercore anthems and tongue-incheek provocations that have been getting a lot of attention all over. Imagine Leigh Bowery fronting Fischer Spooner or something equally, gloriously demented. Just check out the video for Everyone’s Hot (& I’m Not) and you’ll get the idea (does it remind anyone else of My Vag by Awkwafina?). And now they’re heading out on the DIY Now & Next Tour, topping the bill for the magazine’s new talent tour that takes in six dates, one of which stops off at Newcastle’s Cluny on Friday 24th February alongside Glaswegian post-punks Vlure and Circe. Reports suggest that the Lynks live performance is something to behold, so if you fancy some banging eighties-tinged synth pop, irony-drenched queer lyrics and delicious costumes, you know where to be. Lynks, Vlure and Circe play The Cluny, Newcastle on Friday 24th February. www.lynkslynkslynks.bandcamp.com

BILK

MUSIC

BILK @ THE CLUNY 2

Words: Michael O’Neill

We’re only three years into the decade, and yet the 2020s are already proving my personal theory that the culture of a particular decade will always, in some way, be in thrall to the aesthetics and trends that were all the rage two decades prior. My sources are too vast for the word count I’m working with here, but the 00s felt, in many ways, in thrall to the 80s (the ‘indie sleaze’ movement, FKA: the post-punk revival) and the 10s felt, coincidentally, in thrall to the 90s (the house revival, the streetwear/ baggy jeans revival). It’s no surprise, therefore, that the 2020s seems to find us, with music in particular, mining the 00s. Just listen to Radio 1 for an hour and you’ll be hit with garage, DnB and jungle, alongside the feted revival of the post-punk-revival. A case in point can be found in the anything-goes attitude of BILK, who will grace the hallowed boards of The Cluny 2 on Wednesday 22nd February. The trio boast an eclectic sound immediately bringing to mind the spirit of Jamie T and The Streets. Just Don’t Work For Me, the lead single from their self-titled debut album, is a brilliant distillation of their spirit, being punky, anthemic and cathartic. BILK play The Cluny 2, Newcastle on Wednesday 22nd February. www.bilkband.co.uk

EVENTS

ARTIFICIAL STUPIDITY @ LIFE SCIENCE CENTRE

Words: Adelle Sutheran

Artificial Intelligence is very much embedded in our personal and professional lives. From Siri to Alexa, self-driving cars to the prospect of one day having robots in the home (there is a film or two about this), but what happens if it all goes wrong? On Thursday 9th February Life Science Centre invite a panel of experts to chew the fat and really explore this conundrum in an adult’s only evening (with a pay bar) and audience participation (if you choose), with an expectation that you don’t attend if you’re easily offended…peaked your interest? Questions to the expert panel – which includes Prof Subramanian Ram Ramamoorthy, Chair of Robot Learning and Autonomy at the University of Edinburgh; Dr Clara Crivellaro, Senior Research Fellow at Newcastle University; Luke Chambers, Researcher in Artificial Intelligence Law at Northumbria University and Dr Mhairi Aitken, Ethics Research Fellow at Alan Turing Institute – are encouraged. Science Speakeasy: Artificial Stupidity takes place at Life Science Centre, Newcastle on Thursday 9th February. www.life.org.uk

Hew Lock - The Procession, (c) Tate Photography, Joe Humphrys

ART & LIT

HEW LOCKE: THE PROCESSION @ BALTIC

Words: Arlo Brown

In a time of huge social and financial instability, with collective public action rising, Hew Locke raises a standard (almost literally) in his installation piece The Procession, which is at BALTIC from Saturday 18th February to Sunday 11th June. The Guyana raised artist has always held a concern for social movement, having arrived in the South American country from Edinburgh just in time to see independence achieved. Now, his work is directly concerned with culture, colonialism and “the echoes of history”, as he puts it. In The Procession, originally exhibited at Tate Britain, viewers will find a large amount of sculpture in a variety of mediums. Locke favours the use of fabrics and cardboard, alternating freely between lavish, colourful pieces and rougher materials, giving the work an effect of high sensory stimulation. Locke describes the work as being akin to an epic poem, something that sits deep in our culture and forms part of our identity. He implores us to empathise with the sculpted figures, who, he says, are defiant, but ultimately about hope: “a positive movement of people” that invites us to walk, understand and identify with them, and to imagine the social, political and cultural possibilities of the future. Hew Locke: The Procession is at BALTIC, Gateshead from Saturday 18th February to Sunday 11th June. www.baltic.art

MUSIC

KID KAPICHI @ NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS’ UNION

Words: Laura Doyle

Anyone else find it really annoying when an artist is told to “stick to their genre” and “stay out of politics” for voicing the slightest bit of social concern? One band sticking the middle finger up to that mentality is Hastings’ own Kid Kapichi, who has apparently made it their business to get all up in yours. Their discovery and rise to popularity at the hands of Frank Carter of Rattlesnakes fame speaks volumes – and their various outspoken and politically rebellious efforts (including an impromptu visit to the country’s number one party venue, 10 Downing Street) cements their reputation as a no-nonsense, hard-hitting rock band ready to take on the establishment. Sophomore record Here’s What You Could Have Won is their first on a ‘proper’ label, but there’s no sign of selling out for this riled-up bunch. They’ve laid their groundwork both career-wise and IRL-wise, so when you hear them complain about their lot in life, you know it comes from experience. If you’re also fed up with our social disorder and want to get some energy out in between protests, their show at NUSU on Friday 10th February will be just the ticket; Kid Kapichi’s bass-driven grooves and red-hot lyrics fuelled by our nation’s politically inept ruling class may well be in order. Kid Kapichi play Newcastle University Students’ Union on Friday 10th February. www.kidkapichi.com

