Northeast Music Guide

Jo ventured into South Tyneside today to find out about the new festival planned for South Shields. "Bernicia" (the old name for our region from County Durham into Northumberland, in case you were wondering) is a first for South Shields. Showcasing new musical talent and bringing in successful artists with South Shields links to remind the young 'uns what can be achieved with hard work and the right career steps. On what is the Customs House's 150th year the cultural venue has given its support to Kittle with the Bernicia project. The festival will bring young people into the venue and provide a platform for really new young bands who get to play a big stage to a large crowd, not only that but to share the stage with one of the Northeast's great musical successes The Little Comets. It doesn't seem so long ago to me that the Comets were playing the Bridge Hotel in Newcastle for a couple of quid. The lineup, on the poster below, is a representation of the ta...

Entropy, yes that sums it up really  A change to the lineup due to unforeseen circumstances was not going to put a dampener on the evening's proceedings. The gig, put on by "Confusion is Next" promotions, or Linsey Teggert, was bigged up by the NME as definitely a gig to go to. It was also plugged by the Jowheretogo Show on NE1fm, I know this, because I am she who presents the show and played Dingus Khan's "Knifey Spooney" in the hope a few listeners would be inspired as I was, to go to the gig. The venue, Heart Attack and Vine, is perfect for a small gig, at it appears, minimal expense. A room for about 70 people, 2 loos, nicely rectangular so you can set up your stage at one end (of the room not the bogs). There is no bar, not even a cool box full of pop, so you need to bring your own or use the Cluny for refreshment. Set up to look a bit homely, using, paint, drapes, pictures and standard lamps. Spot on compared to some pubs with their odd-shaped room...

    Your Childhood Revisited       Blue Remembered Hills at the Northern Stage   Fri 19 APR - Sat 11 May 2013 7.30PM  (excluding Mon & Sun) Wed 1 & Sat 11 MAY 2PM A Northern Stage Production Written by Dennis Potter Directed by Psyche Stott   The latest production from Northern Stage takes one back to life as a seven year old. Life was usually simple. Relationships seemed complex with constantly changing rules and protocols. Adult norms had yet to be established.   The set consists of the blue hill in the play’s title. At the start the cast of seven appear on stage in their carefree egocentric worlds – skipping, pretending to be a plane or simply running around. Willie (David Nellist) pretends to be both a bomber and then the dead victim rolling in the hill after being hit. For him the idea of World War 2 is an exciting adventure. Later we will be introduced to Donald (Adrian Gr...

Guitar Demon in Disguise!      Chantel has been playing the guitar since 3, when she realised that playing the guitar gets a little girl some attention. At 7 she graduated to the electric because the skinnier neck is easier on a wee lass's hands. (I should lend mine to my son!) . Many lessons, a pass in a grade from Rockschool and seven years later, Chantel got the attention of a major label A&R who proceeded to tell Chantel that her style of playing would be intimidating to the boys. Girls like her shouldn't play like that. Moving onto teacher training and then back into music (gaining some impressive music qualifications to say the least!) after some national TV and radio attention, Chantel is back on the road. The British Blues Awards have honoured her twice, with "Young Artist Of The Year", and with "Female Vocalist of the Year".     I was on holiday with my family near the Lake District in the Easter break and saw that Chantel was playing at th...