GNE Magazine 002 by Gigs North East

06.05.2018_

Blaenavon_ The Magic Gang_ Cabbage_ Pale Waves_ + Many many more... HitTheNorthFestival.co.uk

Tom Walker_ The Pale White_ Will Heard_ Detroit Social Club_ Girl Ray_

GNE CONTENTS

EDITION 002! WE’RE FULLY FLEDGED

GNE NEWS

TODDLERS NOW, BUT THERE’S NO

5 - Hit the North Pre-Parties

TERRIBLE TWOS HERE. EDITION 002

6 - Stockton Calling

IS NOTHING BUT JOY AND WE’RE

GNE LOOKS FORWARD

DEDICATING THIS ONE TO ALL

9 - Astroid Boys, Insecure Men, Pokey La Farge

THOSE KICK ASS MUSICAL WOMEN OUT THERE.

PUBLISHER: Gigs North East EDITOR: Dominique Daly FOR GNE EDITORIAL: dominique@gigsnortheast.co.uk FOR GNE SALES: conor@ssdconcerts.co.uk FOR GNE STOCKIST ENQUIRIES: dominique@gigsnortheast.co.uk TO JOIN OUR TEAM: dominique@gigsnortheast.co.uk DESIGN & ART DIRECTION: solutiongroup.co.uk CONTRIBUTORS: Lisa Bartos, Jack Blenkinsopp, Paul Broadhead, Tessa Bury, Dominique Daly, Lynne Gilchrist, Adam Hutchinson, Charlie Isaac, Dorian Kelly, Bethan McConnel, John Patterson, Johnathan Ramsay, Johnny Rogerson, Matthew Thomas. GNE is published by SSD Music Ltd. All material copyright (c). All rights reserved. This publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, in whole or in part, without the express permission of GNE. Disclaimer: While every effort is made to ensure the information in this magazine is correct, changes can occur which affect the accuracy of copy, to which SSD Music Ltd. holds no responsibility. The opinions of contributors do not necessarily bear relation to those of GNE or it’s staff and we disclaim liability for those impressions. Distributed regionally.

10 - Belle & Sebastian, L.A Witch, Mahalia

Ladies are holding their own this quarter as we look ahead to the brooding US psychedelia of L.A Witch who will playing an unmissable set at The Cluny in March; get to know opposite ends of feminine the spectrum from the sweet bird-song of Jade Bird to the outspoken feminism of Girli; and inspire yourself to reach your music industry potential with Noisy Daughters and Violets female empowerment programs.

12 - Cabbage, Man of Moon, Public Service Broadcasting

Elsewhere we chat with comeback kings of cool Gengahr, get under the skin of Meet the North Headliners Peace and talk empathy with Frank Turner.

20 - Nick JD Hodgson

We’re teetering right on the edge of festival season and personally, I can’t wait to jet off to Primavera this summer, but there’s plenty to be heard closer to home with Hit the North, Evo Emerging and Stockton Calling all coming up this spring.

30 - Lower Than Atlantis

Big Love, Dominique Editor

13 - Echo & the Bunnymen, !!!, Little Comets GNE RADAR 15 - Demob Happy 16 - Girli, Jade Bird 18- Gengahr GNE TALKS 23 - Peace 28 - Frank Turner 33 - Sunflower Bean 34 - Meet the North 35 - Noisy Daughters GNE LOCAL 37 - Nano Kino, Great Waves, James Leonard Hewitson 38 - Feva, Lake Poets 39 - Nue North East GNE REVIEWS 41 - Albums 42 - Live

HIT THE NORTH KICKED OFF A WAVE OF ANNOUNCEMENTS RECENTLY, UNVEILING THREE HUGE OPENING PARTY SHOWS FOR 2018’S FESTIVAL WEEKEND. Headlined by Jungle, Circa Waves and Drenge, the opening events will take place on the 4th May at Boilershop, O2 Academy and Riverside, respectively. The shows mark a major advancement for the festival which is now in its second year, moving its city wide domination from a two day take over to a three-day extravaganza to rival the likes of Live at Leeds. Jungle’s announcement came as part of a huge international tour which sees the band travel across Northern America, Europe and the UK. The band’s selftitled debut EP was released in 2014; their 1970’s midtempo style funk brings together colourful percussion with elements of nature and psychedelia drawn upon and set to a booming bass. The album was shortlisted for a Mercury Music Prize, and their song ‘Busy Earnin’ has received plentiful stand-alone success with multiple television and advertising sync deals. Circa Waves also join the night’s festivities bringing hits from their two studio albums. ’Young Chasers’, the debut album by Circa Waves, arrived in 2015 hitting the top 10. Singles from the album made their way into Radio 1 A-list, the most notable – and for a time completely unavoidable – of which was ‘T-Shirt Weather’. ‘Different Creatures’, Circa Waves’ evolutionary second attempt hit airwaves in 2017 showcasing the bands growth to a heavier sound. The album, co-produced by Alan Moulder, treated fans to the same pop-sensibility of album number one but steeped it in up-to-11 alt-rock guitars.

Finally, Drenge were announced as the third opening party rounding off a huge night of music for Newcastle on 4th May. Their appearance is part of a UK tour which sees the band hit the road for the first time in over three years. Fans will undoubtedly be excited for a chance to hear their favourite tracks from Drenge’s debut and 2015’s ‘Undertow’ live. The band have also announced they will play Deershed and Hand Made, making 2018 a busy year for the band’s grand return.

Hit the North Festival is emphasising that these preparties are to be considered stand-alone events. Each pre-party show is ticketed individually, and grants access to that event only. However, eager music fans have the opportunity to purchase a ‘Weekend ticket’ which grants access to all opening parties, Meet the North (Saturday 5th May) and Hit the North (Sunday 6th May). ‘Weekend Tickets’ are priced at £59.00. Tickets are available from www.gigsnortheast.co.uk

HTN PRE PARTIES

Sunderland’s finest, the Mercury Prize nominated Field Music have been announced as the main act performing in the Georgian Theatre on the day. They have been compared to Talking Heads and take inspiration from acts ranging from Fleetwood Mac to Serge Gainsbourg. Meanwhile, Mouses from Billingham will be topping the bill at the Green Room. The band’s lo-fi garage sound has attracted critical praise and a national fan base. They are the epitome of Teesside’s industrious music scene which is celebrated at Stockton Calling.

music scene where indie acts like The Stokes and Yeah Yeah Yeahs reigned. They enjoyed commercial success in the UK with singles including ‘Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt,’ and ‘The Great Escape.’ This is perhaps the festival’s most stellar lineup to date. The first time Stockton hosted their flagship music festival in 2010, it consisted of just 30 acts performing across three venues. Since then it has ballooned into a festival more than twice the size. IN 2018 THE FESTIVAL IS SPREAD OUT A C R O S S 9 V E N U E S A N D B O A S T S OV E R 70 ACTS. IT IS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING METROPOLITAN FESTIVALS IN THE REGION.

Liverpool’s Lightning Seeds fronted by Ian Broudie are another main headliner. They will be taking to the stage in The Arc on the Saturday evening. Lightning Seeds have a number of recognisable hits from the 90s such as ‘Pure,’ ‘Life of Riley’ and ‘Lucky You.’

Thanks to the calibre of bands and artists that the festival attracts, Stockton Calling tends to be a sell out event. However, the town’s venues and music history also serve as a major pull factor for festival attendees. The Arc is Stockton’s cultural hub. In addition to serving as a live music venue, it hosts theatre performances, stand up comedy nights and film screenings. Just a stone’s throw away is Ku Bar, a night club/ music venue which is renowned for being the location where Arctic Monkeys were first discovered. If you head towards Stockton’s riverside, you can find The Georgian Theatre with its rustic interior that makes for a unique gig going experience. There are also a number of pubs, bars and cafes where more intimate performances will be taking place including Storytellers, The Green Room, Room 21, Whole Latte Love and Vault.

