What's on in January

With the festive season behind us, January is the time for challenging yourself. This month we’ve gathered together some thought-provoking and interesting events across our region that offer plenty of room for personal growth. Oh and Boyzone on tour and a beer festival, too...

EStars featuring Fortnite, Celtic Park, Glasgow – 4-6 Jan

Take Celtic Park for 3 days, turn it into a real-life Fortnite battlefield and hold open Fortnite battles all day. There’s a grand prize of £25,000 to be won by the best player, and the whole show is going to be visiting other spots in our region later in the year – it’s in Newcastle and Manchester in March. There are other competitions too, including one for the best Fortnite-style dancing. So, pack your Slurp Juice and be ready to get your floss on.
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The Hallé: New Year in Vienna, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester – 5 Jan

A long-standing tradition, the Hallé’s annual afternoon performance of Viennese waltzes, polkas, marches and operettas is sure to get your blood stirring again after the turpitude of the festive season. Expect a Strauss-heavy programme that will have your feet-a-tappin’ and transport you to a harmonious Hapsburg heyday.
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LS Lowry: The Art and the Artist, Salford Museum and Art Gallery – 16 Jan onwards

As an exhibition that attempts to unfold the story of Lowry from his earliest work to his very last, with matchstick stops in between, you can expect to come away with a different view of the pioneer who put Industrial Britain’s landscapes into the art galleries. A true maverick, who holds the record for the most rejected British honours (with five), Lowry’s humility was best expressed by him: “I am not an artist, I am a man who paints,” he said. He painted well, is all we can add – go see for yourself. There’s a talk in the evening of the opening day that promises to be interesting.
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Robots, The National Museum of Scotland, Edinburgh – 18 Jan-5 May

From a 16th Century ‘Manikin’ constructed from metal to illustrate the articulation of the human body, to the latest Japanese communication androids, this riveting exhibition tells the history of the robot with over 500 models on display. They’ve even got the T-800 endoskeleton from the Terminator films on display. No problemo.
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Boyzone, all over the North and Scotland, 21 Jan onwards

The boys are back in town – almost everyone’s town it seems, as they embark on what they promise is their ‘Farewell Forever’ tour. Our region gets them in Hull first on 21 January, followed by Glasgow (26), Liverpool (27), back to Hull (28) and Newcastle on 30. Don’t worry Leeds and Manchester you’re not missing out – you’re first on the list in February, with returns to Glasgow and Newcastle also scheduled for that most romantic of months.

Derek Acorah, Middlesbrough Theatre, 25 Jan

Whether you’re a sceptic or a true believer, Derek Acorah’s shows offer plenty of spiritual food for thought. Fresh-ish from 2017’s triumphant stint on Celebrity Big Brother, where Derek charmed his way to a very respectable fourth place, the silver marmoset of mediums will be chatting to those who have passed beyond the veil. Possibly. Find train tickets to Middlesbrough

Kaiser Chiefs, all across the region from 24 Jan

You can predict what you like, but the Kaiser Chiefs are one of those live acts you really should see, and as they release their seventh studio album (working title ‘KC7’), the Chiefs are backing it up with a 20-date tour of the UK. They’re kicking it all off at Glasgow Barrowlands on 24 January, then on to Newcastle (25), Liverpool (26) and Carlisle (29). The tour ends with a special night on June 8 when the band will play at their spiritual home, Leeds’ Elland Road. Not to be missed.

Brass at the Guild, Preston, 29 Jan

With 50 of the country’s finest brass bands descending on Preston, including young ones competing in the prestigious British Open Youth, you can expect a lot of brass on a Sunday, with performances spilling out of the Guild Hall and into the nearby Charter Theatre.
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This January looks to be packed with interesting and challenging things to do, so why not book an Advance ticket now?