As well as football, we still do culture. This time, a look at life in Stockton - urban regeneration and cultural revival, plus people whizzing down a slide in the new Waterfront park! talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/stockton-t...

A quick nudge in the direction of another of my projects - with the start of a new football season (what do you mean, the old one isn't done yet?), I'm planning on revisiting non-league footie around the Northeast. It kicked off in Guisborough yesterday: groundhoppers.substack.com/p/guisboroug...

Brass, glass, a historical epic and a bit of non-league footie. Another fun week ahead, then: talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/seven-days...

Monday morning, and amid the World Cup blear (we're at 'Ooh, maybe it _is_ coming home', the cruellest step on the England football cycle), Seven Days offers some non-footie highlights from across the region. Check it out at talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/seven-days... #livemusic #theatre #comedy

This was an excellent evening out - and there's plenty more to come as the film goes on tour in the next few weeks. Dates here: linktr.ee/redhillsdurham

A new documentary film explores the legacy of the miners' strike in County Durham. It's a tale of resilience in the face of neglect, as this week's interview shows: talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/defiant-re... #mining #film #indie #community #regeneration #defiant #countydurham #strike

Slightly later than scheduled this week, but Seven Days is in Festive Mood with big, free events by the Tyne, Wear and Tees. Plus an upcoming premiere of the latest film from @lonelytower.bsky.social - watch out for a bigger feature on that later this week #music #festival #indie #film #culture

Norman Cornish is one of my favourite artists, so I was delighted to get an early look at the latest exhibition of his work at @thebowesmuseum.bsky.social. Delving into his sketchbooks, the show brings his work to life. Read more: talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/norman-cor... #art #exhbition

Another Monday, another handful of reasons to be cheerful. From folk horror to pitmen poets, there's plenty happening across the Northeast this week. Read more at talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/seven-days...

Had a lovely chat with French singer Flossie Malavialle as she returns to the region for a couple of gigs next week. Fascinating to hear how our scene looks from the outside, and a reminder of why it's worth preserving. More at talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/flossie-ma...

Another week of cultural highlights across the Northeast of England. Live music, arts and crafts, theatre, literature - there's lots going on between Tyne and Tees in the next Seven Days. talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/seven-days...

What happens when you let two Mackems rattle on about music, poetry and the distinctive, multi-layered cultural history of Northeast England? Ben Lunn talks about the premiere of his upcoming work, inspired by the verse of William Martin. talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/ben-lunn-a...

Beat the Monday blues with a rundown of the best of what's on around the region this week. Follow to get this newsletter every Monday. More at talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/seven-days...

Frankie Archer's excellent album The Dance of Death is released today. That's as a good a reason as any to revisit our chat from earlier this year: talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/frankie-ar...

Looking ahead to the music on offer at this weekend's Redcar Kite Festival. Here are a couple of my favourite acts on the bill: talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/playlist-h...

Talking Northeast goes international! Thanks to Keidi Sejdiu for translating our recent interview into Albanian, and thanks to Dash Art for publishing it. Check out the finished product here: www.dashart.al/2026/06/03/k...

A follow-up to the 24NE feature recently - this time we're talking to Keidi Sejdiu about moving to and creating in the Northeast. Read, like, share: talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/keidi-sejd...

A great new gallery in Sunderland, opened six months ago. I went along to take a look and find out more: talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/24ne-art-g...

As well as the Ron Davidson exhibition, there's a potential Teesdale double header this weekend. Mickleton Live's latest show is tonight at the village hall, a special spot to enjoy quality live music. talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/mickleton-...

Art, beer and football. As trinities go, that feels pretty holy to me. And Sunderland-born artist Ron Davidson might have agreed. An exhibition of his work is on show in Teesdale this weekend - but for two days only: talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/ron-davids...

It was great to catch up with one of my favourite artists on the local music scene, Frankie Archer, to talk music, tech and feminism. Read more at talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/frankie-ar...

A real rural rock'n'roll gem - Mickleton Live, in Upper Teesdale, brings top-class music to a village hall. Read more at talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/mickleton-... @musicvenuetrust.bsky.social @thecrackmagazine.bsky.social

Seems like an appropriate day to bring this one back.

Had a chance to visit the launch of the latest @thebowesmuseum.bsky.social exhibition during the week. Impressive stuff, and not just for fashionistas. So a slight departure for Talking Northeast this week. Read more at open.substack.com/pub/talkingn...

Cracking new album from @millsandfarrell.bsky.social out on Friday. Had a great chat with them recently about their work and how they're enjoying the local music scene. More at talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/mills-and-... Read, like, share ;)

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

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!

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-...

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...

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!

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 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...

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!

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

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...

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

Had a top night in Sacriston, listening to Driven Serious and @millsandfarrell.bsky.social in the atmospheric surroundings of the Old Church. Small-scale, intimate, but full of beauty and energy. The photos don't do it justice, the review might: vocal.media/beat/gig-rev...

Feels like a good moment to repost my review of the excellent Constant Noise by @benefitstheband.bsky.social TL;DR - it's a loud slice of what we need right now. Full review: vocal.media/beat/benefit...

Life after mining. Art. Videos. Sound installation. Lots of good stuff to enjoy at Going Back Brockens in Sunderland Museum. More at vocal.media/art/going-ba... @narbiprice.bsky.social @buildingculture.bsky.social @wemakeculture.bsky.social @nomorenowt.bsky.social @thecrackmagazine.bsky.social

A bit more from Horden, where Ensemble 84 is doing exciting things on stage. Here's a review of the most recent production, Pits, People and Players, which reached the end of its run at the weekend: vocal.media/geeks/pits-p...

Going Back Brockens is in its final week at Horden church. Meanwhile, looking back at where it began - a disused warehouse in a Bishop Auckland shopping centre - offers ideas about regenerating town centres. More at talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/newgate-wa...

Another write-up about Going Back Brockens, this time in North East Bylines: @narbiprice.bsky.social @nomorenowt.bsky.social @buildingculture.bsky.social

Exciting times for art in Bishop Auckland with the opening of Going Back Brockens last week. Click for an interview with artist @narbiprice.bsky.social about his work. More at talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/going-back...

One from an occasional series about interesting pubs. The Pele in Corbridge is a cracker - 700 years old, built to protect a nervous vicar from Border raids, and now a fine spot for a quick pint. More at vocal.media/proof/mine-s...

Recently had the pleasure of a quick chat with Jeff Brown after reviewing The Bench at Durham's Gala Theatre. Plenty about the importance of live performance - and the need to bring it beyond traditional stages. More at talkingnortheast.substack.com/p/plays-to-t...

So, some people kicked a ball around for a bit yesterday. Some of us got a bit excited. Red-and-White striped waffling available here: vocal.media/cleats/why-w...

It must be at least 15 years since I last reviewed a play. Until yesterday, when I got to see The Bench at Durham's Gala Theatre for @thereviewshub.bsky.social. Enjoyable show, accessible and thought-provoking. You can check out my review here: www.thereviewshub.com/the-bench-ga...

As a kid, I grew up over the road from William. This was a fascinating chance to discover more about his poetry in a fantastic new anthology jointly edited by @jakecampbell88.bsky.social and Peter Armstrong. Well worth checking out if you've an interest in contemporary poetry, or northern England.

So, from time to time I'm motivated to review music. @benefitstheband.bsky.social latest album, Constant Noise, was just the motivation. A modern-day Dante's Inferno, perhaps? Read, listen, buy a copy and decide: vocal.media/beat/benefit...