July Edition (Published 29/06/2015)

WE’RE LISTENING! - FREE NORTH EAST MUSIC MAGAZINE | www.nevolume.co.uk |Issue #1
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BIG ALBUM RELEASE NEWS
FRANKIE & THE HEARTSTRINGS ON
THEIR BIG ALBUM NEWS!
BULLET FOR MY VALENTINE
HEAD TO TEESSIDE!
Interview with Cattle & Cane!
THE SHERLOCKS AT THE GLOBE!
And many more from the best
of the north east music scene!
THE STRYPES ROCK THE GEORGIAN!
JULY’S ARTIST SPOTLGHT
‘Billy the KId’!
Bring this magazine to the next Big
Figure Promotions gig and receive
10% discount on entry price
EZRA FURMAN & JOOLS HOLLAND!
YOUNG REBEL SET COMPETITION!
NE Volume is proud to release to you our very first printed magazine - written for the North East, by people
from the North East. We hope you enjoy reading this magazine. For more regular updates please follow
NE Volume on social media and visit www.nevolume.co.uk
LET’S TURN UP THE
NORTH EAST VOLUME!
Welcome to NE VOLUME!
Contents
Thank you so much for picking up our very first
print edition of NE Volume! After months of hard
work, we’ve finally put together something that we
hope you will find both interesting and informative.
The magazine is designed to help bring local people,
bands, and businesses together and to highlight the
immense talent found across the region; while also
keeping you up-to-date with out-of-town bands
popping into the area.
3
Al Lover + Girl Sweat At The Green Room
3
Lower Than Atlantis Heading To Teesside
4
Bullet For My Valentine In Teesside
4
Mechanical Mouse Organ Album Launch
7
The Monochrome Set
7
Into Tomorrow Gigs
8
Chase Park Festival
9
Stockton Pirate Festival
10
Jonah Matranga In Hartlepool
10
Durham Big Meeting
11
Featured Artist - Billy The Kid
12
Young Rebel Set Competition!
14
Corbridge Festival 2015
16
Frankie & The Heartstrings’ New Album!
18
Lisbon Exclusive Interview
18
Hidden Charms in Middlesbrough
20
The Raging Sickness
20
The Stranglers in Teesside
21
Cattle & Cane Exclusive Interview
21 Glass Caves in Darlington
22
Ezra Furman and Jools Holland
22Mouses
26
The Strypes Rock the Georgian
27
Ten Ton Friday & Support
27
The Sherlocks at the Globe
28 Humanism in Newcastle
28
Holy Moly and the Crackers
29
Du Blonde at the Cluny
31
The Magick Godmothers
31
Carvella at the Fleece Inn
32
From the Jam in Stockton
32
Willoman Festival
34 Twister - Famous Last Words
34 Violet Deep - Self-Titled
34 THE30YRMEN - Cloth Works
35 Avalance Party - The Avalance Party EP
35 Sons of the City - Hold On
35 Tessera Skies - Out of Sight + Dreaming
38 NE Volume Gig Listings
In this month’s edition, we chatted to Frankie & The
Heartstrings about their new album ‘Decency’, we
provide you with our honest opinion of The Strypes
recent gig at the Georgian Theatre in Stockton, we
keep you up-to-date with what’s happening in the
region next month including Pirate Festival in
Stockton, Ezra Furman heading to Middlesbrough,
Glass Caves heading to Darlington, and so much
more.
As this is our very first edition, we welcome your
feedback. We will be looking to constantly improve
the magazine, so if you would like to
send your thoughts over to us
at [email protected]
we will take every
single opinion on
board. Thank you
again for being
one of the very
first readers of
NE Volume. We
love you!
Lee
Allcock
-
Follow us!
NE VOLUME
2
Visit us at: www.nevolume.co.uk
All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced in whole or part without permission from the publishers. The opinions expressed in NE
Volume belong to the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of NE Volume or its staff. NE Volume welcomes ideas and contrbutions but
can assume no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations.
NEWS
Gig Preview: Al Lover + Girl Sweat
at The Green Room, Stockton
Renowned Teesside-based promoters Tees Music Alliance
will be presenting a psychedelic brain-punch next month
with San Francisco born Al Lover making his way over to the
Green Room in Stockton on Saturday 20th July. On the way
to becoming one of the most prolific contemporary psych
producers of the modern age, Al will be heading to the UK
fresh from Sweden’s Skankaloss Festival before jetting off to
Spain and Portugal. Describing himself as someone who is
“taking drugs to make beats, to take drugs to”, Al Lover’s
brand of psychedelic dance-hop will take some supporting
and Stockton’s very own Girl Sweat will be providing just
that.The one man noise machine will be churning out his
trademark ‘swirling garage spectrum’ sounds before Lover
takes to the stage. Of the eight dates in Lover’s UK tour, only
one will take place in the North East and that happens to be
in one of the most intimate venues on Teesside - Stockton’s
Green Room.With a capacity of 60, and with tickets priced
at only £5 in advance and £7 on the door, this gig is sure to
sell out quickly so buy yours now so that you don’t miss
out.Tickets can be purchased from the Tees Music Alliance
website at: teesmusicalliance.org.uk/live-events/al-lover
Written by Jamie Boyle
Lower Than Atlantis Heading to Teesside!
Lower Than Atlantis are renowned for their British alternative
sound and have made a significant mark on the UK alternative
scene over the years. After taking part in a nine-date tour
across the UK in April, the band are still in fierce demand.
Responding to the eager demands of their fans, they have
recently announced their second tour of the UK this coming
December. However, this time Lower Than Atlantis are
featuring Teesside in their broad tour of England on Monday
7th December as they are set to play at the Middlesbrough
Empire.The venue is renowned for its alternative gig
reputation and is no stranger to the alternative scene. Bands
such as Bullet for My Valentine and Brand New are also set to
play the North East venue later this year. After a successful
Published monthly by NE Volume. Printed by Trinity Mirror Printing, Middlesbrough.
For more information please contact [email protected]
and long career of 8 years to date, the band are no stranger
to the North East and it is refreshing to see them returning
to the region tour after tour. With a discography of four
albums, including their self-titled album which was released
late last year and peaked at number 16 on the album chart, it
can be guaranteed that a range of old and new songs will be
exhibited.
Tickets for the event are priced at £14 (plus booking fee) and
can be bought from www.ents24.com/middlesbrough-events/
the-empire/lower-than-atlantis/4317995.The event is already
heading for a sell out so it is important to buy your tickets
now.
Written by Katie Cain
Magazine designed by Tom Brown Graphic Design. Free quotes on
Design and Photography services, contact for more details.
Contact - [email protected]
3
NEWS
adamant in ensuring fans that they
are back to their blistering best with
‘Venom’, which is due for release in
mid-August through RCA records.
Lead single ‘No way out’ certainly
seems like evidence to support the
claim - aggressive and heavy, the track
embodies everything that made Bullet
the band they are today.
IN TEESSIDE!
Having conquered arenas around the
world and topped the bill of many
of Europe’s top festivals, the decision
to embark on an intimate tour is an
interesting one. It’s refreshing to see
a band of this size play every nook
and cranny up and down the country
rather than simply three or 4 arena
dates in the big cities.
It’s not every day one of the planet’s
biggest current metal acts stops off
in the North East of England, and
it certainly isn’t every day they visit
Teesside, which is why Tuesday 13th
October is an essential date in the
calendar for any metal fan in and
around the area as Bullet for My
Valentine are in town.
The Welsh metallers will play the
Middlesbrough Empire as part of
an intimate tour in support of their
highly-anticipated fifth album ‘Venom’.
Following a somewhat disappointing
effort from the band with their last
album ‘Temper Temper’, the band are
Purchase tickets for Bullet for My
Valentine’s upcoming Middlesbrough
date, priced at £44 (Plus Order and
Delivery Fees) from: www.getmein.
com/tickets/bullet-for-my-valentinetickets/middlesbrough-277081.html
Written by Jake Smith
Gig Preview: Mechanical Mouse Organ
– Album Launch Party
Newcastle’s infamous venue, The Cluny, will be hosting
Mechanical Mouse Organ’s album launch gig this coming July.
The Tyneside based four-piece have only released three
tracks to the public so far, however on Friday 3rd July this
will change. The long-anticipated debut album from a band
that rose from the ashes of 90’s success story Hug will be
released to buy. After entering the studio in March, fans
of Mechanical Mouse Organ have waited patiently to hear
everything they were creating. Drummer Dave Curle has
plenty of experience when recording a band so naturally he
took over producing responsibilities. He noted that his aim
was to “capture the live sound of the band on this album”
and he truly has. The album is raw, hard edged and certainly
not one to miss out on. The event promises to be a big one
as the night will also host two incredible local acts including
crazy world punk rockers The Smokin’ Coconuts and garage
rock rising stars The Exes. If Mechanical Mouse Organ follow
in the footsteps of the founding member’s original band then
now would be the perfect opportunity to see them in a
small, intimate setting before they break out and play much
bigger venues. You can pre-order ‘Get Over It’ now on the
bands Bandcamp page at www.mouseorgan.
bandcamp.com/album/get-over-it for just £5.
