Culture Digest 21.02.25
Our weekly round up of some of the arts and culture stories from across the North East, which caught our attention over the past seven days
Newcastle welcomes MOBO Awards for special night of music and celebration
Almost 30 years after they introduced themselves, the Music of Black Origin (MOBO) Awards made their North East debut this week.
Following five days of MOBO Fringe activity which included live performances, community workshops and industry summits all over Tyneside, a big red carpet was laid out at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena for a parade of stars who’d made the journey to find out who had won what.
Rapper Bashy was one of the night’s big winners. Seventeen years after the release of his first single, he went home with a MOBO in each hand. One for Best Hip-Hop act and one for Best Album for Being Poor Is Expensive.
Another double winner was British-Nigerian singer Darkoo, who won best female act and song of the year, for Favourite Girl.
Both Bashy and Darkoo took to the stage for live performances too, as did Nova Twins, Spice, Krept And Konan and another MOBO Best Newcomer winner, Odeal.
You can watch the ceremony as it happened on YouTube (above) or a BBC One highlights programme will be also available on iPlayer after tonight’s broadcast at 11.25pm.
Funding boost for arts and cash-strapped museums
The Government this week put its money where its mouth is, Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy stressing the importance of arts and culture and explaining how £270 million will be invested from April.
Almost £25 million of that is to be allocated to 29 museums via the fourth round of the Government’s Museum Estate and Development (MEND) Fund which targets non-national museums.
The North East’s share is £1.6 million destined for four cultural organisations, all in the south of the region.
Applause all over the (record) shop for Sam Fender’s new album
It might be called People Watching (it definitely is) but the third album from North Shields singer/songwriter Sam Fender - out this week - has got the world listening.
And music reviewers are LOVING it - left, right, centre and sideways.
Here’s a few highlights:
‘Subtle social realism at stunning blockbuster scale’ - The Guardian
’Reflective and perceptive indie rock from North Shields’ shining star’ - NME
’… songs capable of rousing your soul before subtly breaking your heart.’ - Rolling Stone
’Proves he is the bravest voice of his generation’ - The Telegraph
’Stadium-ready anthems’ - Financial Times
Two down, an Oscar to go
Gateshead writer, Peter Straughan was celebrating at the weekend after adding a BAFTA to his recently-acquired Golden Globe.
Both were given in honour of Peter’s adapted screenplay for Conclave - a film (based on Robert Harris’ novel) which exposes the intrigue behind the election of a new Pope.
We’re thinking an Oscar has got to be firmly on the cards, yes? We’ll get the white smoke ready for March 2 (or March 3, UK time).
Peter’s BAFTA was one of four bestowed on Conclave - Best Film, Outstanding British Film and Editing were the other three.
Other North East-linked successes at the Sunday night ceremony, which took place at the Royal Festival Hall in London, were Irish language hip-hop tale, Kneecap (produced by Jack Tarling of Newcastle-based Shudder Films) which won Outstanding Debut for its writer and director, Rich Peppiatt; and Northumbria Uni graduate Laurie Crawley who bagged Best Cinematography for the night’s other big winner, The Brutalist.
Read David Whetstone’s interview with Peter from a couple of week’s back, when he was back on Tyneside
Newcastle fixture for footy drama Dear England
They’re often compared, theatre and football, with words and phrases borrowed from one to describe the other, but they’ll come together in the autumn when there’s a Dear England fixture at the Theatre Royal.
Actually several fixtures because James Graham’s Olivier Award winning play, which opened at the National Theatre in 2023, will spend a week at the Tyneside venue, from November 11 to 15, on a tour which kicks off in Plymouth on September 15.
The play, directed by Rupert Goold, looks at Gareth Southgate’s time as manager of the England men’s football team.
Come Together Festival reveals Sunday line-up
An event officially launching ‘the North East’s biggest ever music festival’ took place earlier this week and confirmed a banging bill for its final day.
Come Together will take place on Newcastle’s Town Moor from June 4-8.
Sunday headliners, Kings of Leon and special guests Courteneers will be joined by an impressive roster of talent including The Reytons, The Snuts, The Cribs and North East acts such as Du Blonde, Tom A Smith, Liam Fender, Dolder and Cortney Dixon.
As previously announced, Robbie Williams is headlining on June 4 with support from acts including Kaiser Chiefs, South Shields’ little mixer, Perrie and Newcastle rising star, Andrew Cushin.
Full details, bookings and updates via the festival website.
Read more: Review - Champion at Live Theatre
Alnwick Story Fest exhibition to celebrate the everyday
People are being invited to bring their keepsakes to a one-day exhibition titled The Museum of Ordinary Things in Alnwick.
The venture is part of the Alnwick Story Fest weekend and is being organised by Dovecote Street Arts and the People Make Alnwick project based at the town’s Bailiffgate Museum.
'Extraordinary' fundraising effort preserves site for nature
The success of a fundraising appeal has ensured the survival of a major North East nature reserve.
Durham Wildlife Trust is to become the owner of land on the edge of the Rainton Meadows Nature Reserve, at Houghton-le-Spring, ensuring it will be protected from housing development and preserved for nature.
The appeal target of £54,000 target was surpassed within a week, which was described as both an overwhelming and spectacular result. Rainton Meadows doubles as a reserve and also the headquarters of the Trust.
More chances to see pantomime treasure on Tyneside
Pantomime fans wishing for more chances to see Newcastle Theatre Royal’s next festive offering must have been rubbing their lamps.
Bosses at the venue have decided to extend the run of Aladdin for an extra week - making it the longest running professional pantomime thanks to its 85 performances over eight weeks.
The 2025/26 panto will be the 20th anniversary for Theatre Royal Christmas fixtures, Danny Adams and Clive Webb. They’ll be joined by Joe McElderry as the Spirit of the Ring; the legendary Chris Hayward as the always-glamorous Mother Goose; and Mick Potts as The Genie of the Lamp.
Tickets are on sale now from the website.
What’s in a name? Tyneside sale has a valuable answer
From photographer and film maker for the Nazis Leni Riefenstahl to Mother Teresa, Princess Diana and Abraham Lincoln, the late ace autograph hunter Franz-Peter Bach made it his business to capture their signatures.
Now more than 50 lots from his collection acquired across the years will be sold on Tyneside.
New home for ospreys at Kielder
The first ospreys who should begin returning to Northumberland next month will find themselves in pole position for the latest in nest accommodation.
After seven months of planning, Forestry England has battled winter weather, storm damage fallen trees and tough terrain to erect two new nest platform poles at Kielder.
Sir Jony Ive is latest castaway on Desert Island Discs
Northumbria Uni (or Newcastle Polytechnic as was) alumni - and former chief design officer at Apple - Sir Jony Ive is Lauren Laverne’s guest on this weekend’s episode of Desert Island Discs.
Our money’s on at least one Beatles track (from their Apple Records days, obvs) and Design For Life by the Manic Street Preachers.