Northeast Music Guide

TOM CONTI TO STAR IN GRIPPING COURTROOM DRAMA!     Tom Conti, one of the UKs most popular actors, will have North-East audiences in his grip as he takes to the stage in the courtroom thriller Rough Justice, showing at Newcastle Theatre Royal, Monday 30 September - Saturday 5 October 2013.   In Rough Justice, Tom Conti plays television journalist James Highwood, a man who has made his career out of challenging the British Justice system in his documentary programmes. Now, suddenly, he finds the system challenging him as he is brought to court on a charge of murder. Highwood admits the killing but perversely chooses to defend himself, pushing the tolerance of the court to its limits and framing his defence in terms calculated to incense the judge.   Alongside Dame Judi Dench, Tom Conti was recently voted Most Popular Actor in the West End in the last 25 years. His many memorable television roles include Lark Rise to Candleford and Miranda and his...

JESTERVAL RETURNS   The North East’s premier comedy festival is back The cream of British comedy will descend on Tyneside this October – as Jesterval Comedy Festival returns. ­­ Comprising 24 shows over five star-studded days, Jesterval 2013 will take place 3-7 October in a 350-seater marquee on Baltic Square, at the heart of the Gateshead Quays development.   Mock The Week star Ed Byrne , Terry Alderton , Marcus Brigstocke , Andrew Maxwell and Jason Cook are just some of the stand-out names in the programme, released online today. Hebburn creator Cook will perform his brand new show, I Will Make Your Life Better, just weeks before series two returns to TV. And the sitcom star will also take part in a Geordie comedy gala on Friday 4 October, featuring the likes of Bobby Pattinson, Seymour Mace and fellow Hebburn actor Steffen Peddie. Cook said: “I love performing to fans in my home city. “There is always a great atmosphere...

Rocking The 'Dog Good and Proper Brewdog pub, down at the bottom of Dean Street was pleasantly populated with enthusiastic punters, lubricated with nice beer.This was a free gig, sponsored by NARC, but even a free gig can be hard to fill of a Thursday night when the students are away and people are on their holidays. So it was great to see a healthy sized crowd. Cauls took to the "stage" a corner at the front of the pub and it was quickly apparent that photography wasn't going to be easy, low light and standing either behind a lot of big blokes or crouching in front of them. But we got by, we are professionals. Cauls created varying rock soundscapes, with slightly awkward lack of spacing between songs, maybe they were rushed. I felt we would enjoy the sound more if there were more engagement with the audience. I'm funny like that, I like a bit of interaction with my music, maybe I'm a bit greedy. The music was complex and had a depth that I could app...

Ian Anderson announces 2014 tour & is to be Honoured at the Progressive Music Awards 2013           Legendary Prog Rock icon Ian Anderson has announced a 2014 UK tour, following the release of his new concept album to be recorded early next year and released around Easter.   Anderson will also be recognised as one of the foremost influencers of rock at this years Progressive Music Awards , by being honoured with the Prog God Award.   Anderson will be touring throughout 2014, starting in the UK late April; the show will feature a selection from his new 2014-release concept album - which he defines as ‘Folk-Prog-Metal’ - in its more theatrical setting, together with a selection of Jethro Tull highlights. The upcoming record release will feature heavier, less acoustic guitar sounds and more of Anderson’s trademark flute.   He says “After winning the Grammy for best “Hard Rock/Metal”...

An extra-ordinary tale of British independent moo-vie making (or how one farmer and his cows went to Sundance!) A special screening of the most talked about British documentary of the year with Scottish filmmaker Andy Heathcote at TYNESIDE CINEMA, NEWCASTLE T he filmmaker who led a cast of dairy cows to surprise stardom comes to Newcastle this week with a special showing of hit indie documentary The Moo Man (97 mins, U). Described as the “number one movie of the Sundance 2013 Film Festival” The Moo Man follows a year in the life of farmer Steve Hook and his unruly 55-strong herd as they battle to keep their family farm afloat. Director and cameraman Andy Heathcote took four years to make the movie, most of them spent flat on his stomach in a damp field, trying to keep the shot steady while half a tonne of dairy cow nibbled at his sleeve.  Andy will be at Tyneside Cinema in Newcastle on Thursday August 22 to lead a qu...

ADELE SILVA TO STAR IN BEST-SELLING SPOOF OF FIFTY SHADES OF GREY !     Following sell-out shows in Glasgow, Belfast and Dublin earlier this year, the smash hit comedy, Fifty-One Shades of Maggie , is set to embark on its first UK tour, visiting Newcastle Theatre Royal on 10 – 14 September. Starring former Emmerdale star Adele Silva, the Fifty Shades of Grey send up is fixed to become one of the funniest shows to hit UK stages! Fifty-One Shades of Maggie tells the story of the loveable Maggie Muff and her search for love. A working-class girl, Maggie – like most women – has been let down by all the men in her life. As she attends an interview at the Social Security Office, Maggie meets the handsome and hunky Mr. Big, who could just be the man of her dreams.   “Hilarious… do yourself a favour, get a ticket… the joy is in the outrageous script…” Irish News “…made us laugh ‘til we cried… two hours flashed past amid great hilarity…” Belfast Tel...