STAGE

EVERYMAN @ PEOPLE’S THEATRE

Words: Laura Doyle

When an anonymous Medieval author wrote a morality play to propagate followers for the Catholic Church in the 15th Century, they may have hoped that their work would survive 500 years hence. They probably did not foresee its reimagining at the hands of former Poet Laureate and devout atheist Carol Ann Duffy. When God calls on Death to collect the original arrogant, materialistic and selfish Everyman for judgement, his only hope of salvation is through the soul-cleansing Catholic Sacraments. Duffy’s adaptation, which is performed at People’s Theatre from Tuesday 14th-Saturday 18th February, keeps this personality, but updates the central character to a more recognisable Every Man for the 21st Century. Our Everyman takes Earth and all its gifts for granted, and reaps without thought – but this Everyman has no religion to strike him with fear and guilt until he submits. Instead, follow the modern Everyman as, deserted by everything earthly that he knew, he learns the error of his ways from new friend Knowledge to discover not only his own salvation, but that of his entire society. Duffy’s adaptation serves as a reminder to do good not for the sake of your own soul, but to do good for goodness’ sake. Everyman is performed at People’s Theatre from Tuesday 14th-Saturday 18th February. www.peoplestheatre.co.uk

MUSIC

DOES YOUR MOTHER KNOW FEST @ THE LUBBER FIEND

Words: Jason Jones

When it comes to hardcore punk in Newcastle, nobody does it better than The Lubber Fiend. The non-profit, DIY venue is carving out quite the reputation for its ferocious underground shows, bringing in the most vicious talent from across the region, the country, and, on occasion, beyond. On Saturday 11th February, the Fiend will play host to Does Your Mother Know Fest, a snarling all-dayer boasting an elephantine bill brimming with lethal bands. Piling in on the carnage will be scene veterans The Flex, still razing stages a decade after their inception, while local rabble-rousers Wise Up and Spit will be hurling their usual dollop of mayhem into the proverbial witches’ brew. From Denmark, Indre Krig will be rolling through the Toon with their signature D-beat goodness, as will feral Leeds-based outfit Motive. Making up the rest of bill are Irish upstarts Goon, black metal punks Mortsafe and promising newcomers Bitchfinder General, with more acts still to be announced. Advanced tickets for this feast of ferocity are £15, which, in the humble opinion of this writer, feels like an absolute steal for a full Saturday celebrating some of the most bruising bands the hardcore scene has to offer. Does Your Mother Know Fest takes place at The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle on Saturday 11th February. www.thelubberfiend.com

Titus Andronicus

MUSIC

TITUS ANDRONICUS @ POP RECS LTD.

Words: Ali Welford

‘Unforgettable’ is one of those terms we reviewers tend to overuse. How many nights we casually tossed the term at have actually lived long in the memory? And can a show only be deemed such with the benefit of hindsight? In any case, one which has stood the test of time is Titus Andronicus’ only previous visit to our region – a remarkable, raucous appearance at Newcastle’s Cluny 2, which even now inspires knowing looks and hushed, revenant tones among those lucky enough to have attended. More than 12 years have passed since that show, and for many the album they were touring, The Monitor, remains their finest hour. Nevertheless, the New Jersey troupe remain a formidable proposition. A worthy addition to their canon, last year’s The Will To Live harbours all the frenetic drive, lofty designs and bare-all lyricism which have rendered Patrick Stickles and company such an enduring cult favourite in the indie and punk worlds – and crucially, their reputation as an explosive live act remains undimmed. This month’s return, then, feels long overdue, with the band paying their maiden visit to Sunderland’s Pop Recs Ltd. on Saturday 11th February. Expect fresh additions like (I’m) Screwed to raise the roof, alongside a wealth of old favourites which snared your heart in the first place. To reel out another writer’s cliché, this one promises to be ‘unmissable!’ Titus Andronicus play Pop Recs Ltd., Sunderland on Saturday 11th February. www.titusandronicus.net

ART & LIT

VALKYRIE @ MIMA

Words: Joseph Spence

Middlesbrough’s Institute of Modern Art sees the advent of a new commission between MIMA and Stellar Projects this month. Artist Alison Smith and technologist Matt Collins have collaborated on an interactive light sculpture named Valkyrie, which is made up of a thousand LEDs and recycled plastic material. The resulting piece, which will be on display in MIMA’s Garden from Thursday 2nd February until Sunday 12th March, results in a large colourful orb which transmits light, creating an array of ethereal shapes and projections across its textured, floating surface. Named after the Viking legend of the Valkyries –female warriors in Norse mythology who were said to create the Northern Lights with reflections of their armour as they rode to Valhalla – the dancing waves of light are reminiscent of the Aurora Borealis, and viewers are encouraged to interact with the installation to create their own aurora, eliciting an energy between viewer and the artwork itself. Both Alison Smith and Matt Collins have a preoccupation with creating dazzling light sculpture and immersive installations, with Alison’s work often seeing her collaborate with scientists to explore natural phenomena and environmental issues. Valkyrie is on display in the garden at MIMA, Middlesborough from Thursday 2nd February until Sunday 12th March. www.mima.art

