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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Alan Dotchin Blog
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250705T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250705T233000
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SUMMARY:The Glasshouse Tour
DESCRIPTION:Discover where music lives and grows\, inside out.\n\n\n\nFrom the architecture and ace acoustics to the backstage areas where artists warm up\, wind down and walk on stage – explore twenty years of music-making stories\, secrets and spaces.\nJoin our friendly guides as you tour our world-class concert halls\, peek inside rehearsal rooms and tune into spaces where music is made\, with plenty of insider insights along the way. \nUncover the surprising history of our riverside home\, from medieval monasteries and witch trials to the Great Fire of Gateshead. Intrigued? We thought so. \nWhether you’re music-mad\, architecture-obsessed or just love a good story\, see who and what it takes to make the music happen. \nReady to step inside?
URL:https://blog.alandotchin.com/event/the-glasshouse-tour/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250705T120000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250705T230000
DTSTAMP:20260619T125852
CREATED:20250704T193809Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250705T192509Z
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SUMMARY:Ouseburn Festival | Saturday programme
DESCRIPTION:The Ouseburn Festival is a much-loved annual event that celebrates the vibrant culture\, creativity\, and community spirit of Newcastle’s Ouseburn Valley. On Saturday\, the festival truly comes to life with a jam-packed programme of activities\, performances\, workshops\, and entertainment for all ages. This day is the heart of the festival\, drawing locals and visitors alike to enjoy the best that Ouseburn has to offer. \nOuseburn Festival: Saturday Programme Overview\nSaturday’s programme typically kicks off late morning\, with the valley’s streets\, parks\, and venues coming alive with colour and energy. Whether you’re a family with young children\, a lover of live music\, a foodie\, an artist\, or just someone who enjoys a buzzing atmosphere\, the Ouseburn Festival’s Saturday schedule has something to offer you. \nLive Music & Performance\nOne of the main draws of the Saturday programme is the live music. Multiple stages are set up around the Ouseburn Valley\, often including The Cluny\, Tyne Bar\, and outdoor performance areas like Village Green or the Cumberland Arms beer garden. Acts range from local indie bands and acoustic performers to funk\, jazz\, and even brass bands. Street performers\, stilt walkers\, and dancers often roam the valley\, adding a carnival feel to the day. \nThroughout the day\, community choirs\, folk groups\, and dance troupes also take to the stage\, offering a diverse soundscape. The programming typically highlights local talent and celebrates the musical identity of the North East. \nWorkshops & Creative Activities\nCreativity is at the heart of the Ouseburn Festival\, and Saturday is packed with hands-on workshops and art activities. The venues across the valley—such as Ouseburn Farm\, Seven Stories\, The Biscuit Factory\, and The Ouseburn Trust—host free or low-cost activities for children and adults alike. Expect everything from craft-making\, face painting\, and storytelling sessions\, to print-making\, pottery\, and community murals. \nFor families\, the farm offers animal encounters\, nature walks\, and a chance to learn more about sustainability and local food production. Children can enjoy everything from bug hunts to puppet shows\, while adults might enjoy taking part in heritage tours or creative writing workshops. \nFood & Drink\nSaturday is a food lover’s paradise. Pop-up stalls and local eateries serve up a wide range of delicious options—everything from stone-baked pizzas\, gourmet burgers\, and vegan street food to sweet treats\, cakes\, and locally roasted coffee. The Ouseburn’s pubs and breweries also come into their own\, with many offering special festival brews\, outdoor bars\, and live DJs. \nThere’s often a farmers’ market or local producers’ stalls\, where you can buy artisan goods\, crafts\, preserves\, and handmade gifts. The festive vibe encourages people to sit on the grass or gather at communal tables\, enjoying the sunshine\, music\, and sense of community. \nArt\, Heritage & Exploration\nSaturday also provides a great opportunity to explore the industrial and artistic heritage of Ouseburn. The Ouseburn Trust usually runs guided walks or self-led heritage trails\, exploring the valley’s evolution from a Victorian industrial heartland to a modern-day creative hub. Toffee Factory often opens its doors with interactive exhibits and open studios\, showcasing the work of resident designers\, artists\, and tech creatives. \nPublic art installations\, gallery exhibitions\, and even graffiti and mural tours are part of the mix\, making the day not only entertaining but also enriching. \nCommunity Spirit\nPerhaps the most important aspect of the Ouseburn Festival Saturday is the strong community feel. The entire event is run with the help of volunteers\, local organisations\, and small businesses. It is a showcase of what can happen when a community comes together to celebrate its identity. The festival is inclusive\, accessible\, and welcoming to all\, whether you’re a long-time local or a first-time visitor. \nIn the evening\, the energy continues with late-night gigs\, open mic sessions\, and beer gardens filled with laughter and song. The Saturday programme represents everything that makes Ouseburn special—creativity\, collaboration\, and culture. \nWhether you’re wandering through stalls\, dancing by the riverside\, painting with the kids\, or simply soaking up the atmosphere with a pint in hand\, the Ouseburn Festival’s Saturday programme is a highlight of Newcastle’s cultural calendar. \nhttps://ouseburntrust.org.uk/events/ouseburn-festival/ouseburn-festival-saturday/ \n 
URL:https://blog.alandotchin.com/event/ouseburn-festival-saturday-programme/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250706T100000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250706T113000
DTSTAMP:20260619T125852
CREATED:20250505T104204Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250528T153430Z
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SUMMARY:A Magpie's view.
