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3 weeks ago | 
narcmagazine.com | Claire Dupree
Image: Lilo by Katie SilvesterYou can’t have too much of a good thing, so a brand new all-day event in Middlesbrough showcasing some of the most exciting local and touring bands on the circuit is welcome indeed. This Is Middlesbrough takes place at Teesside University on Saturday 5th April, and has been organised by those behind the incredibly successful Twisterella, which celebrated its 10th anniversary with its most successful event to date last year.
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Dec 12, 2024 | 
narcmagazine.com | Claire Dupree
Image: L-R Pippa Morgan, Sarah Barron, Helen Walkinshaw“The concept is to disrupt barriers and encourage collaboration,” says Pippa Morgan, one of the quartet behind North East online music platform Index, alongside Sarah Barron, Helen Walkinshaw and ‘behind the scenes’ (but no less important) web guru David Haigh.
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Dec 6, 2024 | 
narcmagazine.com | Claire Dupree
Image: Big SpecialLooking for a Christmas gift for that hard-to-buy-for music fan in your life? The good folks at Stockton Calling have just saved your bacon, as today they announce a raft of big name artists performing at the event on Saturday 14th April. Four more headliners have been confirmed – Black Country punk duo Big Special will take to the stage a Stockton’s Georgian Theatre, Hull indie rockers The Paddingtons are scheduled for The Social Room, rising alt.
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Nov 29, 2024 | 
narcmagazine.com | Claire Dupree
Image: Little Miss ChristmasTHEATREA heart-warming wintry tale can be a magical way to start the Christmas festivities, no matter your age. There’s a high-octane and energetic show courtesy of an award-winning creative team at Newcastle’s Live Theatre, as Alphabetti Theatre’s Ali Pritchard teams up with Dramaturg Tamsin Rees and musician Ceitidh Mac in Present, in which party-loving Dave takes on an epic quest to buy a gift for his grandson (3-21 Dec).
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Nov 27, 2024 | 
narcmagazine.com | Claire Dupree
The December/January issue of NARC. magazine is out now, available in print from outlets across the North East, and digitally via our website. Our cover star is art pop musician Dilettante. Dawn Storey talks to Francesca Pidgeon about how introversion, multi-tasking and megalomania have informed her latest album.
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Oct 30, 2024 | 
narcmagazine.com | Claire Dupree
The November issue of NARC. magazine is out now, available in print from outlets across the North East, and digitally via our website. Our cover star is DIY artist Du Blonde. Linsey Teggert talks to Beth Jeans Houghton about leaning into her unhinged side, collaborating with other artists and embracing musical freedom on her fourth record as Du Blonde.
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Oct 23, 2024 | 
narcmagazine.com | Claire Dupree
Stockton’s multi-venue festival Stockton Calling have kicked off their line-up announcements for the 2025 festival in style. North East favourites Maxïmo Park will headline the ARC stage at the event, taking place on Saturday 19th April, bringing Billingham-born frontman Paul Smith back to home territory.
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Oct 23, 2024 | 
narcmagazine.com | Claire Dupree
Image: Wendy Smith of The Glasshouse and Mick Ross of GeneratorMusic development agency Generator and powerhouse music venue The Glasshouse have joined forces to spearhead an initiative which it’s hoped will bring investment in the region’s music scene. The initiative will set up a strategy of collaboration with other organisations in the North East to enable growth and support the music ecosystem, with the aim of boosting jobs, enhancing skills provision and driving investment.
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Oct 11, 2024 | 
narcmagazine.com | Claire Dupree
Opening with a spoken scene from cowboy film Tombstone Canyon sets the scene pretty well for this superb slice of Americana with Spaghetti Western vibes. Based on one of America’s best preserved ghost towns, Sunderland-based Welsh songwriter Ruby Kelly’s protagonist risks life and limb for her lover in a carefully crafted and well-paced track. Excellently produced, St Elmo is awash with jaunty strumming, moody bass notes and a propulsive beat.
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Oct 7, 2024 | 
narcmagazine.com | Claire Dupree
Newcastle-based singer-songwriter Darren Burdis is making a name for himself thanks to heartfelt and introspective releases. Unafraid of laying his emotions bare, and finding inspiration in the likes of similarly brooding songwriters Elliott Smith and Badly Drawn Boy, Heartbeats is a suitably contemplative and somewhat catchy addition to his catalogue. Kicking off with a nice twangy, moody guitar line, Darren’s vocals are pleasantly rough around the edges, with just the right amount of gruffness.