We Are Scientists are headlining Ku Bar. The band were formed in California in 2000 but moved eastward to New York and became a part of the city’s burgeoning

Tickets for Stockton Calling are available from www.stocktoncalling.co.uk Tessa Bury

STOCKTON CALLING

THE BIGGEST DATE ON STOCKTON’S LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR IS ON ITS WAY. STOCKTON CALLING WILL BE TAKING PLACE ON 31ST MARCH 2018. THE FESTIVAL BRINGS BOTH BIG NAMES AND PROMISING LOCAL TALENT TO STOCKTON’S HISTORIC TOWN CENTRE FOR A ONE DAY MUSIC FESTIVAL EVERY EASTER SATURDAY.

Other North East favourites performing at this year’s festival are PLAZA, Swine Tax, Nine Tons, James Leonard Hewitson, Cape Cub and The Old Pink House.

SunnisideLIVE

@sunnisidelive

sunnisidelive

Pokey LaFarge @ Riverside, Newcastle on 9th March The brilliantly named and musically talented Pokey LaFarge is playing Riverside on March 9th.

G N E LO O K S FORWARD PREVIEWS

Pokey’s music brings together a number of classic American genres including blues, country, swing and even a little soul in a manner that resonates with present day audiences. LaFarge, who collaborated with Jack White on the track ‘I Guess I Should Go To Sleep,’ in 2012, has an extensive back catalogue in his own right. Last year he released his eighth studio album Manic Revelations, and it’s filled with almost as much charisma as the man himself. Join Pokey at Riverside for a party dripping with old school swagger. Tessa Bury

Astroid Boys @ Riverside, Newcastle on 13th March Astroid Boys are going to shake Newcastle’s Riverside on 13th March with a hardcore, punk rock and grime based set. The band, who hail from Cardiff, burst into existence in 2012 and have been steadily going from strength to strength ever since. Astroid Boys have an impressive list of festival appearances to their name and cemented their reputation as a strong set of live performers. Last year Astroid boys brought out their debut album Broke, and supported Enter Shikari on their latest UK and European arena tour. These guys are destined to play to many more full crowds so don’t miss them this spring. Tessa Bury Insecure Men @ Think Tank on 13th March Insecure Men, the latest musical project of Fat White Families’ Saul Adamczewski head to Think Tank this month. The 10-piece ensemble is comprised of Saul himself and Childhood’s Ben Romans-Hopcraft, along with a cavalcade of characters including Sean Lennon and Jon Catfish de Lorene. The band released their self-titled debut EP on 23rd February 2018 on Fat Possum Records. The album was recorded in New York whilst working on the Moonlandingz album. The thematic ventures of Insecure Men are just as weird as you might imagine. Taking inspiration from the likes of Arthur Lyman, Perrey and Kingsley, The Carpenters, Harry Nilsson and David Lynch it’s certainly a mixed bag. As Saul says it’s “pretty music with a dark underbelly to it.” Dorian Kelly 09

MAHALIA @ THINK TANK, NEWCASTLE ON 18TH MARCH 2018 Leicester singer Mahalia (whose full name is Mahalia Burkmar) is bringing a blend of warm, laidback soul to the Toon with a Think Tank show on March 18th.

G N E LO O K S FORWARD PREVIEWS

Mahalia is one of the most exciting artists in the UK right now thanks to her vocal talents and ability to write lyrics with wisdom beyond her years. Her songs are presented in slick 90s style r’n’b packages which makes listening to her an even more rewarding experience.

Ever the forward thinkers, since the mid-nineties Belle and Sebastian have been crafting their unique brand of smooth indie through nine studio albums and immersive live performances. The band have recently released a trio of five track EPs, titled ‘How to Solve Our Human Problems’ – these tracks continue to forward the sonic odyssey that is Belle and Sebastian’s ever evolving sound. Johnathan Ramsay

Ahead of the show, acquaint yourself with Mahalia’s sound - influenced by the Fugees and Lauryn Hill by checking out the singles ‘Sober,’ and ‘No Pressure.’ Tessa Bury BELLE AND SEBASTIAN @ THE SAGE ON 22ND MARCH Scottish indie folk pioneers Belle and Sebastian hit the road this March for a 14-date tour of some of the most iconic concert hall venues in the UK, including our very own Sage, Gateshead.

LA WITCH @ THE CLUNY ON 29TH MARCH’ US trio L.A Witch have spent years haunting the Hollywood hills and in 2017 unleashed their desert scorched psychedelic charms upon the rest of the world. Their eponymous debut album comes after years of hard touring, emerging with nine finely tuned magical spells to cast upon listens. From woozy anti-love songs like opener ‘Kill My Baby’ to fuzzed out up-tempo tracks like ‘Feel Alright’, L.A Witch are a welcome guest to UK shores. Dominique Daly

MAN OF MOON - 22ND MARCH - THINK TANK Man of Moon head out on a UK tour with a headline show at Newcastle Upon Tyne in March at Think Tank. The Edinburgh two-piece have promised that 2018 will be a ‘much busier year for them’ and they will be using these shows as an opportunity to try out new material, confirming that the setlist will be split 50/50 will new tracks and vintage numbers. Don’t miss your chance to hear what Man of Moon have been working on before anyone else. Tickets on sale now. Dorian Kelly

G N E LO O K S FORWARD PREVIEWS

CABBAGE - 7TH APRIL - W ESTGARTH SOCIAL CLUB, MIDDLESBROUGH Cabbage are bringing their aggressive punk rock to Middlesbrough’s Westgarth Social Club as part of their Nihilistic Glamour Shots Tour, which celebrates the release of their debut LP on 30th March. Cabbage have been in our faces since they released the first of a staggering 5 EPs in 2016. Since, they have toured with Blossoms and Kasabian, spreading their hard-hitting, politically-enraged music across the UK.

Cabbage cause chaos wherever they visit, and Middlesbrough will be no different. With support from the mesmerising She Drew The Gun, come and see Cabbage at Westgarth Social Club on 7th April. Johnny Rogerson

PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING - 16TH APRIL - EMPIRE, MIDDLESBROUGH Public Service Broadcasting bring their synths, trumpets and Received Pronunciation samples to a venue near you – specifically Middlesbrough Empire – in April as part of their forthcoming UK tour, and they are definitely worth catching. The mini-tour will end with the band playing new songs about the Titanic for the BBC in Belfast, but in the meantime they will be playing songs from their recent album, the electronic eulogy to the mining industry ‘Every Valley’, with a brass section, if last year’s excellent Newcastle gig supporting Manic Street Preachers is anything to go by. J Wilgoose Esq. and his corduroy-clad cohorts begin their UK tour in Oxford on 15th April, and play Middlesbrough Empire on 16th April. Jack Blenkinsopp ECHO & THE BUNNYMEN - 30TH MAY - SAGE, GATESHEAD Echo &The Bunnymen who hail from Liverpool play the penultimate night of their ‘The Stars, The Oceans and The Moons’ tour at The Sage, Gateshead. The tour is so named after their forthcoming album, due for release in May this year. The tour promises to provide fans with ‘classic hits transformed’ and ‘new songs with strings’, which can only be a good thing. This band have an amazing back catalogue from ‘The Killing Moon’ to ‘The Cutter’ and ‘Lips Like Sugar.‘ Although they’ve been around for three decades their songs feel timeless - and not many bands can pull that off. Lynne Gilchrist

LITTLE COMETS - 21ST APRIL - 02 ACADEMY North East natives Little Comets have long surpassed the title of a ‘Local Band’. With five albums under their belt including 2017’s ‘Worhead’, the group have stepped into the show stoping shoes that they were destined to be. Originally gaining attention for their guerrilla style gigs in places like Marks & Spencers (check out our Facebook page to see some retro footage) and onboard the metro, Little Comets have come along way since forming in 2010. !!! (CHK CHK CHK) - 7TH MAY - RIVERSIDE An irresistible blend of punk rock and disco-funk beats, !!! (pronounced ‘Chk Chk Chk’) are bringing the party to Riverside, Newcastle.

