NARC. #197 August 2023

MAN POWER

GOSFORTH CIVIC THEATRE LAST TRAIN HOME RITUALS

CREW GAL

KRIS DREVER

AMELIA COBURN

COMPÈRE - BOB FISCHER

AFTER PARTY WITH SPECIAL GUESTS

PREVIEWS

4 HIGHLIGHTS

Some of the best events in August, plus find out what’s online at narcmagazine.com

6 AUGUST PREVIEWS

Live shows from Deerhoof, Future Islands, ‘68, Opus Kink, Russian Circles, Joilette, Mclusky, Johnny Marr, Fortitude Valley, Swans, Carl Eaton and more, plus Newcastle Jazz Festival, Veritas Festival and Queer As Fest. There’s also a new novel from Teesside writer and musician J W Horner; controversial and comedic drama at Laurel’s; Stockton International Riverside Festival returns to the town; Billingham International Folklore Festival of World Dance brings a kaleidoscope of colour and vibrancy to Teesside; plus ARC welcomes an exhibition of work by disabled female artists

28 MAN POWER

Constant Readers will know that last month I spent the majority of my editor’s letter blathering about basically nothing because I’d done bugger all except work for a seemingly endless amount of time. I suggested that this month I’d try to be more entertaining and, while I can’t promise witty repartee or sparkling commentary, I can at least assure you that I LEFT MY DESK!

In fact, July has been positively bursting with actual proper life things, and I can tell you’re gagging to hear about them.

First up, we had an awesome – if slightly soggy – NARC. Fest in mid-July, at which promoters, venues, punters and artists all had a blast, so that was nice. On a personal level, I managed to break out of my comfort zone a bit on a kayaking trip down the Coquet Estuary; I’m not a lover of water (and I’m not big on a lack of control, which won’t surprise many of you), but it was really enjoyable and definitely an activity I’ll repeat (and bore you about, I’m sure). We spent some time camping in Wales on the way down south for a family birthday party, a trip which mostly consisted of eating bara brith, hiking and drinking wine (not all at once, honest). And finally, I got two tattoos – props to Hash at 1920 Tattoos in Whitley Bay for his always incredible work!

In fact, July was so busy that it has flown by in a blur and my workload seems to have mounted up again… swings and roundabouts, eh?

Editor

Claire Dupree info@narcmedia.com

Website

David Saunders narcmagazineonline@gmail.com

Creative

El Roboto

Advertising

Claire Dupree info@narcmedia.com

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Cover Image

Amelia Read

Live Photography

Iam Burn / Thomas Jackson / Amelia Read / Victoria

Wai

Contributors

Jake Anderson / Tom Astley / Caleb Carter / Jonathan Coll / Laura Doyle / Lee Fisher / Nat Greener / Lee Hammond / James Hattersley / Tracy Hyman / Gus Ironside / Thomas Jackson / Ben Lowes-Smith / Michael O’Neill / Niamh Poppleton / Lily Pratt / Kate Relton / Damian Robinson / Elodie A Roy / Dominic Stephenson / Sarah Storer / Leigh Venus / Robin Webb / Ali Welford / Maria Winter / Cameron Wright / Matt Young

The

44

Reports from live performances by Kerrin Tatman, Phoxjaw, Laura Cantrell, Anna Hughes, Youth Sector, L Divine, The Darts, Viia, Me Lost Me, Collapsed Lung and more

Reviews of local singles and EPs from Rapasa Nyatrapasa Otieno, DAWKS, Decrepit Youths, Stock Image, Slowlight Quartet, JENALI, Carl Green In Particular, Alex James Band, Thrones, Wingz of the Monkey, The Folding Desert and Max Gavins

50 DEMOS

Featuring Dinky Bossetti, Swindled, Peony, Trunk and Brick

51 ALBUMS

Featuring new releases from Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy, OSEES, Movements, The Hives, Buck Meek, Art School Girlfriend, Holy Wave, Small Town Clock, Hemi Hemingway, My Ugly Clementine, Annie Hart and more

54 MIXTAPE

J W Horner reveals some of his favourite music to write to Next

Jonathan Coll talks to DJ, producer and all-round creative Geoff Kirkwood about his distinguished career, his role of consultant music curator for Novum Festival and giving something back to his community

PREVIEWS

AUGUST’S DIVERSIONS INCLUDE AN EXHIBITION OF WORK BY NORTHERN PRACTITIONERS, WITTY DRAG, UP AND COMING COMEDY, AN ENVIRONMENTAL FESTIVAL, A CELEBRATION OF THE LGBTQ+ MUSIC SCENE AND MUCH MORE!

MUSIC SAT 5 BORDERS: UKRAINE FUNDRAISER

Local legend Jacklyn, Berlin-based Beth Alana, and upcoming Lithuanian talent Šikšna will team up to spin some electrifying techno in aid of a fundraiser for Helping To Leave, a foundation that helps Ukrainians evacuate from military conflict areas.

The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle www.facebook.com/thelubberfiend

ART & LIT

MUSIC CANNY QUEER FEST

Presented by the Newcastle-based Canny Queer Collective, this celebration of the LGBTQ+ scene will feature Polyvinyl, Ceramic, Pink Poison and Gaydar, plus unplugged sets by some local favourites. Profit will be split between suicide prevention charity If U Care Share Foundation and the collective themselves, enabling them to continue to support the region’s Queer music scene.

The Old Coal Yard, Newcastle www.linktr.ee/cannyqueercollective

UNTIL

SAT 26 NORTHERN SUMMER EXHIBITION

Selected from an impressive entry of 240 images, the Northern Summer Exhibition at Newcastle Arts Centre shows off a varied and fascinating showcase of regional work, exhibited in a variety of mediums, genre and subject. The resulting exhibition features work by more than 120 Northern artists across 174 pieces of work.

Newcastle Arts Centre www.newcastle-arts-centre.co.uk

COMEDY THUR 3

NEW ACT NEW MATERIAL NIGHT

Hilarity Bites have their fingers firmly on the pulse when it comes to the hottest up and coming comedic talent in the region, and their ‘new act new material’ nights are a great place to discover your new favourite rib tickler. This event features performances from David Eagle, Zoe, Andy Fury and a host of new acts too.

Hops & Cheese, Hartlepool

www.hilaritybites.co.uk

THUR 3 CASTLE OF COMEDY

Drag troupe Drag Castle have garnered quite the name for themselves since their humble beginnings doing online livestream shows in 2020. Specialising in witty performances and thought-provoking lip syncs, this is a drag show with a difference – expect anything from cosplay to satire with guests Anna Morphic, Frida Sapphic, Gladys Duffy, Ivy and Stacey Rhect.

The Stand Comedy Club, Newcastle www.linktr.ee/dragcastle

MUSIC SAT 5

LIVE AT THE BUNKER

A mainstay of the Sunderland scene, studio and rehearsal rooms The Bunker also play host to regular live shows where they champion some of Sunderland’s most exciting up and coming artists. This gig features metal/ grindcore band Yersin, Equitim and Divine Image.

The Bunker, Sunderland www.facebook.com/thebunkercic

ART & LIT FRI 11

SUMMER OPEN CALL

Middlesbrough’s Pineapple Black continue to lead the charge when it comes to supporting early career practitioners and outsider artists. Their fourth annual open call exhibition will be a large scale group exhibition which connects artists of all backgrounds, ages and levels of experience to provide an intriguing cross-section of Tees-affiliated talent. Runs until 9th September.

Pineapple Black, Middlesbrough

www.pineappleblack.co.uk

MUSIC SAT 12

LIVE AT THE LINK

Stockton Globe’s little sister venue The Link plays host to Summer Sessions, featuring performances from some hotly tipped North East indie rock bands. Alt. rock quintet Gone Tomorrow lead the charge, ably assisted by Seventh Heaven and Joe Trafford.

The Link, Stockton Globe www.stocktonglobe.co.uk

Brian Lee, Hipster Dustup

EVENTS

WHAT’S ON NARCMAGAZINE.COM

VISIT THE WEBSITE FOR MORE EXCLUSIVE CONTENT

NARC. E-ZINE

The place to be for multimedia diversions, the 10th edition of our E-ZINE is online now, featuring exclusive videos, playlists, mini-documentaries, sound clips and much more

SUN 13 B.O.P FEST

The award-winning Building Our Planet festival is a free one-day wonderland of live music, art and street theatre set around the theme of ‘going green’. A variety of live performances will span CubanBrazilian music, hip-hop rhythms and more, plus there’s junk instrument making, art murals, flower garland creating and B.O.P Fest t-shirt designing, all with intrinsic links to raising awareness of our planet and the benefits of recycling and reusing. Glenholme Park, Crook www.facebook.com/bopfestival

ART & LIT

SAT 19

NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY MASTER OF FINE ART DEGREE SHOW 2023

Bringing together the work of a wide range of artists across a variety of disciplines, materials and individual responses, this MFA degree show will feature work by both mid-point and graduating artists from Newcastle University. Runs until Saturday 2nd September. Hatton Gallery, Newcastle www.hattongallery.org.uk

MUSIC TUE 22 COMMON COURTESY

Having gained serious praise from the likes of BBC Tees Introducing (as well as this very publication) for their varied and vibrant sound, Darlington-based genre-fluid four-piece Common Courtesy are serious ones to watch. Support comes from Dailo & The Ransoms. The Forum Music Centre, Darlington www.instagram.com/commoncourtesy.band

THUR 24

HAYLEY ELLIS

Having wowed audiences as tour support for the likes of Sarah Millican, Jason Manford, Ellie Taylor and John Bishop, comedian and actress Hayley Ellis brings her new show, Hayley’s Comic, to Darlington. A show full of silly stories, observations and audience interactions, she expands on subjects including body confidence when ageing, family holidays and dinosaurs.

The Forum Music Centre, Darlington www.hayleyellis.com

MUSIC

NARC. TV

Our magazine-style programme features performances and interviews with North East artists, filmed in venues across the region

+ ALSO THIS MONTH…

INTERVIEW: MOUSES

The Billingham lo-fi duo make a welcome return to our airwaves as they prepare to release their brand new single, Illusion, ahead of a new album next year. David Saunders chats with Ste Bardgett to find out more

INTERVIEW: NE-O

SAT 26 UP TEES TELLY

Dedicated to providing a valuable platform for rising artists in the region’s hip-hop, grime and associated genre scenes, the Up Tees Telly collective present a showcase of talent from hip-hop artists Brad Robinson, Conn Ramsey, Robson and Chris Sayer, grime/drill artists J Trussy, Gee Planter and Ricki Frost, plus emo/trap sounds courtesy of Omnei and p33.

Pineapple Black, Middlesbrough www.facebook.com/ pineappleblackarts

Fast rising Newcastle rapper NE-O unveils his new melodic drill single, Blessings, in August. David Saunders has an in-depth chat with him to find out more about the track and his ambitions for the yearand her passion for working with unrepresented artists

CONNECT WITH US

Conn Ramsey

ART & LIT

ALL THE WOMEN WE COULD HAVE BEEN @ ARC

Words: Claire Dupree

A group of disabled female artists who bonded over shared experiences during lockdown will present a landmark exhibition at Stockton’s ARC this month.

All The Women We Could Have Been is the brainchild of Teesside-based artist and activist Vici Wreford-Sinnott, with the artwork on display presented by the IN/Visible Disabled Women’s National Arts Collective which

comprises of Michelle Baharier, Samantha Blackburn, Caroline Cardus, Honor Flaherty, Pauline Heath, Cheryl Martin, Julie McNamara, Lynne McFarlane, Dolly Sen and Vici Wreford-Sinnott.

Having got together for a short project during lockdown, what started as a temporary group burgeoned into a supportive network, in which the women explored narratives around disabled women, intersectionality, activism and ideologies which impact them. All the women are aged over 50 and have been activists or campaigners for equality for disabled and older people, as organiser Vici explains: “Being disabled doesn’t mean we have nothing to contribute, and being older does not mean you get a ticket to the scrap heap along with your bus pass – this vibrant,

dynamic group of women has been a real lifeline through difficult times for me.”

The exhibition will be a powerful exploration of what life might have been like for disabled women had external limitations not been in place; taking a call-to-arms celebratory approach, the artists are keen for viewers to interact with work by some of the Disability Arts Movements leading disabled women artists and thinkers, and the exhibition provides a unique opportunity to enjoy works which are witty, poetic and provocative, across a multitude of mediums.

All The Women We Could Have Been is displayed at ARC, Stockton from Wednesday 2nd-Wednesday 30th August.

www.littlecog.co.uk

Caroline Cardus, an artist taking part in the All The Women exhibition

MUSIC CARL EATON @ THE GEORGIAN THEATRE

Words: Maria Winter

On Saturday 19th August Middlesbrough

songwriter Carl Eaton launches his new album, The Illusion of Age, at The Georgian Theatre in Stockton.

As a firm member of the Teesside music

scene for many years, Carl has profound experience in all aspects of music: whether that be writing and releasing albums and EPs, or as an accomplished live performer. His way of storytelling through music is magical, and represents his immense skill as a singersongwriter.

Featuring an astounding twenty songs, The Illusion Of Age includes ten fresh tracks, along with ten reworked versions of some of his finest previous work. Aside from showcasing Carl’s signature lively pop sound, additional

musical inflections have also been carefully embedded, resulting in album which spans country riffs and bluesy undertones.

The event also features two other artists who will be debuting their new albums; comedy songwriter Derek Wafer reveals his new album, Cheese Salad; while instrumental artist Silent Voice present On Reflection: An Anthology.

Carl Eaton launches new album, The Illusion of Age, at The Georgian Theatre, Stockton on Saturday 19th August.

www.facebook.com/carleatonmusic

Suede by Dean Chalkley

MUSIC JOHNNY MARR @ MIDDLESBROUGH EMPIRE

Words: Cameron Wright

There’s no introduction needed for the heavyweight icon that’s making his way to Middlesbrough’s Empire on Friday 25th August. Having delivered an absolutely phenomenal show at the venue back in 2019, Johnny Marr, genius songwriter, guitarist and composer is making his way back to Middlesbrough to demonstrate exactly what makes him such an institution in British music history. The Smiths legend rose to prominence in his teens as the mastermind behind some of the biggest hits of the indie rock genre in the 80s, crafting elaborate, literate and notoriously engaging riffs that captured the heart of a generation. Though the vast catalogue of The Smiths is rife within a Johnny Marr set-list, as he steps up to take over vocal duties on these solo tours, the set is also a showcase of his vast array of work since then. Having

collaborated extensively with a range of indie bands and artists from The Pretenders, Talking Heads, The Cribs and Modest Mouse, as well as work with Hans Zimmer, the musical hero has a vast well of music to dig into.

With his 2022 album Fever Dreams Pts 1-4 offering up an hour of Mancunian magic, the giant takes to the road to share his array of delicately detailed yet righteously anthemic tracks. Johnny Marr is a force of nature and it’s essential to watch this hit maker live.

Johnny Marr plays Middlesbrough Empire on Friday 25th August.

www.johnnymarr.com

STAGE 5 LESBIANS EATING A QUICHE @ LAUREL’S

Words: Tom Astley

The American cult hit play 5 Lesbians Eating A Quiche is laying out a five-day feast at Laurel’s Theatre, Whitley Bay from Tuesday 22ndSaturday 26th August. Written in 2011, and set in middle-1950s, middle-America (peak kitsch in terms of aesthetic), the story focuses on the

annual Quiche Breakfast of the Susan B. Anthony Society for the Sisters of Gertrude Stein. Bitingly funny, witty, absurd and occasionally shocking, 5 Lesbians… uncovers repression in middle-America – a topic as depressingly relevant today as it was in the 1950s – whilst never missing a chance to get an outrageous laugh from the audience. The play also contrasts the acute anxiety over who will win the ‘best quiche in show’ award against the chronic anxiety of cold-war nuclear attack. And it is this clever pairing of the everyday with colossal global events that might offer a more British significance beyond the hilarity, shock value and double entendres. Which is not to diminish the importance of innuendos and humour, which the play promises in spades... and what could be more British than a good innuendo? The production also promises (or should that be ‘warns’) that there will be ample audience participation. So go as a group to be inducted as Sisters of the Society.

5 Lesbians Eating A Quiche is performed at Laurel’s, Whitley Bay from Tuesday 22nd-Saturday 26th August.

www.laurelswhitley.co.uk

Johnny Marr by Fraser Taylor

STAGE BILLINGHAM INTERNATIONAL FOLKLORE FESTIVAL OF WORLD DANCE @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Tom Astley

The Billingham International Folklore Festival of World Dance returns for the latest in a long and prestigious series of cultural events that promises something for everybody.

Taking ‘The Dance of Time’ and Salvador Dali’s melting clocks as the theme this year, the programme of events runs at a variety of venues across Teesside from Saturday 12thSunday 20th August, with a time-altering array of traditional and contemporary dance from across the globe.

Since the inaugural event in 1965 the festival has featured over 20,000 acts from 93 countries, and this year’s iteration continues to bring a vibrant array of performers to the region. This year’s celebration features artists and dancers from Ghana, Chile, Philippines, Mexico and Georgia, all invited to share a stage celebration. The festival’s real strength, as well as providing a showcase for this diverse, international talent, is in the intersections

KARINE POLWART

and collaborations that it engenders. Get your blue suedes on though, because the festival also offers abundant opportunities to dance yourself, with workshops, family programmes and community events aplenty to have a go at. Held across multiple venues, many of the events are either free to attend or have a ‘pay what you decide’ offer, further helping with the celebratory and inclusive atmosphere the festival always promises.

