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Straits Times
36 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Celeb Pawrents: Actor-singer Glenn Yong's pomeranian Rio brings the family closer
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox SINGAPORE – Glenn Yong may be one of the most-followed Singaporean celebrities on social media, but the actor-singer is not planning to create an account for his fur kid. The 28-year-old, who has over 530,000 Instagram fans and more than 420,000 TikTok followers, is the proud owner of Rio, a six-month-old male merle pomeranian that he handpicked from a local pet store in April. 'A lot of people have suggested the idea, but I don't even have the time to handle my own accounts,' he says. He did, however, post some photos and videos on Instagram when he first got Rio. He has always wanted a pomeranian and one with a unique appearance. He chose Rio for his merle colouring, with black-and-white patches that make him look like he 'comes from outer space'. Yong describes Rio as intelligent, confident, affectionate and sociable. 'He's so cute and the smart puppy knows he's adorable too,' says the proud pawrent, laughing. 'He's always happy and loves to be around people,' adds Yong, a fixture in local director Jack Neo's films, such as I Not Stupid 3 (2024) and The King Of Musang King (2023). The actor can currently be seen in microdrama On The Line. The 10-episode series follows Ruth (Seow Sin Nee), a rookie immigration officer learning the ropes of protecting Singapore's borders from her disciplined group leader Zachery, played by Yong. On The Line is streaming on Mediacorp TikTok, Mediacorp Drama YouTube Channel and mewatch. However, Yong worries that his puppy is too friendly with strangers. He says: 'What if someone just takes him away?' As much as Rio is playful and energetic, the puppy loves snuggling up to Yong and his family, which includes his parents and his elder brother. 'He'll run to you when you get home. You simply cannot resist cuddling him when you see his face,' says Yong. Glenn Yong chose Rio for his unique merle colouring, with black-and-white patches that make the dog look like he 'comes from outer space'. PHOTO: GLENN YONG The actor says Rio never fails to follow him around the home. But when he was away for two months in Malaysia for work recently, the pup quickly switched allegiance to Yong's mother. 'My mum became the main caregiver and took over the feeding and looking after of Rio, so he naturally started following her more,' says Yong. 'She tends to spoil him by giving him treats all the time. I have to remind her that he needs to earn his treats by following basic commands – such as sit, high-five and roll – or he'll become a spoiled brat.' As Rio is still young and just received his final vaccination, Yong plans to keep him indoors for now. 'He's still at the stage where he wants to bite and nibble on everything, so I think it's not very safe to take him out at this point,' Yong says. The home-grown celebrity made his acting debut in Channel 8 drama series The Good Fight (2019) before landing his breakout role in idol drama Live Your Dreams (2021). He was recently in the French capital for Paris Fashion Week to attend the Louis Vuitton and Kenzo shows. He was also involved in the publicity events for his new Malaysian romcom Step Dave. He plays a carefree 24-year-old bartender whose life is turned upside down when he falls for a sexy 39-year-old mother of three. Having Rio at home brings the whole family together, says Yong. 'My parents have retired, and my brother and I are working, so it's good to have someone in the house to keep my parents company,' says the bachelor. The family used to have a shih tzu named Prinze, who died in his old age more than a decade ago. Yong says his mother was affected by the loss and it took her a long time to get over it. 'Dogs are companions. They feel your emotions and become part of the family,' he adds . 'Having a dog is a commitment, but it brings so much joy. 'We spend more time together in the living room and everyone looks forward to coming home to play with him.'
