Looking for something to do at the mid-March 2024 in the North East? I’ve got you covered with this list. As part of my feature on BBC Tees and Newcastle, I select my top picks of things happening across the North East, and here’s what I’ve chosen for Thursday 7th March to Thursday 14th March.
Queen Extravaganza – Stockton Globe – Fri 8th March
We’re starting in Stockton at the amazing Globe theatre for Queen Extravaganza. That’s on Friday 8th, so you don’t have much time to snatch up any of the remaining tickets, but if you’re a fan of all things Queen, then you need to take a look. This act is made up of musicians hand-picked by Roger Taylor and Brian May, so you can expect as close to the real thing as possible and 90 minutes of Queen classics for you to Freddie-style belt along to, like We Will Rock You, Somebody To Love and, of course, Bohemian Rhapsody. It sounds like it’s going to be absolutely brilliant, but like I say, they’re down to the last few tickets, so check out the Stockton Globe website to grab yours.
International Women’s Day – Beamish Museum – Fri 8th to Sun 10th March
It’s International Women’s Day on Friday 8th and no one celebrates quite like Beamish, in my opinion. They’re dedicating this whole weekend, including Friday, to the occasion with a whole host of events happening around the museum. At 1820s Pockerley Old Hall, hear the story of maritime navigator Janet Taylor, from Wolsingham, who revolutionised the way that sailors navigated across the sea, and have a go at making your very own compass! In the 1900s Town, you can pick up a placard and join a march for women’s right to vote, or hear a talk about local Suffragist, doctor and co-founder of the Northern Women’s Hospital, Ethel Williams. There’s 12 purple plaques that highlight women from across the region that have been installed for you to find, and so much more. All of this is included in the standard Beamish Museum ticket price and plus, you get to use that ticket for 12 months, so that’s a nice bonus too!
Dark Side of the Moon Anniversary Concert – Sunderland Fire Station – Sat 9th March
Pink Floyd fans have been treated this past week, with the UK Pink Floyd Experience at the Darlington Hippodrome the Sunday just gone, and now a Dark Side of the Moon Anniversary Concert this Saturday 9th! As the name might suggest, this show is a celebration of the iconic Dark Side of the Moon album, which was released over 50 years ago and became one of the most seminal albums in British music history. The show sees musicians and vocalists come together to lovingly and authentically recreate the psychedelic masterpiece in full with a few other Floyd classics thrown in for good measure. If you fancy it, it’s on at the Sunderland Fire Station this Saturday so check out their website for tickets.
Motoon Mother’s Day Special – Wylam Brewery – Sat 9th March
If psychedelic music isn’t quite your thing and you prefer the soulful sound of Motown, then you might be interested in Motoon at Wylam Brewery this Saturday 9th. This is a regular event at the brewery and this is the first of 2024, and it’s themed for Mother’s Day, so I’m going to say you’ll hear lots of the ladies of Motown, including the Supremes, the Marvelettes and Martha & The Vandellas. There’ll be a selection of DJs throughout the night playing 100% soul and Motown, plus soul food, a bar and a dance floor under the iconic brewery dome. As it’s Mother’s Day-themed, this would be an amazing event for all the soul-loving mums, grannies and mum-figures, or for anyone who just loves the Motown sound. You can find tickets on the Motoon website.
Free entry to National Lottery funded venues – North East-wide – from Sat 9th to Sun 17th March
If you’re in the mood for a bit of history, culture or nature, then you’re in luck because from Saturday 9th right through until Sunday 17th, National Lottery funded venues across the North East are opening their doors to everyone with free entry. And we’re really spoiled for choice with Souter Lighthouse, Gibside, Wallington, Ormesby Hall, Seaton Delaval, Lindisfarne Castle and RSPB Saltholme all taking part, so you could maybe see how many you can tick off the list over the course of the week and a bit that they’re open. This is part of a larger national campaign that the National Lottery are doing to say thank you to players for raising £30 million per week to continue funding such venues. There’s no need to book, but you’ll need to take along a National Lottery ticket or scratch card to show you’re a player, but you can find all the details you need on lotterycauses.org.uk.
Quayside Wildlife Safari – Newcastle-Gateshead Quayside – Wed 13th March
This is something for the nature fans among us or those of us who want to know more about the River Tyne. If that’s you, then you can check out the Quayside Wildlife Safari, which will take you on a 5 mile route along the Newcastle-Gateshead Quayside on Wednesday 13th to discover the wildlife that calls the city its home. From the world’s most inland breeding colony of black-legged kittiwakes to the peregrine falcons that watch the city from on top of the bridges to the otters and grey seals that swim in the river to feed, there’s plenty to see and learn about. Plus, you’ll find out more about the history of the Tyne and how its industrial past has shaped the wildlife, so it should be a really interesting trek. You can find out more about it and book your places on wildintrigue.co.uk.
Rosie Jones: Triple Threat – Gala Durham – Wed 13th March
Funny lady, Rosie Jones, is on the road for a UK tour with her show Triple Threat, including a stop at the Gala Durham on Wednesday 13th. Best known for her appearances on 8 out of 10 Cats, The Last Leg and Mock The Week to name just a few, you can join Rosie as she ponders whether she is a national treasure, a little workyticket, or somewhere in between! This show is guaranteed to be full of her signature unapologetic cheekiness, nonsensical fun and unadulterated joy from the triple threat herself. There are just a handful of tickets left for this, so if you’re interested, head to the Gala Durham website to book.
Coldplay By Candlelight – Durham Cathedral – Thurs 14th March
I’m seeing out this list with a candlelight concert, which feels like a lovely way to wrap up this week. Candlelight concerts are popping up more and more frequently across the North East, and we just can’t seem to get enough of them, but this one is all about Coldplay in the beautifully atmospheric surroundings of Durham Cathedral. This concert will see a string quartet performing Coldplay’s music for an hour, including Clocks, Fix You and A Sky Full Of Stars, all in glow of candlelight, which just sounds so incredibly magical. It’s a definite must for fans of the band, so if you want to go along, it’s on next Thursday 14th and you can pick up your tickets from the Durham Cathedral website.
Make sure you check back next week for more amazing events!