The Billingham International Folklore Festival of World Dance takes place at various venues from Saturday 12th-Sunday 20th August.

www.billinghamfestival.com

Suede by Dean Chalkley

Baranggay Folk Dance Troupe (Philippines)

MUSIC FUTURE ISLANDS @ MIDDLESBROUGH TOWN HALL

Words: Tom Astley

Baltimore based synth pop band Future Islands broke out of the ‘have you heard this band’ slush pile almost a decade ago, when their performances on David Letterman and Jools Holland on either side of the pond

became something of a meme. Singer Sam Herring’s ‘Morrissey-as-an-ice-skatingevangelical-preacher’ performance elevated their song Seasons – which is otherwise a sombre, introspective vista of listless Americana, into a huge hit. So their show at Middlesbrough Town Hall on Monday 28th August promises an incredible showcase of frontman shenanigans from a singer who puts an almost worrying amount of energy into every single show. But behind that, the band have amassed a back catalogue of subtle, genre spanning synth-based reflections that are poetic and hypnotic, taking a mosaic of influences from the romanticism of new wave,

and the passion of post-punk, to the driving simplicity of Krautrock.

Defining themselves predominantly as a live band, their most recent release came in 2020, album As Long As You Are continues the band’s watercolour synth daydream sound, supporting Herring’s captivating vocal performance and deeply personal lyrics. To see these subtle songs injected with the ferociously passionate live performance the band are capable of will be a sublime end to the summer season.

Future Islands play Middlesbrough Town Hall on Monday 28th August. www.future-islands.com

Future Islands by Morgan Sinclair

MUSIC

QUEER AS FEST @ POP RECS LTD.

Words: Laura Doyle

‘Queer’ is a lot of things, but a genre of music it ain’t. BUT if we were to try and encapsulate ‘Queer music’ into a single event, then Pop Recs’ free entry Queer As Fest on Saturday 5th August would come pretty close to finally defining the genre – and it’s all through unapologetic celebration of the LGBTQ+’s diversity and strength, and the music they make.

Queer punk four-piece Dream Nails embody the full range of emotion, from unbridled Queer joy to rage-fuelled political anthem. Their new record Doom Loop is on the horizon, and they’re looking to let loose in prep for its drop. Explosive new single Good Guy disguises a #MeToo message behind a bop so feel-good that you can but marvel at the subliminal pro-feminist, anti-misogynist vibe. The line-up is rounded out by Queer artists from across the genres: event organiser Holly Rees brings her indie rock trio to the sub-headline spot; multi-instrumentalist Soft Lad offers up her authentic, autobiographical indie catalogue; South Tyneside’s own avant-garde creator MXYM will once again rock the stage and your world; Manchester-based singer-songwriter Chloe Hawes blends folk and

Americana for a transatlantic transcendent experience; and Jade Mia Broadhead’s outspoken outlook on her life experiences show the real impact of politicising a person’s right to exist. There’s also performances from Young Musicians Project artists including Eve Cole, Lily Mac, Izzy Price and Jenali.

Let’s celebrate Queer, and in all its forms! Queer As Fest takes place at Pop Recs Ltd., Sunderland on Saturday 5th August. www.facebook.com/poprecsltd

MUSIC FUTURE COLLABORATIONS FESTIVAL @ THE CLUNY 2

Words: Claire Dupree

South Shields-based AutismAble CIC have a range of support programmes across a vast array of disciplines and sectors which aim to encourage participants to develop independence and build functional skills. They also have a long history of supporting those with autism and learning difficulties through the medium of music, and their new initiative seeks to further that agenda.

The Future Collaborations Festival takes place at The Cluny 2 on Saturday 26th August, and will weave together the talents of neurodivergent and neurotypical people. The festival offers hands-on learning opportunities in all facets of event production, such as stage management and marketing, and will act as a vehicle for neurodivergent people to receive an introduction and work experience in the world of music event management.

The line-up is pretty special, and includes recent NARC. cover star and all-round sonic experimenter Me Lost Me, jazz popsters Archipelago, odd pop artist Amateur Ornithologist, revered local storyteller Nev Clay, psych folk artist Hollow Hand, songwriter Jamie Dickinson and talent from community-based music projects such as Not Too Old To Rock, Youth Music and We Make Culture.

Daniel Clifford, who fronts Amateur Ornithologist and only recently received an autism diagnosis, is enthusiastic about the festival: “I’ve seen the brilliant work that AutismAble have been doing over the years, so it’s fantastic to be involved in one of their projects, I’m looking forward to working with their neurodivergent event staff. It will be great it be around a load of people a bit like me.”

The Future Collaborations Festival takes place at The Cluny 2, Newcastle on Saturday 26th August. www.facebook.com/futurecollabfest

Dream Nails by Holly Whittaker

MUSIC RUSSIAN CIRCLES @ NEWCASTLE UNIVERSITY

Words: Matt Young

If you’re unfamiliar with Russian Circles here’s what you need to know about the Chicagobased trio of Mike Sullivan, Dave Turncrantz and Brian Cook. They can be epically loud and deftly hushed. Their seven albums as a trio,

eight overall prior to Cook joining, are as solid a body of heavy, instrumental music as you’re likely to find and have seen the band establish a near 20-year career. Musically they weave melodic riffs in amongst some of the doomiest sounding gothic sludge, taking listeners on a journey as they play out often grandiose tracks, like those on their latest album Gnosis where the spiritual undercurrent and layered cinematics uneasily gives up its internal lore. Critics and fans alike have often found it difficult to classify Russian Circles’ sound or atypical approach to metal, and that’s exactly what makes them interesting. It’s hard to find

a jumping off point sometimes when bereft of lyrics, yet the band’s meticulous attention to atmosphere and ability to have audiences conjure up their own visuals is what makes fans devout and suitably mesmerised. From their first release to the most recent they’ve matured and transformed into a thunderous synergy felt by everyone within earshot. So, guarantee you’re in that select group when they arrive at Newcastle Uni on Tuesday 15th August.

Russian Circles and Wiegedood play Newcastle University on Tuesday 15th August. www.russiancircles.com

Saturday 9 September

The Unthanks All Dayer

Wednesday 20 September

The Cinematic Orchestra

22 September

Erland Cooper & Ensemble

27 September

6 October

12

Buy tickets direct and check out the full range of gigs for Autumn and beyond at sagegateshead.com/whats-on sagegateshead.com | @sagegateshead | 0191 443 4661

Gateshead Quays NE8 2JR

Jean-Michael Blais

Hannah Peel –Fir Wave

October Martin Kohlstedt

20 years of Man With A Movie Camera

Full album sets: Rachel Unthank & The Winterset The Bairns The Unthanks Here’s The Tender Coming & Last

MUSIC SWANS @ BOILER SHOP

Words: Cameron Wright 1983 saw the release of Swans’ debut album Filth, and the rest is history. Filth was terrifying, kicking off the band’s career with a gigantic, sludging swagger. Pounding drums marched across the soundscape with the omnipotent stride of a juggernaut, as screeching guitars scrape and cry out, all feeding into the hysteria that frontman Michael Gira summons with every growl and scream, as he leaves his soul bare. Filth was important, the influence of this

industrial, no-wave release are still rife within today’s musical landscape from punk to metal. By 1991 Swans had a cemented reputation unlike any other, rooted in a constant need for evolution and reinvention, with every album toying with new ways to peel back layers of darkness with a haunting effect. From their staggering industrial offerings, the band morphed into pristine gothic delicacy on Children of God and neo-folk experimentation on White Light From The Mouth Of Infinity, not only mastering each genre they touched but fundamentally changing it. Swans deliver and revolutionise with a staggering ingenuity, churning out some of rock music’s most challenging, important, influential

and impactful projects put to wax, and the weight of albums like Soundtracks For The Blind, The Seer or Be Kind still loom over them. 2023 saw Swans’ latest offering The Beggar. The behemoth of an album features Gira’s quaking voice booming with autonomy, as repetitive rhythms and eerily beautiful melodies drift across the exquisite production, which can perhaps only be matched by witnessing it in its live majesty. Take the opportunity to do so at Newcastle’s Boiler Shop on Tuesday 15th August and it’ll be a night of intensity that you may never be able to shake.

Swans play Boiler Shop, Newcastle on Tuesday 15th August.

www.younggodrecords.com

Swans’ Michael Gira by Enriko Boettcher

EVENTS

STOCKTON INTERNATIONAL RIVERSIDE FESTIVAL

Words:

Michael O’Neill

Boasting some of the best street artists and performers from across the world, the Stockton International Riverside Festival (SIRF) is a glorious four day cavalcade of exciting performances, stunning visual experiences, daring dance, live music, circus and more. Beginning with a special Alive After Five party on Stockton High Street on Thursday 3rd August, the festival’s official launch show, the spectacular Perceptions by Bivouac, starts at 7pm on Friday 4th (with a repeat performance on Saturday night at 9.30pm, giving you a chance to see it after dark). There’s also the return of the fabulous SIRF Green, with a wealth of tasty treats on offer from local traders, live music sets from Old Time Rags, The Dead Seat and a healthy dose of tomfoolery from 16rpm, alongside street performances from Akademi, Unlimited Theatre, Upswing and 2Faced Dance. Saturday also sees a free entry all-dayer at The Georgian Theatre and The Green Room, with sets from Common Courtesy, Coral Snake, Haunted Hair, Blackout The Arcade and Seventh Heaven (in the Georgian) and Pave The Jungle, Ward, Charlotte Grayson, Parissa Zarifi and Mary Elizabeth Webb (in the Green Room).

To close out the festival, the ever-popular Community Carnival will parade down the High Street on Sunday, ending at Trinity Green, where a truly spectacular high flying acrobatic

show from CirkVOST brings things to a close. Best of all, it’s free throughout! Stockton International Riverside Festival takes place in Stockton from Thursday 3rd-Sunday 6th August. www.sirf.co.uk

MUSIC

OPUS KINK @ KU/ZEROX

Words: Jake Anderson

Laying between the treacherous land of funk, punk and jazz, Opus Kink have infused their music with vocal noises and triumphant horns to create a sound that borders on the edge of being a bop and just plain eerie. It’s a genre match from heaven, and the two distinct styles blend together effortlessly, sounding like Talking Heads’ estranged cousin.

The band have treated their listeners this year with a brand new EP, titled My Eyes, Brother, following on from their acclaimed second EP ‘Til The Stream Runs Dry. Both projects are fantastic snippets of what the band has to offer, having distinctly memorable moments throughout and an unmatched energy.

Opus Kink are bringing their tunes to the North East, making a stop at Stockton’s KU on Friday 11th and Newcastle’s Zerox on Sunday 13th August. However, the Friday night is a part of a series of performances for the band funded by The National Lottery’s United By Music Tour – meaning that if you select the option while purchasing the tickets, you are given a second ticket for free. The Stockton gig also features Melbourne’s poetically powerful and raw sounding Floodlights.

Opus Kink play KU, Stockton on Friday 11th

and Zerox, Newcastle on Sunday 13th August. www.opuskink.com

MUSIC SURF BONANZA @ THE CLUNY

Words: Jake Anderson

The fourth Summer Surf Bonanza will be splashing onto the stage at Newcastle’s Cluny on Saturday 5th August. The evening is a fantastic opportunity to experience four of the region’s surf-inspired bands, as well as a selection of vintage short films, for the price of a box of fish fingers in today’s economy. Performing on the night are The Milk Lizards, who blend surf rock with a punkish energy, creating a sound that would not be out of place in a modern interpretation of Hawaii 5-0 and creating a truly engaging listening experience. Toxic Peak are a relatively new band who specialise in instrumental surf-based tunes, describing themselves as “lost in the waves of a quarry lagoon”. Also on the bill are X-Ray Surf Vehicle, an off-shot of the band X Ray Cat Trio, that will only be around for a few live shows this summer, as the surf-punkers use the opportunity to experiment under a new pseudonym. While Jon Lee’s Hawaiian Serenaders will complete the line-up for a summer night of groovy tunes.

Surf Bonanza #4 takes place at The Cluny, Newcastle on Saturday 5th August. www.thecluny.com

MUSIC FORTITUDE VALLEY @ THE CUMBERLAND ARMS

Words: Laura Doyle

Let’s not pretend to understand why Brisbanite Laura Kovic elected to move from Down Under to Durham; let’s just instead be overjoyed that we get to smugly claim her songwriting project Fortitude Valley for ourselves. Formed at the tail-end of 2019 from a need to explore her own limits with her very own creative outlet, the indie pop four-piece obviously weren’t going to have the easiest start. Nevertheless, they persisted, releasing their first self-titled record in the summer of 2021, and now they have another well on the way.

In hot anticipation of album #2, Fortitude Valley have embarked on a whistle-stop tour of the UK, dropping by at our very own Cumberland Arms on Thursday 10th August for an evening of non-stop bops. New tracks are guaranteed to be on the set-list, alongside those (not so) old favourites. Whenever they come from, Fortitude

Valley’s glimmering indie pop rock blend is the perfect summer soundtrack. Support comes from label mates and irony enthusiasts Adults, whose indie tweecore is a big mood for unwed pseudo-grown-ups everywhere, and Hartlepool’s Mt. Misery who really bring it home with wistful, breezy psychedelic pop born straight from the North East coastline. Fortitude Valley, Adults and Mt. Misery play The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle on Thursday 10th August. www.fortitudevalley.co.uk

MUSIC NEWCASTLE JAZZ FESTIVAL @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Lee Fisher

The Newcastle Jazz Festival ran for around twenty years until the usual financial difficulties scuppered it in 1995, but it sprang back to life in 2019, only to get scuppered once more, this time by COVID.

But jazz has always been about looking

forward, so we shall: this year’s festival is running from Wednesday 16th-Sunday 20th August, with several events building up to the main weekend programme. Amy Thatcher & Fran Knowles and The Ben Shankland Trio are at The Globe on Wednesday, The Strictly Smoking Big Band at The Bridge Hotel on Thursday and the Alex Clarke Quartet and Festival Jam at The Black Swan on Friday. Then it’s the main event – two days of music at Tyne Bank Brewery from 1pm each day.

Saturday has Ruth Lambert Duo, Giles Strong Quartet, JazzMain, Dean Stockdale, Nigel Price Trio and Swannek, while on Sunday it’s Graham Hardy with the Stuart Collingwood Duo, Matthew Forster Quartet, Steve Summers & Sue Ferris, Slowlight Quartet and Jonny Mansfield with Andy Champion & Dave McKeague. Plus, there’s a variety of ticket packages available, check the website for more.

Newcastle Jazz Festival takes place at various venues from Wednesday 16th-Sunday 20th August.

www.newcastlejazzfestival.co.uk

Fortitude Valley

MUSIC ‘68 @ BOBIKS

Words: Matt Young

For a two-man team modestly staking a claim for themselves as practitioners of “a little rock, a little blues, a little hardcore” Josh Scogin and Nikko Yamada throw everything into the mix when it comes to performing as ’68. Named after Scogin’s dad’s Camero, there’s an earthy atmosphere created in their music that’s offset by a hunger and stripped back to basics sound. The vibrance and undoubted roar of guitar riffs appeal to many disparate groups and the fact that they’ve toured and shared stages with the likes of Bring Me The Horizon, Stone Sour, The Amity Affliction and Underoath to name just a few, shows how they’ve managed to earn new converts.

At their Bobiks gig on Monday 21st August it’ll be Scogin’s frenetic energy and captivating stage persona that make him an immediate draw, but it’s truly within the duo that ‘68’s brand of unapologetic rock pushes boundaries and you’re swept away by their power. The whirlwind of energy, rollercoaster of sonic chaos and adrenaline is what gives songs like

Whether Terrified or Afraid, Track 5 or Lovers In Death their emotional heft and intensity. This for all the ways to define their sound ‘68 don’t dabble with the standard blues or rock and roll, their tunes kick much harder and louder. ’68 play Bobiks, Newcastle on Monday 21st August.

www.theyare68.com

MUSIC SONGS FOR T ALBUM RELEASE

Words: Claire Dupree

Tragically, suicide is the biggest killer of young people under 35 in the UK, and every year up to 200 children are lost to suicide.

The Songs For T project was started by local promoter and music fan Richy Hetherington and his family, who are understandably still reeling from the loss of their 15 year old son, Thomas, to suicide last year. Having reached out to some of their favourite artists to support an album release, the music and art loving family have curated a charity album in order to raise money for PAPYRUS, a charity dedicated

to the prevention of young suicide in the UK and anti-bullying charity Kidscape. The album will feature tracks from the likes of Jeffrey Lewis, Nev Clay, Elle Longstaff, Dressed Like Wolves, Mage Tears & Loveable Holes, Dandelion Hands and many more.

Thomas’ Dad Richy says: “Supporting PAPYRUS is very important to me because although we knew Thomas was having some issues we never truly understood just how badly Thomas was feeling, we need young people to be more aware of the help that is available and for conversations about self-harm and suicide to be more open with parents and carers. I really want to try to raise money, and to increase awareness of suicide prevention and helping to save young lives.”

The album will be available through the Butterfly Effect label, with the vinyl pre-sale via PressOn Vinyl’s FairSound project, and other formats available via Richy’s own Bandcamp, Katpis Tapes.

Songs For T is available for pre-sale now. www.for-thomas.com

www.katpistapes.bandcamp.com

www.papyrus-uk.org

www.kidscape.org.uk

‘68

200 acts across stages

9

the ultimate end of summer party

STEREO MC’S GENTLEMAN’S DUB CLUB

Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs

THE CUBAN BROTHERS DUTTY MOONSHINE BIG BAND FEROCIOUS DOG

The Unthanks Showhawk Duo

THE BOOTLEG BEATLES DUB PISTOLS (DJ SET) & many many more

vikings and rainbows | fancy dress

31st august - 3rd september 2023

STAGE MONKEY’S BLOOD @ LAUREL’S

Words: Jake Anderson

An earth-shattering moment for me as a Northerner was finding out that no one calls red sauce on ice cream monkey’s blood outside of the North East…

Perhaps the origins of the moniker will

become apparent in a new play by local playwrights Jamie Eastlake and John Hickman, who present their production, Monkey’s Blood, at Laurel’s in Whitley Bay. Eastlake has previously adapted stories such as The Season Ticket onto the stage, while Hickman will be better known for his work on shows such as Eastenders.