DESCRIPTION:Accompanied by an experienced Rooftop Guide\, visitors will ascent to a walkway 150ft above the ground\, to take in panoramic views of Tyneside. \n\n\n\nComplete with their high-visibility jacket\, helmet\, binoculars and safety briefing\, guests on our rooftop tour traverse four viewing platforms along the route\, taking in some of the region’s most prominent landmarks. From the Byker Wall to the Baltic and beyond\, visitors will get the low-down from on-high\, with plenty of opportunities to capture their memories on camera. \nComing down from the dizzy heights of the rooftop\, visitors get the chance to call in pitch side for a whole other perspective and rare glimpse of the stadium from the dugout. \nRoof Top Tour\nAccompanied by an experienced Rooftop Guide\, visitors will ascend 150ft above the ground to take in panoramic view of Tyneside and its landmarks from St James’ Park’s cantilever roof. From the Byker Wall to the Baltic and beyond\, visitors will get the low-down from on-high\, with plenty of opportunities to capture their memories on camera.\nAfter coming down from the roof\, visitors will be taken pitch side for a different perspective of the stadium. * \nPricing:\nAdults (18-64) – £25 \nConcessions (16-17\, 65+\, full time students) – £22 \nPlease note this tour is not available to anyone under the age of 16. \nTimes\n10.00\, 12.00\, 14.00 Saturdays and Sundays\, April to September. \nBuying a tour for a gift?\nWhy not purchase an E-Voucher or Gift Card \n  \nIf you require any further information\, please contact Stadium Tours on stadium.tours@nufc.co.uk or by calling 0191 201 8704 \n  \n  \n* Please note that pitch side will be the only area inside the stadium visited. If wishing to see inside St James’ Park\, please book one of our Classic Tours.
URL:https://blog.alandotchin.com/event/a-magpies-view/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250706T120000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250706T133000
DTSTAMP:20260619T125852
CREATED:20250505T103901Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250528T153529Z
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SUMMARY:The Full St. James' Park Experience.
DESCRIPTION:Located in the heart of the city\, St. James’ Park rises proudly from Newcastle’s iconic skyline. \n\n\n\n\nOur classic tour captures the rich history of our iconic stadium – the club’s home since 1892. \nOur specially designed location boards and an amazing squad of knowledgeable tour guides all combine to give you a deeper understanding of the club and its proud heritage. \nWalking down the tunnel and sitting in your favourite player’s seat in the home dressing room\, are just a couple of highlights of our classic tour. \nVisit the Media Suite where the manager delivers his post-match press conference and where player interviews are filmed and beamed all around the world. Then head up to one of the highest points of the stadium where you can get a Magpie’s view of St. James’ Park. \nPlease note\, our stadium tours are currently only delivered in English. We appreciate your understanding. \nThe last tour the day before a match will visit the playing area first. Some areas may experience disruption due to football operations. \nPlease note: Tours between Monday 26 May and Sunday 1 June will have no access to the dressing rooms or the players tunnel\, we apologise for any inconvenience. \n\n\n\n\n\nPrice \nAdults – £20.00 | Concessions – £16.00 | Juniors – £11.00 \nTimes Monday – Friday: 12.30pm and 14.30pm (additional times may be available) \nSaturday and Sunday: 10.30am\, 11.30am\, 12.30pm\, 13.30pm and 14.30pm (additional times may be available) \n* Please note: times may change subject to demand. Tours are not available to book on matchdays.
