January Edition (Published 02/01/2016)

Transcription

WE’RE LISTENING! - FREE NORTH EAST MUSIC MAGAZINE | www.nevolume.co.uk | January 2016 | Issue #7
THE TOP 10 NORTH EAST
BANDS TO WATCH IN 2016!
Follow NE Volume/
The firelight opera in Newcastle!
lone wolf promotions 4th birthday!
Artist Spotlight:
Four Colour Ghosts!
MAXIMO PARK 10TH ANNIVERSARY!
JAMES GRAY ROBSON NEW EP!
lost in the woods announcement!
gofundme project:
raindrops to rainbows!
STEREOPHONICS ROCK THE METRO!
independent venue week!
alien ant farm head to newcastle!
HEAD OF STEAM OPENS IN NORTON!
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NORTH EAST VOLUME!
WE’RE LiSTENiNG! - FREE
Morning/afternoon/evening loyal readers and thanks for
picking up edition #7 – our first of 2016! I hope you had a
great Christmas and New Year and are looking forward to
the rest of the gigging year.
January tends to be a slow month in terms of releases, gigs,
and just the music scene in general but don’t worry, we’ve
managed to cram in a number of news pieces, features,
interviews, gig reviews and album/EP/single reviews to
keep you up-to-date with what’s happening in the local
music scene.
In this month’s edition, we chat to Alien Ant Farm about
their new album and their upcoming Newcastle date, we
provide you with our honest opinion of Maximo Park’s
10th Anniversary gig at Hartlepool Borough Hall, we keep
you up to date with what’s happening in the region this
month including The Firelight Opera at the 02 Academy
Newcastle, Daniel Knox at the Waiting Room, Eaglescliffe,
an Audience with Singer/Songwriters at the Forum Music
Centre, Darlington, there’s a festival announcement as the
first two acts for Lost in the Woods at Hardwick Hall are
confirmed, and so much more.
Just to remind you, if you’ll be running a gig or bringing any
new material out in February/March then please email us
at [email protected] and we’ll do all we possibly can
to include a review/news piece in our February edition
which will be released on the
2nd of February.
Again, thank you
for reading
NE Volume
Magazine!
Lee Allcock
Editor
NE Volume
Magazine
Contents
co.uk | December 2015
| issue #6
Follow NE volume/
ber 2015 |
.uk | Novem
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FREE NORTH
LISTENING! -
RTISING
NEW pUb AdVE
3
Advertise With Us/Contact Details
4
The Firelight Opera In Newcastle
4
Hayley Mckay Announced At Forum Music Centre
5
Down In The Woods 2016 Festival Announcement
5
Daniel Knox Coming To The Waiting Room
6
Big Red & The Grinners Landing At The 02 Academy
6
Lindi Ortega Announced At The Cluny
8
The Beamish Hall Winter Festival
9
Beach Slang Gig Preview At Think Tank?
9
Lone Wolf Promotions 4Th Birthday Event
10
NE Volume’s Monlthy Artist Spotlight
13
Newcastle’s ‘Digits’ Farewell Gig
14
Gofundme Project: Raindrops To Rainbows
17
The Head Of Steam Opens In Norton
18
Independent Venue Week
19
Coffee Beans & Vinyl, - Long Play Café
20
Katie Cain Presents - NE Volume’s Top 10 North East
Artists/Bands To Watch In 2016!
22
‘The Ceiling Was Dripping!’ Alien Ant Farm In Newcastle
23
The Temperance Movement’s New Sound
24
Field Music Heads To Stockton
25
‘Our Sound Is The Biggest Change!’ Mayday Parade
25
Paying Tribute To Video Games - Benedict Hawkin
26
Fat White Family At The Georgin Theatre
26
The Darkness 02 Academy Gig Review
28
Stewards ‘Lose Control’ Of Ash Moshpits
28
Stereophonics’ Crowd Star In New MusicVideo
31
Lower Than Atlantis’ All Star Casted Empire Gig
31
Seasoned Veterans ‘The Dead Daises’ At The Point
32
Maximo Park Celebrate 10 Years Of ‘A Certain Trigger’
33
No Longer A ‘Slave’. Slaves Satisfy The 02 Academy
33
Figmennt Perform With Complete Professionalism
34 Boycott The Radio - ‘Wolf’ Ep Review
34 Dean James - ‘Black Dog’ Single Review
34 Denature - ‘Loss’ Ep Review
35 James Gray Robson & The Lovely Burn - ‘For
What Its Worth’ Ep Review
35 Crying Lions - ‘Rocket Science’ Ep Review
35
Zeitgeist 77 - ‘We Are Zeitgeist’ Album Review
38 NEVolume January 2016 Gig Listings
ZiNE | www.nevolume.
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NEWS
Gig Preview: The Firelight Opera
Festival Announcement:
+ Jen Stevens & The Hiccups + Stratosphere + One Man
Revival at 02 Academy, Newcastle
The Firelight Opera have announced their headlining spot
at Newcastle’s 02 Academy on Saturday 16th January.The
band are a vocal harmony-driven alternative rock band from
the North East of England.Together they combine electric/
acoustic guitar with delicate melodies and powerful lyrics
to create something beautiful. Since they came together in
2012, they have been extremely successful and have toured
alongside Mark Morriss of The Bluetones, Chris Helme of
The Seahorses and John Power of Cast/The La’s.They’ve also
made their way over to the festival scene and have performed
at Split Festival in Sunderland along with The Cribs, Maximo
Park, Ocean Colour Scene and many more big name artists
after being personally invited by The Futureheads. Support
for the evening comes in the form of Jen Stevens & The
Hiccups, Stratosphere and One Man Revival. Jen Stevens &
The Hiccups are a local indie/ folk/ blues band from South
Shields who create an eclectic mix of music. Stratosphere are
an energetic power trio with a blues influence from up North.
One Man Revival are a rock and roll band that launch onto
their audience a highly-energetic performance. Currently in
the process of recording their debut album, they are definitely
not to be missed; so get down early.Tickets for the event,
priced at £6.00 in advance, can be bought from
ticketweb.co.uk and from all band members.
Written by Hannah Dodsworth
4
Down to the Woods 2016
The first two acts have just been announced by tinyCOW for
Down to the Woods 2016, the successor to Ramside Estates
Hardwick Live, which is due to take place in the grounds
of Hardwick Hall Hotel, County Durham on Saturday 13th
August. First up are Scottish legends, and one of the world’s
most notorious rock bands, Primal Scream. Primal Scream will
land in the North East with an enormously strong heritage of
30 years at the top of their game.They will be joined on the
Grand Arcadia Stage by songsmiths Echo & the Bunnymen,
who have had a string of top 20 hits since the 1980s including
the classic anthem ‘Nothing Lasts Forever’. Jonathan Woodliffe
of Ramside Estates, said: “We’re really excited about the
programme of artists we are bringing to Down To The Woods.
To land Primal Scream is a major coup for us, especially as
it will be their only gig within a 100 mile radius and to have
Echo & the Bunnymen as well really is a double
whammy.This is the first of many exciting announcements
we’ll be making about Down To The Woods in the coming
months and we’re confident it is going to be one of THE
North East’s biggest music events of 2016.”
Tickets for Down To The Woods, priced at £55 for adults,
£15 for young people and £8 for children, are available now
at www.downtothewoodsfestival.co.uk. A limited number of
camping pitches are also on sale priced at the single price of
just £30 per tent.
Gig Preview: Hayley McKay
Gig Preview: Daniel Knox
+ James Robson + Dave Saunders
at Forum Music Centre, Darlington
+ Dressed Like Wolves at The Waiting Room,
Eaglescliffe
Head to the Forum Music Centre in Darlington on Saturday
16th January for a night of live music as three Darlington
acts are set to take centre stage. Penned as ‘An Audience
with Singer/Songwriters’, heading to the venue will be James
Robson, Hayley McKay and Dave Saunders for a night of
original acoustic music. Hayley McKay is a talented singer/
songwriter who has been singing from a young age. From
performing in Nashville to Glastonbury, this ambitious lady
is one not to be missed. She’s recorded at Astar Studios
with Mercury prize nominated producer Andy Ross, and the
album features eight original compositions that draw upon
Hayley’s traditional roots; while embracing a soulful pop
sensibility to achieve her new British country sound. James
Robson, who is soulful and folky and performs a very tasteful
and original style of music, has been involved in music since
he was just 15 years old and has played the likes of the main
stage at Stockton Riverside Festival. Opening the night with
an acoustic set is Dave Saunders. Dave is not only involved
in performing as the frontman of Darlington band Goy Boy
McIlroy, but has a huge input into the local music scene as
he hosts a weekly radio show called The Grind for Teesside
radio Ignition.Tickets for the 16+ event, priced at £6.00, are
available from the Forum Music Centre or from Seetickets.com.
Join Daniel Knox + Dressed Like Wolves for their upcoming
gig at the intimate venue of The Waiting Room, Eaglescliffe
on Sunday 24th January. American singer-songwriter Daniel
Knox has built a reputation for creating darkly distorting
traditional American songs and is described as powerfully
heart breaking at the same time as playfully sinister. His selftitled album invites listeners to explore a world of time travel,
abandonment, and a childhood spent growing up in a slowly
fading middle America. Hand-picked by David Lynch himself
to perform with him while he was reading out verses of his
own poetry, this talent is surely one not to be missed.With
such a prestigious collaboration, this lead to Knox playing
shows in London with the line-up including the likes of Rufus
Wainwright, Damon Albarn and The Handsome Family while
also picking up along the way the fandom of Jarvis Cocker;
who invited Knox to work alongside him on backing vocals
for his solo album ‘Further Complication’. Support comes
in the form of Teesside band Dressed Like Wolves who will
be performing a stripped back set for the occasion.With
hauntingly beautiful half whispered vocals and obscure album
titles, such as new album ‘ In The End We All Just Walk Off
Into The Sea In The Eyes Of The Ones We Left Behind’,
prepare for a spellbinding start to the evening.Tickets priced
at £8.00 for all ages can be purchased from Seetickets.com.