After a successful run in London in 2019, the performance is being brought home for a period, from Tuesday 1st-Saturday 5th August. Protagonist Micky rallies against convention and turns his love for puppetry and performing

into a successful show with the help of his coked up sidekick, a monkey called Colin. An absurdist plot ensues, involving the far right, children’s TV and a foul-mouthed monkey, leading the production to being described as “absolutely barking mad”. The tone for the play is perfectly encapsulated by its trailer, which sees a Colin the monkey lip-synch along to Simon and Garfunkel’s Sound of Silence.

Monkey’s Blood is at Laurel’s Theatre, Whitley Bay from Tuesday 1st-Saturday 5th August. www.laurelswhitley.co.uk

ART & LIT

J.W HORNER RELEASES DEBUT NOVEL, TRUST IN TRICK

Words: Tom Astley

Imagine living in a dystopian reality. The spectre of Artificial Intelligence threatens to topple any semblance of truth. Imagine living in a world dominated by tech billionaires who operate as self-appointed demigods, hovering

(literally, sometimes) above us mere mortals. Imagine that… Middlesbrough musician, frontperson of Nel Unlit and writer J.W. Horner’s debut novel Trust In Trick takes our frankly non-comedic present and extrapolates a darkly comic adventure from it.

Focusing on the tangled relationships of its three protagonists – Eah, an executive at a tech empire, Terick, her Machiavellian boss and company founder, and Mac, a musician with a drug problem and Eah’s boyfriend –Horner’s story deftly writes the human back into the artificial malaise. As with all good speculative fiction, the book asks deeply

pertinent questions of our contemporary reality: ‘what does success mean?’, ‘how do we just survive in this increasingly fraught world?’ and ‘how do we fight back, whilst still engaging?’

Written across the stranger-than-fiction landscape that has been the 2020s, Horner’s explains: “As a nurse in lockdown 2020, writing became a bit of an escape.” With the aim of providing the same kind of escape for the reader, it promises a distinctly human examination.

J.W. Horner releases Trust In Trick, available via local bookshops, from 25th August. www.nelunlit.bandcamp.com

MUSIC DEERHOOF @ POP RECS LTD.

Words: Cameron Wright

Deerhoof make happy music. In their 20 year career, Deerhoof have been twinkling away brightly, sparking interest with their brand of joyful, elated, breezy indie pop. With jaunty melodies, an uplifting world-view and vibrant, colourful sound palettes, the

band’s discography is constantly evolving, weaving in new layers of flavour and intrigue, while never sacrificing their tenaciously engaging and euphoric spirit. Miracle-Level is their 2023 release and has all the staples of a Deerhoof essential. With the music as exciting as it is interesting, light, wispy drums softly guide the tracks across unorthodox time signatures, as bass and guitar skilfully calculate new directions to tease each turn. Soft, hushed vocals whisper over the swell of optimistic math rock, this time with the Japanese vocals telling stories of community and collaboration. The melodies are odd, the

harmonies are dissonant and the compositions tread a peculiar line of familiar and alien. In other words, it’s a Deerhoof album. Bringing their jaunty signature sound to Sunderland, Deerhoof will be bouncing through their expansive catalogue on Thursday 24th August at Pop Recs Ltd. For anyone craving something fun or something unique, Deerhoof are bona fide trailblazers for the new age of creative indie expansion and are not a band to be missed!

Deerhoof play Pop Recs Ltd., Sunderland on Thursday 24th August.

www.deerhoof.website

Image by Mike Bridavsky

CaféBar

ArtsVenue

EventsSpace

CommunityHub

Reopens 25August2023.

withaweekendofperformance, livemusic,freefamilyactivities andgreatfoodanddrink.

Ouropeningshow

KateFox: Biggeron theInside

Friday25August 7.30pm,ison salenow!

@GoCivTheatre

gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk

MUSIC VERITAS FESTIVAL @ TRILLIANS

Words: Laura Doyle

Talk to any unsigned/DIY band about putting on gigs, and they’re sure to have some right stinkers of some stories to tell. Un(der)paid, overbooked, or just plain shady antics abound, it can be tough figuring out who you can rely on. Enter Veritas Promotions, a Northern promo company who put their all into their events, including (as a non-profit) their pay. They’ve had some blinding events in their home bases in Doncaster and Leeds with their annual Veritas Festival – and now they’re bringing their organisational know-how to Newcastle.

The result is the North East’s talent taking over Trillians on Sunday 27th August for an evening of total entertainment. These are names you’ve already seen splattered over the local circuit, be it headline shows set up under their own steam, or in sought-after support slots for touring stars, now holding their own as the main stars of this

mini-festival. Headliners Ten Eighty Trees have already established themselves with their infectious alt. rock anthems, and they’re flanked on all sides by frequent collaborators and equally endemic North East acts, amongst which you’ll find the ever-evolving riff-heavy rock band Hivemind, addictive joycore enthusiasts Kkett, and emotional alt. rockers Ruled By Raptors, plus sets from Dutch Elm, Belcarra, Redwood Grove and St Buryan. Prepare for a non-stop evening of some of the region’s most exciting unsigned, under-theradar acts.

Veritas Festival takes place at Trillians, Newcastle on Sunday 27th August. www.linktr.ee/veritaspromotions

MUSIC

POINTY FEATURES @ BOBIKS

Words: Maria Winter

On Friday 11th August, Pointy Features are taking over Bobiks with their signature eclectic sound, collaborating with the electrifying guitarist Mitch Laddie. As a launch

for their brand new project following the completion of their debut album as a band, audiences can expect innovation and expertise, indubitably accompanied by their remarkable analogue liquid light show. Pointy Features are recognised for their alluring blend of music and art through live performance, with their sound blending lo-fi rock and blues with a nod to the late 60s; the group’s unique guitar sound has already captured the attention of popular record labels across Europe.

Accomplished guitarist and somewhat of a local star Mitch Laddie, has astonished audiences worldwide by his effortless genre combinations and meticulous musicianship. Recognised as one of the rising stars in the world of blues and rock, Laddie has already released three critically acclaimed albums, whilst collaborating with some of the biggest industry names including Walter Trout and Laurence Jones.

Pointy Features and Mitch Laddie play Bobiks, Newcastle on Friday 11th August.

www.linktr.ee/pointyfeatures

Dutch Elm, who play Veritas Festival

MUSIC GENERATOR LIVE FRINGE @ VARIOUS VENUES

Words: Lee Fisher

As Generator prepares for its second and biggest festival yet at Newcastle’s Boiler Shop on Saturday 16th September, they’ve also announced details of the first Generator Live

Fringe. The Generator team have hooked up with three of the biggest bands in the region to curate a gigs in their home towns throughout August, with the selections resulting from an open call for slots that saw hundreds of artists apply.

Newcastle is represented by the mighty Pigsx7, whose gig will be at The Tyne Bar on Saturday 12th August and will feature Leon Maddy, Smote, TV Death, Waves Of Dread, Reali-T, Ceitidh Mac and Dawn Terry.

Sunderland’s bill is the work of local heroes The Futureheads and will see Hector Gannet, The Early Purple, James Leonard Hewitson

Trunky Juno

and The Samphires playing at Pop Recs Ltd. on Friday 18th August. And the bill at Stockton’s Georgian Theatre on Saturday 26th August is picked by Paul Smith from Maximo Park and includes Hannah Robinson, Trunky Juno, Nadedja, Iris Brickfield and Frankie Archer.

Tickets for the Fringe programme are on a ‘pay what you feel’ basis but are also included in the main Generator Live ticket, which includes the main event and the World Headquarters after-party. Bargain. www.generatorlive.org.uk/fringe

MUSIC MUSICIANS MENTAL HEALTH ALLIANCE NE GIGS @ TRILLIANS

Words: Laura Doyle

Want to hear something really depressing? Suicide is the biggest killer of men under 45 in the UK, the rate has been creeping up in recent years, and the North East has the highest rate of suicide in the country. Want to hear something less depressing? There’s a new team on the block seeking to tackle these statistics head on.

The Musicians Mental Health Alliance NE have made it their business to uplift their community with a series of charity events across the region, with all proceeds going to If U Care Share, a North East suicide prevention foundation. With comedy, music and culture covered, it just remains for you to choose which evening you want to attend. Two shows are on their books for August, both hosted at the always iconic Trillians. Thursday 3rd August will see Teesside metalheads Motions supported by nu-emo newbies Blame Yourself and pop punkers Set Your Sights. Thankfully, you have a couple days of recovery before you can indulge in another soiree headlined on Sunday 6th August by joyful joycore band Kkett, Nomad Anthem (who put the ‘punk’ in punk rock) and Failed To Ignite (who put the ‘pop’ in pop punk.) Two nights, six local legends, and a worthy cause won’t leave you wanting.

www.trilliansnewcastle.co.uk

MUSIC DL21 @ DARLINGTON MARKET SQUARE

Words: Maria Winter

On Sunday 27th August, James Watson will be bringing his DL21 radio show to life in Darlington Market Square, featuring performances from a range of incredible funk and soul DJs and artists

Heading up proceedings is soul singer Carmy Love, who has has gained praise from BBC London, 6Music and many more for her outstanding vocal abilities. Growing up with a rich musical upbringing, Carmy channels a variety of influences resulting in a multi-faceted sound. Also performing are Manchester-based jazz/soul band Secret Night Gang, who are taking the music scene by storm with their eclectic orchestrations; the North East’s own soulful singer-songwriter Beth Macari is recognised for her powerhouse vocals, captivating performances and sound which draws on original soul music with a modern twist; and Newcastle’s Frankie Jobling takes inspiration from soul and jazz greats including Billie Holiday and Aretha Franklin, generating an impressive contemporary neo-soul sound.

All this, plus vinyl DJ sets from the likes of Dave Oliver, Tosh and King Fred of Criss Cross Rhythms, Scott Wetherill and Mr Watson himself. Plus, it’s all free!

DL21 takes place at Darlington’s Market Square on Sunday 27th August.

MUSIC MCLUSKY @ POP RECS LTD.

Words: Lee Fisher

The end of Mclusky in 2005 felt like a very turbulent affair, so much so that one of them moved halfway round the world to get away from the others (this might not be strictly true but it sounds good). Whatever happened, it was a damned shame – in a few years and three brilliant albums the trio brought an acerbic fury to what I think we’re supposed to call post-hardcore, and their live shows were astonishing.

The very gradual return of Mclusky (starting with a benefit show in 2014) has been confusing, tentative and full of complicated punctuation –(Mclusky), Mclusky*, mclusky – but is surely a very good thing. There are no new recordings yet, although that’s apparently going to happen, but there are sporadic tours and they are absolutely as fearsome as ever, with OGs Andy Falkous and Jack Egglestone joined by Damien Sayell from St Pierre Snake Invasion. They’re playing Sunderland’s Pop Recs on Thursday 3rd August and Lightsabre Cocksucking Blues will still feel like a jet taking off IN YOUR FACE. Support comes from Newcastle’s premier Queer-punk-be-gay-do-crime fiends Fashion Tips, who are amazing, and Onlooker, who promise us angry Teesside garage. Someone described them as ‘HOT ROMANCE AND HANK MARVIN ON A STEROID’, which is recommendation enough I think.

Mclusky, Fashion Tips and Onlooker play Pop Recs Ltd., Sunderland on Thursday 3rd August. www.linktr.ee/poprecscic

Motions, who play Trillians as part of the Musicians Mental Health Alliance NE gigs

MUSIC JOLIETTE @ BOBIKS

Words: Matt Young

Everything about Mexico-based band Joliette’s music is intense and explosive. Part hardcore, part firebomb, they defy every attempt at traditional genre pigeonholing, not just visceral, not simply emo and what about those swirling shoegazing tones? Instead you’re obliged to ride their wave of awe inspiring,

adventurous heavy riffing and rhythmic hammering. At best you could tell friends the band is ‘mathcore’ but that’s hugely underselling them, you have to witness the force they exert up close and in person, in the throng, to fully understand. Fortunately, Joliette visit Bobiks on Tuesday 15th August for just such an encounter, and they’re bringing Brighton’s own post-screamo riff purveyors Dead Bird along to share in the raw pleasure of setting alight to an incendiary gig. Dead Bird’s pensive, occasionally delicate

and often wandering tunes may contrast with the headliners’ in-your-face confrontational style, but is no less of a threat when combined with the screamed vocals and buckling weight their music can deliver as it builds to crushing climaxes. Definitely a show not to be missed for anyone into ringing tinnitus for days after and floor shaking eruptions of all kinds.

Joliette and Dead Bird play Bobiks, Newcastle on Tuesday 15th August.

www.joliette.bandcamp.com

INTERVIEWS

MAN POWER

JONATHAN COLL TALKS TO DJ, PRODUCER AND ALL-ROUND CREATIVE GEOFF KIRKWOOD ABOUT HIS DISTINGUISHED CAREER, HIS ROLE OF CONSULTANT MUSIC CURATOR FOR NOVUM FESTIVAL AND GIVING

SOMETHING BACK TO HIS COMMUNITY IMAGE BY AMELIA READ

The name Man Power has been synonymous with the North East clubbing scene for almost a decade. Initially as a DJ, producer and latterly as an all-round creative, Geoff Kirkwood, the Clark Kent to Man Power’s Superman, is entering the second act of a distinguished career. The break enforced by the Covid lockdowns brought a period of introspection and a renewed focus on collaboration and giving back to his local community. I caught up with him to discuss the projects that have reinvigorated his love for music.

“Around the time of the lockdown I found that I was really struggling to do anything that didn’t have some sort of meaning

or wider purpose to it.” He explains. “When I first started the Man Power project there was a lot of newness behind it. The first ten years have been me living out my dreams, and then you start to think about what comes next. Having this break let me realise I was doing stuff I wasn’t interested in, things that were meaningless, so I’ve jettisoned that. Community is a big thing to me. Now I’m not really playing to customers, but to peers, people that think and feel the same as me.”

This fresh look at the Newcastle club scene would lead to night-long DJ sets in bars along the North Shields Fish Quay, as well as b2b sets with some of dance music’s finest under the Are

MUSIC MUSIC

You Affiliated moniker.

“I’ve been blessed to be put into this position, like being able to bring Paul Woolford to play a social club in North Shields. My great granddad actually used to own the general dealer’s shop that was there before the social club, and went bust because all of the people who owed him tic moved away. There are so many parts of my life that feel like they’re coming full circle.”

It’s an approach which has manifested itself in projects across the North East, including the forthcoming Novum Festival (of which Geoff is the consultant music curator) and a series of intimate club nights. He’s also working with the North East Autism Society and autistic young people to explore clubbing culture and the night life industry. Lately, his focus has stretched far beyond geography, and looks to showcase talent that may not always be afforded the spotlight.

“World Headquarters and I are doing a project called The Jump Off, where we’ll be looking for three DJs from underrepresented backgrounds and helping them progress in the industry. As a 43-year-old, it would be quite prescriptive for me to decide how to help a young person with their career. We’re going to do an online consultation first and I really want this to come from the ground up. I think the whole basis will be access to networks, which you don’t really have if you come from a disadvantaged background. You only really have one chance to mess something up, and sometimes you don’t really have the resources to try again.”

A decade on the circuit hasn’t made his own productions or DJ sets any easier to pigeon-hole. Having released tracks on the

likes of Hivern Discs, DGTL Records and Optimo Trax, the one constant throughout his career has been the range of styles at his disposal.

“The one thing I am now is a guy that’s been doing it for ten years. I’m just seen as a fixture now, which I hadn’t planned, but I think it helps. When I first came back to DJing I had a rule that I wouldn’t take a booking from anyone unless I knew the club, the promoter or had it recommended. I’ve relaxed that a bit, but I’m still fairly protective.”

His role as one of the more renowned musicians on the North East scene is one that he doesn’t take lightly, and the next generation of North East based musicians offer much to be excited about.

“We’ve just done a release with Beyonders, who are a local collective who seem destined to become big. Jacklyn has also really stood out, and there’s a new younger DJ called Bunny whose impressed me a lot with her productions. I’m doing a release in September with Diz, Megan Leo and Ben Caldwell, which is as good as anything else we’ve released in seven years of running the Me Me Me label. They’re all incredibly talented. I’ve always been impressed by people who manage to bend the world around their sound.”

This year’s inaugural Novum Festival looks to celebrate creatives from across the region and beyond. Geoff has worked with the council to curate the musical elements of the wider artistic and cultural programme.

“With it being the pilot year, there is a heavy emphasis on personal connections. Some of the artists performing are close friends like Louisahhh, and others are amazing ambassadors for the region like Hannabiell. Lindstrømis one of my absolute disco heroes, and I’ve been a fan of Lou Hayter for years. It’s all taking place in the Civic Centre, which is the first time it’s ever been used for anything like this. It’s fantastic that the council have got behind it, we’ve even been given the chance to use the council chambers for acoustic and smaller sets. I’m really excited to see how I can build on the ways in which we’ve managed to showcase the North East at the same time as bringing unique talent to the region.”

It’s another aspect of Man Power’s career that looks to be coming full circle. He was once arrested for breaking into a dilapidated old building in Wallsend as a teenager, and it seems occupying places you shouldn’t has been a theme ever since. Novum Festival takes place at Newcastle Civic Centre from Friday 11th-Sunday 13th August. For those interested in being part of The Jump Off, keep an eye on World Headquarters’ social media for more info on how to apply in the coming weeks.

www.instagram.com/manpowermusic

www.novumnewcastle.com

THE FIRST TEN YEARS HAVE BEEN ME LIVING OUT MY DREAMS, AND THEN YOU START TO THINK ABOUT WHAT COMES NEXT

SALTBURN FOLK FESTIVAL

CAMERON WRIGHT FINDS OUT ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE BEHIND CONNECTIONS AND COMMUNITY AS THE CELEBRATED FOLK FESTIVAL RETURNS

The bucolic coastal town of Saltburn is once again the backdrop for an annual tradition that continues to grow and blossom with new sounds, ideas and energies, as Saltburn Folk Festival returns from Friday 11th-Sunday 13th August.