4
If you want to buy tickets for the album launch party,
visit: www.wegottickets.com/event/317408 now.
Written by Nathan Douthwaite
Full Weekend Advance Tickets: £15.00
Weekend Advance on the gate: £25.00
(Friday £10 / Saturday £15)
For full lineup, information and tickets visit:
NEWS
The Monochrome Set make a welcome return visit to The
Georgian Theatre, Stockton on Saturday 11th July to promote
their new album ‘Spaces Everywhere’. Formed in 1976 as
The B-Sides with Adam Ant as an original member, the
band soon became The Monochrome Set and were heavily
influential in the post-punk scene that evolved after the initial
scorched earth of punk.The band’s early releases were on the
legendary Rough Trade label before they signed with Virgin
offshoot Dindisc and have since had a long association with
Cherry Red Records. The band split in 1985, although they
recorded and played live sporadically over the years before
reforming as A Going Concern in 2010. Any momentum
was soon halted, however, when vocalist Bid suffered a SAH
(a form of stroke).Thankfully he recovered and a new album
was released in 2012 entitled ‘Platinum Coils’.The band have
continued to tour and record and released follow up ‘Super
Plastic City’ in 2013.They are now touring to promote this
year’s new album ‘Spaces Everywhere’ on the Tapete record
label. Support for the night comes from The Fallen Leaves
who are proving mighty popular on Teesside after supporting
Subway Sect and then headlining their own show at The
Westgarth in Middlesbrough.The band are described as
“Punk rock for gentlemen” and they sing “Simple songs for
complex people”. Second support act, Pellethead, are a band
who combine their self-taught instrument skills with northern
humour to create a noisy, tuneful, and exhilarating experience.
Purchase tickets from MinusMe Promotions online at:
www.minusme.ticketsource.co.uk/
Tickets priced at £10 in advance.
Written by Lee Allcock
Stockton and Middlesbrough-based promoters Into
Tomorrow have put together two eclectic line-ups for July
with two critically-acclaimed Leeds-based acts set to head
to Princess Alice in Middlesbrough. First up, on Friday 10th
July, sees surf rockabilly punk psychobilly rock ‘n’ roll band X
Ray Cat Trio head to the Teesside venue.The Yorkshire band,
signed to Gin House Records, have received some great local
reviews and are looking to spread their wings across the UK.
The three-piece will be supported by Billingham lo-fi punk
rock two-piece Mouses (who have just signed a publishing
deal) as well at Whitby-based rock ‘n’ roll band Ten Foot Tom
and the Leprosy Crooks whose sound was described by
BBC York as: “like Bob Dylan fired up with Primal Scream”.
Just two weeks later, the venue will host the mod/soul sound
of Samuel S. Parkes - a band who recently featured in Mojo
and Uncut and have supported the likes of Cast,The Rifles,
Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, and Ocean Colour Scene.
Support for the night comes from local garage/psych band
Thee Strawberry Mynde and the acoustic blues/folk artist Tim
Oxnard of The Magick Godmothers and The Approved. Into
Tomorrow promoters, Gary Diz Walters and David Pottinger,
will also be performing DJ sets until 1.00am on corresponding
nights.They will be playing a host of Northern Soul classics
as well as indie, mod, soul and psychedelic hits. Both gigs are
free entry.
Written by Lee Allcock
Teesside Promoters
Into Tomorrow Line Up Two
Impressive Gigs for July
@in2_tomorrow
/in2.tomorrow
7
S
EN
TS
ASH
PR
E
12.00PM - 08/08/2015
C HAS E PA RK,
W HI C KH A M
The North East’s Festival for Everyone.
Gold standard disabled access!
TURIN BRAKES
SLUG
MONOGRAM
BLIZZARD
HOT SOLES
GALLERY CIRCUS
BETH MACARI
HULKENBURG
MC CRAZY LEGS
FOR TICKETS, VISIT K E I R O G R O U P. C O . U K
@Chaseparkfest
ChaseParkFestival
Award-Winning Gateshead Festival Returns With Its Strongest Line-Up Yet
Irish rock legends Ash have been
confirmed to perform at the
fifth annual Chase Park Festival
in Gateshead this summer along
with some of the nation's finest
established and emerging talent.
revealed that time has been called on both Sunderland's
celebrated SPLIT Festival and the Stockton Weekender.
The family-friendly, open-air festival will feature two stages
of live music on Saturday 8th August and will also welcome
appearances from London's chart-topping indie folk
foursome Turin Brakes, Sunderland's Field Music-backed
outfit SLUG, Glasgow's post-pop assemble Monogram and
Newcastle's soul singing sensation, Beth Macari.
Chief vocalist and guitarist, Tim Wheeler, said: “We're really
excited to be playing in the North East again. We've never
had the pleasure of playing a big festival up there unless
you count the minimum wage gig we did in 1999 at the
Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle. We should do one soon
for a living wage! This event will be special. Bring on Chase
Park 2015!”
The announcement of the festival's most ambitious line-up
to date will come as a shot in the arm to the region's
summer festival circuit and music lovers after it was
For a full festival line-up and information
visit www.keirogroup.co.uk/chase-park-festival-2015
8
Pop-punk rockers Ash - who's legendary album 1977 was
named as one of the NME's 500 greatest albums of all time
- can't wait to headline the event and will perform songs
from their newly released album ‘Kablammo’ as well as
classics from their illustrious career.
NEWS
Taking place on the 4th till the 5th
of July, pirates from all across the
world will sail back to Stockton's
sunny docks for a weekend which
will be packed full of music and
entertainment.
The free entry event will see over
130 bands and artists perform across
nine venues in the market town’s
centre including the Music Lounge,
Bar Vista,The Garrick Hotel,The Sun
Inn,The Dubliners and the HM Bark
Endeavour ship itself and more. On
main stage you can expect to see
acts such as Captain Jack,The Time
Bandits, Just William, and many more.
Other live acts also appearing across
the weekend include: Hayley McKay,
Julie Freeman, Colleen's Fancy, Boo,
Amelia Jade, Ramble Gamble, Driven
Serious,The Bluesics, Anna Leigh
Stainton,Tom Joshua,V12 and more
than 80 other performers.
The Saturday night’s Pirate Party on
board the HM Bark Endeavour sees
Canterbury folk band CoCo and the
Butterfields, one to watch as they
have just performed at Glastonbury,
along with Gilded Thieves, a firm
favourite from last year’s festival.
Organiser Angie Taylor from North
East Live said: “We were absolutely
overwhelmed with the response to
last year’s event and are delighted
to be bringing it back for 2 days this
year.We have decided to support
three very local charities this year
as we felt that the larger charities
do tend to receive a lot of support
but the smaller ones can often
be overlooked. It’s our hope that
this year we can not only deliver a
fantastic festival but also raise much
needed funds for our nominated
charities and also raise awareness for
them too.”
Besides the music, there will
be a plethora of entertainment
throughout the two-day event
including a treasure hunt, craft fair,
a reptile show, Jack and Will Turner
from Captain Jack’s Pirate Parties
entertaining the kids, and a whole
boatload more things for pirates
young and old.
Entry is free, but tickets are being
issued and are available through the
aforementioned venues.
Tickets for the Pirate Party are £5
and available from the HM Bark
Endeavour or can be arranged
through www.facebook.com/
stocktonpirateday?ref=ts&fref=ts
Written by Hannah Dodsworth
NEWS
Gig Preview: Jonah Matranga +
James Leonard Hewiston at the Studio,
Hartlepool
Jonah Matranga has been entertaining crowds for nearly
25 years with a mixture of solo work and band work.The
Pitzer College graduate began his career in music soon after
graduating as he was involved in bands such as Far and New
End Original, before going solo. Having worked with the likes
of Mike Shinoda of Linkin Park, as well as members of Nine
Inch Nails and Deftones, the 45 year old has some serious
experience under his belt.The Massachusetts born singer/
songwriter has a few more gigs lined up stateside before he
embarks on a 15-date strong tour of the UK, including in our
very own back yard in Hartlepool. Bringing his own brand
of electro-acoustic post-hardcore/alt-rock,The Studio will
be playing host to the event on the Sunday 19th July where
Mr. Matranga will be supported by local indie-pop singer/
songwriter James Leonard Hewitson. Hewitson released his
new single ‘Care Less, Love Less’ last month and has managed
to gain radio play for the track through the airwaves at BBC
Introducing and BBC Radio Tees.Tickets for the gig (which
starts at 8pm) can be bought on the door for £7.