Time of India
40 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Uorfi Javed gets death & rape threats after ‘The Traitors' win
In a powerful underdog-to-winner story, Uorfi Javed has emerged as the winner of 'The Traitors' Season 1. Taking to Instagram, Uorfi shared an emotional reel capturing her victory moment and her heartbreaking exit from 'Bigg Boss OTT', where she was the first contestant evicted. Her heartfelt caption detailed the toll online hate, rape and death threats, and financial struggles took on her early journey. Uorfi revealed she had borrowed clothes to appear on 'Bigg Boss', fearing she'd missed her only shot at success. But fate had other plans. 'I took out 3 traitors that can't be luck,' she wrote, proudly crediting her resilience and strategy for the win. Alongside Nikita Luther, Uorfi takes home the trophy and ₹70 lakh prize money. With 'The Traitors' already greenlit for a second season on Amazon Prime, Uorfi's win marks more than a personal milestone , it's a statement to everyone who doubted her. Her journey from online ridicule to fan celebration proves that perseverance and authenticity can rewrite the narrative.
Daily Mirror
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Canadian tourist slams 'not worth the trip' UK city but Brits hit back
A Canadian woman who is travelling around the UK and trying to keep costs down has shared her thoughts on one city in England - and says it's 'not worth the trip' Kamilla Szpakowski, a Canadian digital creator, has been exploring the UK on a shoestring budget and documenting her journey on Instagram under @ The 23-year-old has spent five months last year dedicated to " low budget travel" and sharing her insights with her followers. During her travels across the UK, Kamilla encountered one city that she found charming but ultimately wouldn't recommend to fellow budget travellers. Despite its picturesque architecture, ghostly tales, and amiable residents, York didn't make the cut for her. In an Instagram video, Kamilla questioned her audience: "Would you believe me if I told you this cute little city was not worth the trip?" She expressed disappointment in the city's affordability. READ MORE: Kickers' 'durable' Back to School shoe range that 'last all year' Kamilla pointed out that while York may be delightful and photogenic, it doesn't cater well to those watching their wallets. "Although York is super cute and picture-perfect it is not for the budget traveller," she remarked, reports the Express. She shared her frustration about the unexpected costs, saying, "When I was doing my research on things to see [and] do in York I already knew there weren't going to be many places we could go in and enjoy but I was not expecting for places like the York Art Gallery to be advertised as free to actually cost £7 when I got there." Though Kamilla initially believed York Art Gallery was free of charge, a quick check on their official website reveals that entry fees apply: £7 for adults, £4.20 for kids aged five to 16, and a discounted rate of £6.40 for those aged 17 to 24 or with a student card. However, there are some who can enjoy the gallery at no cost, including local children under 16, Art Fund members, Friends of York Art Gallery, and various other concessions detailed on the gallery's website. Kamilla remarked: "The York Minster is beautiful from the outside but unfortunately costs £18 to enter which I think is just way too much. The food was also very expensive. The burger I got was £11 with no fries!" Despite encountering some pricey attractions, the travel blogger found joy in several complimentary experiences. Among these were visits to the iconic Shambles, said to be the inspiration behind Harry Potter's Diagon Alley, and the local market. She also admired the stunning architecture of York Minster and Clifford's Tower from the exterior. Kamilla enjoyed a leisurely walk along the historic York City Walls, spanning 3.4km of ancient masonry, and meandered through the scenic Museum Gardens.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Ranveer Singh deletes all Instagram posts ahead of his 40th birthday; shocked fans speculate it is a promotional stunt for ‘Dhurandar'