Elinor Creaby-Attwood, the artistic director of the festival, is as passionate about folk music as she is about bringing this genre to her community. “Who can’t love folk music?” She muses. “I know it may get stuck with a reputation for being old or arcane but that simply isn’t true! It’s such a diverse genre, I’ve never met a person who didn’t find some strand of folk music that was for them!”

Saltburn Folk Festival is a beautiful celebration of the genre, showcasing the vast array of different stylistic approaches.“If music can be broken down into three separate categories, the need for music has always been either to dance, to tell a story or as efficient workers songs, rallying a team during hard labour. Folk music embodies all of that! From singer-songwriters telling their stories to Morris dancers getting you up on the dance floor, these different approaches have so much life and personality to them, it’s impossible not to love.”

The passion that is poured into the festival is palpable, as Elinor giddily reveals the line-up, spread across the bars and beaches of Saltburn. Performances will come from local luminaries and newcomers alike, including revered songwriter Kathryn Williams; alt. cellist and vocalist Ceitidh Mac; award-winning and dynamic songwriter Katie Doherty & The Navigators; Teesside’s a capella folk band The Wilson Family; the

THE HUMANITY THAT COMES OUT OF FOLK MUSIC, THE IMPERFECTIONS AND THE REAL PEOPLE TELLING REAL STORIES – THAT’S REALLY SPECIAL.

narrative-driven film noir songwriting of Amelia Coburn; delicate sounds courtesy of Catch The Sparrow; Jon Doran & The Northern Assembly’s energetic narratives; the captivating Lady Maisery; Anna Hughes & Jessie Howard present their lofty melodies and gorgeous soundscapes, and that’s just for starters, with many more artists performing across a multitude of stages. As the festival has grown, its role in the community has grown too, with more and more venues taking part in the summertime celebration. There’s a litany of workshops and activities that encourage all ages to come together, from sign writing, local crafts and ceilidh tutorials, there’s so much to take from Saltburn Folk Festival beside the talent onstage. Inclusivity is a real focus this year too, with a series of special Queer Folk Showcase gigs featuring artists like Malin Makes Music, Amy Thatcher, George Sansome and Sophie Ward and Alex Etchart being particular highlights.

“I think what I love about folk music, is that it really is music for everyone.” Elinor enthuses. “As the years go by, the pop scene becomes more and more clean-cut and chiselled, which is amazing and there is a place for it, but the humanity that comes out of folk music, the imperfections and the real people telling real stories – that’s really special.”

Whether it’s people joining together to forget their troubles, or someone picking up an instrument and sharing something honest, personal and raw, the heart of folk music has always been about seeing the humanity of life. Saltburn Folk Festival is an opportunity to do just that; join a community of passionate people and unwind, connect and enjoy.

Saltburn Folk Festival takes place at various venues in Saltburn from Friday 11th-Sunday 13th August. www.saltburnfolkfestival.com

T-B, L-R: Jon Doran and the Northern Assembly , Katie Doherty and the Navigators, Lady Maisery by Somhairle Macdonald

RITUALS

AHEAD OF THE RELEASE OF THEIR NEW EP, LEIGH VENUS TALKS TO NEWCASTLE METAL BAND RITUALS ABOUT THEIR PHENOMENAL YEAR, FROM KERRANG! TO DOWNLOAD, VIA SLEEP DEPRIVATION AND CROWD ADORATION

MUSIC

“Holy shit! I’ve just realised why they call it a bucket list; it’s because you do it before you kick the bucket. Never! Jesus Christ!”

Rituals’ drummer Matt Dix nearly falls off his perch, askance at vocal dynamo Lewis MacRae’s baffling bucket list revelation as they reminisce about the band’s triumphant set at Download Festival.

“It’s crazy to reflect that one of the top three things on my bucket list has been ticked off,” Matt recalls. “I saw eight and a half thousand people as we walked on. I couldn’t hear the backing track because of the sheer force of the crowd screaming,” Lewis remembers, “and it felt like it made sense for all of us. It felt like coming home.”

By winning Kerrang! Radio’s The Deal competition earlier this year, Rituals secured the chance to perform at Download and record new EP I Found Myself In The Dark at the iconic Marshall Studio, pushing themselves farther than they ever have musically, tackling grief, selfishness and alienation.

“It’s very angry,” says Matt. “It’s the most complete we’ve ever felt with a record,” says Lewis. “The whole thing is so cohesive, the most visceral we’ve ever sounded.”

Formed in 2018, Rituals have accelerated significantly throughout 2023, careening around dealing with broken down vans, missing merch, bollocks Brexit-induced headaches for their upcoming international shows, and nefarious tech breakdowns.

“Somebody unplugged the PA ‘accidentally’, so I decided to send it,” says Lewis, “and I jumped into the crowd and started crowdsurfing until they put the sound back on!”

For Matt, all the bellyaches are worth it. “In no other job in the world would you put up with 95% shit for 5% reward. You travel all this way and go through so many obstacles and sleep deprivation to play for half an hour,” says Matt, “but that 5% you

get makes up for the rest of it.”

“Whether you’re playing at a tiny dive bar to forty people, or a festival to thousands, the energy and the feeling you get is the same,” agrees Lewis, “we’re still the luckiest fucking people on the planet to be able to travel all that way, put up with all that shit, and get to do such a fucking cool thing.”

A capital-M Moment for the band, the new EP is eleven minutes of pure Northern chaos that Lewis recognises as a turning point in their career. “It’s the perfect ending block to everything we’ve had going on with The Deal, with Download, and these three songs; we’re more than comfortable with turning around and saying it’s the best three fucking things we’ve ever done. Each song is absolutely fucking stellar, the whole record sounds amazing, production-wise it sounds absolutely incredible.”

A sonic cocktail of sheer brutality perfectly blended with soaring melodies, the record is a send-off to what Rituals once was in terms of their work ethic and ethos.

“This whole Kerrang! deal has blown everything we knew as a band out of the water,” says Lewis, “we’ve had to learn so much and become a new band in terms of survival to be able to make it work, and that’s more clear than ever with the sound of the record. It sounds like a really fucking hungry, angry band ready to take these three songs and rattle everybody round the head with them.”

Rituals release I Found Myself In The Dark EP on 3rd August. www.ritualsband.com

THE WHOLE THING IS SO COHESIVE, THE MOST VISCERAL WE’VE EVER SOUNDED

LINDISFARNE FESTIVAL

Born out of the desire to create something special for the North East, Lindisfarne Festival has long-established itself as a crown jewel in the region’s live music offering, thanks to its broad array of acts and a steady stream of first class headliners. From its humble beginnings back in 2015, the festival has gone from strength to strength, expanding year on year whilst continuing to offer a festival experience quite unlike any other within the region.

This year’s iteration takes place at the Beal Farm site opposite the iconic Holy Island from Thursday 31st August-Sunday 3rd September, and promises to offer the broadest and strongest offerings yet.

Friday’s headliners are Glasgow’s iconic trailblazers Primal Scream, whose initial beginnings as a jangle pop band gave way to the intense experimentation of 1991’s era-defining Screamadelica (which recently saw an extensive 30th anniversary reissue campaign). They’ve been on quite a varied musical journey since, with the likes of 1999’s gritty XTRMNTR and 2016’s eclectic Chaosmosis showcasing their versatility as a band who are unafraid to take risks and forge new paths.

Saturday’s headliners are the equally eclectic and boundarypushing electronic rock group Pendulum. Hailing from Perth, Australia, the quintet have long secured a solid reputation for merging the melodic riffage of rock with the ferocious beats and low-frequency sonics of dance music, with 2010’s Immersion (and its inescapable lead single Watercolour) being a particularly iconic release of the era.

There’s also a wealth of acclaimed and notable acts playing across the weekend, including The Unthanks, Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs

THE FESTIVAL HAS GONE FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH, EXPANDING YEAR ON YEAR WHILST CONTINUING TO OFFER A FESTIVAL EXPERIENCE QUITE UNLIKE ANY OTHER WITHIN THE REGION

Pigs Pigs Pigs, Stereo MCs, Gentleman’s Dub Club, Dutty Moonshine Big Band, The Cuban Brothers, Ferocious Dog, The Bootleg Beatles, Showhawk Duo, Henge, and a DJ set from Dub Pistols.

As always, there is also a broad array of fresh and fledging talent on the bill, including the likes of IMOGEN, Kathryn Tickell and The Darkening, Shannon Pearl, Dilutey Juice, The Laurettes, Hot Sauce Trio and C-Collective (all on Friday) and Komparrison, India Arkin, Blistered Molly, Muckle, motopia, Not Now Norman and The Lancashire Hotpots (on Saturday). Across the weekend, a broad array of iconic and legendary DJs will descend on Lindisfarne Festival from across the region and beyond. Friday sees live performances and sets from the likes of Mick Hedley, Stereo45, KlumzyKhemist, Mrs Magoo, King Fred and Man On Wax, whilst Saturday sees Gone Squatchin, Golden Shields, Ruckuz and Spectra, Melba and e-Kitty, Mudfoot Blaps and DJ Smurf.

It’s not all about the music however! Live entertainment comes from the likes of SPARK! World Beaters, PyroCeltica and Fiery Little T, and there’s a broad array of holistic therapies, yoga and meditation classes, live spoken word in the Born Lippy Takeover, and some side-splitting performances in the Punch Drunk Comedy tent!

All in all, it’s an extraordinary testament to the hard graft Lindisfarne Festival have put to making their mark on the festival calendar!

Lindisfarne Festival takes place at Beal Farm, Northumberland from Thursday 31st August-Sunday 3rd September. www.lindisfarnefestival.com

MICHAEL O’NEILL DIVES INTO THE MASSIVE LINE-UP ON OFFER AT THE ICONIC NORTHUMBERLAND FESTIVAL

T-B, L-R: Pigsx7 by Ania Shrimpton, Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening, Primal Scream

GOSFORTH CIVIC THEATRE

LAURA DOYLE GETS A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES AT THE NEWLY RENOVATED VENUE, AND DISCOVERS A WEALTH OF OPPORTUNITY, CONNECTIVITY AND ACCESSIBILITY FOR ALL

If you want to see people embodying the change they want to see in the world, go to Gosforth Civic Theatre. Disability arts organisation Liberdade first took over the then-named Gosforth Civic Centre in 2016, with a view to giving their members the space and opportunity to run the show – literally.

“The word ‘civic’, for me, is about people,” explains CEO Rob Huggins as we sit in the GCT’s future cafe/deli, the distant noises of renovation persisting in the background. “First and foremost, Liberdade and Gosford Civic Theatre is a disability arts organisation. It was founded 20 years ago to give a group of young people with learning disabilities the opportunity to learn to run – and then run – their own theatre company. When I sat down with them and said ‘This is your organisation. What do you want to do?’ they said, ‘We’d really like a building of our own, to have jobs within that building, to invite members of the community into that building, and give other young people like us the opportunities that we’d had.’”

Since GCT first opened its doors, it has done the most to live up to its raison d’etre – but there’s always room for improvement. That’s why last December, Liberdade closed the doors (temporarily) to make way for a much-needed facelift. I was given a sneak peek of the refurbishments, and the opportunity to learn more about the future of GCT. The goal: an accessible, safe space and community hub for creators and audiences alike. “With any project, nothing’s perfect. No building is 100% accessible, because something which would be appropriate and accessible for somebody makes it inaccessible for somebody

OUR PROGRAMME WILL DIVERSIFY NOW BECAUSE WE WANT TO REACH MORE AUDIENCES, AND WE’RE ALSO ABLE TO DELIVER A LOT MORE BECAUSE OF THE FACILITIES THAT WE’VE GOT

else, but I can promise that has been at the forefront of our thoughts when designing and implementing the project.” Take one step inside, and these efforts cannot go unnoticed. Accessibility is built into the theatre, not tacked on as an afterthought, yet GCT never feels clinical or isolating – not even in the custom accessible shower room that allows any performer the same facilities as any other able-bodied performer in any other venue. With an auditorium fitted with state of the art tech, a building run largely on clean solar energy, and new community and workshop spaces in development, the future looks particularly bright for Liberdade’s next steps.

“I’m really excited about our programme of free activities for young people both in and out of schools, and we’re also working with organisations to bring other opportunities for young people here. What makes that possible is the extra space that we’re getting because we were really running short on capacity. More space provides opportunities to bring more people into the building… We will also have a broad range of music, theatre and dance that we’re continually programming. Our programme will diversify now because we want to reach more audiences, and we’re also able to deliver a lot more because of the facilities that we’ve got.”

Thanks to the efforts of Liberdade and all who work within it to make GCT a truly accessible place, it is the epitome of what a space for the community should be.

“We want to make this an attractive space for people to come to get to know each other, to understand the world a little bit better so they can observe us as a disability arts organisation, doing what we do. It’s about getting people here so we can hopefully create some positive social impact.”

Gosforth Civic Theatre reopens on Friday 25th August with a performance from stand-up poet Kate Fox, who presents her new show Bigger On The Inside, about her unexpected adult diagnosis of autism.

www.gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk

Image by Rhiannon Banks Photography

THE UNION CHOIR

MATT YOUNG TALKS TO THE SOUTH SHIELDS BAND ABOUT THEIR NEW EP

This August there’s some ‘unfinished business’ being taken care of by a few longstanding participants in the North East’s musical landscape.

It’s been a while since I’ve sat looking at the faces of Jon Melvin (singer) and Grant Lagan (drummer) of The Union Choir, and the unfinished business soon becomes apparent, as Jon elaborates: “Extending way back to 2013 when the band stopped gigging and a period when the album (The Ghosts in the Room) was unfinished, unmixed, untracked. The album was finished and saw the light of day in 2017.” With the album released and a one off ‘beautiful gig’ in support that could have been that. Hiatus ensued.

Itchy feet won after a while and following the Decade Dissolve EP (2020) the feeling that the band had more to offer remained. Despite, or perhaps because of the pandemic lockdowns, this feeling grew. Grant, who Melvin says is always the catalyst in these decisions, suggested a very casual thing, getting members who remained in the area together, as much socially as musically. “The band always felt, for me, like the best hangouts with your friends,” Jon admits, “with the music being a nice offshoot.” So, the revitalised cogs kept whirring, Grant’s famed “tunnel vision and getting carried away” led to a session at Harbourmaster’s studios with studio owner, producer and Union Choir guitarist Martin Trollope helming the session. “We like hanging out with Martin,” confirms Grant, “and the only way you can hang out with him these days is hiring him in the studio!” It’s a good point; Harbourmaster is in huge demand

with so many of the region’s singer-songwriters and bands, due to Martin’s production experience and expertise, and he’s becoming somewhat ubiquitous!

So, with their producer/hard taskmaster running the session, the music flowed and the resulting release, The Leopard Print EP, took form. Lead track The Settlement has always been in need of an overhaul as far as Jon’s concerned, it now shines brightly, and drives with fresh impetus and optimism. Grant also spent a couple of hours writing another song (Pink Mink, an energetic questioning ode to ageing amongst other things) that was “virtually finished minus some bits and bobs” that same night, and it’s these demos that inspired the rest of the musicians. Despite some songs existing in some form going back years, Jessica (rampant, explosive) and Drawing Lines (chiming, brooding indie rock) complete the EP’s tracks, the latter reworked and newly filtered by the band in 2023. Opportunities to work with band members who’d moved away, or recently returned, were raised, even Rebecca Evans (saxophone, clarinet) living in Australia, tracked her parts there. For a band with such diverse personalities, the ’choir’ has always been a defining characteristic, the cohesive sum of the many individuals all pulling in the same direction. This extends to friends like artist Richard Milburn (Lazerray Motion) who’s created the visuals this time around having worked with the band on artwork and videos previously. Distilling the humour, relationships and music into neat visuals, and sealing the deal on that unfinished business...until those inevitable creative cogs begin whirring again!

The Union Choir celebrate The Leopard Print EP release at The Cumberland Arms on Saturday 12th August alongside friends Waves of Dread, Detroit Tourist Board and Kristos Kabiotis. www.facebook.com/theunionchoir

THE BAND ALWAYS FELT LIKE THE BEST HANGOUTS WITH YOUR FRIENDS, WITH THE MUSIC BEING A NICE OFFSHOOT

Image by Richard Milburn

LAST TRAIN HOME FESTIVAL

AHEAD OF SEPTEMBER’S FESTIVAL, KATE RELTON TALKS TO ROB AND SARAH FROM DARLINGTON COLLECTIVE TRACKS ABOUT THEIR TALENT-PACKED EVENT

Tracks’ flagship festival Last Train Home rolls into Darlington again on Saturday 2nd September, offering an eclectic programme of live acts across the town. Once again, it’s jam-packed with regional and national artists and comedians, with five stages across Darlington Hippodrome, the Forum Music Centre and Theatre Hullabaloo. The brainchild of Tracks directors Rob Irish and Sarah Wilson, the festival is an inclusive event, offering something for everyone, running from 1pm and finishing in time to catch the last train home.

There have been a few changes this year, as Sarah explains: “We have had a change in venues this year with St John’s Church unfortunately closing, which was a shame as it’s a beautiful space for live music. However we weren’t sad for too long as we managed to add the stunningly beautiful Darlington Hippodrome to our venue list, and we will have artists playing in the main auditorium. The NARC. stage has a new home too, in the deceptively blandly named Education Room!”