It is important to get down early so you don’t miss out.
Written by Jamie Boyle
Durham Big Meeting - After Party
Details Announced
Four incredible acts will be heading to Vennels Yard, Durham
City, on Sunday 12th July as part of the Durham Big Meeting
After-Party. Headliners The Kets, a song-driven rock ‘n’ roll/
indie-punk band from Peterlee, are set to release ‘Brand
New Sound’ very shortly.The track is a feel good northern
soul tinged floor-filler that only someone in possession of
an optimistic outlook could serve up. Fourth on the bill are
Dennis, an eight-piece outfit from Hetton Le Hole who have
claimed the genre of pit–pop for themselves.They play songs
that reflect the region’s heritage of colliery bands, working
men’s clubs and pit village life. Third to play are The Ree-Vahs.
The band is built up of a collective of musicians from North
West Durham who coalesce around lead singer Andy Loan.
Andy’s Grandfather was from Ireland and settled in Stanley
between the two World Wars. It is said that Tommy O’Loan
created a style of localised singing which Andy is intent
on keeping alive. Second on the bill is Scarborough-based
singer/songwriter Joe Solo. Being thought-provoking, comical
and punch-the-air political, often in the same song, he is a
troubadour you won’t forget in a hurry. First up is singer/
songwriter Chloe Lawton. I guarantee the richness of her
voice and the quality of her guitar playing will have you
spellbound.Tickets for the event are priced at £5 and are
available from www.peoplesbookshop.co.uk and by contacting
facebook.com/clubresistancedurham.
Written by Lee Allcock
10
DURHAM BIG MEETING
THE AFTER PARTY
SUNDAY JULY 12TH
VENNELS YARD, DURHAM
THE KETS
+DENNIS
+THE REE-VAHS! + JOE SOLO
+CHLOE LAWTON
TICKETS £5 FROM
THE PEOPLE’S BOOKSHOP, DURHAM
FACEBOOK.COM/CLUBRESISTANCEDURHAM
At first glance, you
might think that Matt
Chipchase is just another
afternoon waster:
Sunglasses on, pint in hand,
the barmaid for company.
But, as the frontman of massive
Stockton export Young Rebel Set,
he can definitely afford a boozy
whirl. And, when he's not playing to
thousands internationally or tippling down the local, he's
working on his side-project as Billy The Kid.
"I've always seen myself as a rock-and-roller," he reveals at
The Storytellers pub, Dylan on the jukebox, a Red Stripe
in his grasp. "Music is a vocation, not a job, and the whole
industry drags it down, takes the passion out of music. I just
want to reclaim a bit of that for myself." And so this labour of
love; A solo project, the latest chapter in a storied career.
From the hype of debut single ‘If I Was’ in the music press, to
being coveted by just about every major before signing to the
same label as Oasis in 2011,Young Rebel Set rapidly had it all.
It almost fell apart just as swiftly. "We didn't really understand
what was put in front of us, everything came so quickly,"
remembers Matt. "People were taking us out, giving us drugs,
we'd go to a venue and there'd be unlimited booze. I think we
nearly got dropped, we were totally debauched."
Young Rebel Set survived the turbulence - just - and have
prospered modestly ever since. Locally they've headlined
Stockton Calling Festival, and more recently performed to
a packed-out Middlesbrough Town Hall.Two albums have
been released so far, with a third in development and more
international tour dates on the way. But Billy The Kid is a
different world: Back at the grassroots, smaller audiences and
few on-stage comforts. "It's exciting," says Matt, who's already
played his first shows, basking in the anonymity. "I'm so used
to the crew on the road and everything being perfect, when
I haven't even got a monitor here. But it's fun, what music
should be."
The project is wholly extracurricular, a musician's fixation
during downtime from his band. And so, despite label Ignition's
support, the shackles are very much off. Former Young
Rebel Set member Paddy Jordan is involved ("I kind of have
a connection with him"), the sound will be "Pogues-y" and
acoustic, and there's plans to tour with emerging Americana
talent Tom Blackwell. But, beyond that, little is certain. No
timeframes are set for an album - if there even is one.
"There's no restraints, so I don't know what I'm going to do,"
he explains. "First we were going to do a single, then an EP,
then an album. I've got about 200 songs, some too good to be
lost in the realm of the Ignition office. It'll kind of just be a bit
haphazard."
The first single ‘Penny To My Name’ is set to surface in July. It's
a "drinker's song" that should reveal a sound more heartfelt
than fans of Young Rebel Set might be used to from their
husky lead. "The solo stuff will be more in-depth, more soulbearing. I can go a bit more inward and be more honest.
"It's a no-frills Young Rebel Set, really. Rough around the edges
and not as trimmed up. I guess people will call it folk because
it's one man and a guitar, but it is what it is."
Billy The Kid is Matt Chipchase on vacation from the gang,
revelling in the role of pub jukebox hero, bearing all raw and
organic. It's sure to interest fans of Young Rebel Set, and will
also entice fans of the folksy, gritty and acoustic.
And, with the restraints of the band eased, it's a chance for
one Stockton son to get down and dirty, rediscover his roots,
and once again be a real Teesside rock-and-roller.
Interview and Photography by Katy Louise Blackwood
11
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A) - Crocodile
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C) - Stringray
D) - Cobra
E) - Shark
F) - Fish are friends not food
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th July via the NE Volume
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Photography by Lawrence
Corbridge Festival 2015!
Celebrating its landmark 5th birthday, Corbridge Festival,
Northumberland’s biggest family friendly music festival, is
returning to Tynedale Park on Sat 11th July, with legendary
punk rock band The Undertones headlining.The Londonderry
band – famed for hits such as ‘Teenage Kicks’ (which was
often cited by John Peel as his favourite song of all time),
‘Jimmy Jimmy’, ‘Here Comes the Summer’ and ‘My Perfect
Cousin’ – will take to the main stage for the climax of the
event.
Miles and Erica of The Wonder Stuff will also be taking to the
main stage and will be performing many well-known tracks
including ‘Welcome to the Cheap Seats', 'Size of a Cow' as
well as some of their more recent material.
Also to be hitting the main stage is dance sensation Angie
Brown from Bizarre Inc, singing anthems such as ‘I’m Gonna
Get You’, ‘Took my Love’ and ‘Playing with knives’.
The Seahorses front man Chris Helme will make a welcome
return to Corbridge after wowing the crowds on the acoustic
stage in 2014 and the most recent addition to the festival
line-up is Sunderland band Hyde & Beast (Dave Hyde from
The Futureheads and Neil Bassett from Golden Virgins) who
have recently released their second album ‘Keep Moving’.
Hartlepool’s very own ‘bohemian’ lads The Jar Family will
be introducing Corbridge to ‘industrial folk’ with their own
unique sound.
Saturday 11th July 2015
Tynedale Park, Corbridge
Adults: £25 Concession: £12 Under 10’s: FREE
Tickets available at
www.corbridge-festival.co.uk
Headlining the acoustic stage is the increasingly popular
Ourselves and Us who got together whilst studying music
at the Sage Gateshead and frequently perform at the venue.
Joining them on the acoustic stage are Lost in Paradise, 3 at
Sea, JustSO, Kobadelta, Jinski, Koleidoscopes, Carl Cape, Amy
Ridley, Silent Houses, Alex Dobson and more to be confirmed.
Pipe Riot the Punk Poet from Ovingham will also make a
short appearance and Steffen Peddie will once again complete
the Main Stage in his hilarious and upbeat way.
During the event, there will also be a chance to take part in
music workshops and the family friendly Kids Zone where
you can enjoy crafts and other activities, or simply browse the
stalls which will stock a fine selection of real ales, ciders, and
lagers, as well as cocktails, champagne, and a wide range of
food.The venue is compact and everything is within walking
distance, with parking also on the event grounds. Camping is
available for 2 nights (at extra cost).
Festival Director Cheryl Durkin, says: “The aim at Corbridge
is to create a line-up of music that combines iconic headliners
with the best of up and coming bands from across the
Region (and beyond), getting a mix of music which appeals to
young and old from across the genres. This year will see our
strongest line-up to date”.
LET’S GET SOCIAL! NE VOLUME
Tickets and more information can be found on
www.corbridge-festival.co.uk
Priced: £25 - Adult, £12 - Concession, Under 10’s FREE.
Camping - £7.50 per tent pitch per night, £10 – per Caravan/
mobile pitch per night.
Written by Hannah Dodsworth
FOLLOW US TO KEEP UP TO DATE WITH
THE NORTH EAST MUSIC SCENE!
