An already dysfunctional family is shaken by news that both of their parents are about to die in the sprawling but richly-themed German drama from writer-director Matthias Glasner, split into five separate chapters. In the first, ageing mother Lissy Lunie…

‘I Who Have Never Known Men’ presents a compelling story before you even crack the spine. The novel by French psychoanalyst Jacqueline Harpman was virtually unknown until it exploded on TikTok – but don’t scrunch up your nose just yet. In my view, it’s as…

Newcastle’s Isolated Community deal in synths, found sounds, “things with strings”, field recordings, and other aural odds and sods (emphasis on the odd). Their latest album is simply wonderful, particularly if you enjoy being whisked off to windswept pla…

Following extensive research Tim Jerrome has uncovered some remarkable stories of queer love and friendship that existed in rural Britain between 1800-1960. Hear all about it at a talk he’s giving in Berwick this July. Tim Jerrome has dedicated a great d…

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 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…

The Lost Minds Festival returns to Newcastle this July, and this year there’s also an afterparty at World Headquarters that looks all kinds of tasty. Dance fans will be flocking to Exhibition Park in Newcastle this summer for the Lost Minds festival, a…

Matthew Bourne’s award-laden modern classic ‘The Midnight Bell’ is coming to Newcastle for the first time this July. Wows at the ready…! Critics have been united in their praise for ‘The Midnight Bell’, the Guardian calling it “up there with his best”,…

Delaine Le Bas is exploring linguistics, mythology and Gypsy Roma Traveller narratives through the tactile power of textiles, language and storytelling in an extraordinary installation at Newcastle Contemporary Art. This show feels unbound! A monumenta…

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…

Gail-Nina Anderson checks out “With These Hands” at the Laing Art Gallery, the new exhibition that explores the representation of craft in paintings, drawings and prints. In the days before Tracey Emin and Grayson Perry, there was a time when “Craft” and…

A Labour Prime Minister. The Rules. Make sure he (it must be a man) has working class roots. I emphasise ‘roots’ because he can’t be too working class as that might mean he’d want fundamental change (the establishment would never put up with that). Make s…