Ranveer Singh, he is the man you can expect the unexpected from. High on life and known for his charismatic personality, Ranveer Singh is often seen leaving his fans stunned with his every move. And did something similar just happen right ahead of his 40th birthday? Ranveer Singh deletes all his Instagram posts ahead of his birthday The 'Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani' star Ranveer Singh just a day before his 40th birthday, deleted all his posts from Instagram, leaving netizens perplexed. Ranveer enjoys a global fanbase of over 47 million followers on the said social media platform alone. His every post makes headlines and goes viral in no time. Thus, his act of wiping it all clean has left everyone wondering what's cooking. Is it all for 'Dhurandar'? The only thing visible on Ranveer Singh's Insta profile is his last story which has '12:12' along with two sword emojis. Though much information or explanation behind the story hasn't been provided, fans are speculating it is regarding the teaser release of 'Dhurandar.' Last month, reports were doing rounds that the teaser of 'Dhurandar' will be released on Ranveer Singh's birthday (July 6). Now, netizens believe that at 12:12 pm, the makers of the movie might release the same as a birthday surprise to Ranveer's fans. 'Dhurandar' Alongside Ranveer Singh, 'Dhurandar' boasts an exceptional cast that includes Sanjay Dutt, Akshaye Khanna, Arjun Rampal, and R Madhavan. Some photos and videos from the sets were leaked online, which only added to the anticipation around the movie. According to a report by Pinkvilla, the teaser is expected to give fans glimpses of the larger-than-life avatars of the cast and introduce them to the tone and gravity of the upcoming film. Further, reports suggest that 'Dhurandar' is a spy thriller based on true events that took place in Pakistan during the 1970s and 1980s. It centers on the period when Ajit Doval, who later became India's National Security Advisor, operated undercover as a spy.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- The Advertiser
Tracking Newcastle's live music map
Newcastle musician Ben Pittman of country boogie band Grand Pricks had a rare week to himself recently and decided to see live gigs in town every single night of the week. On Monday he was at fortnightly '90s-inspired grunge jam Temple of the Stag, at The Stag and Hunter Hotel in Mayfield. On Tuesday he went to Sphere, a jazz gig at The Grand Hotel in Newcastle. On Wednesday he watched Breeze at Newcastle Yacht Club and loved it so much he went to see them again at the Lass O'Gowrie Hotel, Wickham, on Thursday, followed by more NIMA Jazz at The Grand. On Friday he saw Chai Chester at The Oriental Hotel, Cooks Hill. On Saturday he saw The Lairs at Carrington Bowling Club, Andy Abra at The Lot in Islington and Johnston City at The Stag and Hunter. On Sunday he played an afternoon gig at Teralba Bowling Club and then went on to see The Milestones at The Wickham Park Hotel, Islington. If you have cash for a drink or two, maybe even the occasional $20 for an entry fee here and there, Newcastle's live music scene can accommodate you every day of the week. Pittman is the founder of Let's Talk Gigs Newcastle Facebook Group, a good place to visit when making last-minute live music plans. Music photographer Ella Grace Paterson is acutely aware that people book at the very last minute. When she's not behind the camera, she works with a local booking agency called Gumnut Artists and at The Press Book House. "There has been a resurgence in support for live music and showing up for shows," she says. If Instagram is where you get your live music information from, she recommends following witchhouse_newcastle. Lead singer of jump jive rhythm and blues band Fish Fry, Justin Collins, has watched the music scene change in Newcastle since his band Yes Commissioner did its first gig in 1984 at The Grand Hotel. Fish Fry did their first gig there in 1993. For at least 10 years he's also played regularly at Queens Wharf Hotel. He used to play a lot at The Cambridge with House Quake. His wife Gina plays bass alongside him in their funk and soul band Pow Wow. She used to love playing gigs at The Wickham Park Hotel. They both recall great old venues like The Palais, the old Workers Club and The Casbah. The couple hope that bands, especially newer, younger bands, aren't getting taken advantage of and playing for too little money, or even for free. It's an all-too-common concern that comes up when I talk to musicians in Newcastle. Frontman of The Breeze and the newly-created Dapper DILFS, Matthew McFarlane, has been playing live music in Newcastle for 25 years. His career started at The Lass O'Gowrie where he used to play "great" and "terrible" gigs with his band The Stain. "They used to have this Wednesday night and anyone could play, so I pretty much learned how to do stuff in front of people," he recalls, adding that the venue "has a new life as a young person's venue". "They let