5
NEWS
Gig Preview: Big Red & The Grinners
+ Gilded Thieves + Chloe Chadwick at 02 Academy,
Newcastle
Big Red & The Grinners are set to play Newcastle’s 02
Academy alongside Gilded Thieves and Chloe Chadwick
on Saturday 23rd January. Big Red & The Grinners came
together after being tired of what the local music scene had
to offer. Discovering that other like-minded musicians felt
the same way, the collaborated together to create a different,
risk-taking sound which would be unpredictable. Consisting
of vocals, banjo, guitar, accordion, double bass and stand up
snare and washboard, together their music features a range
of influences; from Hayseed Dixie to serious American roots
folk music.This band cannot be described in words and the
best way to know more about them is to go down and see
them yourselves. Gilded Thieves are a country/ folk band
from Newcastle with a tale to tell.Their songs include stories
of outlaws, sinners and sirens; with enchanting beautiful
melodies and delicately played strings.This spellbinding act
should not be missed. Chloe Chadwick is a raw talent with
stunning vocals stirring up soul into her authentic country/
folk performance.With thought-provoking lyrics, she conveys
a realness about everyday life with powerful harmonic sounds
- be sure to head down early to check her out.Tickets for
the event, priced at £8.00 in advance, can be bought from
o2academynewcastle.co.uk.
Gig Preview: Lindi Ortega
at the Cluny, Newcastle
Just in time to herald the new year, Canadian country
songstress Lindi Ortega, who will be surely sporting her
signature red lips and red boots, will be gracing the stage at
Newcastle’s Cluny for one of her first shows of 2016.
The soloist will be travelling across the UK, Ireland and
Europe as part of her 2016 tour, performing songs from
her most recently released album ‘Faded Glory’ - which
was released in August 2015 - as well as some of her bestknown hits.With her roots settled in country music, Ortega
cites her influences as some of the genres greatest legends,
including Dolly Parton, Johnny Cash and Leonard Cohen.
These influences, merged with her own unique ideas, have
allowed the artist to create a whole host of award-winning
material, earning accolades from the Canadian Country Music
Association in 2014 and 2015 where she won ‘Root Artist or
Group of the Year’. Starting off on January 14th, Ortega plans
to travel to Ireland before hitting the South of England on
January 18th. From there she will perform across the country,
hitting Newcastle on Wednesday 27th January, before heading
to Europe in February.Tickets for Ortega’s Newcastle date,
priced at £12.50 in advance, can be bought at thecluny.com.
For more information about Ortega’s full European tour, or
to purchase tickets for any of her upcoming gigs, please head
over to lindiortega.ca.
Photography by Julie Moe
6
Written by Emma Bolland
FM
The Doors Alive
The Selecter
Sat 30 Jan | 8pm
Starting price: F: £18.50
Sat 13 Feb | 8pm
Starting price: F: £11
Thu 10 Mar | 8pm
Reg Vardy Band
Martin Turner (ex Wishbone Ash)
The Puppini Sisters
Fri 5 Feb | 8pm
Fri 19 Feb | 8pm
Sat 12 Mar | 8pm
Funk Soul Social
Ryley Walker with Danny Thompson
King King and Laurence Jones
Sat 6 Feb | 8pm
Starting price: F: £8 adv. £10 door
Tue 23 Feb | 8pm
Sat 19 Mar | 8pm
NEWS
Festival Preview:
The Beamish Hall Winter Festival
Gig Preview: Beach Slang
The Beamish Hall Winter Festival is back once again for its
fourth annual real ale and music festival. Friday 22nd January
and Saturday 23rd January sees the wonderful Beamish Hall
beautifully transform into one of the largest ale and music
festivals in the region.With over 90 real ales and over nine
fantastic local bands to perform throughout the weekend,
there is surely something for everybody. Kicking off the music
side of the festival on the Friday and also playing on the
Saturday is the amazingly talented singer-songwriter Steve
Daggett; who was once a member of the popular 80’s band
Lindisfarne. George Shovelin & The Radars are also set to
play on the Saturday and they will be bringing you some of
the finest blues music in the North East. Closing the event
will be rock & rollers The Bandits who are familiar faces in
the region’s clubs and pubs scene. As the event will include
everything from rock and roll bands to blues bands, it will
be a spectacular event and one not to be missed.The entry
to one of the region’s annual greats is £5.00 per person, per
day.Tickets can be purchased from The Stables or from the
Hotel reception. Alternatively, they can be bought online via
ticketweb.co.uk.The event has proved extremely popular
over the years, and is highly-approved of in the region, so it’s
important to book tickets in advance as the event will be a
sell-out.
Philadelphians Beach Slang will be playing Think Tank? in
Newcastle on Saturday 23rd January in what is surely one of
the most anticipated shows of 2016.The band have created
a storm of interest on the back of their ‘The Things We Do
To Find People Who Feel Like Us’ debut record which has
ranked high in many 2015 end of year best albums lists.
Taking a heavy influence from the likes of Minneapolitan bands
The Replacements and Husker Du, the band sing about the
left of the dial, those who don’t fit in, the disenfranchised
youth, the ones left behind. Forming in 2013, the band
released two well-received EPs in ‘Who Would Ever Want
Anything So Broken?’ and ‘Cheap Thrills On A Dead End
Street in 2014’.The hype that has accompanied them every
step of the way has been unprecedented for a punk rock
band in 2015, but their debut more than lived up to that hype.
They perform old school indie punk rock but the themes of
alienation and despair are no less relevant today than they
were decades ago. James Alex is a young fortysomething with
that grit still in his teeth. Like The Hold Steady’s Craig Finn, he
has that air of somebody who’s been around and seen it all
and lived to tell the tales, tales which will be told in Newcastle
in January for those with a ticket.
at Think Tank?, Newcastle
Written by Oli Howes
Purchase tickets for the event, priced at £8.80 including
booking fee, from ents24.com.
Written by Paul Broadhead
Lone Wolf Promotions 4th Birthday Event!
The rather excellent Shields will be providing the highlight at
Sunderland Promoters, Lone Wolf Promotions, 4th birthday
bash at Sunderland’s Independent on Saturday 30th January.
The Newcastle five-piece will be showcasing tracks from their
forthcoming debut album ‘Face to Face’, slated for a release in
February. Providing able support will be Sunderland indie rock
outfit Cohesion, and popular Newcastle band Dalaro.
Featuring as part of Independent Venue Week, it’s an event
that Lone Wolf founder, the lovely Alex Burgess, is thrilled to
be putting on: ‘’I’ve worked with both Dalaro and Cohesion
before, so it’s great to have them on the line up. Shields are
one of my favourite bands, so to have them headline the event
is just brilliant. It’s also nice to have the gig at Independent
in Sunderland; it’s where I started out with Lone Wolf back
in 2012, so to go back and have a celebration there is going
to be great’’. It will be the 21st Lone Wolf event since its
inception, an impressive achievement given Alex’s tender age
of just 22. If three of the region’s most exciting bands aren’t
enough to tempt you into attending, Alex has also promised
cake; so I’ll be stamping this one as ‘unmissable’! Tickets for
the event at Independent, Sunderland are priced at just £5.00
in advance, or £7.00 on the door. It’s important to buy your
tickets early as the gig is heading for a sell-out.
Superb Exam Results
2015
Excellent Progression 2015
Widest range of A Level courses in the
North East
Outstanding personal support and guidance
Generous financial support
Excellent facilities and resources
Apply by JAnuAry 18th to secure your plAce
www.qeliz.ac.uk
Written by Colin McCann
Vane Terrace | Darlington | DL3 7AU | 01325 461315
www.facebook.com/qesfc • www.twitter.com/qesfc
9
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FOUR COLOUR GHOSTS
ARTIST SPOTLIGHT!
Appropriately entitled ‘Anticipation’, a very accurate
name for a reciprocal feeling for their fans, local wonders
Four Colour Ghosts are due to release their debut
EP. The Hartlepool blended with a dash of Redcar
musicians have been lurking on the scene for some time,
however the members have been ultimately chopped
and changed throughout their creation. The four-piece
are now comfortably settled within their set-up, gelling
together so well that each and every musician has the
opportunity to prove their budding and undeniable talent.
The evident talent of Four Colour Ghosts gels together
like a perfectly pin pointed recipe, each member a crucial
ingredient that uplifts their art. The band, consisting of
AJ on lead vocals/guitar, Rob Miller on the drums, Lewis
Jeffreys on lead guitar and Paul Brown on bass and vocals,
describe themselves as alternative rock, however, the
passion infused into their music unmistakably makes them
outstanding against many others. They’re not quite the
band that are drenched head to toe in absurd looking
tattoos, the group of lads with scuffed trainers and Topman
hoodies that break out in an awkward sweat when they
shuffle pensively behind the stature of the microphone, nor
the type to smash their Fender to an absolute wreckage
on stage before taking a mighty death leap out into the
sea of people in front of them. They delightfully slot into
the middle of these, a singular toe in each of the waters,
and that is what makes Four Colour Ghosts ever so truly
charming. Outspoken about the debate of online piracy,
the band are strong believers in paying the price for their
art. The debacle of the illegal downloader is infamous for
10
adding to the struggle of being a small time band, putting
their rise at potential risk due to lack of funds, and can
often also be received as a lack of respect for those
who work tirelessly to create something that can be
appreciated by not only themselves, but the masses. Four
Colour Ghosts, whose EP will be available on the likes of
iTunes and Amazon, are big on encouraging the purchase
of the real thing, as there is nothing better than the real
appreciation of a musician’s work. Four Colour Ghosts
draw their inspiration from the likes of Stereophonics, Red
Hot Chili Peppers and Slash; a quirky mix that they have
certainly put their own Teesside spin on. The first release
from their upcoming 5-track EP, called ‘Ride Like The Stars’,
has a rather anthemic tone to it; the type of melody you’d
imagine in the background of the opening of an eighties
teen movie but with infectious guitar riffs and passionate,
powerful vocals. Mixed by legendary industry producer,
John Cornfield, who has worked with the likes of big time
acts Oasis, Stone Roses and Supergrass, it’s destined to be
an exciting commercial release. To celebrate the release
of ‘Anticipation’, the band will be hitting up The Georgian
Theatre in Stockton for an EP launch on Saturday 30th
January and will be supported by three more local acts
in The Voluntears, The Endeavours and Timmy Bennett.
Tickets for this are guaranteed to fly out, so be sure not
to miss out on getting an ear full of the region’s upcoming
alt-rockers, (and snag a hard copy of the EP!).