Holy Scum

MUSIC

HOLY SCUM @ LITTLE BUILDINGS

Words: Laura Doyle

Experimental noise rock collective Holy Scum give off *vibes*. Formed in Manchester by a mismatched band of rockers, hip-hoppers and other off-cuts, their discography alone gives you a clear idea of what to expect from the foursome… Because only a band as bold, brash and crass as this one could get away with twin EPs entitled KILL and FUCK. But so what if you can’t play them in front of your Nanna after your Sunday roast without serious risk to her health? Thankfully, they toned their naming conventions down a touch for their debut album Strange Desires, so you should be able to have their record sleeve on display (although you’re still gonna want headphones for when you’re around fragile friends and family members). For their show at Little Buildings on Wednesday 15th February you may want to proceed with caution, unless you’re totally down with authority-questioning, society dismantling, raucous heavy rock ranging from fuzzy to sludgy and everything in between. Holy Scum’s multi-layered, multidimensional music hits an auditory uncanny valley that you feel in your stomach; it feels like it should be wanted on multiple accounts of disturbing the peace. It’s essential listening for those who question social conventions, and even more essential listening for those who don’t. Holy Scum play Little Buildings, Newcastle on Wednesday 15th February. www.holyscum.bandcamp.com

MUSIC

YUNGBLUD @ UTILITA ARENA

Words: Cameron Wright

In 2018 Yungblud played upstairs in what was Newcastle’s O2 Academy 2. The tiny venue saw a crowded congregation of adolescents shuffle in and party, relentlessly. Spearheaded by Dom, the face of Yungblud, the night was a riot. A firecracker of energy, Dom darted from each end of the stage, dedicating 100% to each second of the performance. Each bead of sweat, each yelp and each jump into the heavens, helped create a wonderfully exciting concert, that above all highlighted the potential of this young performer. Four years later, a lot has changed. The guitar-centric, indie hits that defined Yungblud’s sound have evolved into lively pop tracks imbued with big synths and bigger choruses, and a recent BBC interview with the indomitable Louis Theroux has widened Yungblud’s fanbase even further (even if it did make for uncomfortable viewing at times). The 2022 self-titled album sees Yungblud as a defined pop star, and he’ll return to Newcastle for a massive show at Utilita Arena on Tuesday 21st February. While the sounds might have changed since my last encounter with the band, what is sure to remain is their unflappable energy which ensures everyone is giddy and connected. A special support slot from pop punk icons Neck Deep will ensure a fun show all round. Yungblud and Neck Deep perform at Utilita Arena, Newcastle on Tuesday 21st February. www.yungbludofficial.com

ART & LIT

PLUS TWO MAKES FOUR @ THE AUXILIARY

Words: Lizzie Lovejoy

From Thursday 16th February The Auxiliary in Middlesbrough will showcase the challenging exhibition Two Plus Two Makes Four, curated by Broken Grey Wires (aka Lizz Brady) and featuring 17 different artists. This exhibition creates a space for visitors to catch their breath and consider the modern mental health crisis through a new lens, with a collection of work that is as joyful as it is sombre. Both raw and political, this work is rooted in the lived experience of mental illness. Two Plus Two Makes Four features work from leading artists including Bill Viola, Pipilotti Rist, Gillian Wearing, Martin Creed and the late American DIY artist Daniel Johnston, across a range of mediums including paper, neon, photography, interactive installation and video. This exhibition encourages conversation with a Mad Manual Toolkit used in the gallery, and The Comfort Zone, an area where visitors are invited to relax and reflect on the show and its themes. Broken Grey Wires explained: “This project has been developing for over three years, with COVID, personal health, grief and finances disrupting plans. The work will examine distance and communication, especially thinking of themes of isolation. My own thought processes have been tested and personally challenged throughout, with a much more rounded, important and generous project being the outcome.” The exhibition promises to offer the viewer a valuable, deep and creative exploration into the world of mental health. Two Plus Two Makes Four is at The Auxiliary, Middlesbrough from Thursday 16th February until Friday 24th March. www.brokengreywires.co.uk

Loyle Carner by Jesse Crankson

MUSIC

LOYLE CARNER @ O2 CITY HALL

Words: Andrew Thompson

By the time Loyle Carner released Hugo, his third studio album, the accompanying 18-date live tour had already sold out in a matter of minutes. The tour culminates with a homecoming show at Wembley Arena, but it starts right here on Thursday 23rd February at Newcastle’s O2 City Hall. About as intimate as it gets for the UK’s best rapper. Carner has built an enviable reputation as a live performer during his relatively short career, but removed from the hedonistic aspect of being a musician because of you-know-what, “no shows, no backstage, no festivals, no photoshoots” Loyle turned inwards. Freed from the pressure of the relentless album/touring cycle, Hugo’s content is heavier and more introspective. But the beats are the same old Loyle. His musical palate, an ongoing collaboration with kindred spirits like Tom Misch, Jordon Rakei, and Rebel Kleff, is now so distinctive that the track for HGU from Carner’s third record sprang from searching YouTube for ‘Loyle Carner type beats’; one of several incredible details from the excellent recent Access All Areas Documentary made for the BBC. Listeners to any of the accompanying radio shows will know that Carner is a man of impeccable taste, so as you might expect his tour support roster is killer. Longtime Jorja Smith collaborator Wesley Joseph is well worth getting in early for. If a ‘Loyle Carner type beat’ is melodic, often jazzy and rich in depth, a Loyle Carner type show is energetic, emotional and cathartic; an enforced two year hiatus is sure to dial every aspect up one notch more. Loyle Carner and Wesley Joseph play O2 City Hall, Newcastle on Thursday 23rd February. www.loylecarner.com