Heading to Newcastle’s 02 Academy on 21st April, Little Comets bring with them classic indie bangers like ‘Dancing Song’ and newer favourites in ‘Same Lover’. Dominique Daly

Their lengthy career has been defined by genre-hopping experimentation, a reputation for stellar live shows and, as a result, a fair amount of critical acclaim. !!!’s relentlessly upbeat seventh studio album ‘Shake the Shudder’, released in May 2017, has become their most successful yet, championed by BBC 6 and full to the brim with music to move to. With an eclectic back catalogue stretching back across two decades, it’s always best to expect the unexpected from these alt-dance veterans. John Patterson 13

and if anything, it gave us more freedom – when you’re only dealing with 1 guitar it leaves a lot more space for harmonies and singing, which is something we wanted to bring in anyway.

I think , as a societ y, we tend to sh y awa y from taboos and the dark sides of ourselves . . .

WHAT’S THE CRAIC WITH... DEMOB HAPPY

The once native Demob Happy return to Newcastle’s Institute 2 on 9th April for a homecoming show of sorts. With second album Holy Doom due on 23rd March, we caught up with the band to chat songwriting, line-up changes and relocating to Newcastle… Love the new album Holy Doom, is there any overriding lyrical concept (like in Dream Soda)? Holy Doom sums it up essentially. It wasn’t really planned, but the lyric writing has this vein of duality throughout it; this constant struggle between good and bad, coming to terms with the evil within people, and balancing that with the good. I think, as a society, we tend to shy away from taboos and the dark sides of ourselves, it’s sort of symptomatic of the way people deal with things: we just cover up the symptoms. Musically as well – playing heavy

music with sweet melodies and harmonies – this sense of duality is represented. Your music is always catchy as hell, is this a conscious decision in the songwriting process? As a songwriter, I’ve always gravitated towards good melodies. I always have the mind-set that if it can’t be played on an acoustic guitar – if you can’t translate it down to its bare bones – then it’s not a good song. We always take that approach, so the melody always comes first. But it’s never contrived, we just naturally do it as a songwriting unit. Would you say the reduction to a 3-piece has affected your sound or approach? It has and hasn’t really. The same 3 people are still writing the songs (as they always did, to put it bluntly)

Brighton seems to have a pretty buzzing ‘grungy’ scene, any other bands you could recommend? Yeah there’s some really good bands from Brighton, and we’re friends with a lot of them. Sick Joy, who are Geordies as well, Black Honey, Tiger Cub are all good. Is that sound spreading? Out of those four bands, they’re massively different really; the main thing is they all use guitars. I think a few years ago there was potentially a grunge scene we were a part of, but we always rejected that label because we found it kind of limiting. Though, fingers crossed, there will be some decent music spreading; for the sake of the world, it would be good if people started to move back towards actually meaningful music. Doesn’t have to be rock, but there’s just so much bad pop music out there at the minute, its sad man. Ever consider moving back to Newcastle? If we could establish ourselves more then maybe. It’s so much cheaper – like half as expensive as it is to live down here – but the proximity to London is important, we’re travelling there almost twice a week for meetings, photoshoots and interviews. Though maybe one day! Got any advice for new band? I think the most important thing is to find your own path. Plan and develop as if there’s never gonna be a label or an agent, because it’s perfectly possible nowadays to have a career without those things, you just have to learn the ins and outs yourself. But also never consider it a plan B. What would be better ten years down the line: thinking ‘I wish I’d taken that opportunity while I could’, or saying ‘I gave that my best shot, and it didn’t work out’? Charlie Isaac 15

Don’t be fooled by Girli’s bright pink hair and fuzzy fur coat, there’s nothing stereotypical about Milly Toomey. With her recent single ‘Hot Mess’ released in 2017, this outspoken activist is making waves with her taboo-busting mantras. Catch Girli at Think Tank, Newcastle on 10th April. Glitter is not optional. You’ve spoken about how you define yourself as a ‘pansexual female’. Terms like this are becoming more prevalent as understanding and tolerance expands - which is great! Is defining yourself in the media important to you as an artist/influencer and does this definition effect your music?

GIRLI INTERVIEW

F I V E T H I N G S YO U G O T T A ’ K N OW A B O U T JADE BIRD Jade Bird might just be one local act that’s passed you by. The London based artist is a distinctive new voice turning heads in the Americana world and it’s about time you knew her a little better… SHE’S A LOCAL LASS BUT THIS BIRD HAS CERTAINLY EARNED HER WINGS – Originally from Hexam, Jade was raised in an army family and lived in the US, South Wales and Monchengladbach, before settling in London at 16 to pursue her musical ambitions.

I think it’s important to show people that being proud and open about your sexuality is totally acceptable and I hope to show younger people who identify as queer that they can do whatever they want and be open about who they are.

‘SOMETHING AMERICAN’ WAS RECORDED SOMEWHERE AMERICAN – Jade’s debut 2017 EP was recorded with Simone Felice, formerly of The Felice Brothers, at his studios just outside Woodstock. SHE’S MAKING FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES – She’s recorded a BBC session for Huw Stephens, toured with First Aid Kit and Son Little, and recorded with Larry Campbell of Bob Dylan and Tom Petty fame. Not to mention being named as the country artist to watch in 2017 by Rolling Stone magazine. And all at the age of 20! JADE BIRD HAS WON THE LOTTERY - OK, that’s not strictly true but it is the title of her new single which dropped this January. It’s an impossibly catchy slice of upbeat Americana and not to be missed! SHE’S COMING TO A VENUE NEAR YOU – Jade will play an intimate show at Newcastle’s Think Tank on March 9th so don’t miss this up and coming songbird before she flees. Paul Broadhead

The video for recent single ‘Mr 10pm Bedtime’ seems to tell a story of an annoying neighbour who can’t get enough sleep due to Girli’s antics. Is this based on true events or is Girli more of a borrow a cup of sugar kind of neighbour? Oh, this is based on very true events. I’m a pretty loud neighbour. But it’s ok because since then I’ve moved to a warehouse with 10 other loud people so I can be loud and not disturb anyone haha! You joined in on the Women’s March whilst in the US last week, it’s refreshing to see a new artist reinforcing their social-political agenda with real life action. How was that experience? It was amazing. The situation for women in Trump’s America is crazy and it felt great to show my support and hear the stories of a different nation’s women. Dominique Daly For our full interview with Girli head over to www.gigsnortheast.co.uk

Its been nearly 3 years since Gengahr’s remarkable debut ‘A Dream Outside’ which catapulted them full force into the British alternative consciousness.

