Andy Millne

For more information please contact the church via their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/StCuthbertsChurchBedlington/

Bedlington’s first arts festival will bring together local talent and some of the finest regional artists in an event celebrating arts, crafts and music. The inaugural festival is inspired by the history of Bedlington itself is open Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 February from 10am - 4pm. The weekend will include exhibits, activities for children under 5 with puppets and music, music to enjoy with the centre’s Ukulele group and choir performing, and the café will be open for refreshments. The project has been created by the Bedlington Creatives group and project managed by Blyth based textile artist Sheila Biggs. Creative Producer Andrea MacDonald will curate the exhibition. Sheila said, 'It's been an exciting year-long project for the Bedlington Creatives, who are all local residents. We have been delving into the history of Bedlington. Wildlife and old photographs have been an inspiration for local artist Yvette Hawkins for some printing work and a collage. We then welcomed artist Stevie Ronnie and the group enjoyed paper folding and origami and they also visited the local market and bought items to upcycle. Having had fun over the Summer with some family craft sessions and then a Teddy Bear's Picnic, we then welcomed animator and filmmaker Sheryl Jenkins into the centre for some animation workshops. Local artist and Creative Connector with bait Jane Sutcliffe has attended every session to support the artists and has led some of her own sessions, enjoying the experience.' Bedlington Community Centre secured a funding award from Arts Council England’s Grants for the Arts, thanks to a partnership with bait. The grants for the arts support has enabled the group to sustain arts activity in the centre. Full details and photographs of what the group have been up to over the past year can be viewed on their website: http://www.bedlingtoncommunitycentre.co.uk/bedlington-creatives

Bedlington’s first arts festival will bring together local talent and some of the finest regional artists in an event celebrating arts, crafts and music. The inaugural festival is inspired by the history of Bedlington itself is open Saturday 18 and Sunday 19 February from 10am - 4pm. The weekend will include exhibits, activities for children under 5 with puppets and music, music to enjoy with the centre’s Ukulele group and choir performing, and the café will be open for refreshments. The project has been created by the Bedlington Creatives group and project managed by Blyth based textile artist Sheila Biggs. Creative Producer Andrea MacDonald will curate the exhibition. Sheila said, 'It's been an exciting year-long project for the Bedlington Creatives, who are all local residents. We have been delving into the history of Bedlington. Wildlife and old photographs have been an inspiration for local artist Yvette Hawkins for some printing work and a collage. We then welcomed artist Stevie Ronnie and the group enjoyed paper folding and origami and they also visited the local market and bought items to upcycle. Having had fun over the Summer with some family craft sessions and then a Teddy Bear's Picnic, we then welcomed animator and filmmaker Sheryl Jenkins into the centre for some animation workshops. Local artist and Creative Connector with bait Jane Sutcliffe has attended every session to support the artists and has led some of her own sessions, enjoying the experience.' Bedlington Community Centre secured a funding award from Arts Council England’s Grants for the Arts, thanks to a partnership with bait. The grants for the arts support has enabled the group to sustain arts activity in the centre. Full details and photographs of what the group have been up to over the past year can be viewed on their website: http://www.bedlingtoncommunitycentre.co.uk/bedlington-creatives

Don't miss another fun packed Northumberland Live in Gallagher Park, something for all the family. More bands and information to follow soon, see you all there. Who's going? Let us know using the going/maybe/decline buttons.

Over the last thirty years these guys have been part of some of the best known acts on the North East band circuit. Following earlier success with French Curves, Ultimate Bowie Band and Trakk, they reformed in 2012 as Call Off The Search to embark on a new, more personal project and play some of their favourite music - past and present - while still having some fun along the way. Their years of experience and skilled musicianship is clearly in evidence during live performances and always a pleasure to hear. http://www.calloffthesearch.net/

Over the last thirty years these guys have been part of some of the best known acts on the North East band circuit. Following earlier success with French Curves, Ultimate Bowie Band and Trakk, they reformed in 2012 as Call Off The Search to embark on a new, more personal project and play some of their favourite music - past and present - while still having some fun along the way. Their years of experience and skilled musicianship is clearly in evidence during live performances and always a pleasure to hear. http://www.calloffthesearch.net/