STAGE

THE NATURE OF FORGETTING @ NORTHERN STAGE

Words: Laura Doyle

Remember when you were a kid tidying your room, and it would take you three times as long to do anything because you’d spend most of the time faffing about with forgotten trinkets and toys? Memory is a powerful thing, and it’s easy to get lost in it. Perhaps that’s why dementia and other such diseases which cause cognitive impairment terrify us so, because who do we become without our memories? The Nature of Forgetting has been exploring this very question since its inception way back in 2017. Now, after an extensive world tour across 15 counties, Theatre RE has brought their critically acclaimed show back to the UK, stopping off at Northern Stage on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th February, for a night you should never forget. Its central figure, 55 year old Tom, has early onset dementia – and while preparing to celebrate his birthday, begins an exploration of his memories and sense of self as triggered by the fabrics and objects in his wardrobe. This non-verbal performance is perfectly orchestrated to muster emotion from the audience wherever it is staged, because these experiences are as universal as memory itself. Following its first performance at Northern Stage, a post-show discussion with Newcastle University’s Dr Meher Lad, a Clinical Research Fellow, and a nurse from Dementia UK will be held to explore the medical conditions which form the backbone of The Nature of Forgetting. The Nature of Forgetting is performed at Northern Stage, Newcastle on Friday 17th and Saturday 18th February. www.northernstage.co.uk

The Nature of Forgetting

STAGE

JUST JAM INTERNATIONAL 2023 BATTLE FINALS @ DANCE CITY

Words: Helen Redfern

On Saturday 25th February Dance City will be hosting the 12th annual Just Jam International breaking event, creating a world-class breaking platform for international and national dancers to come to the North East to battle and perform. Just Jam International has been creating world-class hip-hop dance platforms since 2008, built on an ethos inspired and driven by the core values of hip-hop culture: peace, love, unity and having fun. It’s a great opportunity to learn more about breaking culture, enjoy the amazing atmosphere, cheer for your favourite crews and be a part of this truly exciting event. A family friendly experience, Just Jam International is a great day out for everyone. Here’s how it works: breaking crews from the UK and Europe will compete in the Cypher Qualifiers, where judges will pick their top 32 crews to progress to the 2 v 2 Battle Finals. This is a space to explore the future of hip-hop culture in the North East and beyond, as young people come together to create a community dedicated to paving the way in the modern era of breaking culture. And so, like-minded individuals with a passion for breaking and hip-hop get to collaborate with local, national and international partners in this exciting vision. The event promises high quality production alongside warm and welcoming vibes, so if you’re new to the breaking world, you’ll soon get caught up in the excitement of the battles. Bring it on! Just Jam International 2023 Battle Finals take place at Dance City, Newcastle on Saturday 25th February. www.facebook.com/btcjustjam

Warm Digits

MUSIC

I KNOW A GARDEN: OAK’S 9TH BIRTHDAY @ THE COMMON ROOM

Words: Claire Dupree

If you hadn’t noticed, we’re big fans of promoters who push boundaries and comfort zones, therefore it follows that we’re also big fans of pretty much anything Newcastlebased promoters Wandering Oak do. Bringing artists to the region that may previously have passed us by, their roster is regularly packed full of interesting noises which usually run the gamut of “psychedelia, rock ‘n’ roll, alt. folk, eccentric electronics, post-punk, no wave, dreamgaze and beyond”, and in the past the winning duo of Walter Allison and John Nellist have brought such legendary artists as Acid Mothers Temple, Black Country New Road, Lost Bitchos, Minami Deutsch, Paddy Steer, Shilpa Ray, Snapped Ankles, Yard Act and countless more to the region. On Saturday 4th February they celebrate their ninth birthday with a show entitled I Know A Garden, which will be spread across two rooms at Newcastle’s gorgeous Common Room, and the line-up is as special as you’d expect. Heading up proceedings are North East’s motorik space-disco duo Warm Digits, who’ll be joined by post-apocalyptic fuzz rock project Large Plants; cosmic-country courtesy of L.T. Leif; the surreal and futuristic contemporary electronica of Crimewave; Kraut-leaning post-rockers Parastatic; woozy surf pop six-piece Midnight Rodeo; and Rüne, the long-standing collaboration between local bluesman John Nellist and cinematic folk artist Trev Gibb. At a time when everyone’s feeling the pinch and gig tickets are a luxury, if you put your pennies into anyone’s pot this month make it the ones who really go the extra mile. Wandering Oak’s ninth birthday celebration, I Know A Garden, takes place at The Common Room, Newcastle on Saturday 4th February. www.linktr.ee/wanderingoakuk

Joe Wells by Ed Moore

COMEDY

JOE WELLS: I AM AUTISTIC @ THE STAND

Words: Lizzie Lovejoy

Visit The Stand in Newcastle on Saturday 18th February for a comedy show that we didn’t know we needed. Joe Wells: I Am Autistic is an hour-long stand-up routine in celebration of autism, a critique of the language used to describe autism and one man’s humorously told journey into his own identity. Joe found himself forced to act as a representative for all autistic people after a stand-up routine about his (severely) non-autistic brother went viral, a high pressure role that he wasn’t planning on applying for. This show explores how yes, Joe is autistic (not a person with autism) and that he is also a comedian (not a person with comedy). Fast-paced, highly energetic, as well as challenging, this stand-up performance promises a great time for everyone both on and off the spectrum. If you have enjoyed his previous critically acclaimed show Joe Wells Doesn’t Want To Do Political Comedy Anymore!, then the follow up will not disappoint. Joe’s atypical comedy routine is an exploration of personal identity, neurodiversity and the ups and downs that come with social media fame that will have you laughing all night. Joe Wells: I Am Autistic is at The Stand, Newcastle on Saturday 18th February. www.joewells.org.uk

