Sage Gateshead is delighted to announce some fantastic shows, which go on sale on Friday 27 April.
Hip hop legend Grandmaster Flash presents a visual experience for those who love the work of both classic and contemporary DJs.
Versatile local singer Anna Reay spreads some Christmas magic, with unique performances of holiday favourites.
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the iconic duo, The Simon and Garfunkel Story returns following a sell out world tour.
These are just some of the shows going on sale today. Get your tickets now at Sage Gateshead.
GemArts Masala Festival: Ashraf Sharif Khan (Sitar) and Shahbaz Hussain (tabla)
Wednesday 18 July, 8pm, Sage Two
Ashraf Sharif Khan was born in 1969 in Lahore, Pakistan, the son of sitar master Ustad Muhammad Sharif Khan Poonchwala, who enjoyed a renown in India and Pakistan equal to Ustad Vilayat Khan and Pandit Ravi Shankar. Like his father and grandfather, Ashraf Sharif Khan belongs to the illustrious Poonch Gharana school of traditional sitar.
Ashraf’s music combines an astonishing technical proficiency with perfection in musical expression. The melodic beauty of his style, accentuated by his dynamic rhythmic development and the virtuoso technique produce a unique musical experience. His music transcends regional boundaries, and is accessible to all.
He was awarded the 2015 a lifetime achievement award from the All Pakistan Music Conference and was awarded with the President’s Pride of Performance Award from the Govt of Pakistan in 2017.
Shahbaz Hussain is regarded as the leading Tabla virtuosos of his generation. He has received numerous accolades for his captivating performances, including receiving the prestigious Son of Lahore Award from the Government of Pakistan in 2008.
Shahbaz began in the art of Tabla at age five with his father, prominent vocalist the late Ustad Mumtaz Hussain. He later went on to study with Tabla legends Ustad Faiyaz Khan from the Delhi Gharana, the late Ustad Shaukat Hussain Khan from the Punjab Gharana, and the late Ustad Allah Rakha Khan.
An extremely versatile Tabla player, Shahbaz has mastered all the imperative traditional skills, as well as the ability to project those skills to more contemporary styles. His solo performances have gained great recognition all over the world. He is also much sought after for his accompaniment skills by many of the great masters musicians of India and Pakistan.
Shahbaz is also passionate about passing on the knowledge of Tabla to others. He is a dedicated teacher and regularly teaches across the country, including at the University of Newcastle and the University of Huddersfield.
The Wood Brothers
Wednesday 5 September, 8pm, Sage Two
Fittingly titled One Drop of Truth, the latest entry in The Wood Brothers evolution finds three musicians being true to themselves.
At a point in their career where most artists would be looking to strategically position themselves for even greater commercial success, they instead turned to artistic expression in service of the muse.
In chaotic times when honesty is in short supply and ulterior motives seem to always be at play, The Wood Brothers put faith in themselves, and ultimately their audience, by writing and recording a collection of songs that is honest and pure.
Book now: http://sagegateshead.com/event/the-wood-brothers/
Grandmaster Flash Hip Hop, People, Places and Things. The Visual Experience
Thursday 6 September, 7.30pm, Sage One
In the past, whenever you saw your favourite hip hop DJ play, it has only been about what you hear, not what you see. But what if you could see exactly what the DJs could see? What if you could see exactly what the original hip hop pioneers could see back in the day? When DJs searched high and low for exclusive breaks that no other DJ had and went to great lengths to cover the label, so no one knew were the breaks came from.
Well now you can, with the first ever interactive, visual, history of hip hop block party, told by the innovator, the pioneer, one of the creators of hip hop music, the one and only Grandmaster Flash.
Demonstrating the original breaks, from the classic 70s records, and showing the record sleeves live on screen. Showcasing the amazing history of hip hop, the places, the people, the breaks and techniques that started it all while cutting and scratching your favourite tunes on the turntables for one huge, live, interactive, visual hip hop block party with the legendary Grandmaster Flash.
