NARC. #187 out now!

The September issue of NARC. magazine is out now, available in print from outlets across the North East, and digitally via Issuu.

This month’s cover stars are Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra. They explain to Lee Fisher how they used lockdown as a time to reflect on their future, and have emerged newly invigorated and full of ideas. Images by Amelia Read.

Also this month, previews of live shows from Rose City Band, Anna Ash, Mush, Allen Valleys Folk Festival, Scott Matthews, Laura Jurd, The Goa Express, Chloe Castro, Luke James Williams, The Handsome Family, Fay Hield and many more; art exhibitions including Sahej Rahal at BALTIC and Classic Street Style at Side Gallery; comedy galore from Maisie Adam at ARC, Rich Hall at various venues, Jessica Fostekew at Gala Theatre and The Stand, Doug Stanhope at Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Phil Wang at Newcastle Cathedral, Isy Suttie at The Stand and more; theatrical loveliness from Your Voice Your Future at Live Theatre, All The Beds I Have Slept In at Northern Stage, Welcome to the Jungle at ARC, Family Honour at Dance City and loads more!

Interview-wise, Ben Lowes-Smith speaks to Bernard Wright and Kari Macleod about Gosforth Civic Theatre’s brand new folk festival, Beyond The Moor; Lizzie Lovejoy talks to Izzy Finch about Create/Disrupt, NewBridge Project’s ongoing programme of artist support for working-class artists; Cameron Wright talks to North East songwriter Elizabeth Liddle about drawing on her passions to produce her remarkable debut EP; Damian Robinson chats with Jimmy Beck about The Gathering Sounds, a festival designed to spotlight your new favourite band; Ali Welford talks to eclectic artist Katy J Pearson about her recent album, chart misfortunes and adulting on tour; Claire Dupree talks to clubland creature Monarchy and spoken word artist Leah Roberts about L!PSTICK, their new Queer cabaret night at Base Camp; Lizzie Lovejoy talks to spoken word artist Donald Jenkins about his transition into hip-hop on his debut EP; Steve Spithray discovers contemporary investigations into centuries of history as the Lindisfarne Gospels return to the region; with Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music expanding once again this year, Lee Fisher spoke to festival producer Wesley Stephenson to find out what he has in store; Jake Anderson talks to mysterious duo Guthrie and DJ Carbomb about Gonzo Dog’s unpredictable live shows and biting new release; Steve Spithray chats with Liam Slevin about themes of power, AI and empowerment at contemporary art festival Middlesbrough Art Weekender; Cameron Wright discusses the ever-evolving electronic music community with Northern Electric festival pioneer Steven Chell; Dawn Storey chats with indie pop songwriter and multi-instrumentalist RJ Thompson about his new album; Evie Lake talks to Shilpa Ray about the necessity of diss tracks, working through trauma and finally unlearning to indulge the male ego; and KU Bar’s Jimmy Beck picks his Mixtape tracks.

In the Review section, there’s reports from the front row of Yard Act, Class of 2022, Martha Wainwright, When Chai Met Toast, Thomas Truax, Emma Ruth Rundle, Efterklang, Lightning Bolt and many more; there’s demo reviews of Thomas Walliker, Mascara’s Lies, Electric Circus, Silk Road and Cactusman; reviews of local single and EP releases including Charts & Graphs, James Leonard Hewitson, Salsola, Alex James, Simon York West, Arcade Skies, Bobby Latheron & Beth Miller, Rituals, Taliraw, Slowlight Orchestra, Charlotte Forman and TANKENGINE; plus new album releases from Suede, Andrew Bradley, Gemma Cullingford, Christine & The Queens, Bloods, Lande Hekt, Oren Ambarchi, Marisa Anderson, Jockstrap, Courting, Pixies, The Mars Volta and many more.

Enjoy!