MUSIC

MOGWAI @ SAGE GATESHEAD

Words: Ali Welford

Mogwai surely require no introduction in 2023, and if you’re reading this with interest it’s a fair bet you’ll already have ticked them off your live bucket list. Most of you, then, won’t need reminding of the extraordinary crescendos and barrelling sonic assaults the post-rock goliaths summon on-stage – yet with finances tight and so many great gigs on offer, it’s not unreasonable to ask why we should bother this time around… Firstly, and perhaps most obviously, these shows mark a belated victory lap after the Scots’ most recent album, As The Love Continues, enjoyed an unlikely surge to the summit of the UK Album Chart. Secondly, they’ve enlisted an absolute howitzer of a support act in cult indie noisemakers Brainiac. Bar a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it reunion in 2019, these dates are the Ohio band’s first since 1997, and their premature dissolution following the sudden passing of vocalist Tim Taylor. And then there’s Stuart Braithwaite’s own pitch, with the guitarist promising the current tour will be Mogwai’s last for “quite a while” (“nothing ominous… but if you want to see us play, this is the last chance for a bit…”). Of course, if you haven’t yet experienced the awesome power, absorbing beauty and face-melting volume of a Mogwai live show, these are merely extra fillips. You know you want to! Mogwai and Brainiac play Sage Gateshead on Sunday 12th February. www.mogwai.scot

MUSIC

EASY LIFE @ O2 CITY HALL

Words: Cameron Wright

Maybe In Another Life is the next chapter for Easy Life, following on from the formula established on their 2021 debut, Life’s A Beach. Mellow, whimsical and reflective hip-hop beats are played live and fleshed out with a swelling brass section, as the melancholic storytelling peels back layers of regret and hope. Akin to a British equivalent of Mac Miller, these mellifluous tracks rise and fall in a very organic way, as if reflecting exactly the emotive state the lyrics depict. Often tender, sparse and gentle, the tracks on the band’s sophomore record grow and develop as they play out in a way which feels entirely natural. The Leicester band have been climbing up the ladder for a number of years now, making regular appearances at a multitude of festivals and constantly touring, and their latest jaunt sees a pit-stop at O2 City Hall in Newcastle on Wednesday 8th February. Where their debut established a series of up-tempo hits, the setlist comes to life beautifully when in person. Swaggering around the stage, Easy Life seem as genuine, sincere and excited about this chapter of their career in a way that makes for an earnest and exciting show. Easy Life play O2 City Hall, Newcastle on Wednesday 8th February. www.easylifemusic.com

Mark Pinder, ‘Mission Tyne and Wear’ pavilion at the 1990 Gateshead Garden Festival. Teams, Gateshead, June 1990

ART & LIT

MARK PINDER @ NGCA

Words: Laura Doyle

The North/South divide is real – and it sucks. It sucks even more to remember that the shiny ‘Levelling Up’ programme certain politicians love to spout off about will almost certainly never see the light of day up in our neck of the woods. Don’t believe me? Mark Pinder’s photographic retrospective, entitled Macromancy, at Sunderland’s NGCA chronicles the changing social and political landscape of the UK since the rise of Thatcher – and in particular the transformation of the North East across his 35 year career. Ours was a region with an economy based on industry: coal, glass, iron, steel and shipbuilding all had strong roots here before they were dismantled and we dwindled in importance in the eyes of the bigwigs. The North East’s deprivation is rendered even more heartbreaking when viewed from the perspective of this photographer who, along with everyone else in this region, calls it home. Without genuine affection for the North East this is just a collection of photographs from bygone days, but locals – be they born and bred here or those who made it their own – may feel the tug of frustration for a land that may as well have been abandoned by the ones who were supposed to be supporting it. If you love where you live, then let Macromancy remind you of what the North East is worth – and that it’s worth fighting for. Mark Pinder: Macromancy – Britain And The North East of England 1986-2022 is at Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art, Sunderland from Saturday 4th February until Sunday 16th April. www.markpinder.net

MUSIC

TOKKY HORROR @ ZEROX

Words: Adelle Sutheran

Tokky Horror will perform a sonic boom assault on your eardrums at their Zerox show on Saturday 4th February. Think absolute drum and bass on acid, and energy drink music for the masses. The trio who concocted their DIY sound in lockdown have really pulled something quite special together, their sound is a fusion of a little bit of electro and a little bit of punk with a twist of chav. At their Zerox gig expect nothing short of sweat patches, Kappa trackies and fluorescent skin paint probably wouldn’t go a miss either. The likes of Clash magazine have sung their praises thanks to their high energy performances and debut single Girlracer picked up acclaim from the likes of BBC 6Music, Radio X and Kerrang! Opening the show, support comes from local bonkers duo Gonzo Dog, who offer up classic, at times euphoric, industrial rave tracks with grimey lyrics. There’s only one way this night is going and that’s up. Tokky Horror and Gonzo Dog play Zerox, Newcastle on Saturday 4th February. www.tokkyhorror.bandcamp.com

