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The Crack Magazine

Music

Brazilian Christmas Party: Roda de Samba w. Banda Zuêra & Andrea Robertson aka SistaSoul

Experience timeless classics by the likes of Gilberto Gil, Ivete Sangalo, and Jorge Ben Jor performed by some of the UK’s top musicians in a distinctly Brazilian style.

Venue:
Cobalt Studios Ltd, 10-16 Boyd Street, Newcastle, NE2 1AP
Date:
Dec 13th 2025
Time:
19:00
Price:
£10-£14

Destination: Elton Xmas Special

It’s a proper Xmas party night out as the hit show returns, with 11 top session bods celebrating Elton John’s stunning back catalogue. Expect all his classics, from those high octane, up-tempo bangers, to his melodic & beautiful ballads, for a proper festive knees-up.

Venue:
Wylam Brewery, Palace of Arts, Exhibition Park, Newcastle, NE2 4PZ
Date:
Dec 13th 2025
Time:
19:00
Price:
£17-£19

Roxy Magic

The UK’s best and longest-running tribute to Roxy Music.

Venue:
The Forum Music Centre, Borough Road, Darlington, DL1 1SG
Date:
Dec 13th 2025
Time:
19:30
Price:
£13

Blues in the Bar Featuring Jimmy Regal and the Royals

Nominated by the UK Blues Federation in 2024 for band of the year and album of the year, Jimmy Regal and the Royals are one of the UK’s most exciting and original bands on the circuit.

Venue:
The Georgian Theatre, Green Dragon Yard, Stockton on Tees, TS18 1AE
Date:
Dec 14th 2025
Time:
15:00
Price:
£10adv

A Fairytale for Christmas

Immerse yourself in the spirit of Christmas as singers, musicians and dancers perform Yuletide favourites “Santa Claus Is Comin’ To Town” and “The Fairytale of New York”. Alongside a celebration of Irish culture with sing-along songs including ”The Galway Girl”, and “The Irish Rover”.

Venue:
O2 City Hall, Northumberland Road, Newcastle, NE1 8SF
Date:
Dec 14th 2025
Time:
18:30
Price:
£23.70adv

Fleeting Rumours

A live dedication to Fleetwood Mac.

Venue:
PILGRIM, 54 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle, NE1 6SF
Date:
Dec 14th 2025
Time:
16:00
Price:
£21.20adv

Handel's Messiah

Kristian Bezuidenhout returns to Gateshead, this time conducting Royal Northern Sinfonia. They'll be playing one of the pieces of music where ‘iconic’ is an apt word – George Frideric Handel’s Messiah.

Venue:
The Glasshouse, Gateshead Quays, NE8 2YR
Date:
Dec 14th 2025
Time:
15:00
Price:
£22.50-£50.50

The Noonan Trio

Sean Noonan is a celebrated N.Y. speaking drummer and composer based in London whose innovative music defies categorization. As a “rhythmic storyteller,” he crafts imaginative narratives akin to modern-day sonic griots, seamlessly blending ancient traditions of wandering minstrels with contemporary musical forms.

Venue:
The Globe, 11 Railway Street, Newcastle, NE4 7AD
Date:
Dec 14th 2025
Time:
20:00
Price:
£10ad/£12otd

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Martin Stephenson presents Frank & Jim - North East Legends

Accomplished entertainer Martin Stephenson pays tribute to two veteran heroes of the North East, Franky Gibbon and Jim Hornsby.

Venue:
The Glasshouse, Gateshead Quays, NE8 2YR
Date:
Dec 14th 2025
Time:
20:00
Price:
£24

Nëwsün

Glaswegian stoner/psych/proto metal rockers.

Venue:
The Lubber Fiend, 81 Blandford Square, Newcastle, NE1 3PZ
Date:
Dec 14th 2025
Time:
19:00
Price:
£10

Cara Dillon Upon A Winter's Night

Cara Dillon, renowned for her ethereal voice and hailed as one of the finest in Irish folk, returns with her beloved Christmas show, Upon A Winter’s Night. For many, her spellbinding show has become an essential, uplifting part of Christmas. The show offers a poignant escape from the hectic holiday season, blending ancient carols with modern songs and Celtic rhythms.