14
16
Renowned Sunderland band Frankie & The Heartstrings are
gearing up to release their new album this July. Our editor Lee
Allcock spoke to frontman Frankie Francis, to find out more
about the release and their upcoming launch night.
So the new album ‘Decency’ is set to be released on the 10th
of July. How do you think the recording and writing process
went?
The writing process and the recording process, thinking about
it, was a very organic and straightforward time.We wrote the
songs in our shop in Sunderland [Pop Recs Ltd.] after opening
hours. At the time we were listening to bands like Martha,
Eagulls and Hookworms, so MJ [Hookworms’ vocalist]
seemed like the obvious choice as he recorded all those
bands - and we like Leeds [where his studio is].
What can fans expect from your new album? Has there been
a transition in your sound for example.
On our first record [‘Hunger’] we got mega hype. I think
that this new record is our best to date and deserves all the
exposure it can get. Ross [ex Futureheads’ guitarist] brought
a breath of fresh air to the team but didn’t change the sound
that much. He even made us realise what our sound was/is.
What track do you think is the standout song on the album
and why? I have a few favourites on there. 'Think Yourself
Lucky’ is our new call to arms track, ‘Anna’ is a shot in the
heart of pop music, ‘Decency’ throws two fingers up to lots of
people at the minute and 'Money' is a future classic.We always
like to show a more tender side in our records too so there’s
also tracks that do that such as ‘Hate Me Like You Used To' we spent a while on the textures and tones for that song.
You’re releasing the album at The Cluny on the 10th of July.
What are you expecting the crowd to be like? And tell me
some more about the acts supporting you…
I'm hoping the crowd will be naked.That’s what they say
isn’t it, if your nervous then imagine them naked. But what if
they were actually naked? Also on the bill are Durham band
Martha who are great guys, Rhys Patterson who works in
our shop and has also toured as part of SLUG and Tom Smith
who is a very talented young man who will be getting the
night underway with some of his incredible guitar skills.
Apart from the album release, what else do you have in store
for 2015? I think we all have to work this record as hard as
we can and see what happens after that.We are hoping the
record will speak for itself and then we all get *hot tubs and
*cocaine addictions. (*new pants)
To pre-order the band’s upcoming album ‘Decency’ head to:
www.wichita-recordings.com/shop/category/frankie--theheartstrings.
For tickets to Frankie & The Heartstrings album launch
at the Cluny in Newcastle, priced at £11, head to: www.
seetickets.com/event/frankie-the-heartstrings-album-launch/
the-cluny/874732. By following the link you can also purchase
a ticket and CD bundle or ticket and 12” vinyl bundle. If
you can’t make it to the launch night, the band will also be
performing at Sunniside Live in Sunderland on the 11th of
July.The event is free and open to wristband holders only. For
details on how to obtain your free wristband head to: https://
www.facebook.com/SunnisideLIVE?fref=ts or follow the
festival on Twitter at:
@SunnisideLive.
17
Our editor Lee Allcock had a little chat with the Lisbon frontman
as the Whitley Bay favourites are currently out on a UK tour.
The last time I spoke to you lot you'd
received Radio 1 airplay for 'Blue
Love' and now you've embarked on
a full UK tour and you currently have
five dates remaining. How has it been,
exciting or nervous?
We've definitely been more excited
than nervous. It's been more than
a year now since ‘Blue Love’ got its
first spin on Radio One, and constant
support from radio since then is the
reason our music has spread across
the UK.We’ve met a number of
fans who have got in touch through
Twitter and Facebook and it’s been
incredible.We can’t wait to meet
more fans on our remaining five
gigs in Whitley Bay, Stoke, Leicester,
Middlesbrough, and London.
As a band, what has been your
greatest achievement so far?
It's hard to measure our greatest
experience so far, there's the
Maida Vale session we did for BBC
Introducing, or our sell out at O2
Academy, and our tune ‘Natïve’
has just passed a million plays on
Spotify. But it's difficult to state which
achievement is better than the other
- for me the proudest moment is
still ‘Blue Love's’ primetime plays on
Radio 1, we still get that buzz every
time we're on air.
And finally, what else can we expect
from you lot in 2015?
A lot of shows, a few more songs,
and hopefully a lot of progress.We're
excited about putting more songs out
there, but we really need to intensify
our reach across the UK - we want
to put an EP or an album out in the
near-future but we really need to do
it at the right time; when we have the
fans and resources to do it the best
way possible.
For tickets for any of Lisbon’s
upcoming UK headline tour dates
please head over to
www.wearelisbon.com
www.youtube.com/
watch?v=yVlzXsv5HhU
INTERVIEWS
Hidden Charms in
Middlesbrough!
Hidden Charms are a London-based
retro rock outfit currently touring the
UK and building a rather substantial
following.They’re on the brink of
releasing their debut EP and single
‘Dreaming of Another Girl’.
Claire Banton caught up with bassist
Josh prior to their forthcoming gig in
Middlesbrough on July 7th, 2015 at
The Keys.
What are you expecting from a
Middlesbrough crowd?
Rock ‘n’ Roll fans, hopefully! The
only time we’ve been in the North
East before was when we played in
Newcastle so we’re looking forward
to it. We’ve heard its cool venue.
We’ll bring the best we’ve got!
Being the bass player in the band, what
is your favourite bassline of all time?
A toss-up between Paul McCartney’s
‘The Word’ and a James Jamerson
bassline from that Marvin Gaye song…
[humming song] the name will come
back to me - it’ll be worth it!
Last but not least what’s the song that
you most enjoy jamming to and why?
Josh: Anything by Dr Dre, he’s our
favourite producer at the moment, or
‘Clint Eastwood by Gorillaz. [Following
ongoing Marvin Gaye song discussion
in other room] Ah! that song was
‘What’s Going On’ by Marvin Gaye!
Haha Thanks! We look forward
to seeing Hidden Charms in
Middlesbrough next month.
18
New Single from
The Raging Sickness
Our editor Lee Allcock spoke to
Newcastle metal band The Raging
Sickness to find out more about their
new single.
You're set to release your debut single
this July, how is the recording process
going? Has there been any issues?
The actual recording of the single ran
quite smoothly and we were blown
away at how powerful the track was
sounding.We did encounter some
problems during the mixing stages
that caused some unwanted delays,
but once we are all happy with the
mastered piece we will look to unleash
it soon.
What is the your new single ‘Devil’
about and what sound have you gone
for?
‘Devil’ is a song that sort of brings
to light the devil within us all.The
song tells us that anybody can be the
devil in disguise, you may be the devil
too. ‘Devil’ aims to bring back that
traditional old school rock and metal
sound we all know and love. The song
is definitely going to be our anthem.
A UK tour to promote the new single
is in the pipeline and dates will be
announced shortly at www.facebook.
com/theragingsickness. Details of
where to purchase a copy will also be
released on the band’s Facebook page
very soon.
Interviewed by Lee Allcock
20
NE Volume Interview exclusive: The Stranglers
The Stranglers are heading to
Middlesbrough’s The Venue this July
so I caught up with frontman Baz
Warne ahead of their gig to talk the
venue, solo work and a catalogue of
17 albums.
Have you been to Middlesbrough’s
The Venue before?
I’ve never been to the venue myself,
is it big? I’m aware of Middlesbrough
but I’m not sure on the venue, I
know the band will most likely know
it, they have been all over.
It’s fairly big. It can hold a good
amount of people...
Oh good, I was in Stockton the
other week, I played a very low key
set at the Georgian Theatre. It was
spread by word of mouth but it was
still very well attended.
That’s great, I wasn’t aware of your
solo work...
I like to keep them low-key. Everyone
who attended the solo gig has got
tickets to The Stranglers at The
Venue and I know there will be
people coming from all over, as
always with our gigs.
What can we, as an audience, expect
from the gig?
We have a range of songs that we
can choose from - we call it ‘the
black jukebox’. There is going to
be a mix of music, new and old,
and we will certainly be playing the
classics. We like to please ourselves
when playing, but we always keep
the audience in mind, so we like to
deliver fan favourites. It’s cliché to say,
but with this gig, just expected the
unexpected.
Is there anything you want to say to
people coming?
Come and see how four old men can
still play rock ‘n’ roll.”
Tickets for The Stranglers gig at
The Venue in Middlesbrough on
July 14th are priced at £27.50 and
are available from www.seetickets.
com/event/the-stranglers/the-venuemiddlesbrough/86462
Photography by Stuart Steele
Interview by Nathan Douthwaite
INTERVIEWS
Gorgeous George, Pronunciation issues and a new
album on the way! Cattle & Cane speak to NE Volume!
Thornaby-on-Tees based folk fivepiece Cattle & Cane are set to release
their new album very soon and will
be touring the UK to promote the
release. Our editor, Lee Allcock, spoke
to the band to find out more about
how they are preparing for the months
ahead.