STAGE

THE CITY AND THE TOWN @ NORTHERN STAGE

Words: Jason Jones

Northern Stage will host a new play penned by Anders Lustgarten from Wednesday 15th-Friday 17th February. The City And The Town is a witty, eclectic and uniquely political piece of theatre that aims to bring a fresh perspective to some of the pervasive divides and detrimental problems that have beset this fractured country in recent times. After 13 years away, Ben returns home to attend his late father’s funeral, only to be confronted with a slew of uncomfortable truths about the family and community that he left behind. Confronting the past, present, and future, Lustgarten’s work addresses the fallibility of memory in a distinctive and touching way. The playwright’s previous body of output includes Lampedusa, The Seven Acts of Mercy and The Secret Theatre, with past collaborations alongside the Royal Shakespeare Company and The Globe. The City And The Town is also directed by Dritero Kasapi, the Artistic Director of Sweden’s National Touring Theatre, Riksteatern, with his prior work in the UK including the highly-acclaimed Nina: A Story About Me and Nina Simone. The City and The Town will run at Northern Stage, Newcastle from Wednesday 15th-Friday 17th February, with Thursday evening’s performance followed by a post-show discussion. www.northernstage.co.uk

Sweet Baboo

MUSIC

SWEET BABOO @ POP RECS LTD.

Words: Jason Jones

Quirkily named singer-songwriter Sweet Baboo, the alias of Welsh troubadour Stephen Black, brings his distinct brand of psych-tinged country folk to Pop Recs Ltd. on Friday 17th February. Inspired by a smattering of diverse influences, from the Beach Boys to Weezer and Neutral Milk Hotel, Black’s DIY ethos and canny melodic crafting has helped him to garner quite the cult following since he decided to step away from pop rockers JT Mouse and go it alone. Following on from debut album Mighty Baboo in 2008, Sweet Baboo has proven to be a prolific and celebratory project for Black, encompassing several eclectic releases and drumming up pervasive critical acclaim in the process. Most recently, a trio of typically elegant, dreamlike singles, Horticulture, Good Luck and Hopeless – Sweet Baboo’s first in four years – have served as an apt reminder of his distinct knack for carving out tracks that bewitch and charm. Support comes from local favourite Lucas Renney, bewitching lyricist and one-time frontman of the Golden Virgins, and London-based chanteuse and composer Clémentine March, who plays with languages and sonic textures to create charismatic pop music with a notable post-punk edge. Sweet Baboo, Lucas Renney and Clémentine March play Pop Recs Ltd., Sunderland on Friday 17th February. www.sweetbaboo.co.uk

ART & LIT

VISIONS OF ANCIENT EGYPT: ART, DESIGN AND THE CULTURAL IMAGINATION @ LAING ART GALLERY

Words: Leigh Venus

With the Lindisfarne Gospels now returned to the British Library after an all-too-brief stint in their region of origin and spiritual home, the Laing is following up their popular showcase of this spectacular manuscript with an exhibition examining the enduring appeal of ancient Egypt. Back in the 19th Century, Napoleon’s Egyptian Campaign caused a boom in interest in ancient Egypt, a cultural fascination that has seldom waned over the years, continuing to fire up the imaginations of children and adults alike. Using Jean-François Champollion’s 1822 decipherment of hieroglyphs and Howard Carter’s 1922 discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb as twin launch points, the new exhibition boasts a slew of artworks ranging from antiquity to the present day. Visitors can enjoy paintings, sculpture, photography, fashion and jewellery from artists Joshua Reynolds, Lawrence Alma-Tadema, David Hockney, Chant Avedissian, Chris Ofili, Sara Sallam and more. An exploration of how ancient Egypt has been re-imagined across time, the exhibition is a window into the re-invention, appropriation and subversion that have generated many visions of Egypt over the centuries, exploring Western fascination alongside Egypt’s own engagement with its ancient past. Visions of Ancient Egypt: Art, Design and the Cultural Imagination runs at Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle from Saturday 28th January until Saturday 29th April. www.laingartgallery.org.uk

MUSIC

TENGGER @ THE COMMON ROOM

Words: Matt Young

Tengger are a travelling musical family playing psychedelic New Age drone music. Originally a duo of Pan-Asian couple itta (harmonium, voice, and toy instruments) and Marqido (analogue synths) they expanded with the birth of the couple’s son RAAI, who now joins them on tour (stopping in at The Common Room in Newcastle on Friday 17th February) and often on stage. Translated from Mongolian as ‘unlimited expanse of sky’, the band name marks this familial expansion. The name also means ‘huge sea’ in Hungarian. Travel, as a spiritual experience in real environments, and the sound between the space and the audience have been central themes of their works, informing every aspect of their art. Their analogue pulses no different to the plasma rippling through the body and set it aloft on their own stretches of synth. Tengger find the interconnective tissue between the Krautrock rhythms of NEU!, Can, Popul Vuh et al, and the vocal sculptures of Julianna Barwick or 70’s Kosmiche supergroup Harmonia. Managing to stitch each of their influences into the tones and pulses of their music. Layers of vocals hover ethereally above the harmonics, bringing about the kind of meditative calm that’s often attached to the New Age, but lifting themselves deliberately away from a genre often dismissed as yoga studio backing tracks and elevated into a new kind of transcendence. Tengger play The Common Room, Newcastle on Friday 17th February. www.tengger.bandcamp.com