GENGAHR ALTHOUGH SOME FANS MAY FEEL LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN LEFT IN THE DARK WAITING FOR ALBUM NUMBER TWO, FRONT MAN FELIX HAS SPENT EVERY MOMENT CAREFULLY CRAFTING THEIR RETURN. “I think, it’s difficult now grasping that it took a while” Felix reflects, pondering his new album, “ I guess it would have been nicer for everyone if it had been quicker, but ultimately I think it means more to us to make sure that we’re releasing the kind of music that we’re really happy and proud of.” Felix brims like a proud father explaining how Where Wildness Grows expansively pushes Gengahr to new places. “I think we really broadened our scope on the new album. We pushed ourselves to new places that we didn’t know we were capable of on the first one.” 18

Where Wildness Grows is due this month on 9th March, with three tracks already joyously filling the airwaves, Gengahr’s come back couldn’t be more welcomed in Gigs North East HQ. Unfortunately, Felix is all too aware that his output isn’t to everyone’s tastes, “it’s difficult you know, I’ve enjoyed the fact that people have liked it and the radio has been good and supportive. But it’s a difficult type of band you know, it’s really tough.” His frank realism leaves Gengahr staring down the barrel of a limited career, failing some sort of mammoth mainstream revolution in attitude. “It’s not really the kind of thing that the masses want to listen to, we’re left with a slightly limited target audience. Like the label would say it’s mainly for ‘the cool kids’ now, right?” Although niche, the unique quality of Gengahr’s sound is also one of their greatest achievements. Their attention to detail and artistic flair shows in every aspect of their output; every detail feels personally considered and drastically important. Take new video for ‘Before Sunrise’ for example, a euphoric and cinematic exercise which although costly to the band is a triumph of dedication and complements the song with breathtaking style. Felix explains how the video was a project he just couldn’t pass on. “A joyous sense of freedom, however you achieve it is the overriding message within the song. It was kind of just one of those funny things that just clicked and it felt like almost too good of an opportunity to miss out on. So yeah we ended up funding this rather expensive venture to Morocco to work with these motorcycle gangs.” As well as musical talent and an eye for cinematic creations, bassist Hugh Schulte has real artistic prowess as a painter. His work has been commissioned for all of Gengahr’s releases to date and Where Wildness Grows is no different. “This was a series of work which was made alongside the album” Felix explains, speaking with admiration of his

band mate’s work. “It was very clearly thought out from the beginning, we planned thematically what we wanted to be presenting. We kind of had the idea of these close up shots of nature that would be symbolic for the kind of human growth and I suppose it felt much more earthly than the first the album which was far more based in a fanatical nature and a different kind of reality all together.”

I think we really broadened our scope on the new album. We pushed ourselves to new places that we didn’t know we were capable of on the first one. Felix reveals that he has his own hidden talents which help him escape the studio and keep his mind clear. “I play a lot of football normally. Part of my obsessive nature, I need to switch off and tire myself out so playing 3 or 4 games of football a week will do that for me. Just need a way to shut the body down, through exhaustion is something I think works quite effectively.” However, don’t expect the frontman to be moving up to the premier league any time soon, “I think I’m more of a thinking man’s footballer; a deep-line play maker” he admits modestly. “I normally get roped into playing for a lot of the labels and things.” Gengahr head to Think Tank on 21st of April 2018 with a new album and a host of debut album favourites. Tickets are available from www.gigsnortheast.co.uk Dominique Daly

STEPPING BACK INTO THE SPOTLIGHT WITH NICK JD HODGSON Former drummer and main songwriter, Nick JD Hodgson, departed the Kaiser Chiefs back in 2012, opting for a quieter life in the studio writing songs for the likes of Shirley Bassey, Olly Murs and Rat Boy, to name but a few. In 2017 Nick decided he’d had enough of writing for other people and got to work on his debut solo album, Tell Your Friends, which he released in January 2018. We caught up with Nick ahead of his forthcoming UK tour to chat about the new album, his approach to writing songs and his decision to go solo.

First of all, what made you decide to create a solo album? It feels strange sitting here talking and doing interviews about it, because obviously this time last year I hadn’t started it and I had no concept of doing it. It started at the end of March last, I’d been doing a lot of co-writing for people and it just started to just get me down really. You could write 100 songs for example, and five of them will get made into actual songs, so you’re basically surrounding yourself and inviting a lot of rejection, after four years of that you just suddenly go ‘this isn’t me’. I remembered how I felt when it was 19, I was a guy that did whatever I wanted and I had big plans and I didn’t care what anyone else said, I just went and did it. And here I am sat around waiting for people to e-mail me about stuff… and I’m like ‘forget it’. So, I started writing, I just literally wrote a song as I had that feeling, and that was the beginning. What was the album making process like, did you have much help making it? I played all the instruments myself and I’ve got a studio in the house, so I just went down there every day to work on it. I’d write the beginning of a song, then I’d start recording it basically. I like building up songs in the studio, I didn’t really finish songs then record them – I’d start songs and then start recording and see where it took me. I did that for maybe like three months and my wife was just getting a bit sick of me; basically, every time I’d record something I’d ask her ‘well what do you think of this?’, between us we realised I needed somebody else to come in and help me. So, we got this guy called Dave McCracken, he’s a writer and producer who’s done a lot of good stuff.

You’ve been writing songs for a very long time now, do you feel there’s a difference between writing songs for yourself and writing them for other people? Yeah, a massive difference. On your own song, if you wanna say something then you say it, if somebody else is going to sing it you’re always thinking ‘I wonder if they’ll like this’ or ‘I wonder if this will sound good with their voice’ – so other than just the lyrics, you’re thinking about three other things at the same time – but with your own stuff there’s no filter about what you can do, you can just express yourself, if you don’t like it move on, if you do keep it, it’s simpler. What are your ambitions for this album, do you see this as the start of something bigger for you? I do actually yeah. When I finally decided on which agent I was going to go with, we were chatting and she said she could see my career going for another ten years…I just thought…’oh yeah’… that thought hadn’t occurred to me before, it was just writing the album without my thought for the future.

A T T H E E N D O F T H E D A Y, I F YO U ’ R E A M U S I C I A N YO U H A V E T O P L A Y L I V E , YO U H A V E T O M A K E M U S I C , YO U J U S T H A V E T O D O I T, S O I T STRUCK ME ‘OH YEAH, I AM A MUSICIAN’ so I can’t just call myself a musician sitting at home. If you’re going to be a musician, you’ve got to do it in front of people – and I love it. In the Kaiser Chiefs I didn’t feel like a musician, I felt like a band member, but a musician is what I really am and I feel that’s what I’m going to continue to be. Johnathan Ramsay

25.05. 2 01 8 .

AL RROW FESTIV THIS IS TOMO . NEWCASTLE.. N HE BOTTLEME T CATFISH AND EVERYTHING EVERYTHING S LITTLE COMET SAM FENDER ON NNOUNCED SO MORE ACTS A

Saturday 14 April

LUCY SPRAGGAN

Newcastle Northumbria Institute

Tuesday 16 October

LITTLE COMETS

Newcastle O2 Academy

Saturday 21 April

CALUM SCOTT

Newcastle Uni Studentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Union

GNE TALKS PEACE

AFTER THREE YEARS OF SILENCE, PEACE ARE BACK – NEW ALBUM, NEW RECORD LABEL, NEW SOUND, SAME INDUSTRY DEFYING ATTITUDE. KINDNESS IS THE NEW ROCK AND ROLL, DUE TO BE RELEASED THIS APRIL, IS THE BAND’S THIRD STUDIO ALBUM AND T O F R O N T M A N H A R R Y KO I S S E R , MARKS THE REBIRTH OF PEACE AS A FORCE FOR POSITIVE CHANGE IN A MUSIC INDUSTRY DEFINED BY S A T U R A T I O N A N D M U N D A N I T Y.

PEA

SINCE THE RELEASE OF THEIR SECOND ALBUM, HAPPY PEOPLE, AND THE SUBSEQUENT TOUR IN 2015, PEACE SEEMED TO DISAPPEAR, LEAVING LEGIONS O F D E VO T E D F A N S A S K I N G ‘WHERE?’ AND ‘WHY?’. THE ANSWER, THE STUDIO, IN THE S M A L L TOW N O F WO O D STO C K (YES, LIKE THE FESTIVAL), NEW YO R K T O B E E X A C T, T O W O R K ON WHAT IS SHAPING UP TO BE T H E WO R C E ST E R Q U A R T E T ’ S S E M I N A L WO R K .

“We started writing the first song that’s made it on to the record in the summer of 2015” Harry reflects, a day after the album’s second single ‘Power’ hit the airwaves for the first time in 2018. “Then we’ve been working on it fairly non-stop since the end of 2015, all the way through to recording it in September last year – so, it took a pretty long time, almost two and a half years.” Spending this amount of time on the album was all a part of the plan however, as the band knew they wanted this album to sound different from their previous two offerings. “We wanted to have like a year of inactivity and then work on it over a long period of time because we did our second album and our first album very very fast” explains Harry. “I think the last album was truly all over the place, but it was a very… experimental album, whereas this album felt more focused on just trying to find the live power of the band and put it on record.”