us in every now and then," he says of his current band. The Breeze has had a regular Wednesday night residency at Newcastle City Yacht Club since October last year. McFarlane has just committed to playing indefinitely on Wednesdays. They are also playing on Sunday, July 13, at The Crown and Anchor Hotel. Like Pittman, when McFarlane isn't on stage, you can find him in the crowd. "If you wanted to do a ticketed event, I think The (Hamilton) Station Hotel and The Stag are probably the two joints," he says. He recommends Coal and Cedar for late-night live music mid-week, and he also loves The Oriental, The Great Northern Hotel and King Street Hotel. He says Goldbergs Coffee House on Darby Street has started doing Monday night jazz as well. Paterson books free live music on Friday afternoons at The Press Book House on Newcastle's Hunter Street. In June the venue hosted Noah Church, and this month the artist is ChaiChester, who will premiere a new song for each gig. Justin Teale is the frontman of Novocastrian-based band Dust, which has taken off since 2020 and toured with Block Party and internationally. Teale describes the band's music as "rocky, saxy, pretty big sound". Their first show was a seated gig at The Cambridge during the pandemic. During Teale's relatively short music career, the scene has unquestionably improved. His band has toured Australia while enjoying Newcastle as a home base. Teale personally likes playing at The Oak, Tighes Hill, and the Croatian Club in Wickham. "People care about going to shows, and not much else is going on. People are always keen," he says of Newcastle. He advises emerging musicians not to be afraid to play outside of Newcastle, and to collaborate not only with bands but with rappers and electronic artists as well. He encourages them to make each show count, don't spread yourself too thin, and always keep the crowd wanting more. When asked about his next gig in Newcastle, he was elusive, saying it could be in September. Some venues like The Lass O'Gowrie Hotel, The Grand Hotel and The Wickham Park Hotel remain Novocastrian stalwarts for live music. Interesting new places have popped up, like the live band room at King Street, The Den (adjacent to Rogue Scholar) and Flamingos Live, previously Lizotte's. Some favourites are now empty, like The Cambridge, Franky's Noodles and The Family Hotel. A lot is going on and it's not hard to find a venue and vibe that's just right. Newcastle musician Ben Pittman of country boogie band Grand Pricks had a rare week to himself recently and decided to see live gigs in town every single night of the week. On Monday he was at fortnightly '90s-inspired grunge jam Temple of the Stag, at The Stag and Hunter Hotel in Mayfield. On Tuesday he went to Sphere, a jazz gig at The Grand Hotel in Newcastle. On Wednesday he watched Breeze at Newcastle Yacht Club and loved it so much he went to see them again at the Lass O'Gowrie Hotel, Wickham, on Thursday, followed by more NIMA Jazz at The Grand. On Friday he saw Chai Chester at The Oriental Hotel, Cooks Hill. On Saturday he saw The Lairs at Carrington Bowling Club, Andy Abra at The Lot in Islington and Johnston City at The Stag and Hunter. On Sunday he played an afternoon gig at Teralba Bowling Club and then went on to see The Milestones at The Wickham Park Hotel, Islington. If you have cash for a drink or two, maybe even the occasional $20 for an entry fee here and there, Newcastle's live music scene can accommodate you every day of the week. Pittman is the founder of Let's Talk Gigs Newcastle Facebook Group, a good place to visit when making last-minute live music plans. Music photographer Ella Grace Paterson is acutely aware that people book at the very last minute. When she's not behind the camera, she works with a local booking agency called Gumnut Artists and at The Press Book House. "There has been a resurgence in support for live music and showing up for shows," she says. If Instagram is where you get your live music information from, she recommends following witchhouse_newcastle. Lead singer of jump jive rhythm and blues band Fish Fry, Justin Collins, has watched the music scene change in Newcastle since his band Yes Commissioner did its first gig in 1984 at The Grand Hotel. Fish Fry did their first gig there in 1993. For at least 10 years he's also played regularly at Queens Wharf Hotel. He used to play a lot at The Cambridge with House Quake. His wife Gina plays bass alongside him in their funk and soul band Pow Wow. She used to love playing gigs at The Wickham Park Hotel. They both recall great old venues like The Palais, the