I
love the annual Late Shows, when museums and art galleries etc are open after
hours, to show us aspects of their work which we don't usually see, and to
provide live music, food and other goodies.
I
stepped off the Metro at Newcastle Central Station, only to be utterly
frightened by an event called Flux. This was a large screen on the station
concourse, showing pink, yellow and black shapes, representing the air
pollution in Newcastle in places such as Jesmond, the Redheugh Bridge, and the Coast
Road. There was sound as well, moaning low sounds, and lots of black shaped
nitrogen dioxide.
At
the Central Library they had only gluten-free beer left, so that had to do (spot
the influence of Russell, I'm writing about what I drink at gigs, as he does).
One corner of the ground floor was given over to a silent disco – young people
wearing headphones, dancing to music only they could hear, what a great idea! I
did wonder if they could all hear the same music, or did they have a choice?
Then
a loud brass instrument sounded from somewhere upstairs, then another from the
other side, a saxophone from somewhere, a trombone behind me, it's David Gray A.K.A.
Showtime, it's the Northern Monkey Brass Band, who made their way to the
stage from all sides, causing much hilarity and applause. They gave us a really
fine set of tunes, including Born to Run, a Michael Jackson number, some
originals, we even demanded an encore. Great music from 2 trombones, a tenor
sax, trumpet and flugelhorn (I think), a tuba (or a sousaphone?), and of course
drums and cymbals. I wanted to dance.
The
band ceased and the staff began to stack chairs, but it wasn't quite the end. A
woman came to tell us that there is a project to collect people's memories of
Newcastle’s night life, so she left her email address and said that even recent
memories would do. So we can tell her all about jazz in Newcastle. More
publicity! Not a bad night at all.
Ann Alex.
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