Written by Becca Fergus
if you have a gig coming up in February, or will be
releasing some new material in february/March,
we want to know! contact [email protected]
FEATURES
Newcastle’s Digits Farewell Gig
Newcastle-based alternative rock band Digits will be bidding
farewell to two of their members this January 15th with a
show at Newcastle’s O2 Academy. In light of the situation, we
caught up with singer Chris Bradley who’s been busy trying to
find new band members as well as “trying to dad,” for a chat
about the reasons behind the departures and what they’ve
meant to the band. Emerging from the ashes of Cut Glass
Accent, Digits were on course to take the world by storm in
2015 after rave reviews for EPs ‘Acquiesce To Violence’ and
‘Footprints And Embers’, but first drummer Matt Hickman
and then bassist Stuart Latham handed in their notice. “We
are gutted; it’s a damn shame to lose someone of Matt’s
calibre and for me to lose my best mate,” reflects Bradley.
The departure of Stu in particular has hit Chris hard. “Me
and him have played in a band together for nearly fourteen
years now; whether it was Cut Glass Accent or Digits. It’ll
be strange not to have him at my side as I’ve known him
since high school. He wants to get married, he wants to
travel the world before he settles down and have kids,” says
Chris; mindful of Stu’s desire to broaden his horizons having
become a dad himself in March. Ironically, the band’s success
may have been a contributing factor to the departures,
having been offered the chance to record with a known
producer who had worked with the likes of Kids In Glass
Houses and Motorhead, as a change to their usual DIY
style of recording. “I don’t think me and Craig (Strawbridge
/ Guitar) really pressured anybody about it,“ reasons Chris.
“We just expressed we wanted to do that… nobody fell out
over it, nobody said anything but I think if there was already
something hanging in their heads, that probably would have
contributed in some way.” The band has already recruited
a new bass player in Nick Oliver and his versatility has
surprised Chris, considering Digits uncompromising hard
and heavy sound. “When he approached us I wasn’t entirely
sure he’d be able to do Stu’s parts because his old band
Flying were a pop-rock band.We have a lot of changing time
signatures and polyrhythms but he’s surprised us quite a bit,
stepping up to the plate and knocking it straight outta the
park!” The search for a drummer, however, hasn’t been so
easy. “The trouble we’ve had drummer-wise is Matt came
and added an extra dimension and he’s left us with a higher
expectation of somebody who’s heavier hitting, harder
hitting,” mourns Chris. “On top of that, you need somebody
who has his own gear, who has the flexibility to tour and
record, who’s energetic live.You’d be surprised how many
drummers audition and they don’t actually own a drum kit.
You’ve got to be fully prepared and it’s surprising how many
people you come across and they’re not.”Whilst the search
for a new drummer continues, Chris admits that Digits have
come close to calling it a day. Even now there’s a part of me
that thinks about it,” admits Chris. For now though, with eyes
on recording a new EP which is already half written, the band
are happy to be playing what is a rescheduled farewell show
with local supports Black Nevada, Enversa and Black Velvet.
“We’d like it so that Stu and Matt get a bit of a thank you; for
Matt the last year and with Stu, the last fourteen years with
me and five years with Craig.”
Purchase tickets for the event, priced at £7.05 in advance,
from ticketweb.co.uk
Written by Paul Broadhead
13
FEATURES
SATURDAY 2ND JAN
V
PAU L W E LLE R
TRIBUTE SHOW BY OHASIS & ACOUSTIC WELLER
SATURDAY 9TH JANUARY
THE PRINCES OF
MONTE CARLO
THE BAGGY MONDAYS
SATURDAY 23RD JANUARY
LAST ANTHEM
A real loss to the music community
It’s rare in this magazine that we report anything but
goodness that comes from the music scene of the North
East. However, the community of Stockton has been left in
a state of shock after the all-too-soon passing of business
owner Heather Terry, leaving husband Oliver and baby Dylan.
Heather and Oliver are the co-owners and co-founders
of Musiclounge and together they turned an empty space
on the corner of Yarm Lane into an attractive, relaxing and
music-centred space for musicians to come and play their
trade. Heather and Oliver also fully support their fellow
fledgling and small businesses.Whilst savouring a trademark
smoothie or hot beverage, many independent music
magazines – including NE Volume – could be found to peruse
at the counter of the Cafe.Tributes have come pouring
into Musiclounge, a fitting testament to the great work the
couple have done. Many have spoken of the heartfelt sadness,
others of fond memories. But most of all family, friends and
colleagues have spoken of a beautiful character now tragically
missing from their lives.Oliver Terry was kind enough to
speak to me for this article and I couldn’t think of a better
way than to share verbatim some of his thoughts: “Heather
was a kind, caring, thoughtful person that always put other
people first. She was a ray of light to everyone that came
into contact with her and life will never be the same without
her. She loved music - especially the Rolling Stones - and she
always wanted to make others happy.” Oliver has kept the
business up and running. His strength has come to shine as he
looks to the future and to preserving the memory of Heather
for years to come: “Raindrops to Rainbows is a charity for
post-natal depression which is one of the illnesses Heather
suffered.We want to create awareness to how serious this
14
is. I’ve lost a soul mate and feel devastated by it all but want
to keep the Musiclounge going for Dylan and in Heather’s
memory.” The Musiclounge has already held a charity
event, ‘Xmas Xtravaganza’, splitting the proceeds between
Butterwick Hospice and Raindrops to Rainbows, with over
£1500 generated as a result. Indeed, Heather would be proud
of this feat.With charity at the heart of the immediate future,
I urge our community to support Oliver and Dylan however
we can.Whether that be through donation, through attending
events at Musiclounge, or offering messages of support and
condolence.When I first met the couple two years ago,
Musiclounge was brand new and struggling to keep its head
above water.Through persistence, ambition and dedication
Heather and Oliver have made their business work and will
leave a permanent legacy on Stockton town. Although a small
gesture, NE Volume and myself have been compelled to write
on this tragedy.
Please check out the following ‘gofundme’ links to Raindrops
to Rainbows and donate a sum in tribute to the memory of
Heather Terry. Over £1000 has already been donated, and
with a target of £5000 every penny counts!
www.gofundme.com/raindrops2rainbows
www.facebook.com/musicloungestockton
www.facebook.com/Raindrops2Rainbows
Written by Adam Taylor
TH E WO R L D S N O . 1 TR I BU TE
PRINCE REGENT ST.STOCKTON-ON-TEES
WWW.KUBAR.CO.UK SEETICKETS.COM
GRAPHIC DESIGN
WILL SAVE THE WORLD.
RIGHT AFTER
ROCK & ROLL DOES.
FEATURES
the head of steam opens in norton!
If you’re looking for the perfect pint and acoustic music then
head down to Norton High Street as Head of Steam Norton,
owned by Camerons Brewery Ltd, has just opened its doors
to the public. A staggering £200,000 has been well spent on
the venue, previously known as Perry’s, and stocks an eclectic
range of high end premium beer, ales, sprits and lager from
across the globe.
Launching at the end of last month, the Head Of Steam on 8
Harland Place has had a great response in its busy first month;
with all the new staff pulling together to make the Christmas
season the busiest but greatest experience for customers.
Speaking to manager Rob Watson, he said: “Camerons were
looking for somewhere in the North East and Norton
was the ideal place - especially where it’s situated with the
other bars. Ever since Wetherspoon’s came in and raised
the standards of the pubs others have evolved.We want our
standards to be just a bit higher, customer related, with an
easy going service environment”.
With the launch of the Head Of Steam, it hopes to not only
be a good quality boozer, but offer live music to customers
with acoustic nights taking place every Sunday -ideally called
Sunday Sessions – which will be brought to you by Tees Music
Alliance (the team who run the Georgian Theatre and Green
Room in Stockton).
Wanting to fit in with the locals, the sessions have been
timed to fit nicely around the town. Rob noted: “Norton has
a Sunday circuit, so it will take place at 5 o’clock after people
have eaten and when they’re ready to start to come out for
the evening. It’s going to be mainly acoustic solo artists and
duos with maybe a bit of jazz going every now and then.”
Previous Sunday Session acts included Tom Powell and Jake
Hope, with a line up ready for the new year. Future acts
include: Jake Taylor - 3rd January, Charlie Thomas - 10th
January, Carl Eaton - 17th January, Steve McCormick 24th January, Ellis Rayner - 31st January, with more to be
announced for 2016.
If that’s not enough for you music lovers, the pub will be
taking part in a nation’s network of pubs who are looking to
break the Guinness World Records for the largest multivenue; it’s all for a good cause as they’ll be looking to raise
money for hundreds of charities across the UK. Keep it in
your diaries, as it takes place on Sunday 7th February at
7:30pm.
Furthermore, working alongside independent business
The Olde Young Tea House in Middlesbrough,The Head Of
Steam is the first place to stock Sleeping Brew Tea - a pale
ale infused with Sleeping Beauty green tea.This is the first of
its kind to be introduced to the pub, with the air still in the
brewing process, and is exclusive to Norton customers.
If it doesn’t sound appealing enough, over January selected
bottles and ales are 50% off so head down to see what it’s like
for yourself. Just to add, under 18’s are welcome but should
be accompanied by a parent when attending Sunday Sessions.
17
FEATURES
saving the lifeblood of new artists
The importance of independent venues goes without saying as
they’re the lifeblood of many young artists and bands.Without
them, who knows where the best of British music would
have come from? Independent venues give communities the
opportunity, for a small price, to explore music, to discover
new music, at that. Don’t just take my word for it, everyone
from BBC to The Lottery are in full support of Independent
Venue week with Huw Stephens of BBC Radio 1 speaking of
the week in January:“Those small, independent venues in your
local city centre are the ones that keep the music scene going.
These venues are where the bands meet, form and play.They
are where the similar bands from other towns come to play
and create scenes.These venues are the backbone of the music
scene, and without them we have nothing to be proud of.”
