Northeast Music Guide

                                                             Jack McMillan, The Boy I awoke early this Saturday morning to the unmistakable glow of snow through the window. The earliest snow I remember, settled ready for the October half term holiday. My son woke up, understandably excited, was cajoled into a warm dressing gown and slippers on top of his fluffy pyjamas despite his protests that he was "too warm". This is the sort of care I would rather all children had from their parents. But of course there are so many kids who don't have a safe home, who run out of places to turn, who have to be referred to social services to give them some kind of safe haven or to help the family work out its problems. The social care system is woefully underfunded and those working in it are under immense pressure to deliver ...

Welcome to JoWhereToG o! Here's the place where I'll put all the facts, figures and phone numbers you'll need to book those days and nights out I mention on the show. Also there'll be extra events I didn't have time to mention...an hour just flies by on radio! Music: Friday 9th November Spunge at the O2 Academy  6.30pm Ska-punk rockers Spunge bring their Brit-ska madness to the O2 in Newcastle. Wear comfy shoes, and skank. A lot. The Proclaimers + Blueflint   at  Newcastle City Hall   7:30pm  Craig & Charlie Reid celebrate their 25th Anniversary with their ninth album, 'Like Comedy' and head out on tour in the UK and Europe . Saturday 10th November Ed Sheeran at Newcastle City Hall . (and 11th November) He's done well this lad with his brand of nice acoustic tunes, that tug at teenage heartstrings and give ironing people something to warble along to. I was convinced he was the red headed lad in the Harry Potter films. Putting ...

Inua Ellams wrote and single-handedly illustrated the story of the "Black T-Collection" at Northern Stage, bringing a story of poor Nigerian lads coming up with a great idea, and all the consequences of fame, loyalty, prejudice and greed. He told the story, expressing the personalities of the entire family with ease. I did hear an audience member say it was like someone reading you a book. I disagree. Inua used the stage and the sparse props to bring the story to life. Two brothers flee from Nigeria as a journalist threatens to out muslim Muhammed as gay. His adopted Christian brother Matthew, bound to him by years of loyalty and protection against bullying from other muslim kids, sticks by him as he runs to Cairo taking the T-Shirt business with them.Sound effects, music and lighting helped take us around the world, to Cairo, London and, China for the gruesome conclusion in a sweat-shop T-Shirt factory. A brief hiccup in the light and sound slightly tripped up momentum...

A BIG Ask! I've set myself a couple of tasks. While working towards self employment in the world of music (I know there's a role there for me, I'm going to find it!), I want to become a source of "what's on in Newcastle" in this blog, and on the radio. Local radio is under threat (especially in the evenings) from cutbacks in the BBC, which makes stations like NE1FM all the more important in giving local information and serving the community. The biggest difficulty, apart from overcoming my fear of chatting to 58000 people on air, is that Newcastle has too much going on! Every night there's a play, some comedy, bands playing, dance shows, often simultaneously. Keeping a 1 hour radio show nice and chatty without stuffing it full of information is going to be hard. But with the folks at NE1FM's help, I'll crack it. This blog will be a central point for information so that the show can stay light on the phone numbers and ticket information and I ca...