Featured Events

What better way to celebrate International Women’s day than to see a spectacular line-up of musicians all wanting to celebrate Women’s Day, at one of Newcastle’s new live music venue.

Celebrate International day with a twist as Miss Danby and Two For The Road present a lin-up of artists who will challenge your perceptions, entertain you with their music as well as tell a tale or two about the past.

Headling the event is Verity Susman who after a decade as a lead singer of expereimental rock band Electrelance is now performing as a solo artist. Her approach to performing ventures into new territory through the use of music, visuals and she often performing in drag.

Support on the night comes from a tour de force female line-up consisting of Lady Caroline, who performs songs about animals, allegory and alcohol, Mush, a duo, who deliver beguiling live performances offset by their sense of humor and the newly formed Miss Danby and the what.

The night will also be hosted by The Moss Troopers who are a roving trio of storytellers that posses an extensive knowledge of the natural world, literature and folklore.

Twisted Sisters will be taking place on March 8^th at Heartattack & Vine, Lime Street, Newcastle with tickets £8 in advance or £10 on the door and doors at 7:30pm.

Camden’s Roudhouse Rising festival, now in its third year, is making its way to The Sage Gateshead to celebrate the latest emerging musical talent!

This is the festivals first visit to the North East and has come about thanks to Generator, the UK’s leading music development agency. This partnership has lead to Generator supplying the festival with four of what it thinks are the best emerging artists in the UK, gathered through The Tipping Point – Generator’s new and exciting music blog.

The line-up on the night will include;

Mausi

The band are an infusion of English and Italian both in their sound and band members. Mausi are fronted by siblings Daisy and Thomas Finetto born in Milan and now based in Newcastle. Already this year they were granted Amazing Radio‘s ‘Tip for 2013′ thanks to the bands unique take on pop incorporating a tropical feel with an electro feel also. The band have this month released their new single ‘MOVE’ on Loose Lips Records.

Eliza And The Bear 

These guys are based in London, in 2012 they got bloggers and DJs excited over their single ‘Brother’s Boat’ which gained positive reviews.  They have since been working with producer Peter Miles to work on as Generators calls it “their oxygenated brands of uplifting song”. Eliza And The Bear are to release a A-side single ‘The Southern Wild’/'Upon the North’ on February 25th.

Death At Sea 

They do what they say on the tin. This band brings the noise and have been causing a stir with their music within Liverpool, their hometown. They have caught the attention of Radio 1′s Zane Lowe and NME which goes to show they are on their way to the big time. Generator describes their music as,”lo-fi handpicks from the best of rock and pop, with the passion, charisma and ambition so often missing in this genre.”

Amy Holford 

The singer-songwriter, Amy Holford, is based in Newcastle and is well know in the North East for her heartfelt lyrics – that can move people to tears of sadness or joy. Over the course of 2012 she has become one of the best known female vocalists from the north east because of relentless gigging and radio sessions. Lats year she supported Newton Faulkner, Jake Bugg and Lucy Rose as well as play at Evolution Emerging and Evolution Festival. 2013 looks like it holds much more to be excited about for this singer.

The festival will take place on Saturday 17th February at The Sage Gateshead (Hall Two). Tickets are £6 in advance and doors will be at 7:30pm. 

This October Sunderland will be celebrating Black History Month with a special event Cultura: The Urban Culture Sessions organised by Art Angelz and The Bunker.

Cultura: The Urban Culture Sessions will be a true celebration of black culture with a look through reggae history, live poetry, guest MC’s and an art exhibition from local artists.

KT Mosebi, one of the organisers and also a DJ/Producer in Sunderland explains the potential the event has this year, “Following on from the success of last year’s event, we were approached by some amazing artists, both visual and musical, who wanted to be part of it and help promote urban culture”.

This celebration of black culture is the first installment of Art Angelz Diversity & Cultural campaign. The aim of the campaign is to unify, educate and empower the disadvantaged urban communities in Sunderland.

You are encouraged to come along to the opening Cultura: The Urban Culture Sessions on October 7th at Plugged Inn where there will be something for everyone.

The event will be a celebration of many different forms of art and live performances. Some of the musicians who will attend include Phenzo, Terra T, E.Yan Trax with their urban blend of music. There will also be live poetry reading from Robbie Lee Hurst and Gari Sullivan with words to inspire all generations.

Tom Greenwood from the Bunker, a key partner of Cultura with Art Angelz explains why he is excited about the event, “I can’t wait for people to see what we have for them, in Sunderland we rarely get to see all the different forms of art at one event and I think people are going to love it”.

Cultura will be held at Plugged Inn on the 7th of October, with a £3 entry fee. Doors will open at 17.00