With tickets from £20 and more than 25 acts to see, this year boasts a stellar line-up. Headliners include hotly tipped indie band English Teacher, local folk ‘n’ rollers Holy Moly & The Crackers, post-punkers LIFE, and Tyneside fuzz rockers Pit Pony. Elsewhere on the line-up, expect performances from the likes of indie rock artist Tom A Smith, masked garage rockers Wax Heart Sodality, harmony-drenched pop act Mt. Misery, odd-ball rock band The Peevie Wonders, incredible songwriter IMOGEN, artist and producer Cortney Dixon, art rockers Cat Ryan, expansive bedroom pop artist Trunky Juno, pop punks bigfatbig, unruly guitar band Hotwax and many more. You can also catch musicians welcoming people onto the platform with an acoustic stage at the railway station, or catch some live comedy in between bands at the Hilarity Bites Comedy Stage, compered by Rob Mulholland.

WE’RE A BUNCH OF UNDERDOGS WHO ARE HUNGRY TO SHOW THE WORLD WHAT WE’VE GOT AND REPRESENT WHERE WE’RE FROM

Keen to remove as many barriers as they can for fans who want to see live music and comedy, Rob and Sarah were set on making this year’s festival as accessible as possible to everyone. “Many multi-venue festivals take over whatever spaces they can to make the event happen and to give audiences a good choice, but too often this means at least one or two stages are inaccessible to those with access needs. We are so pleased that this year every stage is accessible, and every venue has accessible toilets.”

Also new this year is the Last Train Home ‘zine, created by Françoise Harvey. The free ‘zine features articles, information on festival performers, art and creative writing from Darlington and Tees Valley artists including Meg McArt, Lisette Auton and Dan Walls.

A riotous celebration of independent music and comedy, Rob and Sarah want Last Train Home to be a tribute to the North East. “There’s a spirit up here that we all share; a togetherness and a proudness of being Northern that you don’t get anywhere else, and it makes the North East feel like its own little world. Artists all know and support each other around here, and there’s a real sense of community. We’re a bunch of underdogs who are hungry to show the world what we’ve got and represent where we’re from.”

Last Train Home festival takes place at various venues in Darlington on Saturday 2nd September. www.tracksdarlington.co.uk

T-B, L-R: Cortney Dixon by Rob Irish, Life, Pit Pony, Cat Ryan

SERRUM

JAKE ANDERSON TALKS TO THE INTRIGUING DURHAM-BASED QUINTET ABOUT TALES OF LOVE AND DEATH ON THEIR NEW EP MUSIC

Still being fairly fresh on the North East music scene, only being around nine months old, Durham band Serrum have already established an encapsulating sound, which ranges from gentle ambience to harsh, drone and industrial-based pieces.

“There are five of us, myself, Sol, Ottilie, Romaine and Cheung.” Vaughan explains when we get together to chat about the group’s new EP. The five individuals met at university, but have stripped themselves of their defining characteristics: “We try to not project ourselves as people, preferring the sounds to speak instead.”

Each song released by Serrum has an incredible amount going on instrumentally to create the multi-layered tracks: “We all can do different things, Ottilie plays piano and cello, Cheung, Sol and myself are guitarists. Romaine is a great noise maker and percussionist. We all play synths and record our own pieces, and then finding samples and use external sounds to bring together as a group.”

The balancing act of Serrum is impressive, all their tracks sound unique, yet sound distinctly them. “We enjoy that we are not just one thing,” they explain. It’s a difficult task that makes the listener question how the artists can go from soothing soundscape to those that are coarse and rough without watering down their identity. “We have people familiar with lots of genres like the ambient movements, classical, dance, folk music or harsh industrial noise makers and extreme sounding artists.” The band’s Ambergris EP will see the light of day on 4th August. “These six pieces of music tell a full story. About the end of one’s life, a big downfall and an afterlife. Ambergris is a fool’s gold substance that whales make and was highly valued for cosmetics once but now it isn’t as much, it can be synthesized,

THE EP REPLICATES A DESCENT INTO PARANOIA, MADNESS, SELF-REFLECTION AND MORE. LIKE LIFE FLASHING IN FRONT OF YOUR EYES, WHAT WILL YOU SEE?

so the ‘gold rush’ for people is meaningless finding it now.

“Ambergris Caye was also home to John McAfee the tech security founder when his life began to downward spiral with murder and Belize authorities tracking him. So, the EP replicates a descent into paranoia, madness, self-reflection and more. Like life flashing in front of your eyes, what will you see? It’s not obvious or explicit, but we leave lots of clues there in the EP artwork, song titles, and samples we have used if people like to dig and investigate. We all enjoy doing that and love finding it in other bands’ music.”

The group’s music has heavy themes running throughout, and it becomes quite absorbing for the listener, as you are taken down a path following death and despair. “We are naturally drawn to a slower and sadder pace, maybe the melancholy is too much.” They admit. “Death is huge, as we have lost people collectively in the last few years. There is also an idea from others that ambient or minimal sounds don’t have many dimensions, but within abrasive static or open space we take lots of time to leave sounds that are worth your concentration and time, letting the sounds breathe.”

Serrum release Ambergris EP on 4th August. www.serrum.bandcamp.com

Image by O M Cooper

CREWGAL

KATE RELTON TALKS TO SUSAN FRENCH AND ELIZA LEE ABOUT THEIR MISSION TO ENCOURAGE WOMEN AND MARGINALISED COMMUNITIES TO BUILD A CAREER IN MUSIC TECH

After 20 years in the music tech industry, Susan French is on a mission to make it a safer, more accessible place for everyone. Starting with an ethos of care and safety for everyone, she founded CrewGal, a female-led company giving women and marginalised communities the resources and support they need to build a career in music tech.

“It’s about growing a skilled, productive, professional workforce that can turn their hand to anything regardless of their gender or background,” says French.

Whether through training, well-being packages or community forums, CrewGal aims to make sure everyone is looked after regardless of who they are, something that French says is still an uphill battle. “Our industry is really unregulated. It’s very cut off which leaves it wide open for women to be under-represented and treated badly in the workplace. It’s always been seen as a man’s job – when I first came into the industry 20 years ago, I’d be one of the only women on site-builds, we weren’t really accepted. It was a boy’s club really: they didn’t want anything to change and didn’t think that women could do the job.”

Hearing too many stories from women facing issues and behaviours that shouldn’t be seen in the workplace in 2023, CrewGal has fought to make positive change, opening doors for women and offering them the support they need for a career in live entertainment. CrewGal’s marketing officer and musician Eliza Lee says industry reaction has been mixed. “It’s early days,

but we don’t just want to be having conversations. We want practical action, being on site and making change which is where we ruffle some feathers! We have had a lot of support too. There’s demand there – artists are starting to put out calls for all-female crews and we want to make sure, particularly in the North East, that we can accommodate that.”

Despite the industry challenges of recent years, CrewGal are full of hope and ambition for the future of live entertainment.

“When you look at our thriving music industry in the North East, this should be quite a safety net for finding work, there’s so much going on. You shouldn’t have to leave home to find the career you want,” says French.

“It feels like there’s a spotlight on the North East at the moment,” Lee says, “and I think it’s all up from here. Hopefully people will get involved and see it as the start of a career.”

Hoping to inspire and encourage women who think music tech isn’t for them, CrewGal are hosting a Women In Music Tech Taster event at NX Newcastle on Monday 31st July, offering practical workshops, Q&As with industry professionals and a chance to network and make connections that could kickstart a career in tech.

Determined to throw open the doors, sharing opportunities, contacts and skills, they’re also launching a podcast in August, which will be a safe space for people to share their experiences and gain in-depth industry knowledge.

“It’s about opening up the conversation, and making our industry approachable and accessible for everyone, no matter who they are.”

www.crewgal.co.uk

Image by Adam Kennedy

WHEN I FIRST CAME INTO THE INDUSTRY 20 YEARS AGO, I’D BE ONE OF THE ONLY WOMEN ON SITE-BUILDS, WE WEREN’T REALLY ACCEPTED

TWO DIVIDED BY ZERO

A brand-new music festival is set to take place this month on North Shields’ Fish Quay. On Saturday 19th August, Two Divided By Zero will feature new and upcoming artists at two of the Fish Quay’s most loved venues, The Engine Room and Three Tanners Bank.

The festival was created by Waves of Dread lead singer Nick Hodgson, who wanted to establish a platform for many local artists who have felt limited with the lack of opportunities in the area.

The festival takes its name from the Pet Shop Boys’ debut album (frontman Neil Tennant is famously a North Shields native). The album’s title track talks about infinite potential between two people, and in the festival’s case, the potential of the two venues and the artists. “There’s a lot of really good, talented artists in the region,” explains Hodgson. “I felt like they needed a platform.”

Artists playing at Three Tanners Bank include Hodgson’s band Waves of Dread, James Leonard Hewsitson, Steff Mundi, Maius Mollis, Marginal Gains, Scott Hepple & The Sun Band, Tchotchke and TV Death, while at The Engine Room, William Denton Wilde, Bugman, Breadcrumbs, Rushbonds, Single Black Olive, The Timewasters and Young Property Developers will perform.

Whilst both The Engine Room and Three Tanners Bank often feature live music at their venues, this is the first time they have collaborated on a day-long music festival. Last year, Tanners Bank was closed for a prolonged time, as a new Metro bridge was fitted over the bank. Whilst this posed a risk to the footfall at the two venues, it also created a relaxed, pedestrianised environment where people were able to float easily between both.

“They want music to be down there and for the culture to include good food and for good stuff to happen.” Hodgson praises the venues. “They’re doing a great job at bringing people

to the area.”

Hodgson enlisted the help from Mark from The Engine Room and Paul from the Three Tanners Bank to curate the line-up of musicians playing at the festival. “They’ve been in the business for years,” says Hodgson, “so they’re good at getting people to come. They’re quite closely knitted with the community.”

For Hodgson, the name of the festival has a poignant meaning. “[The song] is about infinite potential, and that’s what the area has. Infinite potential.”

The festival will hopefully bring a resurgence of music to the Fish Quay, as its regeneration continues. “It would be good if North Shields became somewhere that was known for being a place in the North East to go for festivals,” says Hodgson. “I hope it starts a culture of musicians that want to come to play down here.”

Eventually, Hodgson would like for the festival to become a yearly event, and potentially include venues on both sides of the Tyne. For now, his main goal is for each of the artists to attract newer audiences. “I hope that all the artists experience an upturn in sales,” he explains, “I’d like to see more exposure for the region, and more exposure for the artists.”

Two Divided By Zero takes place at Three Tanners Bank and The Engine Room, North Shields on Saturday 19th August. www.linktr.ee/twodividedbyzero

T-B, L-R: Scott Hepple & The Sun Band, Waves of Dread, Maius Mollis

IT WOULD BE GOOD IF NORTH SHIELDS BECAME SOMEWHERE THAT WAS KNOWN FOR BEING A PLACE IN THE NORTH EAST TO GO FOR FESTIVALS

SARAH STORER TALKS TO EVENT CURATOR NICK HODGSON ABOUT THE BRAND NEW NORTH SHIELDS FESTIVAL HOPING TO SHINE A LIGHT ON THE AREA’S VENUES

10 YEARS OF ALPHABETTI

MICHAEL O’NEILL FINDS OUT ABOUT THE WEALTH OF TALENT HELPING ALPHABETTI TO CELEBRATE THEIR

10TH ANNIVERSARY

I don’t know about you, but I’m still finding it a bit wild to wrap my head around the fact that 2013 was a decade ago. Newcastle in particular is now almost unrecognisable in parts; for instance, the initial home of the almighty Alphabetti Theatre is now in the process of becoming a multi-building office complex, but thankfully they have been fortunate enough to remain in the city centre and their relocation to Blandford Square has proven to be a lifeline in providing the city centre with a vital performance space for a broad array of multidisciplinary and multicultural productions which, along with nearby venue spaces Nemix and The Lubber Fiend, help to keep the DIY spirit of the city alive and kicking. With all this staggering change in mind, it’s incredible that Alphabetti have managed to go from strength to strength despite the very challenging climate for the arts and performance venues, especially in the face of rising costs, COVID, and all the other insurmountable challenges faced within the industry. Thankfully, they’re celebrating their 10 year milestone in the proper fashion, with a staggering 15 performances from a bewildering and eclectic array of 46 artists across three weeks. Hosted by associate artist Wilf Stone (aka musician Wolfred), he’ll be telling the multifarious tale of Alphabetti, as written by artistic director Ali Pritchard, and will be joined each evening by a couple of very special guests. All performances are Pay What You Feel, allowing for accessibility for all regardless of circumstance.

The celebrations kick off on Tuesday 15th August with performances by composer Kerrin Tatman, actor/singer Kylie Ann Ford and creative practitioner Audrey Cook, followed the

ALPHABETTI HAVE MANAGED TO GO FROM STRENGTH TO STRENGTH DESPITE THE VERY CHALLENGING CLIMATE FOR THE ARTS AND PERFORMANCE VENUES

next day by singer-songwriter Paige Temperley, writer and actor Steve Byron and spoken word artist Papi Moises Jeovani. On Thursday 17th, expect a joyous performance from musical comedy troupe Mixtape, alongside actor Zoe Lambert and comedian Hannah Walker. The weekend kicks off on Friday with Queer theatre maker Mack Sproats, actor, musician and stand-up Micky Cochrane and actor/voice coach Rosie Stancliffe. Saturday sees actor and writer Elijah Young perform his own self-penned work for the first time, followed by theatrical polymath Jane Arnfield and the acclaimed hip-hop artist Kay Greyson.

The second week begins with a double bill of actor Jacob Anderton and multi-slam winning trans performance poet AJ McKenna on Tuesday 22nd. There’s an eclectic trio of performances on Wednesday 23rd with stand-up comedian Si Beckwith, spoken word artist Lisette Auton and cellist and alt. folk favourite Ceitidh Mac, whilst Thursday is solely helmed by poet and theatre maker Matt Miller. Saturday 26th will see poet performer and venue favourite Kirsten Luckins take to the stag alongside actor and screenwriter Sally Collett. The final week begins with writer and producer Sam Honour and actor/singer Jude Nelson on Tuesday 29th, followed by a smorgasbord of wordy goodness on Wednesday 30th courtesy of poet Rowan McCabe, actor/writer Christina Berriman Dawson and writer Rebecca Glendenning-Laycock. Actor and poet Arabella Arnott and writer/performer Coggin Galbreath visit the venue on Thursday 31st; spoken word poet Richard Boggie, musical duo Katie Doherty and Dave Gray, and musician Tommy Arch perform on Friday 1st September; whilst the whole shebang rounds up on Saturday 2nd September with performances from legendary comedian Lauren Pattison and playwright David Raynor.

10 Years of Alphabetti takes place at Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle from Tuesday 15th August-Saturday 2nd September. www.alphabettitheatre.co.uk

T-B, L-R: Mixtape, Mack Sproates by Michael McGuire, Papi Moises Jeovani

THE VESSEL

The Vessel is an exciting new project, born from lockdown, as two friends join forces once again to create undeniably fast, loud rock music.

Idene Roozbayani and Dave Barlow’s new project is a dirty, foot-stomping mission to create loud and proud rock tracks, which have already caught the attention of a fresh new audience. With a minimalist approach, Idene combines thundering bass and a penchant for grand storytelling, with Dave’s anchoring drums providing a rocket-fuelled backbone. “The first session is hilarious now, looking back on it!” Idene muses, reflecting on the early practice room days. “Dave wasn’t even a drummer when we started, we weren’t crazy proficient by any means! Looking back on that first session, we were so proud of it, but it’s a hysterical train wreck compared to now.

Turns out singing and playing bass isn’t easy!”

What started as an excuse to change their daily routines, providing a break from hours of Call of Duty, turned into an album. Although they don’t consider their debut a ‘lockdown album’ they talk about how the restrictions provided an intense level of focus for their creativity. “We sat around jamming, bashing out thousands of ideas and riffs, just having a laugh, occasionally recording moments here and there on our phones. We were able to zero in on certain ideas, develop a formula that was us.”

Considering just two instruments are used on their self-titled

release, the variety of sound is extraordinary, encompassing rock, metal and doom-fuelled soundscapes which underpin a riveting tale of “impending doom and personal transformation”. What’s clear, both through our conversation and the sprawling odyssey of the duo’s debut, is that at the heart of this album is a trusting, close friendship. The seasoned musicians have been in bands together previously, creating grunge records during the haze of the 90s. As the years progressed, both members pursued other sounds and styles, but 2023 sees the musicians return to form with a sound that is drenched in that signature 90s veneer. The messy gloss of the grunge movement hangs proudly over The Vessel as they talk about their formative years of music exploration.

“Hanging out in The Green or Pet Sounds Records, you’d always have someone show you something new. The 90s were full of variety, every band sounded totally different. There was so much flavour out there, be it breakbeats or thrash, the floodgates opened. You could find yourself opening one door, then another and suddenly you are in a whole new world. There was a community that curated that sense of discovery – it completely shaped who we are now.”

As stories of Pet Sounds and The Mayfair whirl, the band take on a beautiful sense of wistful nostalgia, excitedly discussing the word of mouth that would spread through the community, and the giddiness of the 90’s is palpable within the duo’s sound. “If you want to see where we come from, we’re always casting back to the thousands of bands we’ve picked up through those discoveries. Last we did it, we were 16, now we’re picking up where we left it!”

