Newcastle’s Press Play Festival is happening right now on Tyneside. The smart gang behind Press Play create unique cinematic experiences in and around Newcastle upon Tyne. Their current four day DIY Weekender, started on Thursday and ends today. Check out … Continue reading
If someone had told the 15 year old Elaine that one weekend in the future she’d see both Cliff Richard and Glenn Campbell in concert, she’d have shouted abuse, slammed her bedroom door and turned up the volume on Jesus … Continue reading
Quality drama is heading to London this autumn. A Walk On Part: The Fall of New Labour is the stage adaptation of former MP Chris Mullin’s diaries and starts a run at the Soho Theatre on 15th November. The critically … Continue reading
My friend Kim Warren has just recorded a fantastic version of Roll Um Easy. It’s up on You Tube and I’d love to know what other RBP bloggers make of it www.youtube.com/watch?v=KbNMwtPjOhc With the nights drawing in I could just … Continue reading
Hurrah for sensible decisions! Polly Harvey thoroughly deserved to win this year’s Mercury Prize. Let Dorset Shake with pride!
Last night the north east rather than the south east coast of England was the setting for a special screening of Quadrophenia. The 1979 mod classic opened The Whitley Bay Film Festival 2011 which runs until next Sunday. What an … Continue reading
I was lucky enough to spend over 14 hours on Friday thinking and talking about literature and music with a bunch of fascinating, intelligent people from Europe and America. Three days on I’m still mulling over threads of conversation and … Continue reading
Last week Google announced Tyneside has the hippest street in Britain. Next week the region plays host to this year’s hippest event, Litpop. I wasn’t surprised when South Shore Road in Gateshead won the ‘Hippest Street’ category in Google’s Best … Continue reading
Highs Annie Mac on the Baltic Stage The BBC Radio One DJ had the young audience in the palm of her hand as she blasted out their favourite tunes including Florence and the Machine and Adele. The crowd went wild … Continue reading
“How old do you feel?” I asked Husband yesterday afternoon. “Very old indeed,” he replied as he took in a 360 degree observation of our surroundings: the Evolution Weekender 2011 festival on NewcastleGateshead’s quayside. It was some sight. We seemed … Continue reading
The Tyneside Cinema, one of Newcastle upon Tyne’s cultural treasures is 75 years old. Birthday celebrations kicked off last weekend with a mammoth 25 hour screening of audience faves including Citizen Kane, Sunset Boulevard, Wings of Desire, Life of Brian … Continue reading
Tyneside is a wonderful place to live and work. I was born here and jumped at the chance to return in summer 2009 after 20 years “down south.” Of course, the place has changed since I left for university and … Continue reading
Friday evening saw me walking in and out of the entertainment wing here at Cusack Mansions as BBC4′s ‘Moving On Up Pop Hits 1991′ hogged my ginormous plasma TV screen. I smiled at Primal Scream, Happy Mondays, Electronic and The … Continue reading
My Easter weekend treat wasn’t chocolate egg-shaped. It came in the form of an interview in The Observer with my favourite singer and songwriter, Polly Jean Harvey. Did you read it? If not then check it out www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/apr/24/pj-harvey-england-shake-interview I’ve followed … Continue reading
The Primitives popped into my head yesterday. What a band! Who can resist the jangle of ‘Crash’, the Ramones-type speed of ‘Really Stupid’ and the finger clicks of ‘Way Behind Me’? Back in the day singer Tracy Tracy was either … Continue reading
Read any good books recently? I have and want to offer you my first recommendation of 2011. Adam Hansen’s Shakespeare and Popular Music was published by Continuum a few months ago and is well worth reading. Hansen is Senior Lecturer … Continue reading
It’s June 1984 and I’m on a school art trip from Newcastle to Glasgow. It’s my first visit to Scotland’s largest city and I have my own teenage agenda. As our art teacher Mrs Taylor counts us out of the … Continue reading
I went to see Neil Hannon aka The Divine Comedy perform at Gateshead’s Sage last night. He’s promoting his most recent album ‘Bang Goes the Knighthood’ and appeared on stage with his tie-in outfit: Monty Python commuter-style bowler hat, pipe … Continue reading
When was the last time you listened to the soundtrack in your head? I’m listening to mine for what feels like the first time in years because it’s the only aural entertainment available to me at present. I’ve just moved … Continue reading
