Jazz on the Tyne – which hosts episodes of Colin Muirhead’s radio show – is now live and gives everyone the chance to listen to and interact with the show, which is dedicated to jazz in the north-east. Take it away Colin: “With the new website, it’s even …

Richard Hawley, one of the UK’s best singer/songwriters, came to the Fire Station in Sunderland for a rare and intimate show that kicked off his latest tour. His musical talent emanates from his deep Sheffield roots, his father’s steel-making, working cla…

Babybird, and prolific songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Stephen Jones, arrived at the Cluny on the final leg of The Bad Old Man tour this winter with support from Tony Wright of Terrorvision. This last gig of the tour did not disappoint although he di…

The Common Room (formerly The Mining Institute) was the perfect setting for Ghost Signals' sold out show, with its Victorian high-gothic ceiling and huge stained glass window backdrop. William Denton Wilde opened the night with his distinctive post punk/d…

This February, Cobalt Studios is the place to be if you’re looking for three wonderful composers, producers and performers versed in the art of vibrant expression and utter queerness. Kiik Amour (pictured), Sarahsson and Peaches are making waves on the DI…

The Kris Barras Band hit all the right notes when it comes to rocking out in classic style, and they’ll come bearing riffs when they hit Newcastle this February. Ex-MMA/cage fighters don’t carve out too many second acts for themselves, but Kris Barras man…

Mega Japanese metal band Esprit D’Air are roaring into Newcastle this February to literally lift the roof of The Cluny (legal note: not literally). Esprit D’Air sold out Cluny 2 last time they were in Newcastle and the people who were at that gig saw some…

bigfatbig are one of the north-east bands worth getting very excited about in 2023, and you can find out exactly why when they hit The Ship Isis in Sunderland this February. bigfatbig cite New Jersey’s The Front Bottoms as one of their biggest influences,…

The Comet Is Coming are one of THE most exciting live acts in the UK, and their Newcastle show in early March will see them packing bangers. London’s The Comet Is Coming represent probably the best of all crossover jazz-rock outfits, certainly over the la…

The Scottish singer/songwriter Stellar Anderson is teaming up with the extraordinary violinist Joana Carvalhas for a show at The Witham, which may very well be the gig of the month… Stellar Anderson crept up on a lot of people’s blindsides when she rele…

Bristol’s Run Logan Run are one of the most feted names in jazz right now and their gig at Sage Gateshead – which sees them teaming up with Annie Gardiner – promises to be one of THE events of February. Run Logan Run’s fourth album ‘Nature Will Take Care …

Reali-T was born in Hackney but he’s now very much Newcastle-based and on the up and up. “Why try put me in a box though, especially when I ain’t dead yet.” That’s Reali-T spittin’ some truth on his sizzling new single ‘No Change’. He’s trying to resist t…

Is County-Durham’s Isabel Maria a fresh name to look out for in 2023? I’m answering that with a hearty “Yes!” Isabel Maria’s new single (out 3 February fact fans) is called ‘Addicted’ and I don’t think the stuff she’s addicted to is Sherbet Dib-Dabs, or e…

Megan Wyn, born in Wales, based in Manchester, is one of the hottest rising indie-rock stars around, and you can see just why she’s destined for big things when she plays Stockton in early March. Megan Wyn drew favourable comparisons with everyone from St…

American singer/songwriter/inventor Thomas Truax is one of the most “out-there” artists working today, and he’s bringing his peculiar kind of magic (and “The Hornicator”) when he visits us in February. The Hornicator? That’s just one of the instruments th…

LA’s Death Valley Girls are a glorious melange of garage rock and psych pop that has been filtered through occultist stylings and b-movie aesthetics. Death Valley Girls’ California doom boogie is a true joy to behold. Since releasing their debut album ‘St…

The brilliant Belinda O’Hooley is coming to Durham this February, which gets a huge “Oh, yes!” from me. If you know Belinda O’Hooley, it’s probably from her work with Heidi Tidow (the duo are responsible for the stirring theme tune to ‘Gentleman Jack’). B…

The Fire Station in Sunderland have a dynamic evening of folk musicianship in the offing this February, headed up by one of the real rising stars of the scene: Grace Smith. Grace Smith really started making waves from 2015 when she played at festivals and…

"A sloppy, gritty 90s vibe!” That’s how frontman Connor Noble of Trunk describes the musical direction of his awesome band who are emerging as one of Newcastle’s most exciting new outfits. I recently had the absolute pleasure of watching him and his band …