You've just announced that you're
heading out on your first UK headline
tour this coming autumn. Excited,
nervous?
We're definitely excited! It feels like
we've been building to this for a while.
We've spent a lot of time indoors
writing and recording so it'll be good
to be on the road again!
What gig are you most looking
forward to playing and why?
The obvious one is our home town
show at Teesside University. How
could it not?! It's our biggest show yet!
But there are some great venues and
great places on this tour so we just
hope to keep building from that.
What can gig-goers expect from your
sets during your headline shows? Will
it be primarily new songs or old songs?
It’s going to be a mixture of both! We'll
be playing our debut album on the
road.We re-recorded some of our old
releases and they feature on our new
album so people will know some of
the songs!
What's the strangest thing that's ever
happened at one of your gigs?
It tends to be that people struggle to
pronounce our name, or know what
our name is.We've had Cattle & Can,
Caytal & Cain, Kattle & Kane, Cattle &
Crane.The list is endless!
Your video 'Isn't he Lovely’ in reference
to Middlesbrough FC player George
Friend or 'Gorgeous George' has been
viewed by over 100,000 people. How
does that feel? And why did you decide
to do it? Sadly it didn't seem to inspire
the team although Gorgeous George
was the best player in a red shirt on
the day… We thought it would be a
funny thing to do, we didn't expect the
reaction it would have! Everyone loves
George Friend he wears his heart on
his sleeve! You never know I might still
name my son George.
What else do you have in store for the
rest of the year?
Writing the second album! We're
always keen to keep things moving and
having different projects in the pipeline!
Pre-Order Cattle & Cane’s debut
album ‘Home’ from
www.pledgemusic.com/cattleandcane
Buy tickets for the bands Teesside
University gig, priced at £11.50, by
heading to: www.seetickets.com/
event/cattle-cane-home-album-launch/
teesside-university-su/867155
Interviewed by Lee Allcock
Photography by Sally T Photography
Glass Caves in Darlington!
York-based alternative rock band The
Glass Caves are set to play the Green
Room in Darlington on the 17th of
July - just weeks after playing the Isle
of Wight Festival. Our editor Lee
Allcock caught up with the four-piece
to find out more.
You've gone from starting off as
busking band on the streets of York
to playing the likes of Isle of Wight
Festival. How do you think you've
managed that? Is there some form of
secret ingredient?
I think hard work has been key.
Busking a lot has been a mint tool for
what we’re doing and promoting the
band but without being able to win
people over or have people like our
songs then busking would have been
a complete waste of time.There has
been no secret ingredient, just masses
of taking our music to the people and
them loving what we’re handing them.
Is there anything else you have in the
pipeline for your North East fans to
get excited about?
Album two is currently under way.
We’ll write a song about the North
East?
Tickets for The Glass Caves upcoming
show at the Green Room in
Darlington are priced at £5+booking
fee and can be bought from www.
skiddle.com/whats-on/Darlington/
The-Green-Room/The-Glass-Caves(Plus-Support)/12395249/
Interviewed by Lee Allcock
21
Evanston, Illinois, singer/songwriter
Ezra Furman is set to play
Middlesbrough’s Westgarth Social Club
on the 10th of July to showcase his new
album ‘Perpetual Motion People’
INTERVIEWS
Emma Bolland caught up with Steven
Bardgett and Nathan Duff of Billingham
alt-rock duo Mouses to talk about their
already hectic year.
You recorded your debut album with sister 9 recordings
back in May. What was that like? Did any challenges come
up? S: Quite a lot. Recording that many tracks in such
a short space of time took it out of us quite a bit and
we nearly ran out of time. But we did it and we're really
happy with what we've got. N: Was definitely an amazing
experience - really exciting to hear some of our tracks
with the 'studio treatment' as we know there were some
limitations when self-recording our EPs. I think the hardest
part has been trying to create a great sounding record
that sticks to the distorted Mouses sound and captures
the urgency and frantic energy from our live shows
but without sounding too polished or rushed - a tough
balancing act which will hopefully pay off.
How are you feeling about the Middlesbrough show? Are
you looking forward to it? Whatever I see, whoever I meet,
I give myself completely to the performance. I don't care
much about Middlesbrough or any place else. I aim to have
an encounter with the people of Middlesbrough. I care
about the people, and being truly present to meet them
and be with them.
What was it like to perform on Jools Holland? I told
myself I wouldn't get self-conscious, but I got incredibly
self-conscious. When all the cameras are about to start
filming live to a million people it's very hard not to obsess
about every aspect of how you'll be perceived. But in the
moment of actually performing, it didn't matter. Our band
is exactly what I want it to be, and we do what we do
regardless of who's watching.
Tell me more about your new album ‘Perpetual Motion
People’ which is set to be released on the 6th of July.
Where was it recorded? What sound have you gone for?
What is the standout track for you and why? We recorded
it in Chicago, in a half-built studio under construction. I
wanted to make it sound less like a garage band this time
around and more like a little rock'n'roll symphony. But
mostly we just took my best songs and did exactly what
they needed to have maximum impact. It's not right to
choose favourites, but at the moment I'm feeling proud of
‘Hour of Deepest Need’.
Purchase tickets for Ezra Furman’s gig at the Westgarth
Social Club in Middlelsbrough at
www.seetickets.com/events/ezra-furman
Interview by Lee Allcock and Emma Bolland
22
Can you also tell us some more about your recent
publishing deal with Wipe Out Music Publishing?
N: We've been very lucky to have the support of Tees
Music Alliance who managed to get us in touch with
John from Wipe Out. They're a bunch of great guys from
Newcastle who are helping to get our music out there to
other bods in the music industry and hopefully get our
songs played in some cool adverts, films, games, shows etc.
which is all really surreal to us!
To find out more about the Teesside-based band head over
to: www.musicglue.com/mouses/home
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GIG REVIEWS
THE STRYPES ROCK THE GEORGIAN THEATRE - 06/06/15
First up tonight to play to the enthusiastic Teesside crowd
were Dublin-based rock ‘n’ roll band The Mighty Stef.
Although it seemed that all members had their own unique
style of attire that didn’t seem to compliment each other
on stage (frontman Stefan Murphy wore a cowboy hat and
guitarist Dan Fitzpatrick had a certain Joe Strummer-esque
look), the originality of each member helped them to create
tracks that divulged into numerous genres including country,
blues, rock, and even punk. Standout track tonight for me was
‘Nightwatchman of the Iveagh Flats’ with its dark lyrics, frantic
sonic tone, and slow burning vocals.
After a 45-minute long interval, out stepped headliners of
the night - four-piece rhythm and blues band The Strypes
from Cavan, Ireland. Opening with ‘Now She’s Gone’ from
26
the band’s yet to be released ‘Little Victories’ album, it was
evident right from the off that the lads (who are no older
than 17) were ready to perform an adrenaline-fuelled set for
their passionate fans.They flew through hits such as ‘What the
People Don’t See’, ‘Mystery Man’ and ‘Blue Collar Jane’ barely
stopping for breath and made sure the crowd were involved
throughout. Having supported the likes of Arctic Monkeys and
the Courteeners at venues such as the Metro Radio Arena
in Newcastle and the Castlefield Bowl in Manchester, tonight
was a little different for The Strypes as they performed a very
intimate set to a capacity crowd of just 200, but they seemed
to love every single minute of it, as did we.
Reviewed by Lee Allcock
Photography by Tom Brown
GIG REVIEWS
Ten Ton Friday + Tombstone Crow +
Hypochrist + Dirty King at 02 Academy 2,
Newcastle - 04/06/15
Five-piece stoner rock band Dirty King (previously Losing
All) kicked off proceedings tonight. Opening track 'F.D.A.’
(Face Death Alone), with it's heaving metal chug-a-long riff
was reminisce of Quiet Riot's 80's classic 'Metal Health - Bang
Your Head’.The riffing output throughout was like being
witness to a car being pummelled into a 4x4 cube of metal
yet with some tasteful, melodious intermissions thrown in.
Thrash metal followed with Tyneside 5-piece Hypochrist. Nick
Parson's (formerly of Whatever), started recording songs
on to his computer before assembling the line up.The band
roared through a set of six songs which featured two of the
three songs (available as a free download), 'My Little Eye' and
'Catch 'em & Kill em'. Next up were Newcastle metal band
Tombstone Crow who used tombstone props to show their
name and showcase the words 'Original Geordie Metal'. A
girl-fronted death/thrash four-piece,T.C. started the night like
they finished it with the exception of 'Turn to Stone' with
its Sabbath-type intro riff. Demonic screaming and guttural
phrasing featured throughout. So to the headliners and by
far the most experienced act of the night (having formed in
2004),Ten Ton Friday.The band’s set featured songs from their
2012 album 'Crunk Shaft' along with the meanest version of
Hendrix's 'Foxy Lady' that the crowd will have ever heard.
