Flamenco, jazz, Gypsy and classical are just some of the ingredients of the TG Collective's heat-infused musical offering.

The six-piece band, founded by guitarists Jamie Fekete and Sam Slater, perform at Stocksfield Institute Community Association at 7.30pm on Saturday, courtesy of the Highlights Touring Scheme which takes music and theatre into rural areas.

Call 01661 842346 for ticket details.

A venue in Corbridge is set to host one of the concerts featuring in a North East chamber music festival.

The second of three Northern Chords events in the North East will take place at St Andrew's Church on Saturday 20 March.

The festival, in its second year and sponsored by law firm Watson Burton, was initiated by 21 year old cellist Jonathan Bloxham (pictured with violinist Nigulia Mirzayeva), originally from Gateshead. The concerts showcase top young classical musicians from around the world.

Torch-bearing volunteers are needed to create a stunning line of light along the length of Hadrian's Wall.

Organisers are looking for 500 people to help create the lights, which will stretch from one side of Britain to the other.

Artist's impression of the beacons lighting up Hadrian's Wall

Each of the volunteer "illuminators" will be part of a small team responsible for lighting one of the 500 individual points along the wall.

A new Northumberland business forum will holds its first networking event next week.

The Mid-Tyne Business Forum holds its inaugural event at Wark Sports Club on Wednesday, January 20 from 7.30pm.

Northumberland Theatre Company (NTC) is to take The Last Snow Rider by Ann Coburn round village halls and small arts centres across the country this winter, beginning tonight.

The play will be at Stocksfield Institute on the 4th December at 6.30pm.

The cast includes NTC regulars Kim Evans and Gemma Clough and newcomers William Reay from Bellingham and Christopher Ranson.

Visit www.northumberlandtheatre.co.uk for a full list of performances and contact details for tickets.

Corbridge is hosting its annual Christmas Shopping weekend this Saturday and Sunday, with many shops in the village hosting special events during the two days, such as discounts or tastings, free prize draws, Christmas cake or nibbles and wine.

There will be a village treasure-hunt style quiz for children, and entertainment in the market place will include The Sunshine Panners steel band on Saturday and the North Tyneside Pipe Band and dancers on Sunday.

The Wheatsheaf Hotel will also have a presence in the market place. With complementary mince pies and mulled wine, there will be opportunities to win prizes and have fun. There will also be cakes and biscuits on sale, raising money for Children in Need and the RNLI.

Shops are open from 10am to 5pm on Saturday and 11.30am to 4pm on Sunday.

Read The Journal's Christmas magazine online, featuring shopping ideas and details of seasonal events »

Artists in Northumberland are welcoming visitors for this year's Christmas Art Tour.

The festive tour is organised by Network Artists and takes place in twenty different venues in and near Northumberland, running on weekends until Christmas.

Art lovers will have the chance to look around at artists' work, often in beautiful surroundings, while enjoying a friendly seasonal welcome from the artists themselves.

Every weekend between now and Christmas, Ruth Lonsdale will be displaying art and handmade gifts for Christmas present seekers in the Vicar's Pele at Corbridge market place. The opening times for the event are 11am- 5pm.

View the Christmas Art Tour leaflet at www.networkartists.org.uk for full details about the tour.

Brockbushes Farm Shop and Tea Room near Corbridge will be holding its popular Christmas Fayre this week, with a wide range of seasonal wares on display.

Christmas poultry, trees and decorations will be available to buy as well as toys, crafts, confectionary and other gift ideas, and a food marquee will display produce from all of Brocksbushes' suppliers.

Extra catering facilities will provide snacks and beverages throughout the day.

Anglers and others are being invited to take a behind-the-scenes look at how the Environment Agency keeps an eye on fish.

As part of their monitoring programme at Riding Mill, the Environment Agency carries out fish counting and trapping, and even films the salmon or sea trout as they are returning to the river to spawn.

Visitors can have a guided tour of the Riding Mill site on the open days this coming Friday and Saturday. To book call Gemma Alecks on (0191) 203 4105 or email gemma.alecks@environment-agency.gov.uk.

A prize-winning poet from Northumberland is doing a book signing in Corbridge this weekend.

Pippa Little, a former Biscuit Poetry Prize winner, will be signing her new book Foray, Border Reiver Women at Corbridge Tourist Information Centre and Library on Saturday from 2pm.

Foray is a collection of poems describing the often harrowing lives that women in the Scotland - England Border region endured in the 16th Century.