What I Did At the Late Shows - May 18

(Ann Alex)

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.

I was wondering how I was still alive, so thought I'd better go to church, St Nicholas's, where the live music was quite good. Someone called Sam played guitar to accompany his offerings of Dylan, Tom Waits, and general songs about life. Then came a band, (guitars, drums, violin) with Stuck in the Middle with You, followed by Irish songs such as The Galway Shawl. Very versatile, but time to move on and have a drink.

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.