ACE After so long in the making, the b-town boys finally set things in stone, tucked away in small town America, armed with sugar, spice and everything nice (and a few guitars), Kindness Is The New Rock and Roll was born. You’d think recording an album and all the pressures that come with it must be pretty stressful – not for Harry and the Peace team, it was a breeze. “The actual recording of this album, the final commitment to getting it down on record was the most enjoyable part to be honest. We went to Woodstock to get away from it all and it was just a completely new experience for us recording in an environment like that – it was really exciting.

“I remember hearing the album back for the first time, it was really strange, because in the past every time I’ve heard something back, I’ve freaked out and changed it a million ways and eventually had to change it back to how it originally sounded. But, this time we heard it and we just loved it, we didn’t make any big adjustments – that was it, we got sent the records fully-mixed from Ryan, our producer, and we just said ‘yup, it’s done’ – that’s the first time that’s ever happened.”

The album then takes a more sombre, melancholic turn as you journey through the track list, with ‘From Under Liquid Glass’ standing out as one of the most important songs on the record, due to its poignant and personal account of Harry’s struggles with his own mental health. “I didn’t find it too difficult writing ‘From Under Liquid Glass’, because I didn’t write the song for the band really” explains Harry. “It started as a bit of a cathartic process writing it, and then I just started showing it to more and more people on our team – so actually writing it was really comfortable. I guess there were some moments where I kind of doubted if I wanted to use a song that was so personal on the record, but then that’s the whole point of being in a band isn’t it? That act of committing every part of yourself to the art, rather than using the art to hide that part of you. “The fan feedback for ‘From Under Liquid Glass’ has been really great. We’ve had lots of people message us saying they’ve found comfort in the song, which is why I thought it was the right move to release it in the end – if people can find comfort in the song or just feel less alone, then that’s job done.” As much as Peace wanted to maintain the energy they’re famous for on this new album, they also wanted to concentrate more so on constructing a sonic journey of sorts for the listener. “I didn’t want to just do banger, after banger, after banger” Harry asserted confidently as he described the purpose of the album. “We can really sort of churn out big, explosive, instrumental music now, that’s what we’re really good at and we do a lot of that in our live shows – but for this record to serve its purpose, I felt like it needed those moments, but also a lot more stuff that translates on to record better. “We wanted that sort of front end energy, then for the end we wanted the listener to bliss-out a little bit. We wanted a different shape to the record in comparison to the previous two that were just full throttle from the off. I remember when we decided to release ‘Power’ as

the second single a few months back, I felt like our fans were begging for something new from us musically – so I knew it had to be this big, empowering track. It’s literally about power in music, the music giving people the power to do whatever it is they need to do. Whatever it f**king is that you’ve got to do, put that tune on and get it done.” Peace have always been a positive energy within the music industry, their laid-back attitude and blissful aura has played a big part in bringing them from backroom obscurity, to knocking on the front door of the mainstream’s party, a party they’re determined to crash. But, Peace are no longer looking to be accepted by the mainstream, they’re looking to redefine it. “Peace are 100% going to make positivity cool again” Harry exclaimed with a tone of humorous defiance. “The thing is, everything about Peace has always been that we’re really uncool and that’s what makes us cool… because we don’t care. You know, even being called Peace as a band, everyone said that was a s**t name…and it turned out to be a great name, because we didn’t care.” Speaking to Harry, it’s clear that he’s confident about what his band can achieve and he knows exactly how he wants to do it. Armed with a hippy-like antiestablishment outlook, countered with not taking himself too seriously, Harry knows this album probably won’t change the world, but every little helps (cheers Tesco) and Kindness is the New Rock and Roll is Peace’s way of putting a flower in the rifle of the music industry. Despite this, it’s near on impossible to get anywhere in the music world without some industry backing, and Peace have accepted this, but on their own terms. At the end of 2017, Peace left US giants Columbia Records, home to artists like Beyoncé, Mariah Carey and Harry Styles, singing a new deal with Ignition Records, a label famed for birthing acts such as Oasis, Primal Scream and The Courteeners. For Harry, this move felt natural for the band. “It felt like the right move for Peace, we needed

people who understood the record that we were about to make and Ignition just backed us – there was no hard sell, they were like ‘this is a record we want to make’ – so that was great.” Peace head up to Geordie land this summer, headlining Meet The North festival. As well as well-known acts like Peace, Meet The North festival also looks to celebrate the region’s wealth of local talent, showcasing some of the best up and coming artists the North East has to offer. With memories of Peace grinding their way up the bill on the UK gig circuit fresh in his mind, Harry has some advice for bands trying to make it in the industry: “Stick to your guns. I spent so much time second guessing myself and changing things that didn’t need to be changed over the years, going around in circles, when really, it’s better if you’ve got an idea to just go with it, see it out and be patient.” Kindness is the New Rock and Roll could well be the album that defines Peace in the future, it’s an album that seems to reflect exactly who they are as people – a group of lads that just want to do their bit to make the world a happier place, and they want to have a laugh while they do it. When asked about his hopes for the rest of 2018, Harry replied “I just hope that it [the album] saves the world from apocalypse and a hellish dystopia, that’s the only expectation I have.” Johnathan Ramsay

THE THING IS, EVERYTHING ABOUT P E A C E H A S A LW A Y S B E E N T H A T W E ’ R E R E A L LY UNCOOL AND THAT’S WHAT MAKES US COOL… BECAUSE WE DON’T CARE.

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FRANK TURNER ON EMPATHY

POISED FOR THE RELEASE OF HIS EIGHTH STUDIO ALBUM AND WELL ON TRACK FOR A SELL OUT OF NEWCASTLE’S 02 ACADEMY, GIGS NORTH EAST TALKS HISTORICAL WOMEN, EMPATHY AND ‘AGENT FOR CHANGE’ WITH FRANK TURNER…

n Be More Kind Turner has worked with Austin and Josh from US psych band White Demin - at first glance this seems like a strange pairing, at least sonically. However, he explains that a connection through tour managers, admiration and good old fashioned chemistry sealed the deal for the collaboration. Frank reminisces about the partnership, “we got chatting about where my head was at, sonically and stylistically, and things just clicked.” When asked if he borrowed from White Demin’s sound however, Turner was more concerned with sticking to his guns, “I wouldn’t say there’s much in the way of “psych-rock” on the album”, he says, “but their incredible breadth and depth of musical knowledge was a major weapon in my arsenal. There wasn’t much I could throw at them that they didn’t already have a handle on.” When originally sitting down to write his seventh studio album however, Frank Turner had his eye cast not upon the future but into the past. Tasking himself with the duty to tell stories of ‘women from the historical record who have been ignored’ it seemed the album concept couldn’t have been more perfectly timed for 2017’s year of outspoken, empowered women. Or was it? You see, the irony here is that these ‘ignored women’ in Frank’s

mind were once again overlooked for the true thematic focus point of his seventh album Be More Kind: Empathy. Never fear, however, Frank’s got this idea on the back burner, giving insight into album number eight already, “It’s the next record I’ll be working on, the project is very much still alive. It’s not finished as yet, and there will be plenty to say about it when it does see the light of day.” In Frank’s defence, Be More Kind fits into the political landscape in an equally timely manner. Turner states that Be More Kind was a long time coming “I’ve been working on Be More Kind for a few years now, it’s probably the longest I’ve ever worked on a single record actually, the recording process alone was nearly a year.” Completing his record over one of the most tumultuous periods in British history, throughout Brexit and the rise in hate crimes that followed, it seems like there’s never been a better time to sing about empathy and kindness for our fellow humans. “Recent political trends have seen people taking pride and pleasure in ditching that idea [empathy], and I think that will end very badly for everyone if we don’t do something about it” explains Turner. “I guess, on some level, this record is a contribution to the debate, at least.” Don’t get Frank Turner wrong, he’s not stating himself to be some sort of Buddha with the power of complete tolerance of all peoples. Explaining that Be More Kind is an encouragement rather than a preachment Frank confesses, “there are days and discussions in which I’m just pissed off generally, I am far from perfect, obviously, and could happily do with taking some of my own advice.”