URL:https://blog.alandotchin.com/event/the-full-st-james-park-experience/
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250707T193000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250707T213000
DTSTAMP:20260619T125852
CREATED:20250413T144246Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T144246Z
UID:17217-1751916600-1751923800@blog.alandotchin.com
SUMMARY:William Dalrymple – How Ancient India Transformed the World
DESCRIPTION:The historian and co-host of the chart-topping podcast Empire\, William Dalrymple\, shares the rarely told story of India’s role as a cultural and scientific superpower of the ancient world. \nOne of Britain’s greatest living historians\, William Dalrymple is known across the globe for his ability to bring the extraordinary history of the Indian subcontinent to life\, whether through award-winning\, bestselling books like Return of a King and The Anarchy\, or his chart-topping podcast\, Empire. \nNow he joins us to tell the story of how\, from 250BC to 1200AD\, India transformed the world: exporting religion\, art\, science\, medicine\, and language along a Golden Road that stretched from the Red Sea to the Pacific\, creating a vast and profoundly important empire of ideas. \nLike ancient Greece\, ancient India came up with a set of profound answers to the big questions about what the world is\, how it operates\, why we are here and how we should live our lives. Out of India came holy men\, monks and missionaries as well as pioneering merchants and artists\, astronomers\, healers\, and scientists. Indian ideas crossed political borders and influenced everything they touched\, from the statues in Roman seaports to the Buddhism of Japan\, the poetry of China to the mathematics of Baghdad.\nDon’t miss this chance to hear the story of how India became the great intellectual and philosophical superpower of ancient Asia.
URL:https://blog.alandotchin.com/event/william-dalrymple-how-ancient-india-transformed-the-world/
CATEGORIES:Talks
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250717
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250722
DTSTAMP:20260619T125852
CREATED:20250812T102050Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T112344Z
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SUMMARY:Oxford
DESCRIPTION:Oxford is a historic city in southern England\, best known for being home to the University of Oxford\, the oldest university in the English-speaking world. With a rich academic tradition dating back to the 12th century\, Oxford has long been a center of learning\, research\, and culture. The city boasts stunning architecture\, from the medieval colleges and libraries to the grand Radcliffe Camera and the Bodleian Library. Beyond the university\, Oxford offers a vibrant mix of museums\, galleries\, parks\, and riverside walks\, blending its scholarly atmosphere with a lively modern community. Its literary connections\, including links to authors like J.R.R. Tolkien and Lewis Carroll\, enhance its reputation as a city of ideas and imagination.
URL:https://blog.alandotchin.com/event/oxford/
CATEGORIES:Travel
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250718
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250721
DTSTAMP:20260619T125852
CREATED:20250413T143953Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250413T143953Z
UID:17215-1752796800-1753055999@blog.alandotchin.com
SUMMARY:The Royal International Air Tattoo 2025
DESCRIPTION:The Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) is a renowned air show and aviation event held annually in the United Kingdom. Scheduled for 2024\, the RIAT continues to attract aviation enthusiasts\, professionals\, and military personnel from around the world. Here’s an overview of what to expect at the RIAT 2024: \nNEED TO CHANGE FROM 2024 to 2025 \nHistory and Significance\nThe Royal International Air Tattoo has a rich history dating back to its inception in 1971. It is organized by the Royal Air Force Charitable Trust Enterprises (RAFCTE) and takes place at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire\, England. Over the decades\, RIAT has grown to become one of the largest and most prestigious air shows globally\, showcasing a wide array of military and civilian aircraft\, aerobatic displays\, and aviation technology. \nHighlights and Attractions\nAircraft Displays: \n\nMilitary Aircraft: RIAT typically features displays of modern military aircraft from various nations\, including fighter jets\, transport aircraft\, and helicopters. Visitors can expect to see performances by aircraft from the Royal Air Force (RAF)\, United States Air Force (USAF)\, NATO allies\, and other international participants.\nHistoric Aircraft: The air show often includes flypasts and static displays of vintage and historic aircraft\, providing a glimpse into aviation history and technological evolution.\n\nAerobatic Displays: \n\nProfessional Teams: Aerobatic display teams such as the RAF Red Arrows (UK)\, Patrouille de France (France)\, and the US Navy Blue Angels (USA) are known to participate\, showcasing precision flying skills and choreographed maneuvers.\nSolo Displays: Individual pilots and civilian aerobatic teams perform thrilling solo displays\, demonstrating the agility and capabilities of their aircraft.\n\nStatic Displays and Ground Exhibits: \n\nAircraft Exhibits: RIAT offers visitors the opportunity to explore static aircraft displays up close\, allowing them to interact with pilots and crew members\, learn about aircraft capabilities\, and take photographs.\nGround Exhibits: The air show typically includes ground exhibitions featuring aerospace companies\, defense contractors\, and aviation-related organizations showcasing the latest technology\, equipment\, and career opportunities in aviation.\n\nSpecial Events and Activities\nAirshow Village: \n\nEntertainment and Attractions: The Airshow Village provides entertainment options\, food vendors\, merchandise stalls\, and family-friendly activities throughout the event.\nEducation and Careers: Educational exhibits and career advice are available for those interested in pursuing careers in aviation\, aerospace engineering\, and related fields.\n\nFlypasts and Ceremonies: \n\nCommemorative Events: RIAT often includes special flypasts and ceremonies to commemorate significant anniversaries\, milestones\, or achievements in aviation history or military service.\n\nCommunity and Outreach\nThe Royal International Air Tattoo also serves as a platform for promoting aviation heritage\, fostering international cooperation among air forces\, and inspiring future generations of aviators and aerospace professionals. \nConclusion\nIn 2024\, the Royal International Air Tattoo promises to deliver an exciting lineup of aerial displays\, aircraft exhibits\, and interactive experiences for aviation enthusiasts of all ages. Whether you’re interested in modern military aircraft\, historic aviation\, or thrilling aerobatic performances\, RIAT offers a unique opportunity to witness the best of international aviation in action.