The sheer nightmare of hearing independent venues are closing
and further more are at risk of further closures is terrifying
for the future of British music, not only for promoters, bands,
artists, fans, communities, culture but also jobs, the men and
women behind the bar, the sound technician and the lighting
engineer.Therefore with a big appreciation, Independent
Venue Week is back for its third year running and we all can
get involved in the North East. Independent Venue Week is a
celebration of independent venues in the UK but it also aims
to help develop the security of the venues.Ambassador Frank
Turner underlines the importance of the week in January:“It’s
vital we all celebrate their existence during Independent Venue
Week and do what we can to support them so they are still
around for years to come.” North East gig-goers in particular
can celebrate at three important venues which are The
Independent in Sunderland,The Georgian Theatre in Stocktonon-Tees and The Cluny in Newcastle.To get involved, go to an
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Independent venue between Monday 25th January – Sunday
31st January 2016 where you can catch great gigs including
Toronto-born Nashville dwelling singer-songwriter Lindi
Ortega at the Cluny on the 27th of January for £12.50.Tickets
can be found on seetickets.com. Mercury prize nominated local
band Field Music will be playing Stockton’s Georgian Theatre as
part of the event. Field Music are far from strangers to the local
scene and will be playing after support band Kingsley Chapman
and The Murder.After flirting with success and failure with
The Chapman Family, before deciding to call it at day in 2013,
this is your chance to see Kingsley Chapman back on stage
and closer to home than ever.Tickets for this exclusive event
can be found at teesmusicalliance.org.uk for £9.00 or can be
bought on the door for £11.00.To keep these venues existing
- to help the lifeblood of the music we love in the UK to keep
flowing - we must support them by going to gigs and enjoying
them for there may not be many left by the time children grow
up or grandchildren arrive - and wouldn’t that be the biggest
disappointment to not leave beautiful venues and new bands?
Details of all participating venues can be found at the main
website at independentvenueweek.com. Dates and ticket links
will go live on the site as shows are confirmed and more gigs,
artists and partners will be announced over the coming days
and weeks.
You can also keep up-to-date with Independent Venue Week
via their social media channels including Facebook,Twitter and
Instagram.
Written by Tyler Marriott
COFFEE BEANS & VINYL - LONG PLAY CAFÉ
If you’re looking for a hidden music gem tucked away along
the quayside in Newcastle, look no further than Long Play
Café. As you step inside you’ll hear classics playing from
the vinyl player in the corner - such as the Stone Roses for
example - and who doesn’t want to pair listening to good
music with quality coffee and an ambient atmosphere?
With coffee and vinyl, what’s not to love? This is the perfect
place to come and browse through collectable records for
you to buy (with prices starting from £1.50) or to simply
listen to as you enjoy a coffee.With the recent boom in vinyl
sales, there are high hopes that the café will be successful.
The new café has also recently been endorsed by the likes of
Idlewild and Bernaccia, with local band Boy Jumps Ship also
taking part in Blank Slate Sessions within the establishment.
The café itself all started up when two baristas, Jon Marley
and Chris Jackson, who were also both keen vinyl collectors
decided to collaborate these two passions to create
something new in the city.With both of them involved in the
local music scene, and even hoping to start a new scene on
the Quayside, let’s hope things go from strength to strength.
All coffee on sale is sourced locally, as the café is keen to
support independent businesses across the region, and this
ensures the quality of the product is the best it can possibly
be. From coffee cup to bean, all is taken into account as the
café works alongside artisan roasters.Together they create
‘Lola’s Dark Roast’ used as the base in all their coffees. If
you’re not a coffee lover, don’t be put off! With a large range
of loose leave teas, there is bound to be something to appeal
to your pallet.
Café founders Jon and Chris are also big believers in
breakfast, and think just because it’s later on in the day this
shouldn’t hinder breakfast.This means that breakfast is always
on the menu here.The menu also includes deli food and
twists on traditional takes.This simple menu is small but done
well, and there’s also a choice of cakes available to go with
your coffee.
Stay tuned for 2016 as this year the café is set to announce a
number of live music events.
Opening Times and
Further Information:
Open seven days a week, from 8am-8pm.
Situated on 48-52 Sandhill, Quayside, Newcastle,
directly opposite the Riverside music venue.
19
MAIN FEATURE
KATIE CAIN PRESENTS
NE VOLUME’S TOP 10
NORTH EAST ARTISTS/
BANDS TO WATCH IN
-- 2016! --
1. Cape Cub
6. Figmennt
Cabe Cub’s soft, heartfelt sound has been referred to as
“nostalgic and beautiful” by many and is something genuine
that is sought after in music.The raw talent of this act made
it impossible not to include them on our ones to watch list
and we urge you to check them out at a live show ASAP.
2015 has proved to be an incredibly successful year for
the shoegaze four-piece and 2016 is set to be even more
successful for the band. After only getting together in
December 2014, the band have elbowed their way into the
music scene and even made an appearance at Evolution
Emerging and Twisterella Festival in 2015. After only a year
of making music together and achieving so much, what’s
next for the band? Well, with a highly-anticipated EP to be
released following their single ‘She’, Figmennt are set to
explode and reprint themselves on the North East music
scene with fresh new material and begin to create their
long-lasting legacy in 2016.
2. Joe Ramsey
Joe (with the help of his new band) have continued to
progress in our regional music scene this past year.With
a released single at the tail end of last year and a range of
gigs including Twisterella and numerous appearances at
local venues including KU bar in Stockton and TSOne in
Middlesbrough, it seems our North East audiences can’t
get enough of his material.This guy has bags of talent and
the determination to gig at any opportunity to broaden his
audience and experience is unwavering.
3. Hyde & Beast
It seems as though nobody can actually get enough of Hyde
& Beast in our region. From headlining main stage for the
O2 Academy 10th anniversary, headlining Twisterella Festival
and even attracting the attention of James Bay, it seems that
there’s been no stopping Hyde & Beast in 2015 and they’re
showing no signs of slowing down in 2016 either.
4. Shoot The Poet
The band caught our attention supporting Darlia in May
and since then they’re growing and developing continuously.
With a show for Ear To The Ground’s gig at TSone in the
New Year, they’ll begin with a bang and will surely keep
creating and proving themselves throughout the year.
5. Across All Oceans
Over the past few years Across All Oceans have
progressed, changed and altered their sound, style
and even members. In 2015 they played Make
a Scene Festival for the third time and each
time have progressed to larger stages
and impressed larger audiences.The
pop punk group from Teesside have
recently released their brand new EP
which is full of back to back energetic tracks and they’ll be showcasing
much of this in 2016 with shows
across the region and beyond.
20
7. Plaza
2015 has been a busy one for the Hartlepool band; playing
gig after gig after gig across the North East has proved
to be incredibly valuable to the band’s success and they
even landed a show with popular indie band JAWS.The
band are increasing in popularity with every single day and
are beginning to collect a large local following! For these
reasons, I can only expect Plaza to continue to grow and
progress in 2016.
8. Nocturnal Dictionary
Nocturnal Dictionary are considered a breath of fresh
air for our North East music scene.Their originality
and invigorating live shows has helped them to become
successful and contribute something quite brilliant. And I
think that throughout 2016 they will show how they can
progress and will therefore increase their popularity rapidly.
9. Tripper Gore
Established in late 2015, the band are progressing and
developing their style as we speak.They’re packed with
potential and ready to hit 2016 with numerous shows
and releases.The new year will allow them to really find
themselves as a band and after seeing them play their first
show at House of Blah Blah last month, I can assure you
they have bags of talent and experience among them.
10. Para Alta
Para Alta, previously known as PALACE, are responsible for
the eery/psych indie music that we all love so dearly.With
some excellent released material on soundcloud, the band
are keen to deliver some catchy tunes that we all crave so
badly. I hope to see more releases from the band in 2016
and to see them gigging across the region and showing the
music scene what they’re made of.
21
INTERVIEWS
“the ceiling was literally dripping with condensation from the
heat of the crowd” - Alien Ant Farm head to Newcastle
Lisa Bartos talks to Alien Ant Farm lead guitarist,Terry Corso,
about their new album ‘Always and Forever’, Pledge Music and
the changing music industry before they make their longanticipated return to Newcastle this month.
You released your new album ‘Always and Forever’ in 2015.
Can you tell us about the writing and recording process for the
album and what inspired you in the song writing?
Well on top of a tonne of our own demos, we wrote with a
lot of top-liners for the first time. I think since I’d been out of
the band for a few years I was excited to write AAF style songs
again so I wrote a lot.The co-writes just helped us explore
different styles and sounds that were outside our box.
‘Always and Forever’ seems to have a more of a hard rock
sound compared to your last albums…was that a conscious
choice or did it happen organically?
Everything on that record happened in the most organic of
ways. I mean, even sitting in front of a computer with a beat
going is somewhat organic and inspiring. Next thing you know
you have a hook melody then some good words; it grows
therefore it is organic. If by hard rock you mean less prog than
yeah I’d say we kept it a little more streamlined.
brothers Papa Roach and I remember the crowd to be
relentless.We played there at the same university in a hall and
the ceiling was literally dripping with condensation from the
heat of the crowd. I’ll never forget watching Jacoby fall on the
stage from heat exhaustion and get back up and keep going.
British Blues maestros,The Temperance Movement, are heading
to the Newcastle O2 Academy on Thursday 21st January in
support of their second album ‘White Bear’.Al Hall caught up
with guitarist Paul Sayer to discuss new sounds, new members
and what it’s like to support the Rolling Stones.
Have you found a permanent replacement?
Yes.We went to Sweden for a couple of weeks recently, and
we took someone with us on that tour.The plan was that if it
works out well on that tour, that’s what will happen, and it did.
His name is Matt (White).
What was it like going on tour with P.O.D and Hoobastank and
reviving the nu-metal scene?
Well, I always thought the nu-metal tag was weird for us.We
thought our music was a little bit more love-driven so we
always referred to our sound as nu-romantic metal.We got
classified as nu-metal none-the-less and if you say the scene is
reviving then I’m excited for that.Touring with all those guys is
completely natural.We’re all from Southern California, up the
freeway from each other.We played together all over the south
land before any of us were signed. It’s a solid package with good
talented bands with great hooks.
Only two years have passed since your first album came out…
what has changed in that time?
The big difference is that when we made that record we
hadn’t really played any shows; the first thing we did was write.
We made that album right at the beginning and since that we
have been touring almost nonstop; so the first album was a
collection of pieces and now we are really a band.
You have supported some huge bands such as The Rolling
Stones…how were those experiences?
It’s almost like a little holiday because it’s so far from what we
do on a daily basis. For example, we toured America for three
months, opening for a band over there and, when we were with
them, it’s very much like “in a year or two’s time, we want to be
selling out these theatres”. It’s obtainable, it’s doable.When you
open for The Rolling Stones, it’s like going to Disneyland, you’re
not thinking “yeah, we could do this”, you’re just thinking “this
is ridiculous”.
What is the best and worst thing about touring?
It’s great because it’s what you’ve always wanted to do and I
really love putting smiles on faces every night but it sucks being
away from loved ones.
