Twisterella was back for another day of musical shenanigans. Alongside the usual chaos at Teesside Students’ Union, the festival took over new venues at Rebel, Rebel and Buffs Club, giving me even mor…
Gig Reviews
Festival Review: Gathering Sounds at Various Venues, Stockton – 26/09/2026
It was a pleasure to be back at Gathering Sounds this year. Now well established on the local music calendar, the festival somehow continues to get better, with another packed line-up showcasing some …
Gig Review: Sage One Reopens at The Glasshouse, Gateshead – 19/09/2026
The Glasshouse International Centre for Music officially turned 21 this month and, as such, one of its stages, Sage One, was due an upgrade to maintain its high standards. Its official reopening took …
Festival Review: Last Train Home at Various Venues, Darlington – 05/09/2026
Last Train Home remains one of the events of the year in the North East calendar: still light enough to spend all day outside, but with enough of an autumnal creep to remind you that, as the name prom…
Festival Review: Lindisfarne Festival – 03/09/2026-05/09/2026
Set against the dramatic coastline overlooking Holy Island, Lindisfarne Festival once again proved why it remains a cornerstone of the region’s independent festival scene, championing local talent, we…
Gig Review: We Are Scientists at KU, Stockton – 29/08/2026
Keith Murray (guitar/vocals) and Chris Cain (bass), collectively known as We Are Scientists, ignited a cultural wildfire back in 2005 with their uncategorisable yet intoxicating tunes. Twenty years la…
Gig Review: The Courettes at The Georgian, Stockton – 14/08/2026
Powerhouse is honestly the only word that should be used to describe The Courettes, but by the end of their amazing set at The Georgian, I was left with a fair few more. From the moment they barged on…
Gig Review: Tom Robinson at ARC, Stockton – 07/08/2026
There was something really lovely about Tom Robinson’s evening at ARC tonight. With moody lighting, a fully seated audience and just Adam Phillips alongside him, the whole thing felt incredibly intima…
Gig Review: An Evening of Kate Bush at Newcastle Cathedral – 29/08/2026
Following recent tours focusing on music from Radiohead and Pink Floyd, the ‘Let Me In’ collective return to the live scene with another musically and vocally challenging focus: Kate Bush. As part of …
Gig Review: Andrew Johnson at The Forum, Darlington – 30/06/2026
Tonight, The Forum offered an intimate setting of tables, chairs and a crowd of just over 50 people, creating the perfect atmosphere for an evening that delivered energy and exceptional musicianship f…