Lizzie Esau is a name that just keeps coming up. The North East talent powerhouse has been favourited by the likes of Greg James (Radio 1 Breakfast Show), Shakk (BBC Introducing NE), BBC Look North and Danielle Perry (Absolute Radio) to name a few. Live performances all over the UK and Europe over the past 2 years have confirmed her prowess as a consummate live performer and writer of epic indie songs. Lizzie is at home performing on the biggest festival stages including two shows at Glastonbury (2024), BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Boardmasters & many more.

With well over 2 million streams under her belt and working with the legendary Catherine Marks, Iain Berryman and long time producer / collaborator Steve Grainger, the music just keeps on flowing. Announced as BBC Introducing's 'One to Watch’ there has been strong early support from Notion, Clash, and Dork, and Narc Magazine. Esau is ready to grasp with guitar in hand, all that the music industry has to offer.

Friends Matti and Chichi built Voices of Virtue Gospel Choir from a duo into one of the North East's leading Gospel Choirs.

A passion for gospel music and joy of singing have driven Matti and Chichi to create a vibrant and joyful group of singers.

Voices of Virtue Gospel Choir are known for their sold out 100% Soul Shows and Gospel Shows which have toured the region & beyond. 

The choir have performed and collaborated with artists such as Sting, Shaggy, Smoove & Turrell, Little Moscow, Martha Reeves and the Vandellas , Liam Fender and Howard Gospel Choir.

Seeing and hearing Voices of Virtue Gospel Choir live is an experience never to be forgotten.

vovgc.co.uk

David Almond OBE FRSL was born in Newcastle and grew up in Felling, Gateshead.

He is the author of Skellig, The Falling Boy, Puppet, Bone Music, Kevin and the Blackbirds and many more novels, stories, picture books, plays and opera librettos. His work, mainly set in the north east, is read and performed around the world.

David writes and presents programmes for BBC Radio 3 and 4.

His major awards include The Carnegie Medal, The Nonino International Prize, The James Kruss Prize, The Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize and The Hans Christian Andersen Award.

David is Professor Emeritus at Bath Spa University and in 2021 was awarded an OBE for services to literature. He lives on the beautiful North East Coast.

www.davidalmond.com

To mark the 90th anniversary of the Ashington Group and with the kind permission of The Ashington Group Trustees, Eliot Smith Dance proudly presents an excerpt from Eliot Smith's 'PITMAN'.

This excerpt takes its inspiration from George Brown's painting, 'Coal Tubs Off The Way' performed by Adam Davies and Harry Wilson, and set to music of 'There is No Safe Side But the Side of Truth' by Jóhann Jóhannsson.

The production of 'PITMAN' is now touring the North East.

More details can be found at: www.eliotsmithdance.com/pitman