old Workers Club and The Casbah. The couple hope that bands, especially newer, younger bands, aren't getting taken advantage of and playing for too little money, or even for free. It's an all-too-common concern that comes up when I talk to musicians in Newcastle. Frontman of The Breeze and the newly-created Dapper DILFS, Matthew McFarlane, has been playing live music in Newcastle for 25 years. His career started at The Lass O'Gowrie where he used to play "great" and "terrible" gigs with his band The Stain. "They used to have this Wednesday night and anyone could play, so I pretty much learned how to do stuff in front of people," he recalls, adding that the venue "has a new life as a young person's venue". "They let us in every now and then," he says of his current band. The Breeze has had a regular Wednesday night residency at Newcastle City Yacht Club since October last year. McFarlane has just committed to playing indefinitely on Wednesdays. They are also playing on Sunday, July 13, at The Crown and Anchor Hotel. Like Pittman, when McFarlane isn't on stage, you can find him in the crowd. "If you wanted to do a ticketed event, I think The (Hamilton) Station Hotel and The Stag are probably the two joints," he says. He recommends Coal and Cedar for late-night live music mid-week, and he also loves The Oriental, The Great Northern Hotel and King Street Hotel. He says Goldbergs Coffee House on Darby Street has started doing Monday night jazz as well. Paterson books free live music on Friday afternoons at The Press Book House on Newcastle's Hunter Street. In June the venue hosted Noah Church, and this month the artist is ChaiChester, who will premiere a new song for each gig. Justin Teale is the frontman of Novocastrian-based band Dust, which has taken off since 2020 and toured with Block Party and internationally. Teale describes the band's music as "rocky, saxy, pretty big sound". Their first show was a seated gig at The Cambridge during the pandemic. During Teale's relatively short music career, the scene has unquestionably improved. His band has toured Australia while enjoying Newcastle as a home base. Teale personally likes playing at The Oak, Tighes Hill, and the Croatian Club in Wickham. "People care about going to shows, and not much else is going on. People are always keen," he says of Newcastle. He advises emerging musicians not to be afraid to play outside of Newcastle, and to collaborate not only with bands but with rappers and electronic artists as well. He encourages them to make each show count, don't spread yourself too thin, and always keep the crowd wanting more. When asked about his next gig in Newcastle, he was elusive, saying it could be in September. Some venues like The Lass O'Gowrie Hotel, The Grand Hotel and The Wickham Park Hotel remain Novocastrian stalwarts for live music. Interesting new places have popped up, like the live band room at King Street, The Den (adjacent to Rogue Scholar) and Flamingos Live, previously Lizotte's. Some favourites are now empty, like The Cambridge, Franky's Noodles and The Family Hotel. A lot is going on and it's not hard to find a venue and vibe that's just right. Newcastle musician Ben Pittman of country boogie band Grand Pricks had a rare week to himself recently and decided to see live gigs in town every single night of the week. On Monday he was at fortnightly '90s-inspired grunge jam Temple of the Stag, at The Stag and Hunter Hotel in Mayfield. On Tuesday he went to Sphere, a jazz gig at The Grand Hotel in Newcastle. On Wednesday he watched Breeze at Newcastle Yacht Club and loved it so much he went to see them again at the Lass O'Gowrie Hotel, Wickham, on Thursday, followed by more NIMA Jazz at The Grand. On Friday he saw Chai Chester at The Oriental Hotel, Cooks Hill. On Saturday he saw The Lairs at Carrington Bowling Club, Andy Abra at The Lot in Islington and Johnston City at The Stag and Hunter. On Sunday he played an afternoon gig at Teralba Bowling Club and then went on to see The Milestones at The Wickham Park Hotel, Islington. If you have cash for a drink or two, maybe even the occasional $20 for an entry fee here and there, Newcastle's live music scene can accommodate you every day of the week. Pittman is the founder of Let's Talk Gigs Newcastle Facebook Group, a good place to visit when making last-minute live music plans. Music photographer Ella Grace Paterson is acutely aware that people book at the very last minute. When she's not behind the camera, she works with a local booking agency called Gumnut Artists and at The Press Book House. "There has been a resurgence in