win with the announcement for the proposed ‘Agent For Change’ Laws that shifts the onus of soundproofing onto building developers. “It’s great!”, he exclaims. “We’ve been campaigning on that issue for around 4 years now, and it’s a real breakthrough. It’s not a panacea, of course, but it’s a step in the direction of fairness at least, and it means the Music Venue Trust can turn its energies onto other pressing matters.” Dominique Daly

R ecent political trends have seen people taking pride and pleasure in ditching empath y, and I think that will end ver y badly for ever yone if we don ’ t do something about it

Aside from the album release, 2018 brings other new successes to Frank Turner. A dedicated supporter of Independent Venue Week, his cause received a massive 29

L ower than A tlantis ( L T A ) are M ike , D eclan , E ddy and B en ; formed in 2 0 0 7 the four piece have went from strength to strength releasing their fifth studio album S afe I n S ound in 2 0 1 7 . A fter support I N G E nter S hakari and S leeping with S irens last year L T A head out on their own headlining tour around the U K this S pring . L isa B artos chats with the boys ahead of their show at M iddlesbrough E mpire .

You’re playing Middlesbrough Empire on 11th May 2018; what would you say fans can expect from your show?

L OW E R THAN ATLANTIS

We’ve made a conscious effort for this tour to make sure we are playing songs from all five of our albums, something we have never done before! So I think it’ll be a setlist that all LTA fans will find something in. While you’re in Middlesbrough will you be going to visit the local tourist hotspot that is the Transporter Bridge and eat a Parmo? I’ve had a Parmo before but it wasn’t that boss. I’m up for being proved otherwise. We understand you’ve been back in the studio working on new music; when do you think we can expect a new Lower Than Atlantis album?

There won’t be another LTA album in 2018 but we are 100% working on new music right now so I guess all I can say is just watch this space.

From your early albums through to your latest, Safe In Sound, your sound has always evolved; was that a conscious decision or is it a natural progression? Yes 100%. Every record has to have a completely different approach with LTA. That’s one of the key elements of the band that keeps it enjoyable for all of us. Always learning new things and going down avenues that a lot of bands wouldn’t for fear of some kind of backlash. If we all feel like we want to try something, we try it. We have to feel like we are constantly moving forward with this band and if we just made the same record over and over again I don’t think we would still be doing it or want to be doing it. You must have been to so many towns, cities and countries over the years; where would you say your favourite place has been to play and why? I always get excited to play in different places for so many different reasons. Maybe it’s the area the venue is in or just the vibe of the whole city we’re in. I really like playing in Berlin. I always feel like we’ve got all bases covered. Amazing city, wicked venues and loads of close mates that live there. What do you feel the music industry can and needs to do to help up and coming new bands? The music industry is full of trends and people trying to make a quick buck in a lot of places but I think as an up and coming artist, if you have something that you truly believe is great, you just have to throw yourself into it 100%. It’s more about getting yourself out there and not relying on ‘the music industry’ to come to you. Just be yourself and work hard. Lower Than Atlantis play Middlesbrough Empire on 11th May. Tickets are available from www.themiddlesbroughempire.co.uk Lisa Bartos

N E W YO R K C O O L T A K E T WO : S U N F LOW E R B E A N “I was anxious about this record, I’m an anxious person” declares Sunflower Bean’s Julia Cumming. “I sat down Theo (Wolf Alice) and made him listen to the whole thing and he was like, you got nothing to worry about.” Theo Ellis was right, Cumming’s has nothing to worry about regarding the new record. The record is versatile and relevant, it is simply stunning. Mixing a vintage sound with contemporary topics for a modern audience as Cumming explains, “the world isn’t exactly record orientated right now, it’s all about singles.” Despite this, Twentytwo In Blue is not merely a collection of singles but rather “an ecosystem” for the songs “to live together, like a family, but each one has its own space to exist,” as Cumming so poetically described.

“it’s all about what’s going on right now”. Album opener, ‘Burn It’, is the perfect example of this, with Cumming explaining how it’s about “the place you grow up in becoming so different,” due to the increase in “major blocks and zoning and things being sold for giant high-rises.” It’s not simply a political protest record however, with the incredible ‘Puppet Strings’ looking at hopeless romance. “It’s an interesting sentiment realising what you’re going through when you’re in love, it’s in someone else’s hands, they can pull your heart and do with it what they will and you may not even fully know that person as much as you want.” Cumming is also extremely excited to tour around England once again, “there’s something really special about England, it’s an insanely important musical country.” However, Sunflower Bean’s New York roots remain important to them, with Cumming naming The Velvet Underground as Sunflower Bean’s joint-favourite New York band. New York

has influenced the new record too, with Cumming explaining how “New York has a certain energy, a tightness, there’s an urgency”. This New York mentality has been interwoven carefully into the new record, with constant buzzing and bustling, just like the Big Apple itself. Cumming points out “it’s not background music, it’s like a damn saga.” Sunflower Bean will return to Tyneside on March 28th at Riverside and Julia Cumming is excited, “Newcastle is going to be amazing, we’re working on making every show really special.” Johnny Rogerson

THERE’S S O M E T H I N G R E A L LY SPECIAL ABOUT ENGLAND, IT’S A N I N S A N E LY IMPORTANT M U S I C A L C O U N T R Y.

Sonically, Sunflower Bean have stuck to their guns, “the heart of everything is guitars, the band itself is based on this concept of guitars and everything guitars can do. With this record we’ve tried to give every song its life,” and they have certainly managed that. This is a record full of anger and angst, despite occasionally tampering with psychedelic soft-rock: “I’m mad, in the US it costs £200,000 to get a college degree and kids come out completely in debt, people break their arms and they have to fund it on ‘gofundme’.” It may come as a surprise to see Sunflower Bean turn political, but Cumming doesn’t understand how one could not be influenced by the political state of the world, particularly her home country,

GNE GUIDE TO MEET THE NORTH MEET THE NORTH’S FIRST EDITION WAS A CELEBRATION OF THE EVER-GROWING MUSICAL TALENT IN THE NORTH AND THIS YEAR IS NO DIFFERENT. 5TH MAY WILL BE A CELEBRATION OF THE BEST NEW SUPERSTARS FROM THE NORTH EAST, WITH A SPRINKLING OF WHAT THE REST OF THE UK HAS TO OFFER.

The Hit The North curtain raiser will be headlined by Peace, who are returning after a long absence. Before their two-year hiatus, Peace created a name for themselves with their chaotic live shows and developed a loyal fanbase. Their headline slot at Riverside will be a chance for their North East supporters to sing along to the old hits as well as welcome in the new tunes. Amongst the other acts travelling to the North East for Meet The North are Liverpool’s vintage-50s sounding outfit Trudy and the Romance. Trudy are one of the most versatile bands around and put on a diverse show that keeps the audience intrigued. In addition, Scottish duo The Van T’s, who played the inaugural edition of Meet The North, and Rascalton, currently on tour with Baby Strange, will play the event and are well worth checking out. London four-piece BlackWaters will also be travelling up North. They made a couple of trips to Newcastle last year with Carl Barat and the Jackals before playing alongside The Libertines at Live From Times Square. The punk rocker’s loud and visceral live shows are unmissable and their headline slot at Think Tank will prove why they’re ones to watch in the future. As expected, due to the abundance of quality in the North East right now, there is a strong contingent of North East bands on the line up. A must see on the evening is alt-rockers A Festival, A Parade, who recently supported fellow Geordie Sam Fender on his sell-out homecoming show at Riverside. A Festival, A Parade are one of the North East’s most unique bands and their diverse sound makes for an enthralling live show.