Future single, 'Boat Bottom' saw the guitar neck's sweat and
The Sherlocks + The Face + The
Champagne Charlies + Montclare
at The Globe, Newcastle – 05/06/15
big choruses boomed out. Camera phones were put away and
metal fisted salutes went up in acknowledgment of a great
performance.
Reviewed by Neville Larkin
Opening tonight's event were the talented Montclare, a local
three-piece band that instantly set the scene for the evening.
Deep vocals crooned over bluesy guitar riffs and a fast-paced
tempo, with every brief pause between songs teasing loud
applause from the appreciate audience until they left the
stage. Next up were Newcastle indie band The Champagne
Charlies who delivered an energetic performance. All three
members bounced eagerly from song to song; letting their
creative, original tracks and thumping instruments do all
of the talking. After a brief interlude, penultimate band
The Face arrived to an enthusiastic crowd.The four-piece
punched out catchy choruses and pacing guitars; tirelessly
committing high amounts of energy and talent to their full set
of crowd-pleasing songs.The gig was unfortunately running
well behind schedule when headliners The Sherlocks finally
picked up their instruments.Thankfully, however, no amount
of disorganisation could dampen the electric atmosphere
of the venue. Frontman Kiaran Crook offered a confident
swagger as he breezed through the lyrics of standout track
‘Live For the Moment’, hypnotising his captive audience into
a gentle sway.Their genre is hard to pin down - lead guitarist
Josh Davidson frequently played electrifying solos that make
classing the band as wholly indie impossible; however it would
be easy to define them as such if focusing on the gentler
pacings of their rhythm guitar. Final song ‘Chasing Shadows’
taken from the bands first EP ‘First Bite of the Apple’ suitably
closed a fantastic night provided by four extremely talented
bands.
Review by Andrew Brown
Photography by Lauren Young
27
Holy Moly and The Crackers +
John Harrison at The Waiting Room,
Eaglescliffe – 07/06/2015
Humanism + Street Party in Soho at
Newcastle 02 Academy 2 - 06/06/15
The Waiting Room in Eaglescliffe is one of Teesside’s
hidden gems. It’s one of the most eclectic regular music
venues the region has to offer and, of course, it’s also a
great vegetarian restaurant. Events at the venue, known as
‘Matchbox Cabaret’ have been running for several years
and have experienced a recent resurgence in popularity
with a number of sell out events featuring a wealth
of talent both local and further afield. John Harrison,
frontman of Teesside band John and the Ragmen, opened
the event tonight with an outstanding set to a relaxed and
friendly crowd who were largely perched on comfy old
cinema seats. A haunting cover of Moby’s ‘Natural Blues’
captivated the audience (you could have literally heard a
pin drop) and an acoustic version of new song ‘Changing
Ground’ was well-received by the well-mannered audience.
Next up were Newcastle gypsy folk ‘n’ roll band Holy Moly
and the Crackers; a band with a name that is intriguing and
sums the band up perfectly. Their set tonight was musical
brilliance from the offset. They sang tales of lost loves,
Russian circus-folk, dastardly pirates, women from Spain
with “a little bit of this and a little bit of that” and they had
the audience gripped to their every word. The six-piece
left no genre unturned, were exhilarating to watch, and
every member of the audience was clapping, laughing, and
loving every minute of their sensational set.
Despite having to deal with technical issues, talented
Newcastle band, Street Party in Soho, delivered a fantastic
set which showcased their infectious afro-pop sound. New
song ‘17’ was the standout track of their seven-song set.The
track has an instantly catch pop melody and it showcased the
bands growing songwriting maturity. Whitley Bay four-piece,
Humanism, headlined tonight with an impressively polished
performance.The band kicked straight into the thumping
‘White Lies’ with its great melodic synth breaks which seems
a corner stone to all of their well-crafted songs. The band
had a distinctive ambient/rock groove and used a combination
of wistful synth, rhythmic guitar, and driving percussion to
create tracks that were both melancholic and powerful.The
now short haired Andi Anderson (lead vocals) bellowed out
his unique, soulful vocals with passion and emotion and he
had the enthusiastic audience gripped to his every word.
The majority of the setlist was taken from second album
‘Porcelain Soul’, the title track of which had a splendid mix
of gentle verses and bright build ups to the chorus sections.
From the sophisticated ‘Up in Smoke’ to the dreamy and
elegant ‘Reset’, it was over all too briefly due to the 10pm
curfew.The future can only be bright for Andi, Pip,Tom and
Jack after this incredible performance.
Review and Photography by Peter Fannen.
28
Photography by Peter Clayton
Reviewed by Claire Banton
Du Blonde + Keep Breathing + Mouses
at The Cluny, Newcastle – 11/06/2015
First up tonight were Mouses, a Teesside based two-piece
who have been gaining some local acclaim for their punky
low-fi sound and rightly so - they are clearly energetic and
talented.Tracks like ‘Rollercoaster’ manage to maintain a
care-free and youthful vigour which is engaging live. Next up,
and rising from the ashes of local outfit Watchers and now
joined by Symphonic Pictures’ frontman Dale Knight on keys,
were Keep Breathing.Their re-incarnation is a pop/indie rock
mash-up that doesn’t quite conjure the sinister thrill of their
previous projects however, yet it proves a hit with The Cluny’s
growing crowd. Beth Jeans Houghton knows all too well
about re-incarnation. Recently she’s decided to go through a
visual and aural transformation from sombre folky to bleachhaired, red-lipped alter-ego/project Du Blonde - a caricatured
vision of the ultimate punk front woman. Houghton hops
onto The Cluny stage and effortlessly belts out tracks with
her unified band, slying in an amicable cover of Pixies ‘Where
Is My Mind’ at the half way point. Singles ‘Black Flag’ and
‘Hunter’ sound even better live and the band’s chemistry is
solid, ruining any chance of it becoming a one-woman show.
Houghton has chosen well, she’s now a fully-fledged rocker
and she has the tunes to match.
Review by Nad Khan
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GIG REVIEWS
The Magick Godmothers + Idle Violets
at Ku Bar’s, Stockton – 12/06/2015
GIG REVIEWS
Photography by Sam Edge
Fresh back from recording their debut EP, Grunge/‘Jizz-Rock’
outfit Idle Violets were first on stage for KU Bar Stockton’s
Shine Like Stars live music showcase tonight.
The three-piece from Stockton delivered an energetic
opening set that was tight musically and well-received by the
crowd. Fast-paced songs driven by strong, catchy bass riffs
and frantically delivered lyrics featured predominantly. Stand
out tracks included ‘Fever’ and ‘Fuzz’ – both solid rock tracks
interspersed with unexpected dance-worthy interludes.
Teesside band the Magick Godmothers were up next and
became last minute headliners following the postponement of
LIVES who have rescheduled for later this year.The relatively
recent collaborative effort between established rock outfits
Avalanche Party and The Approved swaggered onto stage in
some rather dapper suits.The Magick Godmothers tonight
renounced being cogs in the corporate machine and chose
to pursue the path to righteousness by blowing the crowd
away with a haze of hypnotic guitars, pertinent but powerful
lyrics and straight up dirty rock ‘n’ roll. Strong musically and
some of the best stage presence I’ve seen of late, this band
possesses an edginess and coolness which engages (to the
point of general hypnosis) those watching them. “Now is the
time you gotta use it” drawls Singer Timothy Oxnard into
the microphone.You heard him: make time to see The Magick
Godmothers at your earliest convenience.
Reviewed by Claire Banton
Carvella + Casual Agenda at
The Fleece Inn, Northallerton –
13/06/2015
West Midland’s indie rock ‘n’ roll three-piece Casual
Agenda opened up tonight’s event in the small, cramped
and cosy venue of the Fleece Inn in Northallerton. The
start of their set was plagued with technical issues, but
thankfully they didn’t let this bother them. New single
‘Moonlight’ with its upbeat indie pop guitar chords and
deep funky basslines contrasted with ‘Apple Eye’ a much
deeper, darker and sentimental track to showcase that
the band are improving their songwriting abilities; as they
are not confined to one certain style of music. Their
45-minute long set concluded with ‘The Notion’ after
being introduced with a 4, 3, 2, 1 countdown by a member
of the audience who was clearly enjoying herself.
After a short interlude, up stepped atmospheric rock ‘n’
roll band Carvella from Leeds. It was evident right from
the off that all four members of the band were truly
gifted in their technically ability. Frontman Tom Pritchard’s
voice complimented both their soft indie tracks such as
‘Runaway’ and their faster, punchier tracks such as ‘World
Outside’ which is certain to be their debut single, or it
certainly should be. The night ended with the now famous
member of the audience introducing final track ‘Shoot
the Moon’ before dancing around, on her own, and loving
every single second of it.