Venue:
The Glasshouse, Gateshead Quays, NE8 2YR
Date:
Dec 15th 2025
Time:
20:00
Price:
£33.80

IDER

Singer-songwriter duo from London. Megan Markwick and Lily Somerville create music that combines features of various musical genres, and it has been described as “cross-genre”.

Venue:
The Common Room, Neville Hall, Westgate Road, Newcastle, NE1 1SE
Date:
Dec 15th 2025
Time:
19:30
Price:
£17

Laura Stevenson

Lilting melodies and a sweet vocal tone follow Laura Stevenson's stylized folk-rock through diversions into distortion-fueled indie rock and whimsical folk.

Venue:
The Cluny 2, 34 Lime Street, Ouseburn, Newcastle, NE1 2PQ
Date:
Dec 15th 2025
Time:
19:30
Price:
£13.50

Jez Lowe’s Winter Wanderings

Back for another year of upbeat songs and humour from the song traditions of the North-East of England, Jez Lowe and his intrepid band of touring musicians head off on their Winter Wanderings with you this winter!

Venue:
Bishop Auckland Town Hall, Market Place, Bishop Auckland, DL14 7NP
Date:
Dec 15th 2025
Time:
19:30
Price:
£17/£15

Snoopies Children + Pale Ale + Lydia Harvey

3 Great bands.

Venue:
The Globe, 11 Railway Street, Newcastle, NE4 7AD
Date:
Dec 15th 2025
Time:
19:00
Price:
£5adv/£7otd

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Cian Ducrot

Irish singer, songwriter, producer and classically-trained multi-instrumentalist.

Venue:
O2 City Hall, Northumberland Road, Newcastle, NE1 8SF
Date:
Dec 16th 2025
Time:
18:00
Price:
£34.95adv

The Sweet

A National Treasure and Glam Rock Royalty who have taken the world by storm for six decades. With special guest John Otway.

Venue:
Arc, Dovecot Street, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1LL
Date:
Dec 16th 2025
Time:
20:00
Price:
£32

A Jazzy Christmas: Paul Edis and Friends

Featuring new arrangements of festive favourites penned by pianist Paul Edis and performed by the ‘velvet-voiced’ Jo Harrop alongside a 9-piece band, A Jazzy Christmas is returning to the Queens Hall, Hexham this December. You can expect to hear classic Christmas hits reimagined as swinging big band numbers, sambas and much more besides!

Venue:
Queen's Hall Arts Centre, Beaumont Street, Hexham, NE46 3LS
Date:
Dec 16th 2025
Time:
19:30
Price:
From £18

Janice Burns & Jon Doran

Award-winning Anglo-Scottish duo who came together after discovering a shared love of traditional music.

Venue:
The Cluny 2, 34 Lime Street, Ouseburn, Newcastle, NE1 2PQ
Date:
Dec 16th 2025
Time:
19:30
Price:
£15

Christmas at The Glasshouse

Royal Northern Sinfonia and Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia bring the festive feels to Sage One with the ultimate Christmas carol concert.

Venue:
The Glasshouse, Gateshead Quays, NE8 2YR
Date:
Dec 17th 2025
Time:
19:30
Price:
£23-£51

Big Country

One of Scotland's most iconic bands, known for their unique fusion of post-punk, new wave, and Scottish rock influences.

Venue:
Boiler Shop, 20 South Street, Newcastle, NE1 3PE
Date:
Dec 17th 2025
Time:
19:00
Price:
£40.10adv

A Jazzy Christmas – Paul Edis and Friends

Featuring new arrangements of festive favourites penned by pianist Paul Edis and performed by the ‘velvet-voiced’ Jo Harrop alongside a 9-piece band.

Venue:
The Fire Station, High Street West, Sunderland, SR1 3HA
Date:
Dec 17th 2025
Time:
19:30
Price:
From £18

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Daniel Vildósola & John Waugh

They may come from opposite sides of the Atlantic but together, their music finds an effortless middle ground. Drawing from their vastly different environments, they’ve created a sound that feels natural, fusing Americana and jazz with a sense of place and history that’s both personal and expansive.