The Vessel release their self-titled album on 5th August. The band play Trillians, Newcastle on Thursday 7th September in support of Melbourne post-rock band A Gazillion Angry Mexicans.

www.facebook.com/thevesselrocks

CAMERON WRIGHT CHATS WITH THE DYNAMIC ROCK DUO ABOUT THE CREATION OF THEIR BOUNDARY PUSHING ALBUM

THE VARIETY OF SOUND IS EXTRAORDINARY, ENCOMPASSING ROCK, METAL AND DOOMFUELLED SOUNDSCAPES WHICH UNDERPIN A RIVETING TALE OF IMPENDING DOOM AND PERSONAL TRANSFORMATION

HOLIDAY IN TOKYO

DAMIAN ROBINSON TALKS TO THE COUNTY DURHAM BAND ABOUT REALISING THEIR DREAMS ON THEIR DEBUT ALBUM RELEASE

Pushing their lo-fi pop/indie manifesto ambitions to the extreme, White Marque, the debut album from North East outfit Holiday In Tokyo is as serious as it is referential. Underpinned by an embellishment of sounds and instruments, White Marque takes a collection of musical ideas, such as the Arctic Monkeys-inspired, instrumental/lounge act temperature of Sunset Sasparilla and matches it with the more direct Beach Boys/Jan and Dean surf rock textures of Caribbean Twist to form a truly unique collection of songs.

“Yeah, they are unique I suppose,” laughs the band’s frontman Matty Rogers, “we built the songs up over quite a long period of time and they were really influenced by bands and artists we like listening to. I think that if you create music when you’re inspired, then the chances are that what you’re listening to will impact what you’re writing.”

Formed in County Durham, Holiday In Tokyo have progressed deliberately from a gigging band playing covers, to a more definitive outfit known for their impactful sound. The release of their debut album is clearly something the band have been working hard towards. “It really is a dream come true for me and the band,” continues Matty, “we always dreamed of releasing an album, but it took a while for us to realise the dream. And I’d say to all up-and-coming bands and younger musicians: keep going, even when it’s hard to get out and play or to convince yourself to practice. It took a while for us to release our debut EP Las Yucas Is Overgrown, but when we did we suddenly realised that we could make the album happen. And we’re so happy and proud that we’ve been able to do that.”

Released on limited vinyl pressings, courtesy of PressOn Vinyl, and recorded in part at Blast Studios and finished at Harbourmaster Productions, White Marque’s 10 songs showcase a band focused on pushing themselves and their sounds into new places. Make My Day, the band’s best-known single to date which sprinkles with poppy indie effects, now

IT’S AN ALBUM THAT DELIBERATELY TRIES TO DO SOMETHING MORE THAN JUST BE A COLLECTION OF SONGS, WHILST ALSO TRYING TO SHOWCASE THE SOUND OF A BAND TRYING TO HAVE FUN AND PUSH THEMSELVES MUSICALLY

resonates in a much more interesting way when listened to alongside the album’s finale and title track – a song which deeply explores relationships.

“I often listen to music in the car as it gives me a chance to fully listen to an album and follow the journey of where the album wants you to go. I think White Marque tries to do something similar; it’s an album that deliberately tries to do something more than just be a collection of songs, whilst also trying to showcase the sound of a band trying to have fun and push themselves musically.” Matty says.

An album launch party at The Cluny 2 on Saturday 5th August with support from Reservoirs and Detroit Tourist Board (“we couldn’t be happier with the line-up and both bands are not only amazing live acts but they’re also so friendly and helpful”) seems a fitting end to part one of the band’s dream – though Matty isn’t keen to wake up just yet: “We can’t believe we’ve made an album, and that we’re launching it at an event with such good bands and friends. But, to me, this is the start of the journey for the band rather than the end of it. As one dream is achieved, others are just starting.”

Holiday In Tokyo launch White Marquee on Saturday 5th August at The Cluny 2, Newcastle, with support from Reservoirs and Detroit Tourist Board.

www.linktr.ee/holidayintokyo

Image by DJM Photography

LISTINGS

THE BEST OF THE REST… EVEN MORE ALTERNATIVE MUSIC, THEATRE, COMEDY, ART AND FILM TAKING PLACE THROUGHOUT THE NORTH EAST THIS MONTH

TUESDAY 1ST AUGUST

THE FOLDING DESERT

Expect alt. rock, psychedelia and jazz from The Folding Desert, plus support from India Arkin and Black Moss // Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle

THURSDAY 3RD AUGUST

BEN CATLEY

Expect mesmerising acoustic guitar playing and huge vocals from the blues, roots and folk artist // The Cluny 2, Newcastle

LASSES: KICKING ASS AND BEING CLASS

Curator Rosie Bowden celebrates fantastic creative women with cabaret-style event featuring everything from opera to comedy, including performance from Kelly Rickard, Ava Da Costa, Louisa O’Neill and Maya Torres // Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle

THE LARCHES

North East alt. rock band, plus support from Mascara’s Lies // NE Volume Music Bar, Stockton

FRIDAY 4TH AUGUST

A BIT CRACK STORYTELLING

Richard Birmingham and Chris Adriaanse tell tales from a Viking longhouse // Chillingham Arms, Newcastle

BIG ROMANCE

Energetic and bold indie pop, plus support from Red Remedy and AuKid // Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle

CRAIG CLARK

The local songwriter celebrates the release of new single, We’ll Find Our Places. Support from Michael John Rolfe and Skylark Song // The Cluny 2, Newcastle

HILARITY BITES COMEDY CLUB

Featuring performances from Duncan Oakley, Ant Dewson, Andy Fury and more // The Forum Music Centre, Darlington

PLATFORM 22

Platform 22 aims to showcase exciting up and coming artists, featuring Taliraw, The Skapones and Josh Hodgson // As You Like It, Newcastle

FEATURED // The Archive of Dread

A gripping storytelling show in which Robert Lloyd Parry shares impossible tales of terror, discovered after he inherited the contents of a flat belonging to a dead man he’d never met // The Lit & Phil, Newcastle

SUNDAY 6TH AUGUST

NEL UNLIT

The Teesside orchestral folk band bring their astonishing sound to the intimate space of Toft House, with support from MG Boulter and Benjamin Amos // Toft House, Middlesbrough

THE WILSON FAMILY

Billingham folk music group whose a capella performances are captivating // The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle

TUESDAY 8TH AUGUST

ED PATRICK

NHS anaesthetist, comedian and author Ed Patrick presents a gut-punch of a show about becoming a junior doctor, the NHS, the pitfalls of medicine and the power of questioning it // The Stand, Newcastle

WEDNESDAY 9TH AUGUST

GEORGINA GALE

Young Newcastle-based songwriter, with support from Jordan Langley // The Lost Wanderer, Newcastle

JUDY BRUSH

Defiant avant pop fused with psychedelic, hip-shaking rock ‘n’ roll. Support from Madeleine Smyth, Nev Clay and Competition // The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle

FRIDAY 11TH AUGUST

CUD

Celebrated Leeds-based indie rock band, supported by James Leonard Hewitson // NE Volume Music Bar, Stockton

EXPERIMENTS FOR A SINGLE PROJECTOR: ALEX MACKENZIE

Analogue film royalty Alex Mackenzie prepares to blow minds with his luscious and spellbinding hand made film // Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle

SATURDAY 12TH AUGUST

FEATURED // Hekla Goodman

An artist based in Newcastle originally from California, Hekla Goodman’s sound is a mash-up of flavours including folk, pop and dance music, providing a carefree backdrop to her mesmerising vocal melodies, sweeping harmonies and purposeful tell-all lyricism // The Cluny 2, Newcastle

JOHN P TAYLOR BAND

Grooving Americana-based blues // The Georgian Theatre, Stockton

TIRED OF FIGHTING

Alt. rock and emo, plus support from Abnorm and Kidpunk // Bobiks, Newcastle

VICE KILLER

Four-piece alt. rock band from County Durham, supported by Darlington-based up and comers The Callows // The Forum Music Centre, Darlington

MONDAY 14TH AUGUST

RICHARD CARLSON BAND

Art rock/sludge pop band from Manchester, support from No Teeth // The Cluny 2, Newcastle

STEEL & IRON

After an incredible, sold out run in 2022 at The Riverside Stadium, Steel & Iron returns for a final run at Middlesbrough Town Hall. Watch the story of a motley crew united by their Middlesbrough heritage, with a fantastic original score. Runs until Sunday 20th August // Middlesbrough Town Hall

WEDNESDAY 16TH AUGUST

DANNY BEARD AND THEIR BAND

The winner of Drag Race UK presents a live show which promises to be bigger, better and more camp than ever // Northern Stage, Newcastle

SNAKE DAVIS

The virtuoso saxophonist’s sound blurs a fusion of genres, from jazz and soul to blues and world music // The Forum Music Centre, Darlington

THE DARK SIDE OF THE MOON PLANETARIUM SHOW

Celebrating Pink Floyd’s iconic album, The Dark Side of the Moon, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, experience the music and stunning visuals in Life’s planetarium in this unique show which combines footage of the solar system soundtracked by the album. Also on Thursday 17th August // Life Science Centre, Newcastle

THURSDAY 17TH AUGUST

BODY MAINTENANCE

Icy post-punk from Australia, plus support from Memorabilia and Swine Tax // The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle

HILARITY BITES NEW ACT NEW MATERIAL NIGHT

Featuring Danny Deegan, Mike Wardley, Tony Jameson and more // Steam Machine Brewery, Newton Aycliffe

WATER TOWER

Genre-bending bluegrass band from Los Angeles // The Globe, Newcastle

FRIDAY 18TH AUGUST

FRANKIE DOBSON

Young singer-songwriter who blends honest lyrics with blistering melodies // Bobiks, Newcastle

HILARITY BITES COMEDY CLUB

Featuring performances from Phil Chapman, Anth Young, Harry Ford and MC Tony Cowards // Bishop Auckland Town Hall

SATURDAY 19TH AUGUST

BALTIC

Up and coming indie rock band // Bobiks, Newcastle

LORENA & THE TIDE

Dutch indie pop rock band, with support from Marie Marx Band // Toft House, Middlesbrough

METALLICA: M72 WORLD TOUR LIVE FROM ARLINGTON, TX

An unprecedented global theatrical event will see the band playing two nights with two completely different set lists, featuring songs from the band’s 40+ year career. Also on Monday 21st August // Tyneside Cinema, Newcastle

MARYEN CAIRNS

Indie folk singer-songwriter, plus support from Philip Jonathan // The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle

FRIDAY 25TH AUGUST

CATCH 22 COMEDY CLUB

Featuring performances from Martin Mor, Daniel Blacow, Danny Posthill and MC Dave Longley // ARC, Stockton

SOEVER

PADDY STEER

Inimitable Mancunian magician of analogue electronics // The Old Coal Yard, Newcastle

TUESDAY 29TH AUGUST

ROYEL OTIS

Rising alt. rock/indie stars from Sydney // The Cluny, Newcastle

THE TIMEWASTERS

Fast rising Newcastle-based alt. rock/power pop trio // The Cluny 2, Newcastle

FEATURED

// Meursault

Based in Edinburgh, Meursault has developed over the years from his scratchy, lo-fi beginnings to become one of Scotland’s most unique, contemporary voices // The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle

RXPTRS

The Bristol-based band blend rock, metal, punk and hardcore with a boundless energy // Zerox, Newcastle

WEDNESDAY 23RD AUGUST

BONES OF MINERVA

Spanish metal band // Little Buildings, Newcastle

THURSDAY 24TH AUGUST

IAN F SEVONIUS PRESENTS: ESCAPE-ISM

The restless iconoclast and rock and roll firebrand presents his latest work // Zerox, Newcastle

MARQELECTRONICA

The electro dance artist unveils his new single, Never Go Away // Charlie’s Bar, South Shields

Alt. rock indie band // Prohibition Cabaret Bar, Newcastle

SATURDAY 26TH AUGUST

BOSOLA

Alt. rock three-piece, with support from Weekend Faithful and Pet Rock // Bobiks, Newcastle

CHRIS HAIR & WILD CIRCLE

Reflective alt. rock from the Sunderland singer-songwriter, backed by his band Wild Circle. Support from Ryder and CP Thompson // The Ship Isis, Sunderland

HOT POTATO COMEDY CLUB

Featuring performances by Martin Mor, Louis Etienne, Danny Posthill and MC Matt Reed // Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre

KANDAKE

Exhibition celebrating Sudanese culture, music art and food. Curated by and featuring work made by Kaltouma Hassaballah as part of her residency at NewBridge, Kaltouma’s Cuisine. Runs until 1st September // NewBridge Project, Newcastle

LAST CASE SCENARIO

North East alt. punk rock four-piece, plus support from Failed To Ignite and Cane Rouge // The Globe, Newcastle

WEDNESDAY 30TH AUGUST

FEATURED // Jerron Paxton

A young musician who has an eerie ability to transform traditional jazz, blues, folk and country into the here and now through banjo, guitar, piano, fiddle, harmonica, Cajun accordion and percussion // The Cluny, Newcastle

THURSDAY 31ST AUGUST

A BUNCH OF AMATEURS

Sunderland Film Club, Wearside’s documentary-focused community cinema, relaunches at Arts Centre Washington with a screening of Kim Hopkin’s hilarious and moving A Bunch of Amateurs // Arts Centre Washington

BRUCE FUMMEY: STORIES OF SCOTLAND

Chirpy and self-deprecating tales of Scottish history // The Stand, Newcastle

FINN FORSTER

The local songwriter presents a headline set of his thrillingly bluesy indie rock // The Cluny 2, Newcastle

TRIVIUM

Revered heavy metal band // NX Newcastle

REVIEWS

VIIA, EVE COLE @ THE FORUM MUSIC CENTRE, DARLINGTON (13.07.23)

Words: Nat Greener

Nineteen-year-old Darlington native Viia proved to be a force to be reckoned with thanks to her dark pop/rock sound. Support act Eve Cole impressed with her indie pop style. As the winner of the 2022 Alan Hull Award and a BBC Introducing Tips for 2023 artist, she’s clearly on the rise. Whether performing acoustic solo sets or collaborating with her band, Eve Cole’s original songs resonated with the audience, setting the perfect tone for the night.

The headliner presented a powerful set featuring unreleased tracks like Velveteen and Golden Boy. Her ability to infuse classic rock elements with a modern pop twist was evident, solidifying her status as one of the strongest newcomers in the genre.

Her debut EP Am I Ready Yet? showcased her strong vocals and lyrical prowess, and this was more than in evidence live too, taking the enthralled audience on an emotional rollercoaster. From the sensuous guitars to her sultry vocals, Viia’s performance was nothing short of mesmerising.

WARM DIGITS, BRAD FIELD, FAYE MACCALMAN @ THE OLD COAL YARD, NEWCASTLE (08.07.23)

Words: Lee Fisher

Already a well-regarded brewery and a lovely bar / event space at weekends, the Old Coal Yard is now making a name for itself as an interesting and atmospheric live venue too, and a packed house for this well-curated Wandering Oak gig will have helped. The magnificent Faye MacCalman is on first and, despite some sound issues, brings some effortless class to proceedings with another set of beats, loops and voices that is magical in places, challenging in others and sometimes both. The crowd were perhaps a bit just-arrived-and-restless for something quite so focussed, but Faye was gracious and funny and it was a lovely set.

A second time seeing Brad Field and it was delicious fun again. His Heath-Robinson-meets-Harry-Partch set-up of pipe organs, drums, sequencers and video cut-ups seems alarmingly complicated but sounds fantastic, giving us a collision of images and sounds that can

Viia by Victoria Wai

turn on a dime from Sesame Street exuberance to gentle satire, and throw in slowed down gospel house vocals, exercise routines and some very meta clips. Always exhilarating, never wacky. Operating tonight on quite a cramped stage and with their usual A/V set-up a little reduced, perhaps it was easier to concentrate on Warm Digits’ playing, where usually you get blown away by the spectacle. And good God, they really do play out of their skins – Andy Hodson plays his drums like he’s in a hardcore band but with much more funk, Steve Jefferis sends out these glorious twinkling riffs – and it adds up to beautiful, hopeful anthems for a brighter shinier future. Gorgeous stuff.

COLLAPSED LUNG, BIS, MILKY WIMPSHAKE @ THE CUMBERLAND ARMS, NEWCASTL3 (08.07.23)

Words: Lee Fisher

A lovely bill from the mighty Hapless Museum Worker that was threatened by apocalyptic storms, but in the end we all got a little bit damp and had a lovely time anyway. As with the other two bands, openers Milky Wimpshake are comfortably into their third decade as an on/off concern and show no signs of veering away from their tried and tested formula of gleefully shambolic (although secretly quite adroit), punningly titled, scratchy indie anthems. The mash-up of Don’t Let Our Youth Go To Waste and True Love Will Find You In The End got me right in the feels.

I vaguely approved of bis at the time without really giving them much time and today proved that, once again, I’m a dick. bis were fucking great – hi-energy, pogotastic indie pop anthems that share some DNA with The Go! Team but with a barbed Scottish wit thrown in. They were funny as hell, look impossibly young and the healthy turnout of Geordie tweecore kids were delighted.

And finally Collapsed Lung, who I hadn’t seen in almost exactly thirty years. Perhaps not quite as well preserved as bis (the magic of Irn Bru presumably), they were huge fun and their avowedly daft Brit-hop was more caustic and inventive than I’d remembered. The songs off the forthcoming album – Mic Cuppers, Too Many Communes and the rest – show no dip in quality from their old songs and there’d have been trouble if they hadn’t finished with Eat My Goal. So they did. An excellent time all around and a splendid day out for all us old folk.

ME LOST ME, CLÉMENTINE MARCH, BULBILS @ THE LUBBER FIEND, NEWCASTLE (15.07.23)

Words: Elodie A. Roy

On the morning of the gig an incredible storm breaks out. Although the storm has gone when people reach The Lubber Fiend, some of its electricity seems to linger, and the venue is packed. Tonight, Me Lost Me (aka Jayne Dent), accompanied by John Pope (double bass, vocals) and Faye MacCalman (clarinet, vocals), celebrates the launch of her third album. The set begins with a ritual; one of Dent’s friends, draped in a long robe, dances as the band launches into their opening song. The rest is similarly trance-like, at once ancient and urgent. Dent’s keyboard compositions are filled with fantasist twists and moments of wild, psych-jazz abandon, yet they’re also rock solid, rooted. The ground won’t collapse just yet. What I notice is how completely serene and collected Dent appears to be, fully in control of her multifaceted voice. Me Lost Me comes from an ancient place and makes this place fully present. The band’s version of the Middle English song Mirie it is while sumer ilast is particularly haunting.