URL:https://blog.alandotchin.com/event/the-royal-international-air-tattoo-2025/
CATEGORIES:Air Shows
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DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20250725
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20250729
DTSTAMP:20260619T125852
CREATED:20250812T101643Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250812T101643Z
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SUMMARY:Leeds
DESCRIPTION:Leeds is a vibrant and dynamic city located in West Yorkshire\, in the north of England. Once a powerhouse of the Industrial Revolution\, known especially for its textile and engineering industries\, Leeds has transformed into a modern cultural and commercial hub. It boasts a rich architectural heritage\, blending grand Victorian buildings with striking contemporary design. As the largest city in Yorkshire\, Leeds is home to world-class universities\, a thriving music and arts scene\, and a diverse population. Its compact city centre offers a mix of historic arcades\, bustling markets like Kirkgate Market\, lively nightlife\, and excellent shopping\, making it one of the most exciting urban destinations in the UK.
URL:https://blog.alandotchin.com/event/leeds/
CATEGORIES:Travel
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DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250725T193000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250725T223000
DTSTAMP:20260619T125852
CREATED:20250730T115955Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250730T115955Z
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SUMMARY:Derren Brown: Only Human
DESCRIPTION:Derren Brown: Only Human is a compelling exploration of the human condition through the lens of illusion\, psychology\, and empathy. In this thought-provoking live show\, Brown delves into what it truly means to be human—our fears\, vulnerabilities\, and our deep need for connection. Blending psychological illusion\, storytelling\, and audience participation\, he challenges perceptions and confronts ideas of identity\, belief\, and memory. As with much of his work\, “Only Human” invites the audience to reflect not just on the tricks being performed\, but on themselves—their values\, assumptions\, and emotions. Brown’s signature wit and intellectual depth make the experience both entertaining and unsettling\, reminding us that the real magic often lies in the stories we tell ourselves.
URL:https://blog.alandotchin.com/event/derren-brown-only-human/
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=UTC:20250726T190000
DTEND;TZID=UTC:20250726T223000
DTSTAMP:20260619T125852
CREATED:20250504T094132Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250504T094132Z
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SUMMARY:80s Classical with the Orchestra of Opera North
DESCRIPTION:Get ready to relive the magic of the 80s as 80s classical returns to Leeds Millennium Square for a 6th season! \nStep back in time as the original artists deliver stunning renditions of some of the most iconic songs of the decade alongside the mighty 50-piece Orchestra of Opera North. Headlined by pop legend Kim Wilde alongside Roland Gift (of Fine Young Cannibals)\, Go West\, and Jaki Graham\, you’re in for a night of non-stop dancing to a sensational playlist featuring hits including ‘Kids In America’\, ‘She Drives Me Crazy’\, ‘We Close Our Eyes’\, ‘Ain’t Nobody’ and many more. \nThe talented ensemble of backing vocalists\, Bianca Claxton\, Nathan James and Adetoun Anibi\, will also perform a wide-ranging selection of crowd-pleasing 80s classics and floorfillers to keep the party atmosphere going throughout the night! \nArranged and conducted by Cliff Masterson. \n#80sClassical \nThe show producers / organisers reserve the right to change line-up or set-list\nPlease note: this is an outdoor standing concert with a limited number of reserved seating available. \n\n\n\n\nPrice\n\nReserved seating: £47.85*\nStanding: £38.50*\n*Includes booking fee \n\n\n\nVenue\n\nMillennium Square\, Leeds\n\n\n\nTimings\nDoors: 6.30pm\nDJ set: 7pm\nMain performances: 8.15pm (includes 25 minute interval)\nEnds: 10.30pm
URL:https://blog.alandotchin.com/event/80s-classical-with-the-orchestra-of-opera-north/
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