Venue:
The Cluny 2, 34 Lime Street, Ouseburn, Newcastle, NE1 2PQ
Date:
Dec 17th 2025
Time:
19:30
Price:
£12

Jess Gillam Ensemble

Superstar saxophonist Jess Gillam and her electrifying ensemble of musical pals present a showcase of unmissable festive favourites spanning centuries, rooted in classical music but taking inspiration from the four corners of the musical universe.

Venue:
The Glasshouse, Gateshead Quays, NE8 2YR
Date:
Dec 18th 2025
Time:
19:30
Price:
£28

The Wildcats of Kilkenny: Gaudete!

Rejoice! These shows have been clinically proven to start Christmas off in thousands of lives over the past two and a half decades! The Wildcats of Kilkenny are Teesside’s champions of Christmas spirit and their parties get bigger and better every single year.

Venue:
Arc, Dovecot Street, Stockton-on-Tees, TS18 1LL
Date:
Dec 18th 2025 - Dec 20th 2025
Time:
20:00
Price:
£29.50

Sinfonia of London A Christmas Songbook

The magnificent Sinfonia of London orchestra play a swinging mix of Christmas classics and Big Band hits, from Let’s Face the Music and Dance to Winter Wonderland.

Venue:
The Glasshouse, Gateshead Quays, NE8 2YR
Date:
Dec 18th 2025
Time:
19:30
Price:
£24.50-£52.50

Moss / Chump Wrecker / Old Corpse Road

Moss: Dark and intelligent trip hop. Chump Wrecker: North East based Industrialised DAWless Breakcore DnB. Old Corpse Road: British black metal based on the dark folklore of Britain.

Venue:
The Forum Music Centre, Borough Road, Darlington, DL1 1SG
Date:
Dec 18th 2025
Time:
19:30
Price:
£6

Trevor Horn and his Band

Legendary music producer Trevor Horn heads out on an exclusive run of UK tour dates for his new career-spanning live show 'Video Killed The Radio Star'.

Venue:
O2 City Hall, Northumberland Road, Newcastle, NE1 8SF
Date:
Dec 18th 2025
Time:
18:30
Price:
£41.50adv

Fresh Thursday // Manon Mccoy & Alice Brookes + Dawn Terry

A unique regular event that showcases new music alongside a home-cooked meal. Featuring a Manchester based collaboration between electronics/sound artist Manon McCoy and vocalist/ composer Alice Brookes. Support from Dawn Terry, who produces vast minimalist landscapes with looped accordion drones, hypnotic drumming, slowly intoned vocals and spoken word passages about love, drugs and vengeance.

Venue:
Cobalt Studios Ltd, 10-16 Boyd Street, Newcastle, NE2 1AP
Date:
Dec 18th 2025
Time:
19:00
Price:
£8-£15

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Christmas at The Musicals

There’s nothing like a musical to make you laugh, cry, leave on a high. Enjoy the timeless glamour and high drama of your favourite West End and Broadway shows with Royal Northern Sinfonia, conductor Stephen Bell and some very special guests from the West End and Broadway.

Venue:
The Glasshouse, Gateshead Quays, NE8 2YR
Date:
Dec 19th 2025
Time:
19:30
Price:
£23-£51

Green Day, Fall Out Boy and Weezer Tribute Night

A Hella-Mega-inspired Christmas special, with a triple bill of pop punk rock tributes.

Venue:
The Georgian Theatre, Green Dragon Yard, Stockton on Tees, TS18 1AE
Date:
Dec 19th 2025
Time:
19:30
Price:
£14adv

Slade

Slade’s unique blend of pop and rock'n'roll, outrageous flamboyance and pure fun, and no less than 23 Top 20 singles, they have become a firm favourite in the hearts of pop fans all over the world.