support for live music and showing up for shows," she says. If Instagram is where you get your live music information from, she recommends following witchhouse_newcastle. Lead singer of jump jive rhythm and blues band Fish Fry, Justin Collins, has watched the music scene change in Newcastle since his band Yes Commissioner did its first gig in 1984 at The Grand Hotel. Fish Fry did their first gig there in 1993. For at least 10 years he's also played regularly at Queens Wharf Hotel. He used to play a lot at The Cambridge with House Quake. His wife Gina plays bass alongside him in their funk and soul band Pow Wow. She used to love playing gigs at The Wickham Park Hotel. They both recall great old venues like The Palais, the old Workers Club and The Casbah. The couple hope that bands, especially newer, younger bands, aren't getting taken advantage of and playing for too little money, or even for free. It's an all-too-common concern that comes up when I talk to musicians in Newcastle. Frontman of The Breeze and the newly-created Dapper DILFS, Matthew McFarlane, has been playing live music in Newcastle for 25 years. His career started at The Lass O'Gowrie where he used to play "great" and "terrible" gigs with his band The Stain. "They used to have this Wednesday night and anyone could play, so I pretty much learned how to do stuff in front of people," he recalls, adding that the venue "has a new life as a young person's venue". "They let us in every now and then," he says of his current band. The Breeze has had a regular Wednesday night residency at Newcastle City Yacht Club since October last year. McFarlane has just committed to playing indefinitely on Wednesdays. They are also playing on Sunday, July 13, at The Crown and Anchor Hotel. Like Pittman, when McFarlane isn't on stage, you can find him in the crowd. "If you wanted to do a ticketed event, I think The (Hamilton) Station Hotel and The Stag are probably the two joints," he says. He recommends Coal and Cedar for late-night live music mid-week, and he also loves The Oriental, The Great Northern Hotel and King Street Hotel. He says Goldbergs Coffee House on Darby Street has started doing Monday night jazz as well. Paterson books free live music on Friday afternoons at The Press Book House on Newcastle's Hunter Street. In June the venue hosted Noah Church, and this month the artist is ChaiChester, who will premiere a new song for each gig. Justin Teale is the frontman of Novocastrian-based band Dust, which has taken off since 2020 and toured with Block Party and internationally. Teale describes the band's music as "rocky, saxy, pretty big sound". Their first show was a seated gig at The Cambridge during the pandemic. During Teale's relatively short music career, the scene has unquestionably improved. His band has toured Australia while enjoying Newcastle as a home base. Teale personally likes playing at The Oak, Tighes Hill, and the Croatian Club in Wickham. "People care about going to shows, and not much else is going on. People are always keen," he says of Newcastle. He advises emerging musicians not to be afraid to play outside of Newcastle, and to collaborate not only with bands but with rappers and electronic artists as well. He encourages them to make each show count, don't spread yourself too thin, and always keep the crowd wanting more. When asked about his next gig in Newcastle, he was elusive, saying it could be in September. Some venues like The Lass O'Gowrie Hotel, The Grand Hotel and The Wickham Park Hotel remain Novocastrian stalwarts for live music. Interesting new places have popped up, like the live band room at King Street, The Den (adjacent to Rogue Scholar) and Flamingos Live, previously Lizotte's. Some favourites are now empty, like The Cambridge, Franky's Noodles and The Family Hotel. A lot is going on and it's not hard to find a venue and vibe that's just right. Newcastle musician Ben Pittman of country boogie band Grand Pricks had a rare week to himself recently and decided to see live gigs in town every single night of the week. On Monday he was at fortnightly '90s-inspired grunge jam Temple of the Stag, at The Stag and Hunter Hotel in Mayfield. On Tuesday he went to Sphere, a jazz gig at The Grand Hotel in Newcastle. On Wednesday he watched Breeze at Newcastle Yacht Club and loved it so much he went to see them again at the Lass O'Gowrie Hotel, Wickham, on Thursday, followed by more NIMA Jazz at The Grand. On Friday he saw Chai Chester at The Oriental Hotel, Cooks Hill. On Saturday he saw The Lairs at Carrington Bowling Club, Andy Abra at The Lot in Islington and Johnston