Northeast Music Guide

For ONE NIGHT ONLY THIS SUNDAY! Soul Unlimited - Heatwave & Odyssey (Sunday 22 April, 7.30pm) Return to the glory days of disco, funk and soul with real dance music legends and enjoy a sensational evening of non-stop, dancefloor anthems including Boogie Nights, Going Back to My Roots and Use It Up Wear It Out. Live in Concert for One Night Only Heatwave and Oddysey Live in concert, Heatwave present with spine-tingling falsettos on Mind Blowing Decisions, Always and Forever, Gangsters of the Groove, The Groove Line and Too Hot to Handle. While direct from the Big Apple, special guests Odyssey take us back to our roots with Native New Yorker, Inside Out and If You’re Looking for a Way Out. Prepare to use up and wear out the dancefloor one last time in the definitive boogie night! Heatwave: '...delivered the hits, plus a few cover versions, with verve and style' Sunday Express Odyssey: '...backed by an incredibly tight and funky band – a...

GARY BARLOW New Solo Tour 2018 Announced   33 DATES & 24 INTIMATE VENUES ACROSS THE UK INCLUDING 2 NIGHTS AT SUNDERLAND EMPIRE 30 APRIL & 1 MAY 2018 Tickets on public sale 10am, Friday 20 October 2017 Tickets: http:// bit.ly/2xA3At0   Gary Barlow today announced that he will embark on a solo tour of the UK kicking off in April 2018, playing 33 dates in 24 intimate venues including 2 nights at Sunderland Empire, 30 April and 1 May 2018. Tickets go on public sale at 10am, Friday 20 October. The tour will see Gary play intimate venues across the UK and Ireland including some never visited before. The last time Gary played a string of venues this size, demand was so high he could have sold certain venues out six times over! ‘I had such a lot of fun back in 2013 when I played those smaller venues because you’re so much closer to the fans’ says Gary of his forthcoming tour. ‘The audience always seem to love the intimacy of it all too. I’...

A Brasstastic Birthday Homecoming for  Dave Stewart As the audience liked to remind us. Dave Stewart is “One of Ours”. Having never played Sunderland since he was a fresh faced 17-year-old, Stewart decided to play Ringmaster to a fantastic show celebrating his musical career and his 65th birthday, at the Sunderland Empire. Known as the “Ringmaster” for his diversely populated stages, Dave handpicked the support including 3 superb young bands. Picnic were a lively female fronted 8-piece with brass section. Their complex rhythms, syncopated structures brought to mind a combination of Big Country with a hint of math rock. I can see these getting snapped up for festivals. Lilliput brought the power pop with close harmony vocals and insightful lyrics. They have a big sound bolstered by 3 guitars and a piano. With the 90s style fashion making a comeback, why not magical guitar pop in the vein of Jellyfish, David Devant and His Spirit Wife, and our own more recent local power...

Ghost The Musical  Sunderland Empire 30-11-13 The power of theatre to both entertain and amaze an audience should never be underestimated. This show is based upon the popular 1990 film Ghost and it has taken advantage of the latest in special effects to add an extra wow factor.  The show does not just rely on flashy tricks and the strong cast deliver Bruce Joel Rubin’s book with passion. The music by Glen Ballard and  Sunderland’s own Dave Stewart includes a number of decent songs that help develop the relationship between Molly (Rebecca Trehearn) and Sam (Bradley Jaden). Both of these cast members have fantastic voices that conveyed the passion that the story requires. Special mention should also go to Wendy Mae Brown who provided much of Ghost’s comedic elements in her role as psychic Oda Mae Brown.  Designer Rob Howell has put together a set which has enabled director Matthew Warchus to keep the pace going seamlessly. The memorable illusions add to...

THE RAT PACK VEGAS SPECTACULAR SHOW Its fun all the way as the "Purveyors of Cool" swing into  SUNDERLAND – Empire Theatre on Thursday 31 st  October   (doing both a matinee & evening performance) with a sensational show featuring the greatest music of the 20th century. Wonderful memories of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin & Sammy Davis Junior in a fabulous production that continues to be successful all over the world. The great news is - it's all totally live and every song is an absolute classic - Come Fly With Me, Under My Skin, Mr Bojangles, Lady Is A Tramp, That's Amore, Mack The Knife plus many more of your favourites. With an abundance of class & style they take you on a trip back in time to vintage Las Vegas; hip, cool and a with their timeless soiree that still remains the hottest party around. The BBC summed up this show in just one word - MAGNIFICENT! Tickets are available from: SUNDERLAND – Empire Theatre , High Street W...