NEWS & PREVIEWS

Boss Sounds Reggae Festival 2008

This years Boss Sounds Reggae Festival is back at the Newcastle Academy with some top names for your entertainment.

Over the weekend of Saturday 18th and Sunday 19th October you can enjoy, amongst others, Sly and Robbie, Cherine Anderson, The Pionners, Misty in Roots, Easy All Stars and Ska Cubano.

You can also catch a DJ set from Jerry Dammers, who recently watched from the wings as his former band The Specials played The Bestival.

Royalty Theatre, Sunderland, 2008/2009 season

The Royalty Theatre in Sunderland has announced their programme for 2008/2009, and it promises some mouth-watering productions, including a play by Alan Ayckbourn and a production of The Graduate.

First up is Ladies Day, which is a comedy that unfolds at a day at the races.
It runs from Monday 29th September to Saturday 4th October.

The programmes also includes:

November 3 - 8: Gameplan, which is comedy/drama by Alan Ayckbourn

December 4 - 13: Cinderella by Peter Long and Keith Rawnsley

January 26 - 31 2009: The Hothouse, a surreal comedy by Alan Pinter

March 16 - 21 2009: Katherine Howard, a play about Henry VIII’s fifth wife by William Nicholson

May 11 - 16 2009: Breathing Corpses, a darkly funny murder mystery by Laura Webb

June 15 - 20 2009: The Graduate, a production based on the film and screenplay

If that has whetted your appetite, go to www.royaltytheatre.co.uk for more information on the programme and tickets.

Durham Book Festival

17 – 26 October 2008

If reading is your thing, then this year’s Durham book festival may be right up your street. The festival has been revamped and is a ten-day celebration of books and reading, including readings and workshops.

Featured authors include Kate Adie, Kate Atkinson and Mark Thomas, who will be reading from their new books, answering questions and signing for those people patient enough to queue.

The dates for these events are

Saturday 18th October – Kate Adie – reading from her new book Into Danger: Risking Your Life For Work

Monday 20th October – Kate Atkinson – reading from her new book When Will There Be Good News?

Tuesday 21st October – Mark Thomas – reading from his new book Belching Out The Devil: Global Adventures With Coca-Cola

FESTIVAL FEVER

The festival season is in full swing again so get your wellies and tents at the ready. This year sees some amazing acts performing across the country as well as some blasts from the past. Everyone has their favourite festival and try as you might to convince them any other is better in nye-on impossible. One of my life ambitions is to make it round each one, one year and probably have September off with exhaustion. Although over the years I have met a few people who do this every summer. Granted they don't have a "proper" holiday but 4-5 days of lying in the sun and listening to great music 5 times a year doesn't sound to shabby to me. Of course we all know the main offenders Isle of White, Download, T in the park, O2, V Festival, Creamfields and Leeds and Reading but what about the other zillion that have popped up over the last few years. It seems now if you have a weekend free and a few quid to spare over the summer you can guarantee there will be a festival somewhere in the country!

As usual I will be attending Vfestival in Staffordshire this year (pauses for boo's) but the one I really wanted to go to is Noel Fielding's & Julian Barratt's "The Mighty Boosh Festival" in Kent. I can imagine it being a pysadellic infusion of music, love & surrealism. It will be an insight into their minds and any fan of the show would be in Boosh heaven. Even if the Crack Fox is in attendance! I am willing it to be a success and will make it my mission to attend next year. Not only do they have the music but they are also slotting in a bit of comedy. The one day event will include acts such as The Kills, The Charlatans, Jarvis Cocker, Gary Numan, Robots in Disguise & White Demin. With Comedy acts Ross Noble, Frankie Boyle, Milton Jones, Josie Long and so many more! There is even a Howard Moon Jazz Spectacle and Vince Noir Electro Tent which will have face painting.

Another festival that has been getting a lot of hype is Rob Da Banks Bestival. It finally came to life after 10 years of making music and his Sunday best empire. Its a three dayer near Downend & Newport in the Isle of White. They aim to place an independent twist on the whole weekend. Radio 1's Rob Da Bank attracts the phenomenal line-up which this year includes Underworld, Hot Chip, CSS, Pendulum, The Human League, DJ Yoda, Black Kids and Ronnie Size to name a few! Whilst wife and co-founder Josie Da Bank puts her spin on what a festival should be like which includes, boutiques worthy of Paris, a Bollywood Cocktail bar, fancy dress and a hidden disco! The festival is in its 4th year and I believe tickets are sold out.

So in 2009 why not try an alternative festival as well as your fav?

Sunderland artists enter the Vault.

The Museum Vaults was founded and launched in 2007 by Monty Cantsin and Karen Elliot. Currently the collective represents four artists: Fe Le Pain, Misteraitch, Tim Brennen and Paul Maven. Each displaying their own unique creative flair through their online galleries.

2 pieces caught the attention of the TNP staff. Fe le Pain's '9-to-5' (pictured top left)and Misteraitch's humorous dig at the royal family 'Familiarity Breeds Contestants' (also pictured left).

As well as the opportunity to buy original artwork, budding artists can also submit their work for possible representation.

For more information and examples of the artists work visit: www.museumvaults.co.uk