As part of GemArts’ Masala Festival, Eeshar Singh with Royal Northern Sinfonia are bringing ‘Blossoming’ to The Glasshouse on Friday 18 July. You don’t really see ‘Blossoming’, or hear it. You experience it. A breath-taking collaboration between Eeshar…

Say “Hi!” to Elizabeth Liddle and Billy Smith – a duo whose debut single is a real thing of beauty and joy. As singles go Smith & Liddle’s ‘Piece of You’ is among the best debuts I’ve heard in a while. Recorded at Blank Studios in Newcastle it’s a real…

This female-fronted five-piece from Newcastle are alt-rocking heroes in the making and I was on board with them from the very first riffs. PØRTERS first hovered onto my radar when they released their debut single ‘Recover’ – a confident chunk of tick-t…

The frankly awesome Brass Festival returns to Durham for eight glorious days this July, and the line-up for 2025 is straight out of the top drawer. Check this little lot out. Durham is a special city whatever the time of year, but come July it really b…

The Durham Fringe Festival returns for five days this July with a programme that’ll knock your ruddy socks off. Last time I checked, the Durham Fringe website had 112 events listed for this year’s festival. 112! (One hundred and twelve!) And talk about…

The Glasshouse’s ‘Innovators’ strand continues to bring us, well, the best innovators around, and in July they have the awesome Jessica Pratt for our pleasure and delight. Jessica Pratt’s ‘Here in the Pitch’ album came out last spring, but I don’t supp…

Americana queen Eve Selis – and her friends – are currently wowing audiences with their Healing Hearts Tour, which, thankfully, is calling in at the Gosforth Civic Theatre this July. Last year Eve Selis hit us up with one of the very best albums of 202…

8-piece movers and groovers Discography will be bringing a touch of disco mecca Studio 54 to Darlington this early August when they play The Forum. You can almost feel the satin sheen of Discography’s sonics when they hit their stride. Because make no …

The Grove in Newcastle has an indie triple bill of rare quality coming up in July featuring Cheekface (pictured), Martha and Fresh. Gonna be special. Cheekface has built up a loyal following in the US (or “Cheek Freaks” as they sometime refer to themse…

Newcastle Castle has got an incredible line-up of live acts lined up for a very special evening this July. And that incredible line-up includes: Crack fave India Arkin (pictured – this hotly tipped singer-songwriter draws influences from the likes of W…

The Newcastle Fringe Festival returns this July and August with 110 performances scheduled right across the city. I’ll say that again: 110. Wow! It’s bigger, it’s bolder and it’s even more bountiful with its delights. It’s the Newcastle Fringe Festival…

Aussie duo The Weeping Willows will be bringing the blues and more when they play Newcastle this July. I say “the blues” but this pair – when asked nicely to talk about “their sound” – would probably describe their stuff as “cautionary tales”, “murder …

The Cluny 2 Sunday Matinee Jazz Club has got a really special event lined-up for July featuring the outstanding talent that is Julie Dexter. If ever an artist was more suited to a Sunday afternoon than the delectable Julie Dexter then I’ve yet to hear…

The Glasshouse in Gateshead is hosting a major weekend of BBC Proms this July, and it’s absolutely bountiful with major names and surprises. Oh my giddy aunt! The brilliant JADE (pictured) is part of the BBC Proms at The Glasshouse this year. Yes – the…