South Shield’s Brooke Bentham also features on the line-up. Her singer songwriter alt-rock style has captured the attention of many. Despite being just 21, Bentham already has plenty of experience under her belt and is set to mesmerise the expectedly big crowd for her Riverside slot. Amongst other big North East names playing the festival are Llovers and Plaza, who recently had huge support slots with VANT and Blaenavon respectively, as well as BBC Introducing favourites, Coquin Migale. Also playing are two bands who recently played at Little Buildings for Independent Venue Week in Newcastle, Japanese TV Club and No Teeth. Both bands played to a packed room at Little Buildings and within a couple of tracks had the crowd dancing to every beat. There is no doubt the same will happen when they play at larger venues for Meet The North. Meet The North is unlike any other festival in the UK. It is made to celebrate homegrown talent and is the perfect place to come and see what the North East has to offer. Johnny Rogerson

hile accepting their award for ‘Best International Band’ at the NME Awards in February, Este Haim, bassist of US band Haim, dedicated her speech to women in music everywhere. “To anyone who identifies as a girl. Whenever you walk into a guitar shop or a sound check, or a recording studio, do not let anyone that’s there intimidate you, or make you feel like you don’t belong there. Because you belong there.” The sentiment prods at a sensitive nerve for many female creatives working in the male-dominated music industry. Whether you tread the boards in a cis-male local band scene, wrestle to have your voice heard in the boys club that is concert promotion or attempt to build a career as an industry professional, the music world can seem an uninviting place for a woman - and it really shouldn’t be. It’s 2018 for fuck’s sake.

We could look at this from a negative angle, focus on grim stats like how in 2017 the music festivals Reading & Leeds were 89.6% all-male in their line up. Or consider in depth the “highly (male) gendered digital music field” that shows approximately 90% of music technology students are currently white males (how many female DJs did you seen spinning in town this weekend, eh?). However, for once, the North East seems to be moving ahead of the curve. Refreshingly, in the month of the award ceremony where Haim made their statements, the North East is standing up for girls in music everywhere. Multiple events are happening across the region that aim to celebrate, motivate and develop women wishing to progress in the music industry. Take Track Darlington’s upcoming conference which is uniquely dedicated to ‘inspiring women in the music industry’. ‘Noisy Daughters’ follows on from the successful ‘Womenfolk’ event in 2017 and will feature a panel discussion (3.30pm-4.30pm) around the topics of issues facing women in the music industry today and what can be done to make a change. Panellists include Rianne Kate Thompson from BBC Music Introducing on BBC Tees/ Amazing Radio, Hannah Van Thompson (of the Van T’s), Claire Dupree from NARC. Magazine, and Liz Corney

(The Cornshed Sisters / Field Music), with Sarah Wilson from Tracks/Big Little Gigs chairing. The conference also incorporates multiple showcases from female artists like The Van T’s, Eve Conway, Twist Helix and Leddie MC all taking place at Darlington’s newly opened The Hullaballo venue. Elsewhere, Generator are making waves with their new WeCreate initiative aimed at female songwriters. The launch week of the programme includes a week of all-female music programming at Cobalt Studios featuring some fantastic artists like Martha Hill, Me Lost Me (I Lost My) and Lone Taxidermist among many others. Chosen for their creative strength and originality, the Violets showcases are a rare view into a fantastical female world which we hope continues. It’s undeniable that this initiative shows progress for the talent development agency. However, it’s disappointing that the program plays into the stereotype of female artists exclusively being ‘singer-song writers’ rather than opening the floor up to encourage women to form bands or guiding women who produce electronic music for example. Progress none the less. It seem’s we are becoming more forward thinking when it comes to shouting about lovely musical lasses at long last. Let’s hope the rest of the UK follows suit. Dominique Daly

NOISY DAUGHTERS: INSPIRING NORTH EAST WO M E N I N T H E MUSIC INDUSTRY

GNE LO C A L PREVIEWS

EW #30 NANO KINO - THE CUMBERLAND ARMS - 9TH MARCH 2018 After taking a break from the live music circuit, Nano Kino are back in a big way! The band will be taking to the stage at The Cumberland Arms on Friday March 9th. This performance comes as part of the 30th edition of Endless Window’s music showcases. The dream pop act will be performing alongside electronic pop act N/\l/\, moody surf band Fret! and undefinable Late Girl. Nano Kino’s ‘Surfing on the Void,’ EP is a delightful collection of swirling pop tunes. This band are worth looking out for if you’re a fan of Warpaint and/or Cocteau Twins.

GREAT WAVES - LITTLE BUILDINGS - 2ND MARCH 2018 Hailing from the North East AND putting out some fantastic indie pop tunes? Great Waves sound like our kind of band! They will be playing Little Buildings, Newcastle on March 2nd. In 2016 Great Waves released their debut single ‘Bottle of Glass.’ The track is a mellow offering which incorporates elements of indie, rock and pop. The following year the band released their ‘Solace,’ EP. This four piece is made up of Khyle Fryer, David Elrick, Jack Langan and Jason Savage. According to their social media pages the band are currently preparing to release even more new material for their burgeoning fanbase. Be sure to watch their performance!

JAMES LEONARD HEWITSON - HARTLEPOOL TOWN HALL THEATRE - 16TH MARCH 2018 Hartlepool’s music scene is definitely having a moment and James Leonard Hewiston is at its forefront. JLH will be performing at Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre on March 16th with Headclouds, Michael Gallagher and Giraffes. Even if you aren’t familiar with Leonard Hewitson just yet you might have already heard some of his material. His tracks ‘Dream Person’ and ‘Shy Of Hard Work,’ have appeared on Made in Chelsea while ‘The Screen,’ was played on the E4 show Tattoo Fixers. Leonard Hewitson is bound to have an outstanding 2018 so check him out in his hometown of Hartlepool before he gets any bigger! Tessa Bury

THE LAKE POETS - WYLAM BREWERY - 30TH APRIL 2018 The Lake Poets’ Martin Longstaff will be performing an intimate solo acoustic set at Newcastle’s Wylam Brewery on 30th April and it’s a rare chance to catch this extraordinarily talented multi-instrumentalist in such a stripped back guise.

FEVA - THINK TANK - 10TH MARCH One of ‘Newcastle’s finest’ bands FEVA have announced their next show at Think Tank on March 10th. They’ve been referred to as ‘one of the hardest working bands in the North East,’ sharing stages with Anteros, The Old Pink House and Otherkin in the past year.

MASSA CONFUSA + MOUSES + CASUAL THREATS - LITTLE BUILDINGS - FRIDAY, 30TH MARCH 2018 Little Buildings, set in Newcastle’s vibrant Ouseburn valley, is playing host to a triple threat of talent. Geordie rockers Casual Threats will be kicking off a night of punk and indie stormers, followed by Mouses, a high energy lo-fi two-piece that are regulars on the local circuit.

It’s over two years since the Sunderland born songwriter released his eponymous debut album and Longstaff has been tugging on the heartstrings of awe-struck audiences ever since, drawing comparisons from everyone from Van Morrison to Bright Eyes and Wilco. Longstaff’s live performances draw such plaudits that he recently released a live album but what better way to discover TLP than at first hand? Paul Broadhead

The high-energy four piece is led by vocalist Sam Reynolds, easily recognisable due to his lively nature and personality. Larger stages are more accommodative to this band, as Reynolds is often caught climbing onto pretty much anything available. Although that isn’t to say that their shows in smaller venues have been anything less than amazing. Bethan McConnell

GNE LO C A L P R E V I E WS

The headliners, post-punk electronica duo Massa Confusa, are strong advocates of the North East music scene – having hosted numerous successful gigs to promote the region’s unsung musicians. Although founding member Ally Morton is now based in Spain, limiting their recent live performances, he’s heading back to his roots for this unmissable intimate show. Paul Broadhead

NUE NORTH EAST

The Old Pink House Expectations The Old Pink House are back and they’ve blown all of our ‘Expectations’ out of the water. Trademark retro synth work makes way for unexpected funky breakdowns, throbbing guitars and frontman Chris’ sound barrier breaking vocals. Sounding like a disco classic had a love child with a stadium rock anthem, ‘Expectations’ is quite possibly the bands best track to date.

