Tyne Tees Music News

The Big reunion was such a big hit on ITV2 that the show is now on tour. Tonight the 90s bands that got back together for the programme will perform at the Metro Radio Arena. Boy band Five spoke to Rachel Sweeney about what fans can look forward to.

• UK
• The Big Reunion
• Newcastle

It's produced some of Britain's best composers, conductors and musicians, and now The National Youth Orchestra has come to our region to perform.

Its famous alumni include world renowned conductor Sir Simon Rattle.

This year's intake will perform at the Sage in Gateshead next week.

• Entertainment
• Music
• Tyneside

The North East's own Cheryl Cole has thanked the fans who both were and were not able to make the final Girls Aloud's ten year celebration tour.

The band have announced that they will be splitting after their time together.

To the people that haven't been able to make it, for what ever reason, we feel your support regardless and have done for 10 yrs..

From @CherylCole on Twitter: ( 3:04 pm, Wed 20 Mar 2013)

To the people that have been to almost as many shows as we have lol let's make this a celebration of the past 10 years

From @CherylCole on Twitter: ( 3:10 pm, Wed 20 Mar 2013)

• UK
• Girls Aloud
• Cheryl Cole

Girls Aloud have announced that they will split after ten years together. The announcement came through the band's official Twitter page late last night,.

A tweet sent said: "We have now come to the end of our incredible time together."

You can read the full statement below:

The message was sent after the girls came off stage in Liverpool on the last night of their 10-year celebration tour.

The band had previously hinted of a split after confessing they had no further plans past the tour.

• UK
• Girls Aloud
• Cheryl Cole

Entertainment website Digital Spy has reported that pop group Girls Aloud have confirmed that they have split up.

We're feeling a bit emotional right now. Girls Aloud have confirmed that they have split: http://t.co/zpkprm7Pxq

From @digitalspy on Twitter: (12:40 am, Thu 21 Mar 2013)

A tweet sent by the band's official account said: "Your love and support will stay with us forever but we have now come to the end of our incredible time together."

Dear Alouders, we just want to say from the bottom of our hearts Thank you!! This tour has been an amazing (cont) http://t.co/v1gF2VU3oD

From @GirlsAloud on Twitter: (12:07 am, Thu 21 Mar 2013)

• UK
• Girls Aloud
• Cheryl Cole

Uplifting music can boost mental alertness according to University of Northumbria researchers who studied the effect of Vivaldi's The Four Seasons.

A group of volunteers listened to the concertos while performing a difficult mental task and scientists measured the electrical activity of their brains.

The findings, published in the journal Experimental Pyschology, showed that participants carried out the task faster and more accurately while listening to the uplifting strains of the Spring concerto - and slowed down during the more sombre Autumn passage.

"The current study provides evidence that there is an indirect effect of music on cognition that is created by mood, alertness and emotion.

"This experiment shows that cognitive capacity is enhanced when pleasant and arousing stimuli are introduced."

The Spring movement has previously been used successfully in marketing to alter mood and influence behaviour.

"The Spring movement enhanced overall activity within the brain but had an exaggerated effect on the area of the brain that's important for emotional processing.

"It seemed to give rise to particular imagery in the brain and evoke positive, contented feelings which translated into higher levels of cognitive functioning."

• UK
• music
• Science

Watch Julia Barthram's full report on Evolution 2013.

• UK
• North East
• Evolution festival

For the first time this year the Evolution festival is self funded, receiving no public money at all. It means a slight increase in ticket prices but organisers say they're still proud to be able to keep the prices to £39.50 for a weekend ticket and £29.50 for a day ticket.

• UK
• North East
• Evolution festival

REALLY looking forward to hitting up @evolutionfest in Newcastle in May - full info here: http://t.co/AIC0WcvHvb - who's coming?

From @mistajam on Twitter: (12:55 pm, Thu 21 Feb 2013)

Pleased to announce I'll be performing at Evolution Festival in Newcastle in May. More info - http://t.co/J2f2xVqTvn http://t.co/BdmPE3Q9ab

From @JakeBugg on Twitter: (12:10 pm, Thu 21 Feb 2013)

• UK
• North East
• Evolution festival