Book now: http://sagegateshead.com/event/grandmaster-flash/
Folkworks: Lankum
Sunday 21 October, 8pm, Sage Two
Lankum are one of the most talked about bands to come out of Ireland in decades. They’re a Dublin four-piece who combine distinctive four-part vocal harmonies with arrangements of uilleann pipes, concertina, accordion, fiddle and guitar.
Their repertoire spans humorous Dublin music-hall ditties and street-songs, classic ballads from the Traveller tradition, traditional Irish and American dance tunes, and their own original material. The band comprises of brothers Ian and Daragh Lynch along with Cormac MacDiarmada and Radie Peat.
When not on tour, Ian lectures in Irish Folklore and musical traditions in University College Dublin, while Cormac and Radie grew up as champion traditional players, on the fiddle and concertina, respectively. Yet Lankum are not purely traditional themselves, in the same way The Pogues were more urban music. Rough-hewn and raw, they’re the most exciting thing in Dublin right now.
The band was originally formed by the Lynch brothers in the early 2000’s, and has since progressed through a number of incarnations, culminating in the four-piece group playing today. The release of their album Cold Old Fire, and a subsequent appearance on the BBC television programme Later… with Jools Holland, cemented their reputation as a band that successfully crosses genres.
Although an acoustic group whose repertoire is fundamentally based on traditional song, inspired by legends such as Frank Harte, Planxty, The Dubliners and the Watersons, subtle traces of the group’s collective influences can be detected, ranging from American old-timey music to krautrock and drone. Lankum are busy breathing new life into old music.
Book now: http://sagegateshead.com/event/lankum49875/
Triple Bill by Eliot Smith Dance
Tuesday 27 November, 8pm, Sage Two
Eliot Smith Dance’s new contemporary programme for Autumn 2018 will take you on a spellbinding journey through technically powerful and passionate choreography that has established the company as one of the most exciting voices in UK’s contemporary dance.
Created in collaboration with the some of the industry’s foremost, award-winning choreographers, dancers and composers, Eliot Smith’s new Triple Bill consists of three brand new dance works by the award-winning choreographer Rosie Kay, notable dance-maker Mathieu Geffre, alongside a new work created by the company’s Artistic Director Eliot Smith. The performance will will feature a live musician and is inspired by the famous Poppy, in collaboration with The Royal British Legion.
Expect a highly physical and musically led evening of new dance that enables the company to continue to develop as a leading regional dance company.
Book now: http://sagegateshead.com/event/triple-bill-by-eliot-smith-dance/
Anna Reay at Christmas
Thursday 6 December, 8pm, Sage Two
Following her sell out shows One Enchanted Evening and Great Ladies of Song, international singer Anna Reay is returning to her native North East with her brand new Christmas show to kick off the festivities in style.
A versatile singer with an array of musical styles from soul, swing and jazz to classical and popular music, Anna is delighted to join her band back at the Sage Gateshead to perform an eclectic mix of Christmas classics. The show will include holiday favourites Baby It’s Cold Outside, All I Want For Christmas, Santa Baby, Let it Snow, O Holy Night, and many more, all performed in her own unique style.
Accompanied by special guests, Anna Reay at Christmas promises to get you in the festive spirit for a fun-filled night of music to remember.
Join in the festivities for a magical start to your Christmas countdown.
Book now: http://sagegateshead.com/event/anna-reay/
The Simon and Garfunkel Story (50th Anniversary Tour)
Wednesday 16 January 2019, 7.30pm, Sage One
Direct from it’s success at London’s Lyric Theatre, Shaftesbury Avenue, a sold out worldwide tour, and standing ovations at every performance, The Simon and Garfunkel Story is back.
Using huge projection photos and original film footage, this 50th anniversary celebration also features a full live band performing all the hits, including Mrs Robinson, Cecilia, Bridge Over Troubled Water, Homeward Bound and many more.
Get your tickets fast, as this is an evening not to be missed.
Book now: http://sagegateshead.com/event/the-simon-and-garfunkel-story-19/