FEVER DAYS - Hey Fever Days is the brainchild of Newcastle based musician Oliver Green. Latest release ’Hey’ is a follow up to his debut single ‘Bored’. ’Hey’ continues down the low-fi indie path carved out by its predecessor; the hyper-activity of ‘Bored’ has been dialled back a notch for this new track and swapped for grungy guitars and early Arctic Monkeys style vocal delivery. Fever Days continue to deliver fresh slices of indie-pop potential - watch this space, big things may be coming.

Martha Hill - Spiders Martha Hill is just plain cool. There’s no other way to describe her luscious mix of soulful, urban vocals, alluring harmonies and complex arrangements. Drawing from a wealth of influence, her roots are planted firmly in folk and jazz techniques. However, when she splashes a unique modern pop edge over the top to create game-changers like latest offering ‘Spiders’ you can’t help but sit up and pay attention.

DOSE – Furniture In comes the brooding force of ‘Furniture’, combining shoegaze soundscapes with vulnerable and commanding monologued vocals. Wonderfully textured, the track expands with quiet isolations opening into explosions of pummelling sound, creating an anxiety that bleeds through the reverb-soaked noise rock. Recorded at Leeds’ Suburban Home Studios with MJ of Hookworms, Dose have produced an achingly mature debut that drips with potential for things to come.

PALMA LOUCA – DISPARITY Newcastle based fivepiece Palma Louca’s first single washes over you like foreboding waves that warn of storms to come. With drawn-out delays delving deep into a murky ocean of shoe-gaze influences and fuzzy guitar lines cutting through like desperate gasps for air, ‘Disparity’ is a gripping introduction from a new band who clearly have a lot to give.

ALBUM REVIEWS

DON BROCO ‘TECHNOLOGY’ With RockSound coining it a ‘contender for album of the year’ before it’s release, Don Broco’s latest body of work Technology had high expectations to meet. With it’s arena ready hooks, catchy choruses and experimentation with electronics, it manages to vastly raise the bar from their critically acclaimed 2nd album Automatic. The album features five previously released singles, trialled and tested to great success on stages at Slam Dunk and Leeds Festival; although many fans were sceptical as to whether the Bedford outfit could produce an album with the same intensity as the singles, Technology goes to silence these views. Adam Hutchinson

EMBRACE – LOVE IS ALL YOU NEED Embrace are the kind of never-say-die band that are better when they play to their strengths, so whilst tracks like the overblown opener ‘The Finish Line’ miss the notes quite literally, they triumph when they rein it in a little, like on the mournfully melancholic ‘Horseshoe In My Glove.’ Although Danny MacNamara’s voice can be quite emotive at times, his limited range can often divide opinion and the two best tracks here are down to other vocalists. Scottish singer Kerri Watt helps out on the beautiful duet ‘Never’ and Danny’s brother Richard takes lead on the Verve-esque ‘Where You Sleeping,’ which sounds eerily like ‘Paint It Black’ and is possibly the most experimental and interesting song of Embrace’s twenty year career. ‘Wake Up Call’ is just that; it will wake you up but you’ll want to hit the snooze button right away.

PALE WAVES ALL THE THINGS I NEVER SAID An outcry of love, heartbreak and loss, and firmly dispels the critics who claim Pale Waves are too one dimensional. ‘My Obsession’ is a slow, heart-warming outburst of love whilst ‘New Year’s Eve’ tells the tale of feeling alone at a New Year’s Eve party. ‘Heavenly’ and ‘The Tide’ are all-out glitter pop party tunes, despite being smothered with darkness and helplessness lyrically. This EP is a collection of songs for those who feel hopeless in the face of love, with each track covering diverse scenarios and feelings. Yet despite the smothering of sadness, Pale Waves create a euphoric mood through sparkling riffs and infectious basslines. Johnny Rogerson

Yet just when you think all is lost, the closing title track sweeps you away with its uplifting chorus that will see indie festival crowds singing along in unison all summer. Love may be a basic need but occasionally less is more. That said; overall it’s a decent set and it’s always good to have them back. Paul Broadhead

PUBLIC ACCESS TV – STREET SAFARI To say that New York’s Public Access TV are a band that wear their influences proudly on their carefully pressed and casually crinkled sleeves would be putting it mildly. If you imagine taking some of the best bands of the 20th and 21st century and throwing them into a giant melting pot and mixing it with some modern day lyrical references then the result would be ‘Street Safari’, the band’s sophomore record, and follow-up to their 2016 debut, ‘Never Enough’. Derivative? Sure. Original? Hardly. Worthwhile? Absolutely. 41

Paul Broadhead

THE NIGHT CAFÉ - 05/02/18 - THINK TANK, NEWCASTLE

FRONT BOTTOMS - 11/02/18 - 02 ACADEMY, NEWCASTLE

Tonight, the Night Cafe prove they have the showmanship and the charisma to ascent to the summit of the indie scene. Lead-singer Sean Martin entices the crowd in a subtle way, swaying gently and gazing with a great deal of nonchalance. ‘Mixed Signals’, an end-of-summer ballad entangled with licks which are contrasted perfectly with 60s-inspired bass lines, arguably wins highlight of the set. One song melts seamlessly into the next, allowing the set to segue from a focus on the band’s punchier, upbeat tracks to some of their darker, more melancholic material. 2017 release ‘Felicity’ signals that the Night Cafe are not one dimensional. Opening with a distorted, hazy riff and propelled by Martin’s recognisable vocals, “there’s a way to reach the sunshine in my mind and I’ll take you there for nothing’. Matthew Thomas

New Jersey’s The Front Bottoms are greeted like returning heroes by a healthy sized Sunday night Academy crowd. Heroes they are after a previously triumphant show at Northumbria’s Students Union on their last headline tour of the UK a year and a half ago. A flashing onstage image congratulating the city on Newcastle United’s victory over Manchester United receives rapturous applause even before The Front Bottoms play a note. Though frontman Brian Sella admits that he’s, bizarrely, a Millwall fan and is rewarded with a few heckles. That the band have chosen to embrace the Toon Army’s win feels appropriate. Sella’s songs deal with the underdog much in the same way

that his fellow New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen’s do, albeit relating to the downtrodden in a more light-hearted and, often, humorous tone. Well, if you call your band The Front Bottoms, what choice do you have? ‘You Used To Say (Holy Fuck)’ from last year’s Going Grey is one of those tunes and opens the set tonight but the more familiar second song ‘HELP,’ from 2015’s Back On Top gets a bigger cheer. “This is what I want, motherfucker make it happen for me,” sing the adoring audience; a line that pokes fun at an elder generation’s accusations of millennials wanting something for nothing. In truth, you won’t find a more energetic yet polite and considerate mosh-pit as kids bounce off kids and sweat pours from the walls. Paul Broadhead For full reviews head to www.gigsnortheast.co.uk

REDFACES - 11/02/18 - THINK TANK, NEWCASTLE Second single ‘Wise Up’ was introduced early, and quickly got the crowd in the mood. It’s catchy chorus giving fans the first sing-along of the night. It was clear RedFaces’ have been hard at work in the studio, however. The majority of the set was a showcase of new material, but this was no problem for the attentive crowd who danced through each new offering. Infectious bass lines are sewn cleverly in amongst the catchy riffs and steady drums. Interspersed between the new tracks was RedFaces’ oldest song, and set highlight, ’Katie Come Home’, which received a rousing reception. The beautiful harmonies of Harry Lyon and Isaac White created a summer-like mood. Johnny Rogerson 42

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