Support came from London-based songwriter Clémentine March –singing in French, English and Portuguese in a raucously tender voice – and from Bulbils (Richard Dawson and Sally Pilkington), who performed two angelic ambient compositions. Some truly special forces were at work that night.

PHOXJAW, TEN EIGHTY TREES, KKETT @ BOBIKS, NEWCASTLE (26.06.23)

Words: Dominic Stephenson

Quartet Kkett’s self-described ‘joycore’ is pretty much bang on; their sound is a strange mix of indie and splurts of death metal but with some decent noise nuggets under the surface, and plenty of shouting about cats and giraffes.

Ten Eighty Trees offered a more anchored sound, with a streamlined blend of throwback pop punk and hardcore. The trio have pinpointed the most bona fide elements of those genres and clearly have an ardent fanbase too, with some of the audience donning their merch. The eclectic imagery of Phoxjaw’s new LP Notverynicecream could be an allegory for its equally disparate content. An iridescent body of work, the Bristol quartet opened with its first three tracks, embarking with the climatic billow of Evermore. The twinkling synths of Apples quickly dissipated into doom-laden noise, and Icecreamwitch is symptomatic of

everything you can expect in a live show from this band. Singer Danny Garland’s vocals ring reminiscent of the indie heyday, before a hacking breakdown that was derailed and wildly unpredictable but without ever losing control. The coiling guitar on Infinite Badness was a step into more atmospheric territory and the indie bop of Sungazer was bizarrely coherent with the sludgyness in their arsenal. At the other end of the spectrum, the crushing metalcore of Knives is Phoxjaw at their heaviest and on Thelastmackerel, staccato riffs locked into a suctioning groove that whipped up a hallucinogenic and compact intensity. They closed with one more calculated sonic assault, with layers of frenzied hooks, jabbing keys and obliterating percussion that were meticulously planted. Phoxjaw’s music is a galactic take on nearly every form of rock, laced with doom, hyper-pop, noise and much more, exquisitely welded together. One of the most intriguing concoctions you’ll hear anywhere this year.

ANNA HUGHES’ FELL SILENT @ SAGE GATESHEAD (29.06.23)

Words: Ali Welford

It’s something we seek out, retreat to and take solace within, yet in a world that’s anything but, is silence really all that desirable? This is the central question driving Anna Hughes’ Sage Gateshead Artist in Residence project; one which forsakes the artificial hum of our daily lives and in doing so reconnects with a natural world that’s both literally and figuratively buzzing with ambient noise.

An immersive audiovisual experience, Fell Silent makes the most of the blank canvas that is the Northern Rock Foundation Hall, pitting multi-instrumentalist Anna and a three-piece string section in the round, complete with quadraphonic sound. The music is as still, tranquil and minimalist as its title would suggest, yet while song-based you’re invested in what feels like a continuous piece, coalesced by remote sights and sounds captured during Anna’s residential retreat to the Isle of Skye.

It’s only at the conclusion, when the field recordings of swashing tides, swirling winds and chirping birds are left to fade out, that we’re presented with silence in its truest form. The ending feels abrupt – an ongoing endeavour presented in its nascent state, or a deliberate dousing of an engrossing world brought so vividly to life? Whatever its intention, even the penetrative, distinctly human din of applause comes as a stark – and unexpected – relief.

Me Lost Me by Amelia Read

KERRIN TATMAN’S REQIUEM FOR A FADING WORLD @ SAGE GATESHEAD (22.06.23)

Words: Ali Welford

Fierce ambition underscores all four of this year’s Sage Gateshead Artist in Residence projects, yet for sheer scope, Kerrin Tatman’s exists on a plain of its own. Composed for a 13-piece ensemble, full choir and two solo singers (Jacqui Wicks as The Mother and Emily Gibson as The Daughter, respectively), Requiem For A Fading World is a fantastical odyssey set in a post-apocalyptic world, where hungry bears descend from the mountains and the ground is so toxic that not even weeds can gain a foothold.

At its centre is the conflict and philosophical contrast between the two principle characters. Each forges a path wrought with emotional swings – from elation and bombastic revelry to devastation and stark revelation – animated with gusto across a series of suites by this remarkable assemblage of talent. The feeling this evocative storytelling elicits from its audience proves no less predictable, and most impressively of all stretches to genuine empathy, not only for the humble Mother, but equally for a Daughter who takes all the wrong lessons from her grim new reality.

In a preamble speech introducing the piece’s accompanying programme and comic strip, Kerrin is coy on the project’s future. Regardless, however, of whether it’s tweaked in its current form or morphs into the puppetry epic of their dreams, tonight’s premiere is a monumental achievement.

YOUTH SECTOR @ THE ENGINE ROOM, NORTH SHIELDS (30.06.23)

Words: Thomas Jackson

In the face of a biblical storm that would leave mere mortals seeking shelter, the tenacious souls of North Shields proved their mettle. While 600 ravers surrendered themselves to the tempest to witness the legendary Judge Jules at Percy Park, those of a more guitar-driven persuasion crammed themselves into The Engine Room, eager to bear witness to one of the UK’s most promising new bands.

It’s an age-old adage within music journalism to claim that a venue simply cannot contain the sheer force of a band’s presence. However, tonight’s spectacle shattered the confines of this well-worn notion. The stage, struggling to contain the explosive energy (and mass of

equipment!) forced Youth Sector to navigate uncharted territory. Mic stands and monitors were hastily relocated, resulting in a band that found themselves in an intimate, almost invasive, relationship with their audience. With angular postures and a confrontational style, the risk of danger to those who lingered on the front row was very real. What sets Youth Sector apart is their irresistible allure – an effortless blend of the political and the irreverent. Their innate ability to craft captivating hooks, combined with a live performance bursting with frenetic energy, guarantees an unforgettable experience. This marked my third encounter with the quintet from Brighton, and each time they have exceeded all expectations. However, it is their unwavering commitment to growth and evolution that bodes well for the future, igniting anticipation for what lies ahead.

THE DARTS, TV DEATH @ THE ENGINE ROOM, NORTH SHIELDS (10.7.23)

Words: Gus Ironside

Hailing from Phoenix, Arizona, The Darts (US) have made a dramatic impact on the UK garage punk scene this year, with the release of their stunning Snake Oil album. The Engine Room in North Shields’ historic Fish Quay area was the perfect venue for The Darts’ style of incendiary, no-holds-barred rock & roll, ably supported by local rising stars TV Death. The Newcastle garage psych outfit burned through a high-energy set featuring several intriguing new songs, introducing compelling punk funk grooves to the group’s trademark frenzied garage psych. Live favourites Crank Bugs and Isolation closed the set emphatically. As soon as The Darts hit the stage and launched into My Heart Is A Graveyard, they had the capacity audience under their spell. Frontwoman Nicole Laurenne was a force of nature, simultaneously singing and playing her Farfisa organ, which she used as a prop throughout the set, in a similar fashion to how Iggy Pop uses and abuses his mic stand. The black-clad riot quartet were incredibly tight, driven by the powerful drumming of Mary Rose Gonzales, solidly locked in with Christina Nunez’s crunching basslines and Louis Sordoillet’s razor-sharp guitar playing. Highlights included Under The Gun, Snake Oil, Intersex and new songs Hang Around and Your Show. Finishing with a three song encore including a manic cover of The Trashwomen’s Batteries, this was a night to remember by a band that’s primed to explode.

Youth Sector by Thomas Jackson

A STREET LIKE THIS @ THE FIRE STATION, SUNDERLAND (29.06.23)

Words: Tracy Hyman

A perfect piece of community theatre, writer Alison Carr brings an ordinary street to life with the help of Ross Millard of The Futureheads and Unfolding Theatre. Led by three professional actors, the production stars and is co-curated with members of a local community theatre company, who seamlessly work alongside the actors and also form part of the house band.

We form the street, we are part of the story. Perhaps this isn’t exactly our street, but as we are introduced to the neighbours one by one the anecdotes and tales are familiar; the nosy neighbour, the over-zealous neighbourhood watch co-ordinator, those with hidden secrets behind their curtains. The set cleverly enhances the story, alongside BSL interpretation.

A sinkhole disturbs the peaceful lives carefully lived apart, sending the street into turmoil. Change happens. One neighbour has lost her cat. The three main characters, one a hoarder, one a woman with a ‘just in case, case’ under her bed, and the last a neighbourhood watch co-ordinator, take us on a journey of exploration. They revisit their past and reflect on their lives and what is holding them back. Gradually the street comes together and the pieces are put back into place. It is both funny and poignant, a reflection on the past of what makes us who we are and how to overcome what holds us back.

LAURA CANTRELL @ THE FIRE STATION, SUNDERLAND (27.06.23)

Words: Lee Fisher

Laura Cantrell is one of the most quietly unusual people working in country music. For a start, she moved from Nashville to New York rather than the other way round, and she’s had a very successful side hustle in various Wall Street jobs for much of her career. She also brings a lively intelligence and analysis to country – much like Robbie Fulks, I guess – as evinced in various documentaries and her radio shows. She’s no ordinary bar room chantoozy, is what I’m saying, and she’s an absolute delight tonight, promoting her recent Just Like A Rose release.

Backed by a REALLY great band (some virtuoso mandolin especially) she gave us a magical set split mostly between the new LP and her Not The Tremblin’ Kind debut from two decades earlier, a set of heartbreakers and break-up songs and the occasional barroom shitkicker. She’s demurely furious on Angry White Men – Bless, a really powerful and atypically direct political number, and sweetly rueful on The Whiskey Makes You Sweeter. Seeing her perform Love Vigilantes, her unlikely New Order cover, was an unexpected thrill and of course we got an encore that included eternal banger Not The Tremblin’ Kind. And she was charming company throughout, full of grace and stories. Cantrell is really special and it was great to have her back.

L DEVINE, GIRLBAND @ THE GROVE, NEWCASTLE (01.07.23)

Words: Damian Robinson

It’s always heartwarming to see new gig venues popping up across the region, and it’s even nicer when they’re already generating a buzz and selling out shows. Tonight’s sold out show at The Grove perhaps proves that you don’t need to be in a central location to attract a large crowd; what you need is a strong line-up, a welcoming atmosphere and a banging PA system.

Support act Girlband are on fine form; opener Twenty First Suffrage (a song about “not giving a fuck basically”) sets an early high tone for the three-piece rock/indie outfit clearly laced with a love for Blackhearts melodies and attitude. Set highlight Slow Me Down, delivered with some serious popping bass lines, caps an impressive set from a seriously good live act who prove a great support for local favourite L Devine.

Making her home return, Devine’s blend of electro pop (mostly a showcase of new material from her forthcoming album) is on fine form tonight, particularly on pulsating opener Eaten Alive, and the acoustic led Daughter. Confident and poised, Devine’s stagecraft continues to develop at the same pace as her material, and on this form her forthcoming album could push her further into the pop charts.

A fine new venue and a maturing artist; the North East’s in great shape.

Laura Cantrell by Iam Burn

TRACKS

REVIEWS OF SINGLES AND EPS BY NORTH EAST ARTISTS. WANT YOUR MUSIC FEATURED? EMAIL NARCMEDIA@GMAIL.COM

(PLEASE TRY TO GET IN TOUCH 8-6 WEEKS AHEAD OF THE MONTH OF RELEASE)

ALEX JAMES BAND WAITING FOR SOMETHING

Words: Niamh Poppleton

Following their recent rebranding as the world’s first DMD (Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy) fronted alt. rock band, Alex James Band have released a purposeful new single: Waiting For Something.

The song opens with a rhythmic guitar and drumbeat, quickly joined by Alex’s vocals as he describes hopelessly anticipating the arrival of an opportunity (represented by an ‘open door’). Though the lyrics are relatively simplistic, this doesn’t make the listener even marginally lose interest; rather, it’s this very simplicity which makes the song thoroughly melodic and memorable. The undoubted highlight is the forceful and fierce electric guitar solo that forms a nexus between the song’s steady beginning and up-tempo end. Guaranteed to get the listener dancing, this track really is something worth waiting for.

Released: 04.08.23

www.linktr.ee/itsmealexjames

THE FOLDING DESERT AFTERLIFE

Words: James Hattersley

Turn off your mind, relax and sink into the shag carpet of Afterlife; the latest single from Newcastle’s surreal alt. rock outfit The Folding Desert. A paranormal ode to the limbo state of in-between love; the single feels like you are being hugged by a sentient furry sweater - whispering sugary-sweet psychedelic nothings into your ears.

Creeping in with a finger plucked acoustic riff, a false sense of being sweeps over before enveloping every sense in wave after wave of sultry synth. What follows is a collage of textures - each bringing its unearthly vibe to the show. Ethereal keyed melodies dance around transcendental vocals and crunchy celestial guitar takes you to the edge of dreamland and back - ready to go again.

Released: 28.07.23

www.thefoldingdesert.bandcamp.com

JENALI EYE CONTACT

Words: Tom Astley

Sunderland-based musician and lyricist JENALI does the work of describing new track Eye Contact perfectly as “the first semi ‘upbeat’ song I have ever written”. And with its lush orchestration that included a 60s soul (rather than an 80s pop) saxophone part, shimmering organ sound, and a swell of strings as a backdrop to unembellished and upfront vocals, the description of ‘semi-upbeat’ does the song justice. Eye Contact skips along in under three minutes, but the depth is contained in the lyrics, finding a perfect place within the distinctly British kitchen sink observations of the everyday that mean more than they first appear. Each line offers another subtly observed vignette, witty and introspective in equal measure. A great pop track with hidden depth.

Released: 04.08.23

www.linktr.ee/jjenalii

THRONES MEMORIES

Words: Lily Pratt

The rebellion, protest and theatre of rock is certainly not lost in the newest single from THRONES, where their haunting balladic lyrics lament a past which refuses to fade: “It happens every time I close my eyes I think of you / And where we used to be.” A certain sense of nihilistic grit sticks to the track as sand may cling in-between your toes, with regret rising and falling within the lyrics like the tide (“Strayed too far from the path / I was there, I was there running”). The lyrical desolation of Memories is coupled with pulsing piano keys and a tsunami of drums which accentuate the band’s metalcore influences and consecrate Memories as an electrically gut-wrenching track.

Released: 28.07.23

www.linktr.ee/thronesuk

MAX GAVINS £WORLD

Words: Claire Dupree

Opening with a scratchy, whirling organ, which sounds increasingly ominous as the track progresses, Gateshead-based rapper, songwriter and producer Max Gavins’ new single may be named after the bargain shop that gave 16-year old Max his first job, but there’s nothing cheap about it.

Max’s even, rhythmic flow is crystal clear as he veers between subtle nods to his increasing acclaim as an artist (even dropping hints about a future album in the works), the cost of living crisis, and the economic depravity suffered by so many in the country right now. At under three minutes it doesn’t outstay its welcome; a short, sharp shock to the system, leaving the listener with the menacing blast it started with.

Released: 10.08.23

www.facebook.com/maxgavinsmusic

RAPASSA NYATRAPASA OTIENO UNITE

Words: Ben Lowes-Smith

Rapassa Nyatrapasa Otieno’s new single is a rallying call to arms for unity, solidarity and collectivism. Developed through songwriting workshops in his native Kenya, Otieno takes an expansive approach incorporating elements of highlife and blues with joyous results. As with all of Otieno’s music, the virtuoso musician (he plays the nyatiti, a traditional eight-stringed lyre which originates from the shores of Nam Lolwe, Lake Victoria) finds inspiration in the traditional storytelling of the Lüo community.

At six minutes, Unite has a meditative groove that’s enough to get lost in, and Otieno’s message of collectivism and joy transcends language barriers. It’s a trip, and a very enjoyable one at that.

Released: 02.08.23

www.nyatitinyadala.com

DAWKS RIGHT PLACE/WRONG TIME

Words: Ben Lowes-Smith

Hartlepool’s DAWKS, which is ostensibly the project for singer-songwriter Luke Dawkins (who readers may be familiar with from previous band Leopard Rays), are in the happy habit of consistently making strident, infectious indie rock tunes, and Right Place/Wrong Time is the group’s third single, off the back of radio play and positive responses to their live presence.

While not reinventing the wheel, DAWKS embody a calm confidence belying their infancy as a group, and feed seamlessly into a canon of radio-friendly indie rock. One can expect that such songwriting chops will see them making rapid ascent, and their music would be perfect in the context of a festival set on a glorious summer day, for all of the neurosis of the lyrics. Certainly ones to watch for the future.

Released: 28.07.23

www.linktr.ee/dawks0_0

DECREPIT YOUTHS KILL THE LIGHTS

Words: Matt Young

This newly formed five-piece, dual fronted by David Stoker and Connor Pattison, may be a fresh name but all the musicians involved have huge experience elsewhere on the scene. Their second single Kill The Lights is self-described as “Architects meets MGK with a hint of Royal Blood”. Add Muse to that list, particularly the fuzzed dark rock riffs and layered melodies, and you can envisage the musical architecture we’re inhabiting. The song itself rings out with a controlled rage. Given just enough air to breathe for the song’s three minutes or so, then it’s neatly shut down. The hard-chugging guitars and relentless drum pounding in the final minute stop the song feeling merely performative though, and ultimately it survives with its passion intact.

Released: 04.08.23

www.facebook.com/decrepityouths

STOCK IMAGE LOCKED AWAY

Words: Matt Young

As inspirational decades go, the 1980’s has always been ripe for picking and it’s seen its fair share of that in the past, with ‘retro’ shows and films soundtracked by early electro or post-punk music aplenty. It’s in this vein that Stock Image approach their own interpretation, and they nail it musically.