‘Always and Forever’ was funded by the fans on Pledge Music…
how did you find the process and were you surprised by the
level of support for a new album?
It was inspiring and a great way to interact with fans and our
fans really made it happen. However, you definitely want to
keep your fulfilment to a timely manner when taking on this
sort of thing; you can really piss fans off.
You’ve been in Alien Ant Farm for a number of years…how has
the music industry changed over the years?
The whole industry has had to adapt to an online world.The
consumer’s attention span only goes as far as the next link
these days which makes it harder to get to the surface and get
discovered. It’s great, however, for DIY independent touring
acts and new bands; so the technology unfortunately goes both
ways.
You’re playing Newcastle Northumbria University this month…
what do you make of North East crowds?
The last time we were there we were on tour with our
Tickets for Alien Ant Farm’s show at Northumbria University
on Sunday 10th January , priced from £19.25, are available from
eventim.co.uk.
22
“This time we knew we wanted to make an album that sounded
Different” – The Temperance Movement Visit The Geordies
What was different about making ‘White Bear’?
We had a better idea of what we wanted to do.When we
made the first record we didn’t even go into the studio saying
“we are going to make an album” it was only after we came
out that we realised we had an albums worth of material.This
time we knew we wanted to make an album that sounded
different. Between the five of us we have a really wide range of
influences, so on this one we wanted to explore a bit more of
the stuff we are into; sonically it’s wider and there is more to
listen to.
Since making your first album, fellow guitarist Luke Potashnik
has left the band…did that come as a shock?
I guess I was shocked but not surprised. I knew Luke was
struggling with the amount of time we were spending away
from home, but you just never know.You know that someone
maybe isn’t enjoying being away, but whether or not that is
going to lead to them leaving the band, I didn’t know.
A number of more ‘traditional’ rock bands like yourselves,
Vintage Trouble and Blackberry Smoke are flourishing at the
moment; it is a good time to be playing the music you play…
I think the fact that there are those bands around, and they are
selling tickets, shows that there is an appetite for live rock ‘n’
roll bands. It is very real and honestly played music, and I think
that is what people like about it. But there isn’t really an awful
lot of support from the mainstream media, it’s almost niche;
which could be a good or a bad thing. But there’s no point
worrying, our plan is to just keep doing it.
Tickets for The Temperance Movement’s O2 gig are available
from http://thetemperancemovement.com/live/ and White Bear
is released on January 15th 2016.
23
INTERVIEWS
“I really want to move our audience on from just head bobbing to
light on-the-spot Grooving”– Field Music Head to Stockton
Sunderland born Field Music are heading to Stockton’s
Georgian Theatre for Independent Venue Week - a week where
the whole country celebrates the importance of independent
venues and what they mean to the music scene. Nathan
Douthwaite caught up with the band to talk more about the
gig ahead.
Have you played Stockton before?
Yeah, a few times.We did one of our first shows for Plumb (and
debuted our gong) at the Georgian Theatre and years ago I’m
pretty sure we played the ARC but my memories are a bit hazy
on that one.
Are you excited for the gig?
Not yet, no.There are far too many things to worry about
between now and then. I do like the Georgian Theatre and that
last show was a good one, but it feels like we’re starting again as
a live band to a certain extent - new songs, new band member,
three years of extra-curricular activity - so right now, I feel
more nervous about being ready.
Will you be playing any new music?
Yeah, we’ll play quite a few songs from the new album. It’s not
out till February so people will have to be a bit patient with
us.We’re lucky though - I don’t think people come to see us
expecting an easy time.
You signed to Memphis Industries…how did that come about?
We first met them when we were helping out playing in Pete
Gofton’s post-Kenickie solo project, J Xaverre as they put out
his album.When we were making the first album, they were on
our very short list of people at labels who we liked so we sent
it to them and said, quite bluntly, that if they weren’t into it, just
let us know so we can get on with putting it ourselves.That
24
was over 11 years ago and we’ve put out something like 11 or
12 albums with them now.
Do you think it’s hard to break out of the local music scene?
I have no idea about today! The music industry was a very
different beast 11 years ago - iTunes and YouTube were in
their infancy, the Futureheads were on Top of the Pops - for
musicians starting out, I think of it in two ways. Firstly, make
the best, most unique music you can and if it’s really good
someone will probably want to put it out and someone will
probably want to listen to it. Secondly, most labels don’t have
loads of cash to throw around anymore so it’s a huge advantage
if you’re cheap.We’re relatively easy to deal with because we
record ourselves at our own little space, we drive ourselves in
our own van and we don’t like to sit around waiting for other
people to do things for us.
Anything you want to say to the fans ahead of the gig?
Put your dancing shoes on. I really want to move our audience
on from just head bobbing to light on-the-spot grooving.
Will you be sticking around the venue afterwards? Having a few
drinks with fans?
We’ll be sticking around to pack up and load the van.And I’ll
be driving so no booze for me. By the time that’s all done, I’d
imagine the audience will have gone home so we’ll trek back up
the A19 and get to bed. Canny rock and roll, ey?
Catch Field Music at the Georgian Theatre on Friday 29th
January.Advanced tickets are priced at £9,.00 with tickets
on the door priced at £11. 00. Purchase your tickets now at
teesmusicalliance.org.uk and remember to quote NE Volume
when booking.
“OUR SOUND IS PROBABLY THE
BIGGEST CHANGE”- MAYDAY PARADE
American pop punk band, Mayday Parade, are set to play
Newcastle’s 02 Academy on Sunday 31st January, so Katie
Cain spoke to drummer Jake Bundrick to find out more.
What sort of response have you received so far on the new
album ‘Black Lines’?
It seems like people are digging it and those who were
confused by the slight change in sound have begun to really
like it as well. Thankfully, we all expected people to like the
change so we’re really happy.
What made you choose The Maine, Have Mercy and
Beautiful Bodies as your support acts?
We really enjoy every band we chose. This time around
too we feel it’s a great mix of genres that will keep people
excited throughout the course of the event.
What should your Newcastle fans expect from the
upcoming show?
We’ll be giving it our all, physically and emotionally, once
we step onstage. So for all of our fans heading to the show,
expect to feel moved at some point.
It’s been a long time since you last visited the UK…what has
changed for you as a band since you were last here?
Our sound is probably the biggest change. But we’re all the
same dudes doing what we want to do with our music.
We’re stoked about our new record and how it turned out
and where we’re headed; it’s a good thing for us and our
fans.
What’s next for the band?
Lots of touring across the UK and Europe in particular and
also pushing the ‘Black Lines’ album. We can’t wait for you
to hear the new songs live - I think that’ll be the point when
you say to yourself...”oh...I get it now.”
Purchase tickets for Mayday Parade’s gig at the 02 Academy,
Newcastle priced at £18.40 from seetickets.com.
“I wanted to pay tribute to video
games that influenced me in my
childhood” - Benedict Hawkin
Benedict Hawkin, of Newcastle indie icons Profumo, is
about to make his debut as a solo artist. Katie Hall caught
up with him for a quick Q&A about going solo, gaming and
mythological gods.
‘Ice Caves’ is your first solo EP…how do you think the
process of writing and recording this was different to being a
part of your band, Profumo?
I’ve been writing and recording solo material since high
school so generally the process wasn’t new to me; I’ve just
never given my solo work a proper release before! I think the
main thing that makes ‘Ice Caves’ different was the input of a
producer. Previous recordings were all bedroom four track
demos I had made.
What is the EP about? And how do you feel that your sound
has changed by going solo?
I didn’t go into writing with a particular goal or idea for a
concept, but there are certainly some themes tying together
three songs on the EP.The lyrics treat the planet and natural
features as gods that we are at the mercy of. I was really into
mythology and fantasy at the time, so it probably came from
that. In Profumo, the songs on ‘Brutalism’ (bar one song) were
formed in rehearsals. By contrast, the solo songs were formed
in the studio without a thought given to live performance so I
ended up leaning towards a more varied instrumental palette.
How does the title ‘Ice Caves’ relate to the EP?
The ice cave/ice cavern is a stock fantasy video game setting.
I wanted to pay tribute to videogames that influenced me in
my childhood and capture the spirit of videogame soundtracks
in my EP. I’m by no means the first person to do this: Grimes,
Sweet Valley, Frank Ocean and locally Waskerley Way have all
drawn on videogame aesthetics and I’m big fans of all of these
artists!
Pick up the EP now on Benedict’s Bandcamp page.
25
GIG REVIEWS
Fat White Family
+ Meatraffle at The Georgian Theatre,
Stockton on Tees – 04/12/2015
Off stage, Fat White Family are known as surreal guys
often found shouting about controversial topics at any and
every opportunity, and on stage they’re not much different.
Described as crazy by some and as innovative and brilliant by
others, everyone seems to have an opinion on the six-piece
band from London.Their angsty approach and attitude, that
some even say reminds them of the 70s in Britain, attracts
a specific and rowdy crowd. Nevertheless, their gigs are
anything but hostile. Inside, Fat White Family shook the
walls of Stockton’s very own Georgian Theatre with their
reverberating sound.They brought something a little different
I would say to Stockton particularly. And it was even special
that Fat White Family chose our small Northern town to play
in after only playing select dates across the country; perhaps
proof that our North East music scene is as legendary as we
hoped! With support from Meatraffle, a psych band with a
very poignant trumpet included in their set, the entire night
seemed to be alive and so full of character.The gig was all in
all, a genuine experience. And thank god for the movement
and energy as a crowd response.Too many times have bands
not lit up the audience within the Georgian Theatre, however,
this band did and exploited it to the max.The crowd were
alive, the band was alive and this is proof that the North East
music scene is alive and kicking.
dj and pa hire
karaoke nights
Written by Katie Cain | Photography by Andy Lochrie
The Darkness
at 02 Academy, Newcastle – 04/12/2015
Written and photographed by Al Hall
26
Tonight, the UK’s most eccentric rock band,The Darkness,
took to the stage at the Newcastle O2.The band opened
with the explosive ‘Barbarian’, the lead single from 2015’s ‘Last
Of Our Kind’ before launching into the more well-established
‘Growing On Me’ and ‘Black Shuck’.The gig continued in this
vein, mixing newer numbers with old favourites, and the set
also included a new, unrecorded song in ‘Rack Of Glam’ which
was met with a great reception. Justin Hawkins, whose recent
haircut has him looking more and more like a modern day
David Bowie, stalked the stage tirelessly throughout the night.
