Month: Sep 2026

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Altered Images

Posted on by Jackie B

The Grove, Byker, Newcastle. 16 September 2026

The second gig that week was in a venue I’d never been to before. The Grove is in a development of small industrial units in Newcastle’s Byker area. There’s level access into the buillding, which includes a bar, a kitchen serving fast food. a smaller cocktail bar, a music venue and an outside courtyard with a massive tv screen on one wall. I can imagine this must have been great watching this summer’s World Cup matches – I think they also screen movies.

When I enquired about access I was able to secure one of two wheelchair spaces plus free carer ticket. Sure enough, there is a tiny railed off viewing platform to the left of the door into the venue and a seat with my name on. A, who was with me was offered a chair to go behind me.

The staff were really helpful too. Although there is no designated disabled parking, the staff member on the outside door advised me to park by the adjacent industrial unit as it had closed for the day. For everyone else there were a couple of steps down into the space so we had great uninterrupted views of the stage. It is tiny – capacity 350, and reminiscent of another iconic Newcastle venue, the Cluny.

Is it me or are support acts getting better? I’ve seen some great ones recently and tonight’s opener, Zoe Graham is a real talent.

A slight figure with a big guitar, Zoe confidently performs well-crafted pop songs with an edge, with unexpected key changes and melodic vocals. New album “Tent” is being sold on the merch stand in the bar and I’ve been listening to it since the gig. There are some great songs …stand out tracks for me are “Divine Feminine Energy”, “Happen” and “Evelin” (the video featuring Zoe’s mum playing a Fanny Craddock style TV chef having a melt down, smashing cake). So check out the album on your streaming account – it won’t disappoint.

Anyway I digress…it was time for the main feature.

Glasgow’s Altered Images were celebrating 45 years of their breakthrough Happy Birthday album.

Lead singer Claire Grogan has been performing ever since, both with the band and acting….who could forget her as Susan in Gregory’s Girl.

This sort of intimate venue suits her well – she’s as sweet and engaging as ever. The album in question was played in full in the first half, then, after a swift costume change from gold playsuit to a swirl of white chiffon and feathers, she was back with all the other hits, including my personal favourite, “Don’t Talk to Me About Love”

What a great night, and a new venue checked out for accessibility too. I’d definitely go back to the Grove again.

Posted in disability access at music venues, gig review

Tom Bailey/Blancmange

Posted on by Jackie B
A man wearing sunglasses and a microphone passionately speaking on stage, with a stylish patterned shirt and a suited jacket, set against a hazy blue-lit background.

Whitley Bay Playhouse,

15 September 2026

It’s an age since I posted a gig review, but this is a 2 gig week and Tuesday was an absolute cracker at Whitley Bay Playhouse. This is a modern little theatre and has pretty good accessibility as you’d expect from a newish building. The only other time I’ve been there was for an excellent amateur production of Legally Blonde: The Musical a few years back. I’d been able to book a wheelchair space and companion ticket in Row D of the stalls. There is a wider space between rows C and D to make access easier. We were a bit late in setting off and struggled to find parking so we reached out seats seconds before support act Blancmange came on stage. Tonight I was with my bestie from college days, A, who has travelled up from Sheffield to stay for a few days.

A singer performing on stage under blue lighting, holding a microphone.

I saw Blancmange back in the 80s at The Limit Club in Sheffield, a low ceilinged basement venue with a sticky floor and sweat condensing on the walls. It was a bit rough but got some of the coolest bands.

Blancmange consist of original frontman Neil Arthur on vocals with various session musicians on keys/electronics since the death of fellow founding member Stephen Luscombe in 2025. Currently this role is filled by Finlay Shakespeare.

A musician playing an electronic synthesiser on stage, wearing glasses and a patterned shirt, with blue stage lighting in the background.

They may not have had as many hits as some of the other 80’s synth pop bands but there was some good stuff there. Neil Arthur got the crowd going from the get go, with the superfans in the front rows quickly on their feet and dancing (not so great for those of us on wheels in Row D)

Audience members watching a performance in a dimly lit venue with blue stage lights.

He kept it going for an enthusiastic audience, with a set including Blind Vision, Feel Me (I love that hypnotically repetitive baseline), an excellent singalong cover of Depeche Mode’s I Just Can’t Get Enough and biggest hit, Living on the Ceiling. At one point the crowd was singing along so loud that he held the mic stand aloft towards them.

A performer singing passionately on stage with a microphone, surrounded by audience members in low light with colourful stage lighting.

All delivered with Arthur’s deadpan Lancashire wit – he hails from Darwin, a place I know well from when I lived in nearby Blackburn. He ended with the words “We’re Blancmange and you’r not!” It was a great start to the night.

A performer engaging with the audience under blue stage lights.

During the interval in the bar I bumped into H – a regular at local 80’s gigs that I first met at ABC last year – I think she gave me the head’s up about tonight’s gig in the first place. We’ve now exchanged contact details so we can keep each other posted about upcoming gigs.

Two women smiling and posing for a selfie, one with blonde hair and a black top, the other with white hair wearing a mint green jacket and a silver necklace.

Tom Bailey was founding member and lead singer of The Thompson Twins.

A musician wearing sunglasses and a black blazer, focused on performing with a microphone headset, adorned with a colourful floral shirt, in a vibrant, illuminated setting.

