The ever-versatile François Ozon's fairly faithful adaptation of Albert Camus 'The Stranger' starts on a deceptively cheerful note with gaudy travelogue footage of 1930s French Algiers; but he also signals something is off via accusing glances from the na…

Who’d have thought that an album simply titled ‘Steve’ could contain such a myriad of delights! Āvā & The Fates is the musical project of 17-year-old Ava Ellis (brought up in London but now based in Sunderland), and she’s produced an idiosyncratic thing o…

Siân Hughes was Booker-longlisted for her debut novel ‘Pearl’ and I expect ‘No Such Thing As Monday’ to be similarly lauded. It’s the present day in the West Midlands. Steffie – a 50-something woman – arrives at Stanley’s house (Stanley being her father) …

There’s nothing more special than finding that perfect piece of jewellery that you know you’ll wear forever, and it’s even better when you can meet the maker. And that’s exactly what you can do when you head down to the Northern Handmade Edit Pop-Ups in G…

Founded in 1988, Komodo has been proving that style and sustainability can happily share the same wardrobe for decades. Komodo creates eco-friendly clothing using premium organic and natural fibres, plus innovative materials like recycled PET made from…

Slogan T-shirts are back, and if you’re still clinging onto your Frankie Says Relax tee, then we might have just found the perfect replacement courtesy of Geordie Campbell. Geordie Campbell’s range of British Boys T-shirts aim to connect the feminisati…

One of the leading luminaries of the British folk scene, Katherine Priddy, is coming to The Glasshouse in Gateshead on May Day. Katherine Priddy blends a luminous vocal clarity with a literary depth that has earned her the title of “folk prodigy”. Her r…

Celebrate the bum in its full glory with this intimate and fascinating exhibition from Dean Raymond Gooch at the NGCA in Sunderland. Dean Raymond Gooch is a Sunderland-born artist who graduated in Fine Art in 2025, specialising in photography and prin…

Alys Williams’ remarkable ‘The Light House’ – which deals with challenging themes in an entertaining and nuanced way – has won a string of five-star reviews and it’s coming to ARC in Stockton in early May. Plays with mental health issues pushed up fron…

Two important shows are opening at the Laing Art Gallery this March that will invite visitors to embark upon a profound journey through the human experience with exhibitions that bridge the gap between historic portrait tradition and cutting-edge contempo…

On the first day in May, Newcastle venue Little Buildings is hosting a quartet of north-east bands who know more than a thing or two about turning things up to 11. If you fancy attaching jump-leads to your Spring based gig-going adventures, then this n…

The always incredible Breakin’ Convention is rolling into the Tyne Theatre & Opera House in May and the line-up is straight outta the top drawer. Check this little lot out. The Breakin’ Convention has been wowing punters in the north-east for many a ye…

Can the browse-tastic Flea Circus be seven years old already? Yes, indeed! And it’s still as good as ever. Situated on the same row as The Star & Shadow cinema in Newcastle, Flea Circus has been my go-to place when I’m in the market for – well – just a…

Wars of distraction have always been irresistible to leaders who are in a spot of bother, either because they’ve checked the policy cupboard and there’s nothing there, or because there’s domestic or a ‘can’t keep the cock-in-a-pocket problem’ which won’t …