Friday, we’re in love… With Sage Gateshead’s new livestream concert series

If the pandemic has taught us anything, it’s how much we love live music.

Seeing gig after gig cancelled or rescheduled over the last 12 months has physically hurt our hearts. And while we’re not quite ready to jump into a sweaty, fist-pumping mosh pit just yet, Sage Gateshead have made live music that little bit more accessible until we are. And they’ve thought of everything.

Starting this Friday (7^th May), Sage Gateshead will begin a new programme of live-streamed concerts which will bring some of the best musicians in the world to our living rooms. And it’s ever so appropriately titled – New Beginnings triumphantly marks our society’s slow return to live music, and we couldn’t be more thrilled

With the Blacks Corner At Home With Sage Gateshead dining packages – all of varying sizes, we may add – subscribers to the livestream concerts can order a special hamper that Blacks Corner have specially designed for the occasion: think a selection of the finest meats, cheeses, crackers, conserves and a cheeky bottle of wine (or two) thrown in there for good measure, all delivered to your door before the concert starts. Now we don’t know about you guys, but that basically sounds like heaven to us!

But enough about the pre-show refreshments (although we could literally talk about that side of things aaaaall day) – here’s what to expect from the livestream series itself.

We’re excited for Friday 21^st May, where we’ll see both experimental genius Kris Haplin and emerging solo artist SL Walkinshaw take to the stage. Kris, who makes music as Dyskinetic, is a disabled musician who uses MiMu Gloves so unbelievably cleverly that he’s able to make both electronic and rock music simply by using hand gestures (with the help of some pretty badass futuristic technology). SL Walkinshaw will also be bringing innovation to the stage. One half of Tyneside experimental duo, Ten Sticks, he uses field recordings and acoustic instruments to create ambient soundscapes that promise to feel both crazily familiar while also, at the same time, brand new.

Safe to say, our musical cups overfloweth. But that’s not all – Sage Gateshead have also put together a playlist of music that they feel showcases what New Beginnings means to them and their artists. The pieces of music chosen reflect upon Spring, nature and, most appropriately, fresh starts, meaning there’s definitely something for everyone to connect with.