The band’s other members changed over time, but most of the hits were recorded by a trio consisting of Bailey with Allanah Currie and Joe Leeway. These days Tom is joined on stage by Charlotte Raven on keys/cello…

A female singer performing passionately at a keyboard, with emotional expression and a microphone in front of her, under soft stage lighting.

…Paulina Szczepaniak on drums …

A performer with long blonde hair and sunglasses plays an electronic drum kit, with vibrant stage lighting in the background. Silhouettes of audience members are visible in the foreground.

…and Meelie Traill on bass/keys.

A female musician playing a glittery bass guitar on stage, illuminated by blue and purple lighting, with her hair pulled back.

And they perform all those TT hits, including those you’ve forgotten about, Kicking off with ‘In the Name of Love’ one of my favourites and the perfect start to get everyone up and dancing. The set continued with ‘Sci-fi’, ‘You raise me up’, Shooting Star’ and ‘We are Detective” had definitely forgotten about that one.

A female musician playing an electric cello while standing next to a male guitarist performing on stage, illuminated by dramatic lighting.

On with more, including’LayYour Hands on Me’ and a great cover of Talking Heads’ ‘Psycho Killer’. At one point a huge red balloon was thrown into the audience and kept in the air for a while but then a woman sat behind me popped it. The look of utter shock on her face was priceless!

Audience members holding phones to capture a large red balloon on stage, with stage lights creating an atmospheric backdrop.

The hits continued on with ‘Doctor Doctor’ and ‘Love on Your Side’, ending with the beautiful,’Hold Me Now’

A musician with grey hair performing on stage, wearing sunglasses and a patterned shirt, with a microphone headset and guitar.

I had a bit of a moment there – it’s such a beautiful song and I remembered Kevin buying me the 12 inch single and a single red rose one Valentine’s Day.

A musician performing on stage with a black electric guitar, wearing a stylish jacket and a patterned shirt, under purple stage lights. An audience member is capturing the moment with a smartphone.

The crowd loved it, singing their hearts out…as did I! A great night, two fantastic bands and a whole load of 80’s nostalgia.

Audience watching a live performance with stage lights illuminating the scene.
Screenshot
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The Mighty Hike

Posted on by Jackie B

Sorry it’s been quite a while but I really need to get back into blogging!

I had a lovely day on Saturday. Daughter got a place on the McMillan Mighty Hike along the Northumberland Coastal Path. A place became available at the last minute when a friend’s sister had to drop out. It’s a 26 mile walk from Alnwick Pastures (by Alnwick Castle) to Bamburgh, via the coastal villages of Alnmouth, Howick, Craster, Embleton, Newton by-the-Sea, Beadnell, and Seahouses. The route took in some of our most beautiful coastal views.

The walkers were raising funds for the MacMillan charity, which provides support for cancer patients and their families, including specialist nurses. It’s a really worthwhile cause.  The route soon filled up with walkers wearing the charity’s distinctive green and white T-shirts. Around 2000 people were participating.

It was a gorgeous sunny day, but with a nice breeze to keep the walkers cool. The plan was to keep track of daughter using WhatsApp Location Finder so I could meet up with them. This backfired as the mobile signal is not good along parts of the coast! I was looking after her little Labrador, Wren. 

The walk has a staggered start and daughter and friends were setting off just after 7 am. I was supposed to meet them later on. Daughter would collect her dog and veer off the path onto the beach so she could have a nice walk. We met up at Embleton Golf Course, where I parked near the path where the walkers were coming past and handed over the dog, then drove to Newton by-the-Sea.

 Somehow we missed each other at that next rendezvous point as I was unable to track her location but probably also because I was distracted by the view.

Newton Beach is one of my favourites and I spent so much time there as a child. Today it was at its best and I enjoyed sitting in the sunshine watching that view while I had a coffee and my picnic lunch. Although there were only tiny waves there was enough wind for the sailors: there were a couple of Laser dinghies getting up quite a speed and some larger yachts sailing past outside the bay.

Consequently, the dog got a much longer walk before I eventually caught up with them at Seahouses ! I was so glad I’d brought some water and a bowl because Wren was pretty thirsty after covering such a long distance. Even though I’d packed snacks and drinks the only other support I needed to give our walkers was to pick up daughter’s walking boots when she changed into trainers – it saved her carrying the heavier boots in her backpack. The  event was very well organised with lots of refreshment stops providing drinks and food.

The last 3 miles of the hike between Seahouses and Bamburgh are the toughest. The imposing Bamburgh Castle is visible throughout this stretch and never seems to get any closer. That’s got to feel even worse if you are getting a bit sore and tired, even though the route is fairly flat.

Eventually they arrived at Bamburgh.

The group made it in good time, completing the 26 miles in around 8 hours. At the finish, on Bamburgh cricket field, the walkers were presented with a medal and a glass of non-alcoholic fizz. There was plenty of food available too.

I waited in a nearby car park where there is my favourite view of Bamburgh Castle from the north

Wren was delighted to meet up with her Mum, who was feeling slightly sore but suitably proud of her achievement – She reckoned she hasn’t walked more than 8 miles in one go before this.

As I drove her back to Alnwick to retrieve her car she shared how much fun, but also how emotional the day had been. As they set off U2’s Beautiful Day was playing – this was one of her Dad’s favourite songs and was played at his funeral. She said it felt like a sign that he was watching over her and she’d be ok. With that and the very personal messages walkers had written on their numbers about why they were supporting the charity, there were a few tears on the way round.

Well done to all the walkers on the Mighty Hike (both on the 26 miler and the shorter 13 mile version held the following day)