NE1_12_LR

UPFRONTUPFRONTSWEET SOULSoul and RnB fans have been well served inrecent months, with legends including MarthaReeves and Chaka Khan playing rare dates inclubs on our doorstep.Next up, the legendary Alexander O’Nealsteps out on the Hoochie Coochie stage. It’s thelatest coup for Warren Thomson, owner of thecity centre live lounge, whose fantastic summerof soul began with a truly incredible gig fromChaka Khan and Incognito and ends with the kingof smooth, Mr O’Neal.Thomson happens to know everyone in thebusiness, which is how he attracts huge-nameacts to his 250-capacity venue. It’s set to be avery soulful September, people…Hoochie Coochie, September 26-27www.hoochiecoochie.co.ukBIRD’S-EYE VIEWThe race may have been run, but this year’sGreat North Run Culture still has a few milesin its legs. To celebrate the 10th anniversaryof Great North Run Culture, Claire Morgan’sstriking sculptural installation Gone WithThe Wind, which was first shown at the LaingGallery in 2008, is back at the gallery.It features a dense mass of thousands of seedsnative to the race route and a lone Kittiwake gullsymbolising the passage of a lone runner throughcrowds of competitors. Prepare to be dazzled…Laing Art Gallery, September 20-January 9www.greatnorthrunculture.orgWUNDERBAR!Self-styled German Comedy Ambassador tothe UK Hening Wehn brings his unique brand ofstand-up to Newcastle any day now.He’s at The Stand for two nights withhis new show Eins, Zwei, DIY, promising“an evening-long crash course inpersonal accountability”.Having moved to the UK in 2002to work in marketing,Wehn has been in his‘official’ post sinceOctober 2003.He’s a telly andRadio Fourfavourite and hisbrand of comedyis uniquely, well,German (whichis a first).Just go…The Stand,September 21-22www.thestand.co.ukKEEP DANCINGNational Dance Company Wales is back at Dance Citywith a triple bill including a long-awaited performanceof the breathtaking Tuplet by the Swedish starchoreographer Alexander Ekman.Tuplet is an 18-minute tour de force made famous whenAlicia Keys collaborated with Ekman on the piece for theannual New York Black Ball for HIV and AIDS in Africa in 2012.This is its first performance by a UK-based company and it’sgoing to cause quite a stir. For full details of the NDCWalesprogramme, see the website.Dance City, Sept 27, £15, www.dancecity.co.ukFRIGHT NIGHTCabaret club Boulevard promises the fright of yourlife in the build-up to Hallowe’en with its new showA Nightmare On Churchill Street. The show, whichruns until November 1, is led by female impersonatorBetty Legs Diamond, hostess and DJ Miss Roryand the Broadway Dancers. We’re told to expect‘spooktacular’ music and dance routines (yes, really).Boulevard, September 19-November 1, from £15www.boulevardnewcastle.co.ukI ATE AT...OMKEME PRIST KERPILE, 33STUDENT, NEWCASTLEI regularly go to The Gate to eatbecause they have a good selection ofrestaurants and food from all over theworld. I like ZaZa Bazaar in particularbecause I can choose from all sorts offood. You can eat as much as you wantso it’s really good value for money.SUSAN TEOH, 24, STUDENT,NEWBRIDGE STREETI love Japanese food so I usually goto Osaka on Grey Street. They have agreat variety of dishes; everything fromtraditional dishes to all kinds of sushi.Their fish is the best because it’s reallyfresh, which makes for a great taste.4 WWW.GETINTONEWCASTLE.CO.UKWWW.GETINTONEWCASTLE.CO.UK 5