Not Appearing In This Photo!
May continues to be busy with things kicking off at Gateshead Central Library where I did a talk for the Friday Film Club.
So far all my talks have been fun to do. The audiences have always been receptive and its an awesome feeling since I put a fair bit of work into them. I have to admit this was one of the most enjoyable I've done.
What made it a real pleasure was to has Chris Phipps, (author of Forget Carter) in attendance. It was thanks to Chris I got involved in the 2016 Whitley Bay Film Festival and Newcastle Book Festival, which I will always be grateful for.
Chris remains extremely complimentary of my work and the Q&A after my talk became a positive discussion about film in general, which is what the group is about.
My thanks to Michael Glancey for having me on board and thanks to Chris for being there.
The rest of my weekend I immersed myself in the culture of the North East; its not all about weekends drinking in the Toon! The first port of call was a return to Gateshead Central Library to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein.
The event included a screening of the classic 1931 Boris Karloff chiller and a performance from the improvisational theatre group The Time Bandits.
Following a trip to Shipley Art Gallery for an art exhibition, it was a trip on the open bus to The Black Gate for some medieval tales.
St Nicholas Cathedral hosted a unique piece of musical performance art from the Lawnmowers. Really unique stuff.
We rounded off the evening with another art exhibition at Baltic 39 that included sharing wine and chatting with some of the artists whose work was on display.
Makes me so proud to be a Geordie!
The Bank Holiday weekend will be an eventful one. I'll be picking up the bass guitar for Old Man Goat's gig at the Ship Inn on 26th May. Get yourselves along. Sunday 27th I hope to get to the Schooner to see the Ska-Toons in action. Worth seeing folks.
Finally, my friend Tommy Bentz is back in UK with his band, and they'll be playing at the Ouseburn Blues Festival on 28th May. Tommy will be opening the Festival at the Tyne Bar. Get yourselves along because he is superb.
