This year The Cluny in Newcastle’s thriving Ouseburn is clocking up its silver anniversary. But, as their packed programme for the rest of 2024 shows, that’s not all folks!

I lost two hours of my morning while writing this, and all I had to do was pose the following question to the rest of the office: What’s the best gig you’ve ever seen at The Cluny? In response, a generable hub-bub rose up that could roughly be deciphered as “Ooh! Now you’re asking!” Then, a tumble of names were fired at me in quick succession. Guitar Wolf! The Pretenders! The Vaccines! Maximo Park! New York Dolls! (Which was met with “New York Dolls? They never played the fucking Cluny!” and counter-met with “Yes they fucking did – three nights back in 2010.) Kristin Hersh! Pussy Riot! Mumford & Sons! (Which was met, in forceful union, with “Fuuuuck off!”) Glasvegas! Kate Nash! Danni Minogue! And, well, you get the picture: a lot of acts have played The Cluny. Some subsequently went on to fill stadiums such as Arctic Monkeys (which was my nomination for my fave Cluny gig), but others were never meant to hang out at the likes of Wembley. Some acts prefer to operate in the margins, which is something else The Cluny excels at: bringing you those bands and artists that defy genre but, nevertheless, have a loyal following. And – as a cursory glance at The Cluny’s forthcoming programme for the rest of the year will show you – they’re certainly not resting on their laurels. In October alone, they, and their sister venue Cluny 2 (which is right next door) have 45+ gigs for your delectation that take in everything from local heroes Little Comets (31 October & 1 November, The Cluny) to Welsh hip-hop dafties Goldie Lookin Chain (19 October, The Cluny) to mod revivalists Secret Affair (25 & 26 October, The Cluny). But the gigs I’d particularly like to flag up would include a set from Astrid Williamson (7 October, Cluny 2). This Shetland born singer/songwriter is nominally a folk artist, but she’s a folk artist like no other combining electronics and field recordings in an utterly seductive manner. Her latest album ‘Shetland Suite’ (which came out in September) is her tenth and features a beguiling collection of songs and instrumentals reimagined for the 21st century.

Twen are a US band that revolve around the twin talents of vocalist Jane Fitzimmons and guitarist Ian Rollins Jones (10 October, The Cluny). The pair rose to attention with their dreamy blend of shoegaze and indie, but their latest stuff sees them letting a distinctly Southern California vibe into their mix for a series of sunny beach anthems. It’s guitar pop, yes, but guitar pop that has its head in fleecy clouds and its toes in gently lapping surf. Just gorgeous.

Norway’s Pom Poko are another band continually pushing themselves into new and interesting directions (15 October, The Cluny). They have a jazz school training, but their stuff, particularly on this year’s brilliant ‘Champion’ album, displays an infectious pop sensibility. Tracks clock in at three or four minutes and find room for all manner of adventures through the worlds of math rock and zippy pop-punk, via excursions through West African music and more. It’s heady, exuberant stuff and you need them in your life.

One of the more singular voices in British music is John Otway and his partnership with Wild Willy Barrett, which stretches back to the punk era, invariably produces sparks (17 October, Cluny 2). The pair always go down a storm in the north-east but if you’ve not yet had the pleasure then you can expect everything from bare-chested theremin playing to wah wah wheelie bin…

West London’s Freya Beer is one of the most exciting artists in the UK right now and with good reason (pictured - 28 October, Cluny 2). Beer makes melodic gothic music that shimmers with a dark glitter and she can top Lana Del Rey when it comes to swooning drama. What’s more, she isn’t afraid of a groovy beat either as evinced on her own Islington Radio show ‘Freya Beer’s Gothic Disco’. Her gig in Newcastle promises to be a real autumn highlight.

Another women who knows how to ramp up the drama is the outrageously gifted YVA (aka Newcastle artist and producer Amy Holford – 5 November, Cluny 2). This woman is a real show-stopper with her voice soaring above cinematic sonics in a way that is utterly enrapturing. She’s already appeared on Jools Holland’s show and has collaborated with Nitin Sawheny who had this to say about her: “There is truth to her voice that veers from unapologetically disturbing to simply sublime. An artist with a profound mastery of genuine magic.”

Looking further ahead I’d definitely pencil in a night out with rabble-rousers Millie Manders & The Shutup (7 November, The Cluny), indie stalwarts Space (16 November, The Cluny), boundary mashing of a feel-good nature from Rob Heron & The Teapad Orchestra (6 December, The Cluny), and Prefab Sprout’s Martin McAloon (15 December, Cluny 2). Here’s to the next twenty-five and all those memories still yet to be made.

The Cluny, Lime Street, Newcastle. Full listings and ticket information etc visit: thecluny.com