Venue:
O2 City Hall, Northumberland Road, Newcastle, NE1 8SF
Date:
Dec 19th 2025
Time:
18:30
Price:
£41.50adv

The Sweet

A National Treasure and Glam Rock Royalty who have taken the world by storm for six decades.

Venue:
The Glasshouse, Gateshead Quays, NE8 2YR
Date:
Dec 19th 2025
Time:
20:00
Price:
£35.30

Soulutions

UK's premier live soul band - featuring the incredible voice of Louise Mehan. PILGRIM stage favourites back for a very special live Christmas show.

Venue:
PILGRIM, 54 Pilgrim Street, Newcastle, NE1 6SF
Date:
Dec 19th 2025
Time:
19:30
Price:
£20

Alation

Formed in Newcastle in 2021, Alation quickly established themselves in the North-East indie rock scene.

Venue:
The Cluny 2, 34 Lime Street, Ouseburn, Newcastle, NE1 2PQ
Date:
Dec 19th 2025
Time:
19:00
Price:
£8

Dr Feelgood

Formed on Canvey Island in Essex in the early 1970s Dr. Feelgood remains one of the most popular and exciting live rhythm and blues acts in the world.

Venue:
The Cluny, 36 Lime Street, Ouseburn, Newcastle, NE1 2PQ
Date:
Dec 19th 2025
Time:
19:30
Price:
£20

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Bon Jovi Forever

Paying homage to one of rock’s most legendary rock bands Bon Jovi.

Venue:
The Forum Music Centre, Borough Road, Darlington, DL1 1SG
Date:
Dec 19th 2025
Time:
19:30
Price:
£15

Tim Shaw + Jorge Boehringer + Richard Scott

Part musician, part magician, part sound collector and more, Tim Shaw is a sound alchemist, always surprising and mesmerizing to watch. Jorge Boehringer’s solo exploration sounds microtonal vibrations and feedback to excite emergent vibratory behaviours and textures. Richard Scott is an artist and musician based in Newcastle.

Venue:
Cobalt Studios Ltd, 10-16 Boyd Street, Newcastle, NE2 1AP
Date:
Dec 19th 2025
Time:
19:00
Price:
£9-£13

The Futureheads at Christmas

Formed in Sunderland in 2000, The Futureheads quickly rose to prominence with their distinctive post-punk sound. Known for their innovative use of vocal harmonies and high-energy performances, the band has released six studio albums, headlined countless tours, and earned critical acclaim across the globe.

Venue:
The Fire Station, High Street West, Sunderland, SR1 3HA
Date:
Dec 19th 2025 - Dec 20th 2025
Time:
19:30
Price:
From £26

Sir Tom: The Tom Jones Songbook

AdamParker Brown delivers a definitive tribute to the greatest welsh singer of all time, Sir Tom Jones.

Venue:
Alnwick Playhouse, Bondgate Without, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 1PQ
Date:
Dec 20th 2025
Time:
19:30
Price:
£29.50

Lindisfarne

Legendary 70’s Tyneside folk-rock pioneers Lindisfarne present a classic five-piece line-up of long-time members fronted by founder-member Rod Clements on vocals, mandolin, fiddle and slide guitar.

Venue:
O2 City Hall, Northumberland Road, Newcastle, NE1 8SF
Date:
Dec 20th 2025
Time:
18:30
Price:
£29.90adv

A Night Of: Elvis, Beatles & Elton!

Talk about a local legend! Niall Southall has been performing his Elvis show for the best part of 20 years and in that time has played over 1000 gigs to audiences across the North East and well beyond.

Venue:
Middlesbrough Town Hall, Albert Road, Middlesbrough, TS1 2QJ
Date:
Dec 20th 2025
Time:
17:00
Price:
£26.70

Pure Weller

Covering a vast catalogue of music, Pure Weller aim to pay the ultimate tribute to Paul Weller’s amazing career, reaching back through the seminal points of his career!!

Venue:
Think Tank?, Digital, Times Square, Centre For Life, Newcastle, NE1 4EP
Date:
Dec 20th 2025
Time:
19:00
Price:
£16.90adv

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Antarctic Monkeys

The No.1 Tribute to Arctic Monkeys.

