Talking Northeast

The contemporary temple of Apollo Far from ancient Greece, northern Brutalism endures

I'm definitely on Team B&W for photos here: vocal.media/wander/the-c...

Chatting to @thatclare.bsky.social this week about her new album and upcoming gigs. Read more at talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/that-clare... #keepmusiclive #grassroots

Bus shelter artwork celebrates Ingleton’s charms New artwork has appeared on a bus shelter in Ingleton celebrating the village’s rural charm. Minimalistic paintings of cows, sheep

Can you imagine trying to persuade DCC to fund a creative project for bespoke bus stops? Think this is the best I can find: teesdalemercury.co.uk/news/bus-she...

Among the list of 'books I wish I'd bought' is a photo compilation of bus stops of the former USSR. A fine collection of oddly avant garde designs sprouting amid grey apartment blocks. Don't remember seeing any notable specimens when I was over there, though.

Thanks, I'll look out for it.

Sounds interesting, sorry I only heard about it after the fact. Any links to what Pozzer had to say? Sounds like it might intersect with a couple of things I'm trying to write about.

Playlist: shoegaze to blues Two upcoming gigs and a new single

Another playlist, with some impressive up-and-coming Sunderland shoegaze combined with a cracking little rural gig set-up in deepest Teesdale. Check out vocal.media/beat/playlis... for more. Like, share, follow ... you know the drill!

@thecrackmagazine.bsky.social @musicvenuetrust.bsky.social @nomorenowt.bsky.social @buildingculture.bsky.social

One of the best little venues in Northeast England, Stanley's The White Room is well worth your time. Read more at talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/the-white-...

Playlist: Changing narratives A new single from Isabel Maria, and a look at a couple of upcoming Newcastle gigs

Another week, another playlist. Two rising local stars and a copper-bottomed 90s classic out on tour. Because, hey, who doesn't need a bit of nostalgia? vocal.media/beat/playlis...

Symptomatic of how the internet has fucked up local journalism. I'm perilously close to writing a long, whingey essay about this. Not accustomed to exercising this much self-restraint. tl;dr - it's all bollocks, and it's only getting worse, due to an evil alliance of shareholder value and techies.

Very tempted by their Newcastle show next week. Just not sure I can swing it as a Valentine's treat for myself :D

Another playlist, with a preview of a great upcoming album from @thatclare.bsky.social, reflections on catching Jordan Aikin and Quercus in concert and a new direction for Hector Gannet. Read more at vocal.media/beat/playlis... and share at will!

Playlist: one old favourite, two new Exciting new releases and a reminder of the power of live music

Nice work. Looking forward to the band's upcoming single. They got a bit of a write-up in my latest playlist after I saw them this week: vocal.media/beat/playlis...

Gavin Webster: The Gathering of the Gav Down-to-Earth surrealism and the roots of Northeast comedy - with a new tour in the offing.

We all need a bit of a laugh under February's grey skies, so check out Gavin Webster's tour this week. And have a read of this interview, touching on NE comedy heritage and why Viz is up there with the best. Read, share, subscribe! talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/gavin-webs...

I don't know about 'stigma' as such. Regional accents are more audible now than in the past (somewhere there's a clip of the BBC interviewing schoolkids in Sunderland in the 50s or 60s, and the accents are nothing like Wearside). But when I lived away (esp abroad) I had to soften it a bit.

Playlist: back on the beat It's been a while since we've had one of these

I used to do these quite a lot. So, with a couple of gigs booked this weekend, I thought I'd revive my playlists. Electrofolk from Frankie Archer, musical storytelling from @samslatcher.bsky.social (+words from @lizzielovejoy.bsky.social) and Scandi strangeness: vocal.media/beat/playlis...

First Talking Northeast feature of the year, and we're looking at April 11, a recently-opened venture in Durham - just the place for quality local crafts and a friendly atmosphere. Read more from Miranda and Bethany at talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/april-11-d...

Newgate Warehouse, Bishop Auckland How art can regenerate a struggling shopping centre

Likewise, saw the launch in Bishop then the exhibition in Sunderland. Sadly missed the show in Horden. Really liked the use of the space in Bishop, something that could be a real asset for the town: talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/newgate-wa...

Hoping to see Frankie at Pop Recs on Saturday.

YouTube video by sozzol Fields Of The Nephilim Wail Of Sumer / And There Will Your Heart Be Also

I've been delving back to my goth roots and having a bit of a Fields of the Nephilim thing lately. This one, the conclusion of the Elizium album, has a pleasingly epic quality: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VoF2...

A fantastic photo collection from @mariegardiner.bsky.social explores the romantic ruins of the North Pennines. Check out her thoughts at talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/changing-l... and add a copy of the zine to your Christmas lists!

Boundaries 2025 Sunderland music fest celebrates 5 years of experimental sounds

High quality experimental sounds in Sunderland this weekend at the ever-excellent Boundaries festival. Preview here: talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/boundaries...

That very much reminds me of the 'Golden Turtle', build for the 1980 Moscow Olympics. The only time I went was for a volleyball game in about 2012. The exterior is quite similar; don't know if Norwich has the same socialist-realist stylings inside :)

@industrialcoast.bsky.social @thecrackmagazine.bsky.social @teesvalleymonitor.bsky.social @teesstudentlife.bsky.social @benefitstheband.bsky.social

Saving Disgraceland Middlesbrough’s alternative community rallies round its flagship venue

Small venues are facing big problems. Yet these are the very fabric of our cultural life - far more so than oversized, overpriced arenas. So it's encouraging to see efforts to keep Middlesbrough's Disgraceland afloat: talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/saving-dis...

Emailed you, thanks.

Hi Marie. Did your North Pennine photos take you into Teesdale at all? I'm a part-time reporter with the Teesdale Mercury in Barney, might be able to pull a bit of a feature out of it if you were interested?

Mercury rising A tired award ceremony turns out to have a promising fringe

Underwhelmed with the Mercury Prize in Newcastle last night? Fortunately, the Mercury Fringe was much more fun - and probably more valuable for the local music scene. Bit of a blog about it here: vocal.media/beat/mercury...

@poprecsltd.bsky.social @musicvenuetrust.bsky.social

Gig review: Driven Serious An atmospheric evening in a wind-blasted church

Updated link, due to technical issues: vocal.media/beat/gig-rev...