Over the last thirty years these guys have been part of some of the best known acts on the North East band circuit. Following earlier success with French Curves, Ultimate Bowie Band and Trakk, they reformed in 2012 as Call Off The Search to embark on a new, more personal project and play some of their favourite music - past and present - while still having some fun along the way. Their years of experience and skilled musicianship is clearly in evidence during live performances and always a pleasure to hear. http://www.calloffthesearch.net/

Over the last thirty years these guys have been part of some of the best known acts on the North East band circuit. Following earlier success with French Curves, Ultimate Bowie Band and Trakk, they reformed in 2012 as Call Off The Search to embark on a new, more personal project and play some of their favourite music - past and present - while still having some fun along the way. Their years of experience and skilled musicianship is clearly in evidence during live performances and always a pleasure to hear. http://www.calloffthesearch.net/

Share The Darkness play full on rollockin' Irish performances with some modern folk and easy rock thrown in for good measure. The band members are all professional musicians with over 130 years collective experience. It is this level of experience which the band feel is a major factor in them being nominated "Best Traditional Act 2016" in the Ubeat TV Awards at the O2 Academy in Newcastle. What kind of music do they play? - Think The Dubliners/Saw Doctors/Flogging Molly/ Dropkick Murphy's along with influences from the likes of Lindisfarne, Richard Thompson and Christy Moore. The band has been described as, "more Irish than a Dublin pub!" Performances tend to be upbeat with powerful driving rhythms.

A fun night featuring a live Ceilidh band and sottie buffet. Tickets are £5 and can be purchased via the Community Help Hub, from folks at Hope Church or by emailing info@hopechurchbedlington.co.uk

Howard Baker entertained us earlier in the year as a solo performer and in November we welcome back Howard with his band. The Howard Baker Band is a Show Band based in the North East. They cover a range of bands such as: The Eagles, Cream, Bad company, Lindisfarne, Dr Hook, Smokie, Rolling Stones, Small Faces, AC/DC & many more. Five guys, No Egos. Tickets on sale soon.

A drop of the Irish, a hot spoonful of salsa, a twist of Tamla, shake it all up with thirty years of Rock and Roll experience and garnish with good humour – there you have The Happy Cats! Tickets on sale soon.

Howard Baker is a professional entertainer and outstanding vocalist based in the North East and we are looking forward to welcoming him back into the centre. He has an extraordinary talent for singing. He covers rock, swing, Irish, 60's & 70's to ballads. He is truly a thoroughbred in today's world of music. His shows have something for everyone. Howard has had three hit songs in Europe singing the blues; he’s also a very accomplished writer with over 40 songs to his name. Tickets on sale soon.

Prelude are an English based vocal harmony group, who in their most famous line-up consisted of Brian Hume, his wife Irene Hume and Ian Vardy. They formed in their native Gateshead in 1970. Prelude are heavily influenced on both a musical and lyrical level by American harmony-based soft rock acts like Simon and Garfunkel, Joni Mitchell, Crosby Stills and Nash and Young. Tickets on sale soon.

Back by popular demand! Rag Mama Rag create an exceptionally full and hard driving rhythmic sound which soon has audiences feet tapping. Their repertoire is 20’s and 30’s Blues based, but extremely varied, encompassing Mississippi Blues, East Coast Ragtime sounds, early White Country tunes, Original Compositions, and many other regional styles of the 20’s and 30’s period. Tickets £15 available from the Community Centre box office or book online here.

Ferocious folk foursome 4Square is winning fans from all four corners of Europe and beyond with their fiery, inventive and virtuosic brand of alternative folk. 4Square’s trademark show features the spectacle of Nicola Lyons’s simultaneous fiddle playing and clog dancing and virtuosic mandolin from Michael Giverin, galvanised by the driving sounds of Jim Molyneux’s piano and Dan Day’s percussion. The result is an infusion of folk, jazz, Latin, and any other musical style they feel the inclination to absorb. By contrast, 4Square will then stir you with their harmonious and mellow singing described by Nigel Schofield of livingtradition.co.uk as “sublimely wistful.” Tickets on sale soon.