And behind him, his younger brother Dan and bassist Frankie
Poullain plugged away in dependable fashion. Newcomer,
Rufus Taylor, fitted into the line-up so seamlessly that even
the most conservative Darkness fan would be hard-pressed
to begrudge him his place behind the kit. Amongst the music,
the crowd also witnessed numerous handstands, scissor kicks
and a banjo playing Mexican wrestler named ‘El Softo’ who
accompanied the band on several songs.The encore featured
what might be a first in the history of rock gigging, back-toback original Christmas songs. 2003’s ‘Christmas Time (Don’t
Let The Bells End)’ was preceded by the band’s new effort ‘I
Am Santa’.Whilst some may cry “overkill”, this choice sums
up the bands’ disregard for any sort of convention on how
to make and play music. It is this that makes The Darkness as
refreshing now as they were when they arrived on the scene,
fifteen years ago.
events organiser
sound technician
live bands and
band management
rock/metal & alternative
contact kal at 07799 651210
www.rockpitpromotions.co.uk
www.wegottickets.com.rockpitpromotion
REVIEWS
GIGGIG
REVIEWS
Indie, Funk, Alt, House, Soul & Rock’n’Roll
ASH
SOMA Saturdays at Independent.
Everyone ain’t invited.
+ Asylums at The Riverside, Newcastle - 05/12/2015
Southend-on-Sea band,Asylums, which consisted of two guys
on guitars, and one on bass and one on drums, ripped through
their set like their lives depended on it.‘Wet Dream Magazine’
summed up their sound which put me in mind of Faith No
More; i.e. post grunge pop rock with ample tremolition! After
a short interlude, there was a puff of dry ice and a bass rumble
before Ash made their way on stage.Appropriately, the band
thrashed straight into ‘Lose Control’ and the manic crowd
complied immediately.After the fourth song (‘Goldfinger’), a
steward tried to get the mosh pit to calm down, but there
was fat chance of that.There was a change of pace five songs
in with main man,Tim, finger picking a tasteful ditty in ‘Free’ off
their new album ‘Kabla Mmo’. Fan favourite ‘Kung Fu’ sees the
mosher’s back in full flow but, following a pint flying out of the
crowd and landing on the front of the stage and wetting one
of the band’s monitors, the safety steward was not happy. He
came to the front of the stage and asked them to stop going
so crazy.Tim and the band stopped playing (‘Kung Fu’) and said
that he wanted people to dance about and have a good time.
After a quick band chat, an unplanned ‘Teenage Kicks’ restored
smiles all around.The set then concluded with ‘Shining Light’,
where all in attendance had their moment to sing without
the band and duly obliged. Encore tunes concluded with ‘Burn
Baby Burn’ – the band’s signature track and a fantastic end to
the night.
C
M
Y
CM
MY
CY
CMY
K
Written by Nev Larkin | Photogaphy by Dan Graham
Stereophonics
at Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle – 06/12/2015
Written by Stephanie Thompson
28
Universally-acclaimed Welsh rockers, Stereophonics, have
been together for almost 20 years.They have an incredible
back catalogue - which I hoped would be showcased over the
course of the evening - and thankfully I wasn’t disappointed.
Accompanying me tonight was my friend, Phil, who has seen
Stereophonics 23 times. Having never seen them myself, this
was a landmark gig for me and I had some catching up to do.
The rockers began with a storming opener in ‘C’est la Vie’,
and continued in fine form with their signature raw vocals and
hard-hitting memorable melodies.They dipped into their back
catalogue early on, particularly from the album ‘Graffiti on
the Train’, and included a few early classics such as ‘Thousand
Trees’ and ‘Handbags and Gladrags’; which went down an
absolute storm with the packed crowd.As discussed with
the man himself (that’d be Phil), they sound even better live
than they do recorded.They were pitch-perfect throughout,
had the crowd in the palm of their hands, and provoked
mass sing-alongs on more than one occasion. Kelly and co
were promoting their new album ‘Keep the Village Alive’ and,
thankfully, it was absolutely worth the wait as the new material
is lyrically beautiful and also contemporary. Special moments
tonight included when the Newcastle crowd were given a
chance to star in the new video, when balloons filled with
confetti burst and confetti also began falling from the ceiling,
and track ‘Indian Summer’, which was played with a full string
section, was a particular highlight for me.
the indie kids
the mods
the rocker’n’rollers
the hipsters
the house heads
the soul warriors
the skins
the techno vikings
the all night ravers
the blue pint swillers
the key dab bombers
the retchers
the none shufflers
the all night sessioners
the after party army
the INDE-People
SOMA
CHAV
FREE
SINCE
2006
GIG REVIEWS
Lower Than Atlantis
ADVERTISE
WITH US!
From as little as
£35.00!
find out more by emailing
[email protected]
+ Brawlers + Moose Blood + As It Is
at The Empire, Middlesbrough – 07/12/2015
NEWLY OPEN
Weekdays - 10am to 10pm
Weekends - noon to 6pm
3 Fully equipped rehearsal rooms
each room features:
2 Orange CR120 Heads 2 Marshall MX412A Cabs
Orange Crush 100BXT Bass Combo
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Block booking deals can be arranged
Student discount weekdays 10am to 4pm
25B Southwick Ind. Estate SR5 3TX
0191 548 0634
[email protected] www.bakerland.co.uk
Tonight marked the first date of Lower Than Atlantis’ biggest
UK tour to date. Deservingly, Middlesbrough’s very own
Empire was the first on a national 8 date tour. After speaking
to Mike last month, he told us that the line up was created
with the intention to appeal to the masses. From the crowds’
reaction from each of the support acts, it was obvious that
they had achieved just that! Brawlers - an emerging Yorkshire
band - began the night with passion-fuelled shouty rock.
Their enthusiasm and confidence was evidently impressive
in preparation for the following bands. After the Yorkshire
four-piece was the up and coming emo band, Moose Blood;
their popularity was obvious due to the number of people in
the crowd enthusiastically singing and dancing.The band were
obviously elated, which was heartwarming, and they executed
a perfect, seamless set with ease. Just before Lower Than
Atlantis’ heavily-awaited set was As It Is.The pop punk group
are no strangers to the stage but were showcasing their
material to Middlesbrough for the first time. It was impressive
and touching to see such a supportive response for the band
who performed incredibly well.The headliners then exploded
onto the stage with their recent single, ‘Get Over It’.This
was the first play of the new track in the UK and received
an electric response from the crowd.The atmosphere was
so alive tonight; and Lower Than Atlantis should be noted for
their incredible enthusiasm and genuine talent.They executed
each and every song professionally, confidently and with
extreme levels of passion.
Written by Katie Cain
The Dead Daisies
+ Colour of Noise at The Point, Sunderland –
07/12/2015
Written by Jake Carr Smith | Photographed by Adam Kennedy
After showcasing some great bands over the last year
including Rival sons, Big Country and Warwick/Johnson,
the new Sunderland venue tonight plays host to The Dead
Daisies, with support from Colour of Noise.The five-piece,
Colour of Noise, take to the stage and win the crowd over
in triumphant fashion. Swaggering their way through a thirtyminute set of groovy rock n roll, this band are the real deal.
Their sound falls somewhere between Led Zeppelin and
Nazareth; complete with their very own Myles Kennedy on
vocals (the resemblance in voice and appearance is uncanny).
The Dead Daisies enter the stage to a mashup of Zeppelin
and Sabbath classics including ‘Whole Lotta Love’ and ‘War
Pigs’; before launching into their own breed of rock n roll.
Made up of various veterans of the rock circuit including
John Corabi (Motley Crue, Ratt) and Richard Fortus (Guns n
Roses,Thin Lizzy), the band have experience and it shows.
Their set includes a collection of their finest work as well
as a few crowd-pleasing covers. Particular standouts are the
infectious ‘Looking for the One’ and ‘Something I Said’; as well
as their own version of Aerosmith’s ‘Sick as a Dog’.
Drummer Brian Tichy deserves a special mention as tonight
he played like a man possessed; including a drum solo played
with his bare hands - there’s a nod to the late, great John
Bonham here. All in all it was a great night from six of rock’s
most seasoned veterans.
31
GIG REVIEWS
Slaves
at 02 Academy, Newcastle – 15/12/2015
Written by Adam Gallagher
Photography by Dan Graham
Maxïmo Park
The North East’s own Maximo Park played their first ever gig
in Hartlepool tonight to celebrate 10 years since the release
of their Mercury nominated debut album ‘A Certain Trigger’ –
and what a party it was. But it wasn’t just Maximo Park doing
the North East music scene proud as Ian Black, a former
member of Field Music who now plays under the moniker
SLUG, played tracks from across the musical spectrum and
presented them in some of the most bizarre yet incredible
ways possible.With his band wearing sailor suits (maybe
in recognition of the town’s Maritime heritage), Ian looked
striking in all of his finery (bow tie included). It’s track ‘Greasy
Mind’ of the set that truly stands out with its jaunty guitar
sound and sensational hooks – something Ian is renowned for
producing. As anticipation levels rose, out stepped Billinghamborn frontman, Paul Smith, and the rest of the renowned band
to a raucous applause from the appreciate crowd.
Launching straight into ‘Girls Who Play Guitars’, Paul’s
energetic display on stage – which including hurling the mic
stand, clambering onto monitors and jumping off them –
sent the crowd into an absolutely frenzy. Pausing for a brief
moment after ‘The Kids are Sick Again’ - in which Paul used a
megaphone to broadcast his vocals right across the large hall
- he notes that although never playing in the town he is a “big
fan of Hartlepool” after spending some time in the Seaside
32
No longer a ‘slave’ (pun intended) to his injury, Isaac was back
doing what he does best. Heading in to the venue, it was
clear that we were in for a good night with the atmosphere
even livelier than what you would have expected from the
average Slaves gig.This was in part due to the move to the
02 Academy, with the original gig having meant to take place
at the much smaller local uni venue. Opening with ‘White
Knuckle Ride’, followed by ‘Sockets’, ‘Despair and Traffic’ and
‘Live like an Animal’, Slaves took injury, delay and change of
venue all in their stride; with the result being an ultimately
brilliant performance and the reinstatement of their ‘biggest
breakthrough act of 2015’ status. After performing new
song ‘Take Control’, the band’s popular hits ‘The Hunter’
and ‘Cheer Up London’ were played; much to the crowds
excitement. However, they weren’t the only songs in which
popularity was evident with ‘Where’s Your Car Debbie’ also
attracting attention; perhaps given the performance of such
in the BBC 1 Live Lounge a day prior. It was especially great
to see Laurie and Isaac caring so much about the safety
of the spectators and at one point, along with the crowd,
applauding the security staff on their fantastic work.Without
a doubt, people were leaving feeling exceedingly satisfied after
witnessing an outstanding gig.