Image by Fabrice Bourgelle. Edit and graphics by Veil Projects

MUSIC

THE COMET IS COMING @ BOILER SHOP

Words: Lee Fisher

It will be almost exactly five years since their last Newcastle gig when The Comet Is Coming hit the stage at The Boiler Shop on Wednesday 1st March. In that time, they’ve signed to legendary jazz label Impulse!, released three new albums including last year’s remarkable Hyper-Dimensional Expansion Beam (which earned them some of their best reviews yet) and have grown in status and reputation. Meanwhile, frontman sax player King Shabaka (Hutchings) has wound down his stunning jazz outfit Sons Of Kemet and kicked off a promising solo career, while Danalogue (Dan Leavers) and Betamax (Maxwell Hallett) have been doing great things with Soccer96, including their remarkable I Was Gonna Fight Fascism release with Alabaster dePlume. This kind of jazz fusion can easily go awry, but with Shabaka’s fierce sax riding the inventive, pummelling rhythms created by the electronics and drums, The Comet Is Coming always come correct – pounding sounds for your brain and your feet. Live they’re an absolute blast and they’re bound to take the roof off the Boiler Shop. So don’t miss out. The Comet Is Coming play The Boiler Shop, Newcastle on Wednesday 1st March. www.thecometiscoming.co.uk

MUSIC

MOM JEANS @ NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY STUDENTS' UNION

Words: Cameron Wright

Sweet Tooth is the 2022 record from Mom Jeans. With splashes of Third Eye Blind and Weezer, the drum-driven album is as deliberately indulgent as a record can be. Wearing all its influences on its sleeve, Sweet Tooth is all about the ‘fuck it’ attitude that lets you enjoy the things you enjoy. Tucking into the sweet, the album is a celebration of being happy and living without consequence. The guitar pop of Mom Jeans is a direct callback to the 90’s pop punk scene, with a healthy dollop of 00s pop rock. It is so much fun, and succumbing to each of Mom Jeans’ treats is a nostalgic riot. While this energy is endearing across the album, it is crying out to be heard live, which makes the Californian alt. rockers’ forthcoming show at Newcastle University Students’ Union on Wednesday 8th February an enticing one indeed. Curating a set list that covers their early emo punk influence as well as encapsulating their new 00s charm, the show is set to be a memorable evening of happy go lucky rock music! Mom Jeans play Newcastle University Students’ Union on Wednesday 8th February. www.momjeansca.com

Zoe Lyons by Mark Vessey

COMEDY

ZOE LYONS @ THE WITHAM/THE STAND

Words: Matt Young

Any comedy fan, and in fact everyone with a TV watching comedy shows, will be more than familiar with TV host and award-winning, critically acclaimed comedian Zoe Lyons. What may be less known is how things have been for Zoe in the past couple of years privately. Well, it’s been a lot, and she’s put together a brand new live show entitled Bald Ambition to take on tour in 2023 which includes her North East dates at The Witham (Saturday 11th) and The Stand (Sunday 12th February). Zoe had what she describes as “a late, monumental midlife crisis” after turning 50, and then some. This involved buying a sports car, having a brief marital separation from her partner of 23 years and running a 100k ultra marathon which really didn’t end well. She even turned her back on her career and started delivering vegetables from a van. Along the way her hair horrifyingly decided the best thing to do was abandon ship – hence the tour’s title. As she’s said: “It isn’t easy being a middle-aged woman but try doing it with a combover!” Thankfully Zoe has now been able to explore the funny side of all these disconcerting twists and life turns. So, it’s time to sell the silly car and try and put the wheels back on her life and she’s here to tell us all about that. Zoe Lyons performs at The Witham, Barnard Castle on Saturday 11th and The Stand, Newcastle on Sunday 12th February. www.zoelyons.co.uk

Image by Andy Owen Cook

STAGE

PERSON SPEC @ ALPHABETTI THEATRE

Words: Michael O’Neill

The marvellous Alphabetti Theatre has gone from strength to strength in becoming one of the city’s premier venues for performances of all disciplines, being just as glorious a DIY venue as an all-out theatre. It’s the kind of space in which envelope-pushing, unorthodox performances can thrive. With that in mind, it’s the perfect environment for Person Spec which, despite being ‘theatre’ on paper, is far, far from your typical production. In fact, it isn’t even a production. It’s a job interview. And you, if you choose to attend, will be part of deciding the latest recruit for an exciting new job opportunity with Zantion Recruitment agency, who seek to allow their candidates to become the “CEO of their own lives”. It certainly sounds like more fun than being on the receiving end of it, and (forgive me for shattering the illusion) it almost certainly will make for a compelling and thoroughly entertaining send-up of the dreary, dehumanising, excruciating drudgery of the recruitment process which, in my eyes, hasn’t been savaged enough in the grand pantheon of modern satire. An interactive and unconventional production such as this will thrive in a space as equally unique as Alphabetti’s, so don’t pass on it! Person Spec is at Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle from Tuesday 28th FebruarySaturday 18th March. www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk

MUSIC

KONTRAVOID @ THE LUBBER FIEND

Words: Michael O’Neill

In no time at all, Newcastle’s very own Lubber Fiend have done an impeccable job of offering a proper DIY venue that the city centre was sorely lacking. Although it’d be heresy to even imply that the wider Newcastle area was lacking on this front, it’s still satisfying to have a venue that caters to a broad audience on a DIY scale, and this upcoming show on Saturday 25th February is no exception to the rule. The mysterious, masked Kontravoid is the alias of Canadian-born, Los Angeles-based Cameron Findlay. who has perfected the fine art of dark pop that slides effortlessly between EBM, electro and goth. Releases such as 2019’s Too Deep and 2021’s Faceless are deep excursions into the darker side of dance music, being every bit as inscrutable and unpredictable as their creator, whilst still maintaining an impeccable sense of danceable, melodic groove. Support (so far) comes from Newcastle’s finest purveyors of darkwave splendour, Vigilance State, crafters of filthy bangers and dystopian analogue soundscapes. The duo will be instantly recognisable to anyone attuned to the more synth-laden corners of the community, and they make for a perfect fit to Kontravoid’s similarly dark delights. Kontravoid and Vigilance State play The Lubber Fiend on Saturday 25th February. www.kontravoid.com

She Drew The Gun

MUSIC

SHE DREW THE GUN @ THE GEORGIAN THEATRE

Words: Lee Fisher

You wouldn’t necessarily expect an artist working in the questionable ‘cosmic Scouser’ field to foreground some serious and committed political viewpoints, but that’s one of the intriguing contradictions around Merseyside band She Drew The Gun and their founding member Louisa Roach. The band have released three well-received albums (most recently Behave Myself in 2021), and the previous two – Memories Of The Future and Revolution Of Mind – are about to get a double-vinyl reissue as Memories Of The Revolution. In tandem with that, Roach is about to embark on a solo UK tour (still under the She Drew The Gun name), stopping off at Stockton’s Georgian Theatre on Sunday 26th February, which marries music and poetry in a nod to the project’s origins. As Roach explains: “I’ll be doing a run of intimate unplugged shows, stripping it back to poetry and music. I’m excited to go back to the roots of this thing that started with me and a guitar, and get to play around with songs and poems from across three albums and more.” She Drew The Gun plays The Georgian Theatre, Stockton on Sunday 26th February. www.shedrewthegun.com

MUSIC

SEAN TAYLOR @ CLAYPATH DELI/ GEORGIAN THEATRE

Words: Adelle Sutheran

Down by the River promotions provides you with not only one but two North East dates for fans of engaging social commentary and articulate Americana, as they welcome the very talented and hard-working Sean Taylor to Durham and Stockton this month. The artist will be wooing crowds with his charming songwriting and his folky bluesy mash-up of a sound, which is thoughtfully woven together in tracks which exude class and style, particularly on his latest album The Beat Goes On. Sean’s live show can be caught at Claypath Deli, Durham on Saturday 11th February with support from the delightful This Little Bird, who will encapsulate audiences with her complimentary but much more frail sound and Joni Mitchell-esque vibes. Another opportunity to catch him down in Stockton at The Georgian Theatre’s Blues In The Bar afternoon event the following day will see him supported by Frazer Lambert, who is relatively new to the scene but making an impact with his ethereal alt. folk sound. Both supports are from differing regions of the North East but local talent for sure. Either event will be a BEAUT! Sean Taylor plays Claypath Deli, Durham on Saturday 11th and The Georgian Theatre bar on Sunday 12th February. www.seantaylorsongs.com

MUSIC

GOJIRA @ O2 CITY HALL

Words: Cameron Wright

Gojira are phenomenal. With each album the French metal ensemble grow stronger, each release becoming seminal pieces of masterful, melodic metal. Groovy, progressive and persistently interesting, the sounds of Gojira are technically spellbinding; militant drumming, terrifying screams and crushing riffs are used beautifully to underpin the emotion of each track. With a huge focus on the environment and the world around us, Gojira use their talents to warn us of our actions and take a stand against the climate issues, pollution and suffering that surrounds us, all while making fantastic and fun metal. Thoughtful and direct, the band’s sound has become synonymous with power, as some of the most explosive choruses, drops and breaks put to record have poured out of the Gojira discography. With Fortitude, the band’s latest release, they double down on their beautifully gigantic sound. Airtight and unflinching, the French metal icons are bringing their tour to Newcastle’s O2 City Hall on Tuesday 14th February. Expect pyrotechnics, danger, passion and unadulterated power in a setlist of certified Gojira classics and some of the most tenacious, barbaric sounds put to wax. A Gojira concert is an essential experience for any fan of the genre. Gojira play O2 City Hall, Newcastle on Tuesday 14th February. www.gojira-music.com

COMEDY

SOPHIE DUKER @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Cameron Wright

Hag is the latest tour from comedian Sophie Duker, whose acclaim is rising fast across the comedy circuit as she makes regular appearances on TV shows including across Mock The Week, Cats Do Countdown, Hypothetical and Frankie Boyle’s New World Order. She’s also known as the winner of Taskmaster series 13, but Hag will see her back where she thrives – on stage, up close and personal. Her huge tour takes in several North East venues, kicking off on Saturday 18th February at Gala Theatre in Durham. Hag is a show of identity and honesty; as a Black queer woman, the show is an exploration of liberation, sex and discovering your place. The nonchalant comedian has demonstrated her candour around each of her hot topics, allowing nothing to slow down her tangents as she skilfully deconstructs the myths surrounding each, referring to Hag as “the big, queer, unhinged, sexy, chaotic show I always wanted to do”. As whimsical and silly as it is political and didactic, Hag is a show that highlights Duker at her most spiky and raucous, as it allows her to gleefully not care any more. Sophie Duker performs Hag at Gala Theatre in Durham on Saturday 18th February, returning to the region at The Stand, Newcastle on Saturday 1st, The Forum Northallerton on Wednesday 19th and The Witham, Barnard Castle on Thursday 20th April. www.sophieduker.com