Northeast Music Guide

A Smoove and Funky Start to Christmas The last weekend before Christmas and what better way to let your hair down, especially if you are one of the lucky ones who is now off until 2015. DJ Tom McVicar warmed up the crowd with some soulful funky beats before local lads Smoove and Turrell took to the stage. And when S&T took their places the whole venue was packed to the rafters. It was definitely a party vibe at The Riverside and got down to business straight away with Don’t Go.   Front man, John Turrell even mentioned the derby day score of the football but this crowd was all about the music. Hands were going up throughout and people just kept dancing. It’s actually quite surprising to know that they were actually playing their fourth straight night with no break, as their energy was 110%.  They played Glasgow and then two sell out nights at Newcastle’s Hoochie Coochie before taking to The Riverside. Some, like me, are very new to the sounds of Smoov...

The Sage Celebrates its 10th Birthday with a Knockout Performance from Beverley Knight Unless you been hiding under a rock, this week is the 10 th Birthday of The Sage  and what a way to celebrate a birthday, by inviting the funk-soul sister Beverley Knight to sing. Ms Knight burst onto the stage with much loved numbers Made It Back   and Greatest Day then into a few number from the So ul UK album, which was the last time she had performed at The Sage.  One of the biggest interactions with the crowd was when Apparently Nothing was performed as 90% of the crowd had their mobiles out shining their ‘little lights’. Hit after hit came from slow songs to funky sounds. Then to honour the 10 th birthday of The Sage, hundreds of school children, came onto the stage to perform. These children were also in their 10 th year!  What a brilliant addition to the set.  They sang their hearts out and signed a lot of the words to Shoulda Woulda Coulda , Ba...

Michael Schenker: Bridge the Gap tour at the O2 Academy, Newcastle The good-sized audience at the O2 was treated to some dirty rock and roll from support act, Western Sand. The band played music reminiscent of 90’s band Circus of Power. Fresh from supporting (Filthy) Phil Campbell of Motorhead, they gave a headbanging-inducing performance, with songs such as Black Water Resolution , from their current EP Cut You Down To Size . I’d like to hear more from these lads, the twin-Gibson attack the fast fretboard solos (popular with this crowd) and the small overworked drumkit with almost tribal rhythms, all hit the spot nicely. Michael Schenker’s Temple of Rock are out touring their new album: Bridge The Gap, with a set of shiny new songs to play. Older ones were revisited, however, the proggy sounding How Long and the instrumental From Coast To Coast gave Herr Schenker (UFO, Scorpions) an opportunity to display his guitar virtuosity. I particularly liked the ode to Ronny James ...

Fleetwood Mac in San Jose Tuesday 25 th November 2015, the first time I have specifically travelled out of the UK to see my favourite band. In 2013, I unfortunately missed out on Fleetwood Mac tickets in the UK as I was travelling Australia. Then they announced the gigs over there, only to be cancelled due to John McVie’s cancer scare!  I swore then that the next tour I was going to be there wherever it was. Bring on San Jose, California. As predicted the venue, SAP Arena, was bigger than those in most UK cities. We were perched on the side from stage up in the high tiers which was perfect except every now and then the staging would revolve and get in the way. Luckily this was not too often. The usual ‘sounds’ of the Mac taking to the stage were played and the crowd erupted.  They opened with a frenzied performance of Chain . Immediately I was envious of those that could fork out money for the front floor tickets, especially as my area of seating w...

Pam Vardy: Art by a roaring fire and nibbles, lovely! Sunday 7th and Sunday 14th December, 11a.m. – 6 p.m.Mulled wine and mince pies in front of a log fire in the atmospheric setting of a medieval pele tower. Pam’s paintings, prints, cards and gift vouchers for paintings; workshops.Pele House (The Old Vicarage), Middle Rd., Shilbottle, Nr. Alnwick, NE66 2XS(located between St. James Church and Village Farm fitness centre)Tel: 01665 575017 Mob: 07503724848  email: pamelavardy@gmail.com   www.pamvardyart.co.uk A donation from sales to the National Society for Phenylketonuria (pku).