Andy Potts
Bio
Community focused sports fan from Northeast England. Tends to root for the little guy. Look out for Talking Northeast, my new project coming soon.
Stories (113/0)
Pints & Parkruns: Blackhill, Consett
Perched on a Pennine ridge, Consett is a singular place. Its exposed location makes it prone to wilder weather than near neighbours on the Durham plain, while its rugged industrial history still leaves a tangible mark almost half a century after the town’s steel works closed.
By Andy Potts7 days ago in Longevity
Cautious optimism
It’s two weeks since Labour won a landslide victory in the British general election. The voters of the UK vigorously applied a hefty boot to the ample posteriors of a legion of Tory shysters, handing Keir Starmer’s party 413 out of 650 seats at Westminster.
By Andy Potts9 days ago in The Swamp
Playlist: fringe benefits
Isabel Maria – Holy Smokes Last time we wrote about Isabel she was taking her brand of subtle chamber pop to the Stone’s Throw festival. Since then, the teenaged singer-songwriter has released a new track and announced a bunch of gigs. So there’s no excuse not to catch up with her music.
By Andy Potts12 days ago in Beat
Playlist: Narc.Fest
NARC is one of the region's best cultural guides and its annual festival in th Ouseburn puts its money where its mouth is to bring the cream of northeast bands to six indie venues in Newcastle's creative hub. This year's edition is on July 13, and here's a taste of some of the sets we're looking forward to hearing.
By Andy Potts24 days ago in Beat
The School on Seaside Lane
School. A universal experience, yet somehow unique to each of us. Whether it’s memories of school dinners – multi-coloured custard and bright sprinkles on sponge cake – or a uniform that somehow resembled normal clothes while being unimaginable outside of the classroom, those days stir deep memories for many.
By Andy Potts25 days ago in History
Pints & Parkuns: Prudhoe Riverside
Parkrun really is a community for everyone. Check out Prudhoe Riverside and, more specifically, Haydn’s Disco Spot. Named after the most popular volunteer on the route, and audible well in advance thanks to some pumping sounds, it’s a tribute to a resilient family and the way in which the event really isn’t all about running.
By Andy Potts28 days ago in Longevity
Playlist: Mackem magic and a mystical remix
The big upcoming event for me is the Summer Streets festival in Sunderland - two days of top local bands in the best free festival in the region. We've got a couple of highlights from that show on July 6/7, plus a hazily beautiful remix of some gentle electro-folk from East Durham.
By Andy Potts29 days ago in Beat
Playlist: Punk Princesses
The summer festival season is getting into full swing, even if the weather isn’t always willing to play along. This weekend sees a female-fronted fantasia in South Shields, which features previously playlist star Cortney Dixon in addition to a couple of acts with new tracks mentioned this week. And, just down the coast, Sunderland is celebrating the launch of its Music City with a mini-festival of artists from or connected to the city. Read on for some of the highlights.
By Andy Pottsabout a month ago in Beat
Pints & Parkruns: Denton Dene
Ever fancied running in the footsteps of a Roman Centurion? Denton Dene parkrun might have the answer. Tucked inside Newcastle’s traffic-choked Western Bypass, the Dene is a woodland oasis – and it also carries the Hadrian’s Wall Walk into the city. That pathway, which stretches 84 miles in total from Bowness-on-Solway to Wallsend on Tyneside, shares a stretch of the parkrun route here.
By Andy Pottsabout a month ago in Longevity
Acting up
There’s something unexpectedly empowering about disturbing the peace. A quiet Tuesday lunchtime in Newcastle’s Grainger Market was jolted into life with shouts of “Who cares? I care!” Amid placards highlighting the crisis in social care, we joined a small group on the march.
By Andy Potts2 months ago in The Swamp