Venue:
KU, Prince Regent Street, Stockton, TS18 1DB
Date:
Dec 20th 2025
Time:
19:00
Price:
£14+bf

The Baytones

Local reggae and rocksteady favourites putting on a special Christmas show.

Venue:
The Cluny 2, 34 Lime Street, Ouseburn, Newcastle, NE1 2PQ
Date:
Dec 20th 2025
Time:
20:00
Price:
£7

Carl Green and the Scene

Teesside power-pop legends.

Venue:
The Georgian Theatre, Green Dragon Yard, Stockton on Tees, TS18 1AE
Date:
Dec 20th 2025
Time:
19:00
Price:
£12adv

A Dark Dark Xmas #10

Expect a night packed with some of the region’s finest: Weathership – long-time favourites and Dark Dark Xmas regulars. Middle Management – indie troubadours bringing sharp hooks and jangling energy. Risco – the new kids on the block, bringing their blues-fuelled sound to the party.

Venue:
The Georgian Theatre, Green Dragon Yard, Stockton on Tees, TS18 1AE
Date:
Dec 20th 2025
Time:
19:30
Price:
£7adv

Slack Babbath

The FOUR HORSEMEN OF THE ROCK APOCALYPSE ride out once more to unleash a tidal wave of HEAVY COSMIC BROTH across the entire valley of Ouse in the name of ROCK!

Venue:
The Cluny, 36 Lime Street, Ouseburn, Newcastle, NE1 2PQ
Date:
Dec 20th 2025
Time:
19:30
Price:
£15

Songs for Sanctuary

A night raising funds for the West End Refugee Service (WERS). Bringing you an amazing lineup of local talent: Ben Harwood, Charlie Floyd, Jam Tub and Favourite Child. Make sure to come down to support the local music scene, and WERS

Venue:
Zerox, 48-52 Sandhill, Newcastle, NE1 3JF
Date:
Dec 20th 2025
Time:
19:30
Price:
£4-£10

Strictly Smokin' Big Band's Christmas

Get ready to be dazzled by Michael Lamb’s Strictly Smokin’ Big Band and the sensational Alice Grace, joined by a specially curated orchestra led by the renowned Bradley Creswick from Northern Sinfonia and The John Wilson Orchestra. They’ll be performing brand-new music from Stuart Mclean-Fowler, with a few extra surprises sprinkled in to keep you on your toes.

Venue:
O2 City Hall, Northumberland Road, Newcastle, NE1 8SF
Date:
Dec 21st 2025
Time:
17:00
Price:
£31

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Bay City Rollers

Bay City Roller legend, Stuart “Woody” Wood, has brought together a powerful group of talented musicians who embody the same essence of the original band that the world knew and loved.

Venue:
Alnwick Playhouse, Bondgate Without, Alnwick, Northumberland, NE66 1PQ
Date:
Dec 21st 2025
Time:
19:30
Price:
£34

Miki Berenyi Trio

Trio formed by the former singer/co-guitarist of Lush, Miki Berenyi. Support from Nano Kino.

Venue:
The Cluny 2, 34 Lime Street, Ouseburn, Newcastle, NE1 2PQ
Date:
Dec 21st 2025
Time:
19:00
Price:
£14.50

Jez Lowe's Winter Wanderings

Award winning songwriter and BBC Radio 4 presenter Jez Lowe returns with his toe-tapping folk music quartet The Bad Pennies for a night of good-humoured seasonal music and stories from North East England. With sold out shows across the country every year this group just goes from strength to strength.

Venue:
The Glasshouse, Gateshead Quays, NE8 2YR
Date:
Dec 21st 2025
Times:
14:00, 19:00
Price:
£21.80

Lilac Lane

Performing a few of your favourite covers and their own songs along with their Future Hits Number 1 Single “Still Thinking of You”. Support from Bogus, Joe Bartley and Josh Webb.

Venue:
The Cluny, 36 Lime Street, Ouseburn, Newcastle, NE1 2PQ
Date:
Dec 21st 2025
Time:
18:00
Price:
£15