City at The Stag and Hunter. On Sunday he played an afternoon gig at Teralba Bowling Club and then went on to see The Milestones at The Wickham Park Hotel, Islington. If you have cash for a drink or two, maybe even the occasional $20 for an entry fee here and there, Newcastle's live music scene can accommodate you every day of the week. Pittman is the founder of Let's Talk Gigs Newcastle Facebook Group, a good place to visit when making last-minute live music plans. Music photographer Ella Grace Paterson is acutely aware that people book at the very last minute. When she's not behind the camera, she works with a local booking agency called Gumnut Artists and at The Press Book House. "There has been a resurgence in support for live music and showing up for shows," she says. If Instagram is where you get your live music information from, she recommends following witchhouse_newcastle. Lead singer of jump jive rhythm and blues band Fish Fry, Justin Collins, has watched the music scene change in Newcastle since his band Yes Commissioner did its first gig in 1984 at The Grand Hotel. Fish Fry did their first gig there in 1993. For at least 10 years he's also played regularly at Queens Wharf Hotel. He used to play a lot at The Cambridge with House Quake. His wife Gina plays bass alongside him in their funk and soul band Pow Wow. She used to love playing gigs at The Wickham Park Hotel. They both recall great old venues like The Palais, the old Workers Club and The Casbah. The couple hope that bands, especially newer, younger bands, aren't getting taken advantage of and playing for too little money, or even for free. It's an all-too-common concern that comes up when I talk to musicians in Newcastle. Frontman of The Breeze and the newly-created Dapper DILFS, Matthew McFarlane, has been playing live music in Newcastle for 25 years. His career started at The Lass O'Gowrie where he used to play "great" and "terrible" gigs with his band The Stain. "They used to have this Wednesday night and anyone could play, so I pretty much learned how to do stuff in front of people," he recalls, adding that the venue "has a new life as a young person's venue". "They let us in every now and then," he says of his current band. The Breeze has had a regular Wednesday night residency at Newcastle City Yacht Club since October last year. McFarlane has just committed to playing indefinitely on Wednesdays. They are also playing on Sunday, July 13, at The Crown and Anchor Hotel. Like Pittman, when McFarlane isn't on stage, you can find him in the crowd. "If you wanted to do a ticketed event, I think The (Hamilton) Station Hotel and The Stag are probably the two joints," he says. He recommends Coal and Cedar for late-night live music mid-week, and he also loves The Oriental, The Great Northern Hotel and King Street Hotel. He says Goldbergs Coffee House on Darby Street has started doing Monday night jazz as well. Paterson books free live music on Friday afternoons at The Press Book House on Newcastle's Hunter Street. In June the venue hosted Noah Church, and this month the artist is ChaiChester, who will premiere a new song for each gig. Justin Teale is the frontman of Novocastrian-based band Dust, which has taken off since 2020 and toured with Block Party and internationally. Teale describes the band's music as "rocky, saxy, pretty big sound". Their first show was a seated gig at The Cambridge during the pandemic. During Teale's relatively short music career, the scene has unquestionably improved. His band has toured Australia while enjoying Newcastle as a home base. Teale personally likes playing at The Oak, Tighes Hill, and the Croatian Club in Wickham. "People care about going to shows, and not much else is going on. People are always keen," he says of Newcastle. He advises emerging musicians not to be afraid to play outside of Newcastle, and to collaborate not only with bands but with rappers and electronic artists as well. He encourages them to make each show count, don't spread yourself too thin, and always keep the crowd wanting more. When asked about his next gig in Newcastle, he was elusive, saying it could be in September. Some venues like The Lass O'Gowrie Hotel, The Grand Hotel and The Wickham Park Hotel remain Novocastrian stalwarts for live music. Interesting new places have popped up, like the live band room at King Street, The Den (adjacent to Rogue Scholar) and Flamingos Live, previously Lizotte's. Some favourites are now empty, like The Cambridge, Franky's Noodles and The Family Hotel. A lot is going on and it's not hard to find a venue and vibe that's just right.