Reviewed by Lee Allcock
31
GIG REVIEWS
From the Jam + The Skapones
at ARC, Stockton - 13/06/15
Tonight saw mod favourites From the Jam grace the stage in
the small town of Stockton in the impressive ARC venue.
The night started brightly with Darlington band The Skapones.
The seven-piece ska/reggae band produced the sound of
British reggae (made famous by the likes of UB40 and The
Specials) perfectly and they had the crowd moving non-stop
throughout their energetic set. After a short interval, up
stepped From the Jam. Bruce Foxton walked on stage still
rocking the look even in his old age.The band wasted no
time kicking straight into their adrenaline-fuelled set which
included infamous tracks like ‘Saturday’s Kids’, ‘Thick as
Thieves’ and ‘To be Someone (Didn’t We Have a Nice Time)’
which they dedicated to tour keyboardist and musician friend
who joined them on stage; creating a sentimental moment.
After Fan favourite ‘A Town Called Malice’ the drummer
left the stage and keyboardist, Hasting’s and Foxton pulled
up stools together before playing the powerful acoustic
ballad ‘That’s Entertainment’. As the drummer returned, the
band then blasted through the fantastic “Eton Rifles’ with a
stunning instrumental section that wowed the crowd.
The band ‘finished’ on ‘What You Give Is What You Get’ and
‘Going Underground’ before returning to play three encore
songs, one of which included the classic ‘Down in the Tube
Station at Midnight’ one of the tracks the crowd had waited
for.To conclude, From the Jam carry the sound of The Jam
perfectly and Foxton has still got it.
Photography and review by Nathan Douthwaite
Willoman Festival in Knayton,
Thirsk – 19/06/2015
Personality, humour, and talent are what Willowman Festival in
Yorkshire has become famous for over the last six years and
it was in abundance today across all three stages.Throughout
the day there was a number of fantastic moments as we were
treated with the likes of a cocky rhyming slang rendition of
‘Don’t Look Back in Anger’ by Kingsize Voodoo Traveller,
chants of “Aitor Karanka” (in reference to the Middlesbrough
FC manager) by Shoot The Poet while playing through a
cover of ‘Seven Nation Army’, the White Negroes frontman
Ish dancing around like a lunatic while shaking his maracas,
Frankie & The Heartstrings drummer Dave Harper making
a number of sexual references while the band dealt with
technical issues, and Astralasia playing out of this world
synth with a funky beat that sent the energetic crowd into
an absolute frenzy.When it came to headliners Echo & The
Bunnymen however this humour disappeared as it was
evident right from the off that the indie icons of the 80s
meant business. Sadly the swagger of frontman McCulloch
soon became a little subdued though and the infamous
band’s new songs from their fan-funded album ‘Meteorites’
merely seemed to fill in time between their classic post-punk
confections such as ‘The Killing Moon’ and ‘Bring On The
Dancing Horses’. It was a slightly disappointing end to what
had been a fantastic day.
Reviewed by Lee Allcock
Photography by Tracy Hyman
32
Big-Figure-Promotions-Real-Music-for-Lost-Souls
Violet Deep ‘Self-Titled’ EP Review
Twister - ‘Famous Last
Words’ Single Review
THE30YRMEN ‘Cloth Works’ Album Review
The new self-titled EP from Teesside
five-piece Violet Deep includes five
tracks full of soaring guitar riffs, angry
lyrics and unbridled sex appeal. It is
inherently apparent in the music and
lyrics that the band see the world
with a healthy cynicism but have the
desire to rise above the status quo.
‘Tears from Bottles’ and ‘Witchcraft’
are a deadly combination that kick
start the EP. With anger and torment
seeping through lead singer Jack’s
vocals and a high-octane beat, I am
taken to a place of rebellion and
upheaval in a way that The Strokes
took me as a teenager. ‘I Wanna
Know’ follows a similar trend but is
subtly softer in its projection.There
is an emphasis on the lyrics, which
continue the poignant theme of
the EP. The final two tracks differ
somewhat in tempo, timbre and
theme. As they turn from anger to
lament, the vocal harmony and soft
rhythm of the guitars bites at the
soul in ‘Sound it Out’, which is a track
that pays tribute to the legendary
Stockton record shop.The final track
‘I’m asking you for more’, unlike
the rest of the songs, is a sinister
love song.The vocals are epic and
display a complete vocal range. Violet
Deep is a band with all the right
ingredients and like a Michelin chef
they have created an exotic, exciting
and veracious recipe of rock ‘n’ roll
straight out of the distant glory days.
Yummy.
After playing shows with the likes of
Status Quo, Durham-based Twister
seek to become known everywhere
with their single turned music video
‘Famous Last Words’ ; an easy-listener
lying somewhere between the early
indie of Sonic Youth and the punkier
overtones of My Chemical Romance
(along with a common title).
It’s evident that Twister, as a band, have
grown up listening to the many major
breakthrough acts in mainstream rock
and sought to emulate the style and
impact these bands have historically
achieved.To me, ‘Famous Last Words’
is the archetypal soft/indie rock song
that many of Twisters precursors
have brought to their live sets over
the years.The feel-good stadium rock
is here, carrying with it the large
history of the genre and summarising
all its tropes and flavours. The end
result is a competent track for fans
of the aforementioned; however it is
this competency that is my biggest
problem with the single.Though very
well recorded, it is hard not to feel
that Twister aren’t pushing enough
to make innovation in a saturated
musical environment.With a large
library of similar singles, released over
multiple decades, it can be a hindrance
to an up-and-coming band’s longevity
if they offer no new reason to choose
them over a greatest hits LP. In short:
good recording quality; competent
entry into the softer tastes of rock,
yet nothing the nostalgic similarity
leaves something to be desired.
Speaking candidly about their debut
album ‘Cloth Works’, Newcastle
indie/alternative rock band
THE30YRMEN told me that the
theme that runs through the entirety
of the record is “redemption and
hope”. From the outset, it’s needless
to say that the North East four-piece
have created something truly heartfelt
and openly honest. Opening track
‘The Silence’ of the 10-track album,
blends an understated introduction,
filled with little more than guitar
chords and vocals, with a heavier
chorus that explodes with energetic
instrumentals and multiple vocals. It’s
not only the sound that catches the
attention of the mind however, as the
band are able to eloquently reflect
raw emotions and messages through
their lyrics. Moving towards the end
of the album, ‘Fans Of Yesterday’ and
‘The Lovers And The Thieves’ provide
something of a contrast to each other.
Where ‘Fans Of Yesterday’ continues
the same edgy indie rock sound that’s
woven throughout the album, ‘The
Lovers And The Thieves’ is noticeably
more mellow and slower in the
beginning, but builds up and takes
on a more indie sound overall. As a
whole, ‘Cloth Works’ brings together
the very reasons THE30YRMEN
have become so successful in their
two years as a band. Not only does
their album show a genuine idea of
craftsmanship from the seamlessly
produced content, but it’s constructed
in a way that allows a listener to get a
true insight into the band.
Reviewed by Adam Taylor
Pick up the EP at: www.itunes.apple.
com/gb/album/violet-deep-ep
Reviewed by Mark Fearns.
Artwork by Rachel Martin and
Stevie Stoker
Pick up the single at www.itunes.
apple.com/us/album/famous-lastwords-single
34
Reviewed by Emma Bolland
Purchase ‘Cloth Works’ at
www.musicglue.com/the30yrmen/
buy-stuff/
ALBUM/EP/SINGLE REVIEWS
Avalance Party ‘The Avalanche Party’ EP
Review
Everything about Avalanche Party is
chaotic.Their name, image and sound
are a hectic mix of garage and punk
rock that has crept its way out of
the North Yorkshire Moors into the
sleeping public domain.There’s no
escaping the band at the moment,
as their bold name beams across my
Facebook news feed with updates
about gigs – they’re now set to make
an appearance at this year’s talent
crammed NARC. Fest.
Listening to their debut EP simply
titled ‘The Avalanche Party’, it’s easy to
see why people are taking interest. It’s
a mix of heavy, distortion driven guitar
that’s reminiscent of The Stooges
wildly raw anarchistic approach.
Opening track ‘Obstacle’ is almost
Motörhead-like in its speedy delivery
of full throttle guitar riffs and trotting
drums.Things calm down a little on
‘Mountains’, with Jordan Bell’s straightedged vocals layed atop an old organ.