Written by Kieran Hornsby and Jasmin Guy.
Figmennt
+ Dead Moon Lizard Kings + Roidwolf
at Musiclounge, Stockton - 18/12/2015
+ SLUG at Hartlepool Borough Hall – 12/12/2015
town at art college.The first part of the night showcased
songs from most of the bands’ albums including ‘The
National Health’, ‘A19’, ‘Our Velocity’, ‘Give, Get,Take’ and
‘Books From Boxes’ with minimal lighting used throughout.
However, in part two – much to the delight of the crowd –
the entire debut album was played from start to finish with
strobe lighting a major feature of the set. Opener ‘Signal And
Sign’, which was played with a new red lighting theme and
laser show behind the band, to final track ‘Kiss You Better’
showcased just what an incredible album Maximo produced;
and the fact that the album was actually their debut is an
incredible feat to say the least.There were no filler tracks,
each song was sung back word for word by the adrenalinefuelled crowd, and fan favourites such as ‘Apply Some
Pressure’, ‘Acrobat’ and ‘Limassol’ didn’t feel outdated and
stood just as strong today as they did 10 years ago. Although
it’s been a decade since their first release, Maximo Park still
know how to put on a live show; Paul is as charismatic as ever
and his love for what he does is plain to see.
Written by Lee Allcock
Written and Photographed by Katie Cain
Openers, Roidwolf, introduced a sense of individuality which
was presented by the lack of vocals from the band allowing
them to put their own unique spin on the alternative genre.
Their set did include guest vocals from the lead singer of
the second act, Dead Moon Lizard Kings, which moulded
the genre into something that resembled angst punk.
Although there was very limited audience interaction, the
band had a very stylish and simplistic manner which allowed
this to work for them. Dead Moon Lizard Kings created
a completely different vibe to the bands either side.Their
shouty, angry expression completely changed the atmosphere
and demolished all previous expectations.They included a
great deal of audience interaction which resulted in increased
energy and passion. Headliners, Figmennt, performed
with such professionalism and ease.Their sound - a softer
shoegaze feel - contrasts directly to the previous act but is
completely absorbed by the audience who were waiting with
anticipation to see them play.Their now familiar set, which
featured their upcoming EP release, has not become tired at
all and is actually as fresh as when they first presented it.Their
movement on stage fuels the energy of the performance and
the crowd and ensures that everyone, including both the band
and audience, are thoroughly engaged and involved.
33
ALBUM/EP/SINGLE REVIEWS
Boycott The Radio - ‘Wolf’
EP Review
Dean James - ‘Black Dog’
Single Review
Denature - ‘Loss’
EP Review
‘Wolf’, the debut EP released by
Middlesbrough’s Boycott The Radio,
is somewhere between The Vaccines
and The Strokes in terms of sound;
and is a track full of honesty and
raw emotion. The first track on the
EP, ‘The Runner’ has been on repeat
everywhere I can play it and the
melodic howls have been sung back
at me with just as much enthusiasm
and passion as Michael McCluskey
from a number of friends. Dark
and haunting, but still perfect for a
party playlist, you could have this on
repeat as much as I did. ‘Wolf’ - the
EP’s title track- is filled with just as
much energy and life as its opener;
it has a finely crafted chorus that’s
perfect for being sung at the top of
your lungs. The latter half of the EP
is made up of a pair of love songs.
‘Corona’ is the possibly brutally
heartbroken ode to a girl and/or
a hangover. Sang softly over the
finger-picked guitars, it has a sudden
impact as the trademark vocals
suddenly lead the whole band in to
a great crescendo. ‘Can’t Think Of
Anything’ is a beautifully updated
50’s throwback, with the sunshinesoaked tune backed by twined
chords and picking again - it’s the
greatest kind of pick-me-up for the
winter blues. Definitely a bunch to
watch this year, Boycott The Radio
have provided a snapshot in to
teenage passions and partying but
its appeal isn’t just limited to the
youth.
‘Black Dog’ is the latest track by
native South Shield’s lad Dean
James. After recently being signed
to Forgotten City Records, the
Sand-Dancer is due to release a
five track EP in the near future.
The track opens with delicately
layered guitar - with a melodic, highpitched riff driving the track - and is
supported by a blanket of charming
chords. The sound is then elevated
by hearty drums before James
comes in with his bluesy vocals. The
song then transitions from what
initially sounded like a stereotypical
pop song into something slightly
confused. It combines distorted
guitar riffs, beefy bass and gritty
vocals with the easy-listening of the
introductory hook which makes
it sound as though you’re playing
two tracks over each other. Both
aspects somehow seem to work well
together at times though, and assist
in giving James a comprehensive
sound. However, it does feel like
the song is still in the drafting
process.You’re left waiting for that
‘wow’ moment; either through the
sincerity of the charming intro or the
ballsiness of the blues influence.
I’d really like to see James belt it
out and indulge in some gorgeous
bluesy tunes, opposed to placing
two contrasting styles together in a
somewhat confusing manner.
The Christmas period really is a
time of giving for the entertainment
industry. Even right down to the local
sector, we’ve been gifted with several
high-quality releases this holiday and
Denature’s latest EP ‘Loss’ is one such
case. Denature are a Newcastle-based
EDM act that adopts the classical
band structure of multiple musicians
accompanied by a vocalist, playing live
electronic music from a bottom-up
approach, rather than a pre-recorded
mix from an iMac. Cool, right?
I’d argue that ‘Loss’ can best be
described as “Nero meets Pendulum”.
We are treated to four tracks of
exceptionally high- quality EDM;
befitting of a major label production.
I’d honestly be quite surprised
if Denature have not once been
approached by the likes of Monstercat
or UKF, the quality here is more
than up to scratch with the releases
often heard from either of the
aforementioned. It may be difficult to
call the approach of playing EDM in a
live setting, using in-house instruments
and vocals, an innovative one in this
case when the end product has such
a mass market appeal. After all, if the
end product is the same then the
methods to achieve such cannot be
considered novel.That being said,
however, fans of the scene (casual or
devout) will no doubt love this fourtrack EP - it’s everything electronic
music should be and managed to
keep me entertained through multiple
playthroughs.
Pick up the EP on the band’s
Soundcloud page.
The single will be officially released
with a launch event with details to be
announced over the coming weeks.
James Gray Robson & The
Lovely Burn - ‘For All It’s Worth’
EP Review
Pick up the EP at denaturemusic.com.
Darlington-based singer-songwriter,
James Gray Robson, has just released
his EP ‘For All It’s Worth’ and it’s a
gemstone of acoustic beauty.
Opening with ‘You Can Ask’, the track
is a soft ballad with a sweet electric
acoustic guitar.The vocals are also
powerful but not over-baring and they
sit well within the mix of the song.
‘6 Years’ has a powerful vocal intro
before it breaks into the acoustic
style similar to the opening song.
The “oo’s” opening the track will
almost send chills down your spine.
‘I’m Never Gonna Get Off’ is a more
solemn song with Robson singing
about loneliness and isolation.The
song shows a level of musical maturity
and has a deep emotional feeling. ‘A.
Californica’ is similar to the rest of
the tracks. It’s a tightened song with
every musical element fine-tuned and
sits with the other songs to keeps a
continuity element to the EP.
The EP is brought to an end by
the track ‘Thoughtless’ - a Newton
Faulkner-esque track that has deep
vocals complimented by a sweet
picking guitar.The song builds and
builds until it breaks into a harmonica
solo which is not a common thing
in modern day music.The full EP is
an emotion-fuelled rollercoaster and
is a must listen for fans of Newton
Faulkner or Ben Howard’s early
music.The full EP has a sense of
direction and you can predict what
Robson’s album will eventually shape
up like. It’s a clever stepping stone in
his musical career.
Written by Mark Fearns
Find the EP on itunes now.
Written by Sal Wilcox
Written by Katie Hall
Written by Nathan Douthwaite
34
Crying Lions
- ‘Rocket Science’
EP Review
Zeitgeist 77
- ‘We are Zeitgeist’
Album Review
‘Rocket Science’ is the debut EP from
youthful Newcastle band Crying
Lions. An impressive debut it is too
with the band delivering four tracks of
mature and accessible indie rock.
Recorded at Blank Studios, things kick
off with ‘Parasitica’. Urgent Strokesesque guitars and frontman Ollie
Quinn’s ‘Alex Turner’ aping vocals
combine to produce an enjoyable
short burst of guitar pop. Better still
is ‘Hurricane’. Regimental drums and
screeching guitars reminiscent of
Kasabian provide the backdrop for an
impossibly catchy chorus. “We’ll live
forever and ever” chants Quinn; with
the assuredness that only youth can
bring. Clocking in at just 3 minutes
41 seconds, this is also the longest
track on the EP.This is a band with
something to say, and they are in
a rush to say it. ‘Cliffhanger’ has a
more retro feel but is also another
three minute punchy rock number
with a sing-along chorus. Best of all
is the anthemic finale ‘FOMA’. Like
much here, it drips with a Libertines
influence but is remarkably fully
formed for a band who only got
together last year.The band are taking
gigs throughout the North East
whenever the opportunity arises, and
are quickly cultivating a loyal following.
Combine this with a powerful and
catchy debut EP, and this is a band
with a potentially very bright future.
And you don’t need to be an expert
in Rocket Science to recognise that.
You may recall that last month I
commented, refreshingly, on how
rock and roll is certainly not dead.
Well this month I’m glad to share
that punk rock as we’ve known and
loved is also well and truly alive!
Delivering is Stockton-on-Tees band
Zeitgeist 77, with their eponymouslytitled ‘We Are Zeitgeist 77’ 12-track
LP.Where punk rock started as a
platform to antagonise an era ripe
with sociopolitical upset, it seems
almost as relevant now following
local industry closures and economic
decline. Acting as a voice of the North
East, the album’s opening track ‘Good
Morning Teesside’ exemplifies both
regional strife and our solidarity in
the face of ongoing hardship.This is
punk; this is the choir that resonated
with the youths of the 70s and has
remained valid ever since.There’s a
very clear history throughout ‘We
Are Zeitgeist 77’.You can really feel
flavours of ska, rock and roll, blues
and the likes - most notably heard
in ‘The Tony Archer Blues’ which
almost feels as much of a homage as
it is an immortalisation of the genre.
