Highlights:
- The world’s greatest living explorer, Sir Ranulph Fiennes, shares tales of his exciting expeditions
- Multi-instrumental musician and folk stalwart Rowan Rheingans presents a poignant reflection on human empathy, hope and small acts of transformation
- Producer, songwriter, pop star and musician’s musician Nick Lowe performs with guitar instrumental band, Los Straitjackets
Sir Ranulph Fiennes: Living Dangerously
Tuesday 11 June, 7.30pm
Named by the Guinness Book of Records as ‘the world’s greatest living explorer’, Sir Ranulph Fiennes has spent his life in pursuit of extreme adventure, risking life and limb in some of the most ambitious private expeditions ever undertaken.
Amongst his many record-breaking achievements, he was the first to reach both poles, the first to cross the Antarctic and Arctic Oceans, and the first to circumnavigate the world along its polar axis.
In Living Dangerously, Sir Ranulph offers a personal journey through his life, from his early years to the present day. Both light-hearted and strikingly poignant, Living Dangerously spans Sir Ranulph’s childhood and school misdemeanours, his army life and early expeditions, right through the Transglobe Expedition to his current Global Reach Challenge – his goal to become the first person in the world to cross both polar ice caps and climb the highest mountain on each of the seven continents.
Sir Ranulph Fiennes’ many endeavours have pushed his endurance levels to the very limits, inspiring generations and making him a pioneer of exploration with an unparalleled story to tell.
Book Now: https://sagegateshead.com/whats-on/sir-ranulph-fiennes-2019/
Folkworks: Rowan Rheingans: Dispatches on the Red Dress
Wednesday 12 June, 8pm
Dispatches on The Red Dress is an intimate and adventurous exploration of memory, identity, joy, sorrow, trauma-recovery, birdsong, war and waltzes.
“Big ideas carried off with aplomb…. not only an excellent songwriter but someone with a fine grasp of the delicate balance of joy and pain that makes us human.” Folk Radio UK
Unravelling the urgent message hidden in the folds of a story from her own grandmother’s youth, award-winning multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Rowan Rheingans sings to the past, the present and the future in this unique and deeply personal one-woman show.
Rowan weaves storytelling and song with fiddles, banjo and guitar, live-looping and subtle use of pre-recorded sounds in a poignant reflection on human empathy, hope and small acts of transformation.
Rowan Rheingans is a fiddle player, banjoist, songwriter and composer best known for her work with acclaimed folk bands Lady Maisery, The Rheingans Sisters and Songs of Separation. With these projects Rowan has won two BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards (Best Original Track and Best Album) and is a five-times nominee.
Rowan’s debut solo show, Dispatches on The Red Dress, is supported by PRSFoundation, Arts Council England and English Folk Dance and Song Society.
Book Now: https://sagegateshead.com/whats-on/rowan-rheingans/
Nick Lowe’s Quality Rock & Roll Revue starring Los Straitjackets plus Dawn Landes
Thursday 13 June, 8pm
Nick Lowe has made his mark as a producer (Elvis Costello-Graham Parker-Pretenders-The Damned), songwriter of at least three songs you know by heart, short-lived career as a pop star, and a lengthy term as a musicians’ musician. But in his current ‘second act’ as a silver-haired, tender-hearted but sharp-tongued singer-songwriter, he has no equal.
Starting with 1995’s The Impossible Bird through to 2011’s The Old Magic, Nick has turned out a fantastic string of albums, each one devised in his West London home, and recorded with a core of musicians who possess the same veteran savvy.
His new 4 song EP, Tokyo Bay, features Los Straitjackets as his backing band.
Los Straitjackets
Los Straitjackets are the leading practitioners of the lost art of the guitar instrumental. Using the music of the Ventures, The Shadows, and with Link Wray and Dick Dale as a jumping off point, the band has taken their unique, high energy brand of original rock & roll around the world.
Clad in their trademark Lucha Libre Mexican wrestling masks, Los Straitjackets have delivered their trademark guitar licks to 16 albums, thousands of concerts and dozens of films and TV shows.
Their most recent album, What’s So Funny ‘Bout Peace Love & Los Straitjackets, consists of instrumental covers of Nick Lowe Songs.
Book Now: https://sagegateshead.com/whats-on/nick-lowe-2019/
Presented by GemArts, Sage Gateshead and ZeroClassikal
Riverside Ragas: Altered Boundaries
Friday 14 June, 8pm
Altered Boundaries follows the concept of a string quartet, which is not a new one. The concept of a string quartet incorporating Indian music is not new either. However, replacing the standard two violins, viola and cello with two sitars, a sarod and a sarangi will create a new sound not heard before. It aims to push the boundaries of contemporary Indian classical music.
Mainly improvised and homophonic in nature, adding polyphonic textures challenges the very fabric of Indian Classical Music genre.
The ensemble is led by Jonathan Mayer on main sitar, joined by William Hoffman on sarod, Jasdeep Singh on second sitar and Surjit Singh on sarangi.
The first half of the concert will be a traditional Indian Classical performance with Udit Pankhania accompanying on tabla.
Book Now: https://sagegateshead.com/whats-on/ragas-altered-boundaries/
Classical Season 2018/19
Brahms Fest
Saturday 15 June, 6.30pm
- Lars Vogt conductor
- Claudia Huckle alto
- Christian Tetzlaff violin
- Tanja Tetzlaff cello
- Royal Northern Sinfonia
- Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia
- Brahms Gesang der Parzen (Song of the Fates)
- Brahms Alto Rhapsodie
- Brahms Schicksalslied (Song of Destiny)
- Brahms Piano Trio No.3 in C
- Brahms Double Concerto
- Brahms Symphony No.2
Behind Johannes Brahms’ enormous beard lay the soul of a poet, and one of the most passionate spirits in all music.
Royal Northern Sinfonia ends its season with a portrait of the artist in three parts: by turns melancholy, tender, and profoundly human.
Please note there will be two intervals during this concert. No dinner interval.
Book Now: https://sagegateshead.com/whats-on/rns-at-home-brahms-fest/
ENDS
Further information, high-resolution images and press tickets available on request
CONTACT: Rosie Earl 01325 363436
NEWS RELEASE: ISSUED ON BEHALF OF SAGE GATESHEAD
Notes to editors:
Sage Gateshead is an international music centre and renowned conference and event venue located in the North East of England. It is for artists, for audiences, for the North and for the long term.
Its concert programme incorporates all kinds of local, regional and international music and runs all year round. Music-making and learning activity takes place not only in the building but across the region.
As a charity, the support it receives helps to ensure everyone in the community can experience the joys of music.
Sage Gateshead registered charity, number 1087445.