Paper Aeroplanes fly in to North-East

AFTER sell-out gigs earlier this year in Germany, London and around the UK, Paper Aeroplanes are returning to the North-East this month for gigs in Northallerton (in support of the Motor Neurone Disease Association) and Durham, as part of a national Tiny Tour of intimate venues, before heading for Germany again in the autumn.

Sarah Howells and Richard Llewellyn specialise in an intoxicating brand of folk-pop - Sarah has one of those voices that is impossible to ignore, a soaring yet fragile instrument of the finest kind.

Sarah grew up in Milford Haven, in Pembrokeshire, and Richard comes from Tresaith on Cardigan Bay. Sarah began composing songs at 13 and joined forces with Richard after the tragic death of her best friend and musical partner Nia, aged 21, which may help to explain why Sarah says PA’s songs are “about human connection”.

PA have had radio play from the likes of Steve Lamacq, Dermot O’Leary, Cerys Matthews, Tom Robinson, Lauren Laverne and Bob Harris and their music has been used on national TV, including BBC drama Lip Service, Sky Sports Champions League Final and the Irish No Smoking campaign. They have been spending this year touring extensively in support of their new album JOY. Produced by Mason Neely (Cerys Matthews, Sufjan Stevens, Lambchop, Colorama), the album augments the band's trademark acoustic sound with rhythmic and electronic elements.

Gig Dates: Friday, September 11, Old Cinema Launderette, Durham, 7pm, tickets £15. Box Office: wegottickets.com/event/321376 Info: 0191-3841412. Support: Ani Sandwith

Saturday, September 12, Romanby School, Northallerton, 7pm, £7/£10. ticketsource.co.uk/date/EKFDEM Info: 07443-527025 Support: Elizabeth Sykes.

Viv Hardwick