Monthly Archives: July 2013

I’m done with description in fiction!

RANT: Oli Williams Does description really help? We can all recall scenes from novels in which the author creates breathtaking beauty or sheer fear with description. But, at other times, description sometimes seems unnecessary and may even ruin our own … Continue reading

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Northern Stage at Edinburgh Festival

St. Stephen’s Church, Edinburgh 3rd-24th August  http://www.northernstage.co.uk/st-stephens/whats-on Preview: Beth Allison Following their successful trip in 2012, this summer sees Northern Stage return to Edinburgh’s St. Stephen’s Church to showcase a series of new work at the notorious Fringe festival. From … Continue reading

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The Vanity Of Small Differences

The Winter Gardens, Sunderland 28 June – 29 September http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/sunderland.html Review: NASIM ASl Appearing as one aspect of the Festival of the North East, Grayson Perry’s tapestries kick off their national tour in Sunderland’s Winter Gardens where they will be on … Continue reading

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Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

Theatre Royal, Newcastle Upon-Tyne 23rd July – 3rd August http://www.theatreroyal.co.uk/whats-on/joseph Review: Ryan Watson Straight up front I’m going to say that this latest production of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice’s hit musical is, quite frankly, incredibly strange. I’m sure … Continue reading

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Communion Town by Sam Thompson

Published by Harper Collins, 2012 ISBN: 9780007454761 Buy This Book REVIEW: HESTER ALDERMAN Communion Town by Sam Thompson doesn’t make for light reading. Despite its relatively short length (300 pages really isn’t that long in the grand scheme of things), … Continue reading

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The National Glass Centre in Sunderland

http://www.nationalglasscentre.com/ Review: Emily Park Having closed on January 1 2013, in anticipation of a reported £2.25 million makeover, the National Glass Centre reopened its doors to the public this Saturday. The centre itself is beautifully modern and bright, with glass doors … Continue reading

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Maps: Vicissitude

Mute Available now  Review: Rosie Hewitson Vicissitude is the third album by Northampton’s James Chapman, who records under the name Maps. It follows his Mercury Prize nominated debut album We Can Create (2007) and Turning the Mind (2009), which met … Continue reading

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The Child Thief by Dan Smith

Published by Orion Books ISBN: 9781409142621 Buy this book REVIEW: Nasim AsL If you are on the hunt for a book that is sure to surprise and engross you, look no further than Dan Smith’s The Child Thief. This enthralling … Continue reading

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12 reasons why… it’s time the Time Lord retires.

Rant: Kate Taylor 1) Stephen Moffat can only write one female character. I liked River Song when she was introduced. She was like a female Harrison Ford: half academic, half space cowboy and all positive female role model. She was … Continue reading

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Cuckoo Playlist: Arctic Monkeys

Playlist: Elizabeth Atkin Have I been living under a soundproof rock for the last eight years? I had no idea that Arctic Monkeys survived their classic 2005 smash hit ‘I Bet That You Look Good on the Dancefloor’ and were … Continue reading

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Divine Bodies

Laing Art Gallery, Newcastle upon Tyne 8 June – 19 September http://www.twmuseums.org.uk/laing-art-gallery/whats-on/exhibitions/divine-bodies.html Review: Beth Allison Divine Bodies is an interesting combination of European pre-1800 Old Master paintings and modern contemporary works. As I enter the exhibition, a description on the … Continue reading

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Willy Mason

The Sage, Gateshead 21st July 2013 http://www.willymasonmusic.com/home/ Live Review: Annie-Rose Mears After telling my entirely family and group of friends that I was going to see the country legend Willie Nelson for about three weeks, my stepbrother finally set the … Continue reading

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Martha Wainwright

SummerTyne Americana Festival  The Sage, Gateshead 20th July 2013 http://www.marthawainwright.com/ REVIEW:LAURIE ATKINSON Back for its 8th year, the SummerTyne Americana Festival has become a diary event for all lovers of folk and country music from across the pond. This year’s … Continue reading

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The Humans by Matt Haig

Published by Canongate Books Ltd ISBN: 0857868756 Buy this book REVIEW: Ryan Watson Through somewhat of an unlikely coincidence I came to read this book, and I can’t say how glad I am that things turned out the way they … Continue reading

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Cuckoo Playlist: Shuffle

Playlist: Beth Allison Choosing just five songs was a lot more difficult than I originally thought. I would love to say that there was a theme for the playlist I have pulled together, but, looking through the songs I (eventually) … Continue reading

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The Lake Poets and Stanhope Silver Band

Durham Brass Festival Gala Theatre, Durham 19 July 2013 Review: Rachel Atkinson The Durham International Brass Festival showcases music, outdoor performances, street bands and art programmes in the North East and runs from the 5th – 21st of July. It … Continue reading

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The View On The Way Down by Rebecca Wait

Published By: Picador ISBN: 978-1-4472-2469-3 Buy this book REVIEW: BETH ALLISON Rare is the book that takes you in completely: you give yourself half an hour to read, but four hours later there you are, still curled up on the … Continue reading

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Larry and His Flask: By The Lamplight

XTRA MILE Available now Review: fionn Oakes Since their release of their EP Hobo’s Lament, Larry and His Flask have impressed me with their mix of bluegrass, folk, punk and – oddly enough – jazz. Of course, as I nod along and … Continue reading

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Mr B The Gentleman Rhymer

The Cluny 2, Newcastle 12th July 2013 http://www.gentlemanrhymer.com/ REVIEW: Rosie HEWITSON Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer is the first live act I have reviewed and it’s certainly a memorable one, not least because it took me a good half hour … Continue reading

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Tall Tales from Pitch End by Nigel McDowell

Published by Hot Key Books ISBN: 9781471400407 http://www.hive.co.uk/book/tall-tales-from-pitch-end/17315870/ REVIEW: Abigail Frazer Children’s book Tall Tales From Pitch End is brimming full of ghostly beings, magical talents and clockwork contraptions. Like da Vinci’s drawings, the clockwork machines, ‘Sentries’ and ‘Wither-Men’ are … Continue reading

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