This doesn’t last too long though,
as the band thrust back into punk
mode on ‘Let’s Get Together’. ‘Closer
Money’ is Last Shadow Puppets all
over, with a spaghetti western hook
and sing-a-long chorus that plays on
the 60s throwback sound, with added
punch. Avalanche Party seem to be
the full package.They’re anthemic,
simplistic and loud in all the right
places - a promising start from a band
that have all the signs of becoming a
brutal force in North East music.
Review by Nadeem Khan
Artwork by Kath Cronin
Pick up the EP from:
avalanceparty.bandcamp.com
Sons of the City ‘Hold on’ Single Review
Redcar band Sons of the City are a
group of experienced and mature
guys; as much is obvious from their
current work.Their latest single
‘Hold On’ is a staple of modern
rock functioning as an imperative
to remain stoic in times of personal
hardship and dealing with the usual
emotional compilations that arise
through adulthood. After repeated
play-throughs, I found it hard not to
be filled with a thorough sense of
melancholy - empathising with my
young adult self over what could or
should have been - a theme Sons of
the City handle concisely in 3 minutes;
but that’s not to say that it’s all gloom.
I opened with a statement on how
Sons of the City are mature musicians,
and in my opinion the biggest
indicator of maturity is how one
can persevere and remain stable and
optimistic through adversity, which I
feel is achieved through ‘Hold On’s’
upbeat melody and solid tempo.
The sound here is modern and with
a high-recording quality. I’m reminded
of the mellower numbers by Foo
Fighters, tending towards The Gaslight
Anthem with some indications of
My Morning Jacket mixed in for
welcomed flavour.
The Redcar-based Sons of the City
have a few releases on the way. If
‘Hold On’ is an esteem indicator we
have a few things to get excited about.
Tessera Skies – ‘Out of
Sight’ Single + ‘Dreaming/
Sleeping’ B-Side Review
Tessera Skies are an act quickly
gripping the imaginations of many
music writers both locally and across
the nation.The Newcastle-based
three-piece have, in a short space of
time, created a massively intricate and
vibrant sound.
But just what is there to say of their
two tracks - the single ‘Out of Sight’
and B-Side ‘Dreaming/Sleeping’.The
group have managed to encapsulate
a laid-back style of music that is very
easy to sit back and listen to.They use
long instrumentals and synthesised
sounds to build layer-upon-layer
before singer Mark Broughton pushes
a relaxing melody giving an ideal blend
of warmth and tone that keeps the
music enticing.
What is striking about this group
is the amount and blend of noise
generated by three people and I am
intrigued to see how this works on
a live stage.The two tracks on the
single represent the two sides of
their music. On the one hand ‘Out
of Sight’ is vocal-led with a powerful
beat, however ‘Dreaming/Sleeping’
harks back to the psychedelic
instrumentalists of the nineties such
as Massive Attacks’ ‘Teardrop’, or the
later works of Ian Brown. ‘Out of
Sight’ is a real grower and deserves
the credit it is getting. I wait in
anticipation for their future offerings.
Review by Mark Fearns
Reviewed by Adam Taylor
Pick up the EP at: www.itunes.apple.
com/us/album/hold-on-single
Download the single, B-side and
remix for free via the band’s official
website at: www.tesseraskies.com
35
NE VOLUME GIG LISTINGS
3rd July:
• Black Atom Movement + First
Born Son + Prysm + Hawkeye
Roadshow + Deep.Sleep. 02
Academy 2, Newcastle. £6 Adv.
•All Kings and Queens + Samantha
Durnan + Joe Ramsey. Ku Bar,
Stockton. £3 Adv.
•Mechanical Mouse Organ Launch
Party. Cluny 2, Newcastle. £4.40 Adv.
4th July:
•Pirate Festival. Stockton Town
Centre. Free.
•Bez (Happy Mondays) + Vince
Vega, DJ Set. The Green Room,
Darlington. £5 Adv.
5th July:
•Pirate Festival. Stockton Town
Centre. Free.
7th July:
•Kathryn Williams. Cluny 2,
Newcastle. £14.30 Adv.
•Hidden Charms + John & The
Ragmen. Keys, Middlesbrough. Free.
9th July:
•Modest Mouse + Hippo Campus
+ Elle King. 02 Academy, Newcastle.
£19.68 Adv.
•Larkin Poe + McDade. The Cluny,
Newcastle. £13.75 Adv.
10th July:
•Frankie & The Heartstrings Album
Launch. The Cluny, Newcastle.
£11 Adv.
•NGOD + Figmennt. Ku Bar,
Stockton. £3 Adv.
•X Ray Cat Trio + Mouses + Ten
Foot Tom & The Leprosy Crooks.
Princess Alice, Middlesbrough. Free.
•Ezra Furman. Westgarth,
Middlesbrough. £11.50 Adv.
•Butterwick Hospice Presents
Violet Deep + Shoot The Poet +
Back Into The Wild + Cellar Door
+ Joe Ramsey + Ellis Rayney +
Megan Dotchin. Georgian Theatre,
Stockton. £5 Adv.
11th July:
•The Kill. The Belvedere, Bishop
Auckland. £10 Adv.
•The Monochrome Set + The Fallen
Leaves + Pellethead. The Georgian
Theatre, Stockton. £12otd.
•Sunniside Festival. Sunderland. Free.
38
•Corbridge Festival. Tynedale Park,
Corbridge. £25 Adv.
12th July:
•The Kets + Dennis + The Ree-Vahs
+ Joe Solo + Chloe Lawton.Vennels
Yard, Durham. £5 Adv.
14th July:
•The Stranglers. The Venue,
Middlesbrough. £27.50 Adv
15th July
•Heavy Trash + Bloodshot Bill. The
Cluny, Newcastle. £14 Adv.
16th July:
•Twister + The Silence + Black
Nevada + One-Man Revival. Head of
Steam, Newcastle. £5otd.
17th July:
•PinDrop Special: Marty O’Reilly
& The Old Soul Orchestra + Tom
Blackwell + The Bluebuds + Andy
Jones. HM Bark Endeavour, Stockton.
£7 Adv.
•La Beta Blooms + John & The
Ragmen. Ku Bar, Stockton. £3 Adv.
•Goldie Lookin Chain. 02 Academy
2, Newcastle. £13.50 Adv.
•The Glass Caves. The Green Room,
Darlington. £6 Adv
•The Total Stone Roses + The
Tapestry. Northallerton Town Hall,
Northallerton. £9.75 Adv.
18th July:
•James King & The Lone Wolves
+ The Ferriday Fireballs. Cluny 2,
Newcastle. £7 Adv.
•Forever Cult. The Head of Steam,
Newcastle. £4.40 Adv
•The Cureheads + Lizzie and the
Banshees. The Cluny, Newcastle.
£11 Adv
•Austinn + Keandra + Lacey.
Riverside, Newcastle. £8.80.
19th July:
•Jonah Matranga + James Leonard
Hewitson. The Studio, Hartlepool.
£7otd.
20th July:
•Al Lover + Girl Sweat. Green
Room, Stockton. £5 Adv.
21st July:
•Lisbon + Plaza. Keys,
Middlesbrough. Free.
22nd July:
•Amaryllis + 48Hours + City of
Ashes. Think Tank? Newcastle. £6
Adv.
23rd July:
•Cohesion. Independent, Sunderland.
£3 (+ Booking Fee) Adv.
24th July:
•Samuel S.Parkes + Thee Strawberry
Mynde + Tim Oxnard. The Princess
Alice, Middlesbrough. Free.
•Orphan Boy + Jacques and the
Giants. Ku Bar, Stockton. £3.30 Adv.
•The Holy Ghost + Yoko Oko +
Monkey Junk. The Cluny, Newcastle.
£5 Adv.
25th July:
•Eskimo Boys UK. The Blake Arms,
Northumberland. Free Entry.
•Saltburn Calling Festival. Saltburn.
£6 Adv.
•West Fest. West Auckland Village
Green and Football Club. £6 Adv.
26th July:
•The Honey Buzzards.The Tuns,
Sadberge. Free.
28th July:
•Last Vendetta + Apherium + Forty
Four Heads + Magic Trik. The Head
of Steam, Newcastle. £6.60 Adv.
29th July:
•Badly Drawn Boy. Sage, Gateshead.
£20-£24 Adv.
•The Delta Bombers + The
Revolutionaires. Cluny2, Newcastle.
£11 Adv.
31st July:
•Richmond Live. The Batts,
Richmond. £15 Adv (weekend).
•Uncle Gilbert. The Red Lion,
Stockton. Free.
•Death to Indie + Arcane 39 +
Temple Avenue. 02 Academy 2,
Newcastle. £7.05 Adv.
•Lethal Bizzle. Inside Out,
Darlington. £7 Adv.
•Louie Louie + Sons of The City. Ku
Bar, Stockton. £3.30 Adv.
Add your August gigs for free by
emailing our team at
[email protected]
/nevolume
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