Andy Millne

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.

Prominent high street retail premises in Bedlington are being offered RENT FREE for 12 months in an enterprise competition. Aimed at encouraging a fresh new approach to retailing in Bedlington, the competition will seek out commercially viable, creative and ambitious ideas that can be made a reality. Startup businesses or existing ones that want a high street presence are able to apply. Not only that but the winner has also been offered half price accountancy fees for the first year of trading by Grimes Accountancy Services and Free advertising on bedlington.co.uk for the lifetime of the business. The successful applications will be put to a public vote. Votes will be cast by members of the bedlington.co.uk town website and local Facebook groups such as Make a Noise for Bedlington, Bedlington Matters and Bygone Bedlington. To enter, applicants should submit a business plan no later than March 31st via email to competition@bedlington.co.uk. A panel of judges will then choose suitable applications to be put to the public vote. "This is one of the best retail locations in the town, close to a major bank, the post office, and acres of free parking" said Andrew Millne offering up the space. Mayor of Bedlington, Malcolm Robinson, said "What a fantastic opportunity not only to try out your business idea for a whole year with reduced costs but to also work with a first class business advice service (Bedlingtonshire Development Trust) with a proven track record in helping small businesses succeed. It would also seem a very opportune time because your business might just be hitting its viability when the wholesale redevelopment of the Town Centre is underway. I am sure business premises will be at a premium the closer to being finished that gets, so now is the time to dip your toes into the water if you are thinking about it!" Competition winners will see one of the biggest costs of doing business removed entirely for their first year although businesses must be able to show evidence of future sustainability in their plans. Some businesses and local organisations will also qualify for small business rate relief but day to day running costs such as utility bills must be accounted for. "It's time the people of Bedlington had a say in what they need on their high street. By winning a competition like this the enterprising retailer will already have the firm backing of local residents which gives them every chance of success." said Christina Laking, local property investor. Everyone can participate in this innovative competition by commenting on what you would like to see in your town in the comment section below.