The album is a through-and-through
journey from the roots of punk up to
the modern day; but undeniably is full
of culture.The themes explored are
relevant and impactful and hit harder
to home than I ever would have
expected. In terms of melody there’s
not much new here, but who wants
to read sheet music while thrashing
around a Zeitgeist 77 gig, anyway?
Listen to the EP now on Soundcloud.
Find the album at amazingtunes.com.
Written by Colin McCann
Written by Mark Fearns
35
Breakfast served until 11.30am | Lunch served 11.30am to 2.30pm | Saturday until 4.00pm
Bar and
Kitchen
14 Coniscliffe Road Darlington • Tel: 01325 365585
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NE VOLUME GIG LISTINGS
1st January
• Sean Hainy. Chaplins,
Sunderland. Free.
2nd January
• Danny Smith. Chaplins,
Sunderland. Free.
• Ohasis + Paul Weller Acoustic
(By the New Age Jam). KU Bar,
Stockton. £5.00 Adv.
• Fizzyfish. Doc Browns,
Middlesbrough. Free.
• American Girl. The Lion Sports
Bar & Grill, Billingham. Free.
3rd January
• Scratch The Surface. St Peter’s
Club, Byker. £2.00 OTD.
• Jake Taylor. Head of Steam,
Norton.
• The Smokin’ Spitfires. The
Cluny, Newcastle. £6.50 OTD.
• Kung Fu Blues.Tyne Bar,
Newcastle. Free.
4th January
• Open Mic Session hosted
by Paul Dannatt & Friends.
Quakerhouse, Darlington. Free.
5th January
• Insangel Introducing Presents:
Rayne + The Thrall + Love Bubble
+ Legacy Of Kain. The Three
Tuns, Sherrif’s Hill, Gateshead.
Free.
• Phil the Pipe’s Musical
Intro’s Quiz. Quakerhouse,
Darlington.£1pp Entry.
6th January
• Sundance. Quakerhouse,
Darlington. Free.
7th January
• The Bare Bones Project
Goodtime Music Night.Tyne Bar,
Newcastle. Free.
8th January
• Scratch The Surface.The Ox Inn,
Stanley. Free.
38
• Darlington R’n’B Club Presents:
The Alligators Featuring Robert
Kane. Forum Music Centre,
Darlington. £12.00 OTD.
• Paul Rosa Band. Cleveland Bay,
Eaglescliffe. Free.
• A Festival, A Parade + Slow
Decades. The Cluny, Newcastle.
Free.
9th January
• Sam Gibson. Chaplins,
Sunderland. Free.
• The Stereosonics. Forum Music
Centre, Darlington. £10.00 OTD.
• KU Under the Covers Presents:
The Princes of Monte Carlo. KU
Bar, Stockton. Free.
• Dan Savage + Dec & Wayne
+ Tom Hawick. Independent,
Sunderland. Free.
10th January
• Charlie Thomas. Head of Steam,
Norton.
• Alien Ant Farm + Inme.
Northumbria University,
Newcastle. £19.25 Adv.
• Jazz North East Present: Roller
Trio + Leash. Bridge Hotel,
• Darlington Jazz Club
Presents: Act to be Confirmed.
Quakerhouse, Darlington. Price
to be Confirmed.
12th January
• Gufra + Support.The Three
Tuns, Sherrif’s Hill, Gateshead.
Free.
13th January
• Insangel Presents: Rayne + Love
The Sinner. Arizona, Sunderland.
£4.00 OTD.
• Eric and the Vikings.
14th January
• The Acoustic Factory Featuring
SkyRush, Craig Roddam, Sean
Hainey, Meghann Clancy, Hannah
Brown and Connor Thomas. 02
Academy, Newcastle. £7.05 Adv.
• Battle Of The Bands. Bubbles,
Ashington. Free.
15th January
• Toxic + NoThrills. Forum
Music Centre, Darlington. £5.00
Adv/£6.00 OTD.
• Mike McGrother (Wildcats of
Kilkenny) + Support.The Vane
Arms,Thorpe Thewles. Free (Pass
the Hat).
• Digits (Matt & Stu’s Farewell
Show) + Black Nevada + Enversa
+ Black Velvet. 02 Academy 2,
• Al Grigg. Cleveland Bay,
Eaglescliffe. Free.
• Benedict Hawkin. Cumberland
Arms, Newcastle.
• Tortured Soul. Hoochie
Coochie, Newcastle. £15.00 OTD.
16th January
• James Robson + Hayley McKay
+ Dave Saunders. Forum Music
• The Firelight Opera + Jen
Steven’s & The Hiccups +
Stratosphere + One Man Revival.
02 Academy 2, Newcastle.
• Alan Jones. Chaplins, Sunderland.
Free.
Baggy Mondays. KU Bar, Stockton.
Free.
• The Alligators + The Picaroons.
Hartlepool Supporters Club.
£8.00 Adv/£10.00 OTD.
• Jumpin’ Hot Club Presents:
Tim Dalling & His Bonnie Squad
+ Rhona Dalling.The Cluny 2,
Newcastle. £10.00 OTD.
• The Alex Fawcett Band.
17th January
• Ruby & The Mystery Cats.The
Voyager, South Shields. Free.
• Carl Eaton. Head of Steam,
Norton.
• Mojo Hand.Tyne Bar, Newcastle.
Free.
18th January
• Despite My Deepest Fear +
Exist Immortal. Think Tank?,
• Open Mic Session Hosted
by Dave Cadman & Friends.
20th January
• Mojo Roller. Quakerhouse,
Darlington. Free.
21st January
• The Temperance Movement +
The Sheepdogs. 02 Academy,
Newcastle.£15.75 Adv.
• Savannah Betts + The
Gentleman Busker + Be Quiet
Shout Loud + Driven Serious.The
Cluny 2, Newcastle. £5.00 OTD.
• Blues Lounge Session Hosted
by Alex Fawcett & Guests.
22nd January
• Far Pacific. 02 Academy 2,
• Steelyard Blue. Cleveland Bay,
Eaglescliffe. Free.
• Billy Walton Band.The Cluny,
Newcastle. £10.00 Adv/£12.00
OTD.
23rd January
• Dave & Kim. Chaplins,
Sunderland. Free.
• The Skapones. Forum Music
• Beach Slang.Think Tank?,
• Big Red & The Grinners
+ Gilded Thieves + Chloe
Chadwick. 02 Academy 2,
• Redcar Ska Festival Introducing
Featuring Plasmajam + Almighty
Uprisers +Dj Ian Lugsey Wilson.
Redcar Citizens Priory Club.
£3.00 OTD.
Last Anthem. KU Bar, Stockton.
Free.
• Twist Helix + Fractions +
Human X + Kate Edwards.
Mining Institute, Newcastle.
• Minotaurs + The Shooting Of…
+ Hype Foundation + Union
Choir + Joy Club + AutismAble
Singers. The Custom Space,
South Shields.
24th January
• Minus the Bear. 02 Academy 2,
• The Lone Bellow. Sage
Gateshead. £14.00 Adv.
• Steve McCormick. Head of
Steam, Norton.
• Darlington Jazz Club Presents:
Act TBC. Quakerhouse,
Darlington. Price TBC.
25th January
• Daughter + PIXX. 02 Academy,
26th January
• Cancer Bats + Lord Dying
+ Palm Reader + Incite. 02
Academy 2, Newcastle. £12.37
Adv.
• BUSKIT - Open Mic Night
with Back Line and House Band.
27th January
• Alterverse + Pacific View +
Northern Horizon + Shortside
Avenue. 02 Academy 2,
• Lindi Ortega.The Cluny,
• The Sugar B’s. Quakerhouse,
Darlington. Free.
28th January
• Battle Of The Bands. Bubbles,
Ashington. Free.
• Total Stone Roses. Forum Music
• They Might Be Giants. Riverside,
• Guardian + Sanity Check +
North Seasons + Choked Out. 02
Academy 2, Newcastle. £7.05 Adv.
• An Evening With Bruce Findlay
(Simple Minds). Georgian Theatre,
Stockton. Free.
• Folk Session with Members
of Steam Radio. Quakerhouse,
Darlington. Free.
29th January
• Field Music + Kingsley Chapman
& The Murder. Georgian Theatre,
Stockton. £9.00 Adv/£11.00 OTD.
• Emma Wilson Band. Cleveland
Bay, Eaglescliffe. Free.
• Last Joker + Saints of Arcadia +
Once More Round + Worth. 02
Academy 2, Newcastle. £7.05 Adv.
• Old Red Eyes. Sedgefield Parish
Hall. £5.00 Adv/£6.00 OTD.
30th January
• Avalon. Chaplins, Sunderland.
Free.
• FM. ARC, Stockton. £18.50 Adv.
• Daft as Punk. KU Bar, Stockton.
£8.50 Adv.
• SoundWaves Music
Competition – The Final. 02
Academy, Newcastle. £7.55 Adv.
• Transmission – The Sound of Joy
Division.The Studio, Hartlepool.
£7.00 Adv/£10.00 OTD.
• Fizzyfish.The Lion Sports Bar &
Grill, Billingham. Free.
• Four Colour Ghosts + The
Voluntears + The Endeavours +
Tinny Bennett. Georgian Theatre,
Stockton. £7.50 Adv/£10.00 OTD.
• Lewis Hamilton Band + Hot
Tin Roof. Saltburn Cricket Club.
£10.00.
• Lone Wolf Presents: Shields +
Dalaro + Cohesion. Independent,
Sunderland. £5.00 Adv/£7.00
OTD.
31st January
• Mayday Parade + The Maine +
Have Mercy + Beautiful Bodies.
02 Academy, Newcastle. £18.00
Adv.
• Ellis Rayner. Head of Steam,
Norton.
• Blue Diamond. Tyne Bar,
Newcastle. Free.
• HD Concerts Presents: Kitty,
Daisy & Lewis.The Cluny,
• Revolver. Quakerhouse,
Darlington. Free
Add your February
gigs for FREE by
emailing our team at
[email protected]
Want to make your
gig stand out more?
Contact our team at
[email protected]
for more details.
39

January Edition (Published 02/01/2016)

Transcription

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