Vocally there’s also a double-tracked laconic tone that compares favourably with OG-era vocalists like Gary Numan or OMD’s Andy McCluskey. Even less notable successive nods from bands like The Bravery or Bastille share that delivery. It does however lack the exact cold snark for absolute authenticity, and lyrically perhaps a punchier subject matter would help, but you can definitely hear a 12” extended remix fighting for freedom within the tune.

Released: 01.08.23

www.facebook.com/stockimagemusic

WINGZ OF THE MONKEY APE ALLEGATIONS EP

Words: Lily Pratt

Punk rock, bred in the leather-clad, darkened basements of New York and academised by the existential poetry of Patti Smith can be found in the guttural and frustrated EP by Teesside newcomers Wingz Of The Monkey. Ape Allegations omits a stirring and galvanic sound where their vocals are both the heartbeat and heart attack of their tracks, chorused by an explosion of angry drumming and frustrated yet cathartic guitar riffs. Formed in a mining village in East Cleveland, the band are set to premier their new EP at Stockton’s Georgian Theatre on 11th August. Bound to cause lyrical riot, it is expressed that the rock ‘n’ rollers will exude “punk antics and lyrics to shout back at!”

Released: 11.08.23

www.instagram.com/wingz_of_the_monkey

SLOWLIGHT QUARTET SUPERBIA

Words: Tom Astley

It takes skill; hours of practice; who knows how many band practices; fluffed notes; work; time. I want you to bear that in mind when you listen to Slowlight Quartet (augmented into a quintet on these two new tracks by vocalist YVA) on their first cinematic jazz outing in seven years – and you have to listen to them. Because it’s easy to get lost in the almost inhumanly tight, sublimely melded sound, and so to describe it as ‘effortless’. It isn’t. There’s effort. But then… the applause at the end? No. It can’t have been live. That sound can’t have been done live, all at once. OK. It is impossible. Impossibly good. Listen to it. Now. Stop everything else and listen to it.

Released: 04.08.23

www.theslowlightquartet1.bandcamp.com

CARL GREEN IN PARTICULAR OFF DUTY EP

Words: Niamh Poppleton

A year after Head of Light Entertainment (HOLE) split, Carl Green returns to the limelight with the first of three EPs. Drawing inspiration from 70s art school pop (i.e. Sparks and Cockney Rebel), Off Duty opens with Art School Fringe - a masterclass in creativity that combines Carl’s vocals with unusual sound effects, making for a great start to a wonderfully peculiar EP.

The standout track is She Sings In Her Sleep; cathartic guitar strings and soft, echoey vocals form the essence of a lullaby, whilst maintaining the energised beat of typical pop. The self-reflective Who’s Carl Green? sees Carl questioning his individual identity, whilst retaining HOLE’s eclectic energy. One thing’s for certain: the world cannot wait to see Carl’s next endeavour.

Released: 04.08.23

www.carlgreeninparticular.bandcamp.com

DEMOS

WE WANT YOUR MUSIC!

IF YOU’RE AN UP AND COMING BAND OR MUSICIAN, AND WOULD LIKE YOUR MUSIC REVIEWED IN OUR DEMO SECTION, EMAIL A TRACK TO NARCMEDIA@GMAIL.COM AND TELL US MORE ABOUT YOURSELF!

WORDS: MATT YOUNG DEMO OF THE MONTH

Brick – Blanket of Love

Bridie Jackson (composer and singer) and Nick Pierce (viola player) are very well known on the local scene and beyond. Perhaps more of an undiscovered secret is the ‘dreamy acoustic music’ they started making together in the 2020 lockdown, and have continued to self-record and produce since from their home, The Brick House, in Newcastle. Blanket of Love is a beguiling piece that simply and clearly intimates the love felt in the midst of trust and kindness. Being there for someone is a selfless act, that lack of expectation. Bridie’s warm sung vocals swoon all over the sparse instrumentation and you can feel the love radiate from the track as you listen. www.facebook.com/bricktunes

Peony – Varmint Rifle

Yet more new duo action in this month’s demos, this time erring on the growled end of the rock spectrum. Citing PJ Harvey, Pixies and Nick Cave as a few influences, Peony launch into Varmint Rifle with a gusto that also brings to mind the bass-heavy riffing, spacey reverbed vocal and drum pounding desert rock of QOTSA. Ryan drums and Will sings and plays guitar, and they construct songs from improvised sessions together. This single is equal parts vital, thrilling and scuzzily melodic. With an album of material, Vast Animals, ready to go, the pair could be fantastic live prospect to catch soon.

www.peonyduo.bandcamp.com

Dinky Bossetti – I Kissed A Boy

Another duo, soon to become trio, Jade Mia Broadhead and Aria Nash set about whipping up a musical storm of all-trans Riot Grrrl punk, rock, metal and essential gnarly music. This Jade-penned song is about her ultimately “fruitless attempt to ease gender dysphoria”. We’re in a reality that’s worlds away from Katy Perry, all title connections aside; the lyrics

outlining an experience (of kissing said boy) of treachery, lechery and pointlessness. A vocal taking suitably sneering aim at male fragility and insensitivity ensues with musical backing abrasively ringing out amongst the narrative’s almost uncomfortable telling. As an initial single it sets the band’s stall out well, let no fools be suffered and treat women with deserving tenderness!

www.dinkybossetti.bandcamp.com

Trunk – Save

I make little notes when hearing new music, whether I’m reviewing or not, and listening to Trunk’s song Save. I have scribbled the words ‘sonic turbulence, Sonic, Biffy, dirty Coxon riffs.’ I guess I should go backwards to expand further…Blur’s self-titled fifth album gave Coxon a freer hand and the resulting bent, skewed riffs combined shiny bright pop with chaotic eruptions. Similarly, Sonic Youth on their A Thousand Leaves album added more considered melodies amongst their feedback barely 18 months later. Biffy Clyro formed right between these two releases and it’s this exact melding of pop and rock that I can ‘feel’

here on Save. Not that Trunk are copyists in any sense, they just squeeze these musical references together and the influences seeping out of the speakers is undeniable. Touches of Blur, Biffy and Sonic Youth within Save elevate it hugely. It’s an interesting amalgam, as someone on the outside looking in, and works particularly well on this track.

www.facebook.com/trunkband.ls

Swindled – Extermination Station

There’s a natural sounding pop rock bounce to this song from new Sunderland five-piece Swindled, formed of fresh college acquaintances. They’re clearly a band, in this instance at least, comfortable with a narrative storytelling style that fans of Steve Cradock, Kelly Jones or even the Gallaghers would recognise. Whether that’s true of other songs we’ll have to wait and see, but on this alone Swindled definitely know how to construct a hooky track, with confident playing and singing to match the song’s concise turnaround.

www.linktr.ee/swindledofficial

ALBUMS

SLOW TOWN CLOCK CROSSING TIDES (SELF-RELEASE)

Words: Matt Young

The contemporary folk songs on Jamie Leven’s new album as Slow Town Clock are delicately crafted and deftly executed. Crossing Tides was written in the Outer Hebridean islands, and the songs draw obvious inspiration from the landscape, wildlife and mythology, with each song associated with a different island.

BONNIE ‘PRINCE’ BILLY KEEPING SECRETS WILL DESTROY YOU (DOMINO)

Words: Lee Fisher

Will Oldham has released so much music in so many incarnations over the last thirty years – perhaps 40, 45 albums? - that it’s somehow impossible to get a reliable fix on what he’s up to even now. His Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy identity is his most prolific and most rewarding but it’s still a slippery beast, likely to show up on records with Scottish folk bands or experimental drone outfits. And you always get the sense with Oldham that even at his seemingly most straightforward and honest, there’s something else going on, some careful construction.

But know this – Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You is an astounding, beautiful record, the equal of its 2019 predecessor I Made A Place, and occupying a pretty similar soundworld. Take teaser track (and album highlight) Bananas – over a fragile, sweetly melancholy melody and some cooing backing vocals, Oldham exclaims his love in the most innocent yet gleefully, warmly sexual way and celebrates how they “dance around in circles in an end-of-times ballet and shit upon the riches other folks have on display”. That’s lovely for you.

Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You was recorded with a small, intimate-sounding band back in Louisville and it sounds cosy and close and like a coming together of true friends (and lovers). There’s a warm, early-seventies-in-the-woods-in-upstate-New-York feel to the sound, tasteful and understated, Scarlet Rivera-style fiddle and occasional organ swells adding texture. Throughout, Oldham sings like he’s passing on eternal truths and wisdom (“Everyone dies in the end so there’s nothing to hide, like it or not, I’m singing destruction, like it or not, I’m happy today!”) and it always sounds sincere and compelling even if he’s putting us on (more and more these days, I suspect he’s not). Even his simplest lines can sound like grand statements carved in tablets, such is the weird authority his voice possesses (a voice that’s never sounded richer and more gorgeous, by the way). There’s a lot of love here, and a desire for simplicity and transcendence, but darkness too: Trees Of Hell is as apocalyptic as it sounds, a blighted folk song that breaks the prevailing mood of bucolic bliss.

Keeping Secrets... gives us a Will Oldham unquestionably full of love, for his family and his music and his life, but there’s trouble too. Of course there is. Beautiful trouble.

Released: 11.08.23

www.bonnieprincebilly.bandcamp.com

ALSO OUT THIS MONTH

Be Your Own Pet – Mommy (Third Man Records, 25.08) // Renee Rap – Snow Angel (Polydor, 18.08) // Hozier – Unreal Unearth (Island Records, 18.08) // Public Image Limited – End of World (PiL Official, 11.08) // Hot Milk – A Call To The Void (Music For Nations, 25.08) // Chris Farren – Doom Singer (Polyvinyl, 04.08) // Willie J Healey – Bunny (YALA! Records, 25.08) // The Xcerts – Learning How To Live And Let Go (UNFD, 18.08) // Our Broken Garden – Blind (Bella Union, 25.08) // M.A.G.S – Destroyer (Smartpunk Records, 04.08) // Laura Groves – Radio Red (Bella Union, 11.08) // Andrew Hung – Deliverance (Lex Records, 11.08) // Who Is She? – Goddess Energy (Father/Daughter Records, 25.08) // Stephen Steinbrink – Disappearing Coin (Western Vinyl, 18.08) // Clementine Valentine – The Coin That Broke The Fountain Floor (Flying Nun, 25.08) // Diners – Domino (Bar/None Records, 18.08) // Becca Mancari – Left Hand (Captured Tracks, 25.08) // Ratboys – The Window (Topshelf Records, 25.08) // Teenage Wrist – Still Love (Epitaph, 04.08)

Recording took an equally naturalistic approach; accompanied by Leven’s wife Sophie Wren (vocal harmonies, accordion) and Paul Susans (double bass), John Hirst (vibraphone, percussion, haunted dulcimer) and Dean Parker (electric guitar, mandolin), everything is record live by Julie Bartley at Cupola Studios in Newcastle. The live frisson gives each hushed sound greater importance. Standout tracks include A Giant Hand, Golden Light and closing song The Edge of the Land, which lift the listener into different worlds effortlessly, with canny charm and unhurried pleasure.

Released: 11.08.23

www.slowtownclockmusic.co.uk

MY UGLY CLEMENTINE THE GOOD LIFE (BMG)

Words: Cameron Wright

Pulling together three of Vienna’s big creative forces, Sophie Lindinger, Mira Lu Kovacs and Nastasja Ronck, My Ugly Clementine is Austria’s latest supergroup. This trio of female creatives formed My Ugly Clementine as a way to explore identity, share stories and challenge the norm. While their tracks tackle taboos and raise awareness, the main agenda of the project is to let their hair down and have fun! Bringing in loud guitars and louder choruses, the group aim to provide the summer with a new wave of indie anthems.

Where tracks like No hit the ground running, making a noise and a scene, it’s the tender harmonies and moments of vulnerability that catch my attention. While most of the album falls into a generic indie haze, there’s moments of genuine interest and character still in the mix.

Released: 11.08.23

www.myuglyclementine.com

Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy by Elsa Hansen Oldham 3

GIRL RAY PRESTIGE (MOSHI MOSHI)

Words: Cameron Wright

Prestige is the third studio album by London-based female three-piece Girl Ray, which includes a series of tracks that revel in youth, love and the excitement of life. The tracks are all equally light, with gentle vocals breezing over choppy guitars and uptempo drum beats. Prestige is a simple release, using the grooves of the 80s as a soundtrack to an exploration of sexuality, maturity and heartbreak which keeps the tracks engaging.

Where the formula may wear itself out somewhat, with the rudimentary disco grooves blurring into one, the album struggles to beg for repeated listens, yet nearly every track is a treat. Girl Ray are at their finest when their sound is shamelessly euphoric, and this album has plenty of examples of that.

Released: 04.08.23

www.girlray.co.uk

MOVEMENTS RUCKUS! (FEARLESS RECORDS)

Words: Laura Doyle

“Haven’t we had enough of SoCal alt. bands?” said me, moments before Movements took to the stage one dreary post-Covid gig evening last year. Past me quickly ate my words, ‘cause this lot is worth my time – and yours. Hailing from the US, Movements have become, quite paradoxically, a well-established underground band. They appreciate their UK crowds as much as they are appreciated in turn, so the release of their third album RUCKUS! has been appropriately anticipated. With a delectable mix of growling hardcore riffs and strained emo-revivalicious vocals (Lead Pipe), twinkling indie melodies and soft lyricisms (Heaven Sent), and bittersweet self-deprecating anthems that you wish weren’t as relatable as they are (Fail You), Movements’ next moves are sure to be well received by fans new and old.

Released: 18.08.23

www.movementsofficial.com

ART SCHOOL GIRLFRIEND SOFT LANDING (FICTION)

Words: Matt Young

Initially Polly Mackey, pseudonymously known as Art School Girlfriend, opens her newest album with a relatively pacey tune, A Place To Lie, followed up hurriedly by Close To The Clouds. So far so esoterically indie dance. However, getting to Real Life with its more intimate confessional tone we’re now well and truly ‘in it’ as this song slows us down, and shows us the person behind the music, or does it? We could get pretty meta here as it’s still filtered, yet feels more about truth. This song has added strings by Chloe Kraemer and Alfie Johns and intertwined backing vocals from Marika Hackman. It stands out, and even with other songs like The Weeks also skipping and swooning, it’s the broody and beguiling tone of Real Life that stitches all the other tunes together, even as the pace picks up, propelling us forward unable to fully leave everything behind.

Released: 04.08.23

www.artschoolgirlfriend.co.uk

GENESIS OWUSU STRUGGLER (OURNESS/AWAL)

Words: Caleb Carter

Genesis Owusu is fantastic at breakdowns. Breaking down lyrically across break beats, the closing points of his songs are usually their highest. Struggler’s speculative world stages a war between scuttling, panting “roaches” and Gods trigger-happy for judgement day, yet it sometimes feels like these most breathless of moments are just as sonically feared as they are revered.

Opening with the hum of bass guitar and existential barks, it is a little disappointing not to see the genre’s bellwether change course for less grazed grass. Not least because this album of the doomed young has an otherwise thrilling identity, full of red quasar beams, the extraterrestrial, and murky, nebulous futures like skin growths, unfortunately we see less of the warped and the new.

Released: 18.08.23

www.genesisowusu.com

OSEES INTERCEPTED MESSAGE (IN THE RED RECORDS)

Words: Lee Hammond

This is a pop record with a multitude of twists and turns. From opener Stunner you’d assume this was going to be a standard OSEES record. However, it quickly morphs, through the synth punk of title track Intercepted Message, the relentless chanting of The Fish Needs A Bike, to the brilliant Sleazoid Psycho. Underpinned with a driving motorik beat, retaining a similar pace throughout, blasts of synths and stabs of guitars punctuate most tracks. Then Always At Night appears, at complete odds with anything you’d expect from the OSEES. Steeped in synth pop sensibility, Dwyer croons in a manner akin to John Grant; an unexpected but welcome turn on what must be one of the band’s finest albums to date.

Released: 18.08.23

www.theeohsees.com

HOLY WAVE

FIVE OF CUPS (SUICIDE SQUEEZE)

Words: Matt Young

In a fifteen-year career so far, Holy Wave, fronted by vocalist/guitarist Ryan Fuson, have used the psychedelic, freeform jamming that initially inspired the band’s music to more tacitly focus on the gems in an otherwise soupy mix of sounds. With the pandemic interrupting everyone’s creative mojo, Fuson in particular took the portents of tarot – the Five of Cups representing a forlorn dwelling on the past – and turned it into his muse, a way to be present despite a future uncertainty when he believed. Although the album opens a kaleidoscopic world where Five of Cups, Bog Song and Chapparal all set wonderful aural tones, meandering genteelly, the remainder is left desperately seeking a destination, and instead references sounds from their own past as well as from influential bands they admire.

Released: 04.08.23

www.holywave.bandcamp.com

O )))

4 ))) (THE SUNDROP GARDEN)

Words: Matt Young

((( O ))) is an unpronounceable representation of a Filipino-American singer and songwriter who prefers not to use her birth name. They’ve been steadily releasing music to coincide with the planets full moon cycles leading us to the current fourth album ((( 4 ))). Collectively her music is credited to The Sundrop Garden. Out There opens proceedings with its mix of soft, ethereal tones meeting bass drums and glitchy synths. Vocalisations are reminiscent of FKA Twigs or Grimes. The pre-release focal point Sanctuary ramps up the beat quota, but it’s not until Black Cat and then Don’t Die that we encounter anything different to the slick production gloss and almost structureless meander of the opening few songs. For an album inspired by energy this spends a long time searching it out.

Released: 27.08.23

www.instagram.com/thesundropgarden

THE HIVES THE DEATH OF RANDY FITZSIMMONS (FUGA)

Words: Gus Ironside

Eleven years since the release of their last album, the patchy, self-produced Lex Hives, the Swedish garage punks are back with a new album produced by top Swedish pop producer Patrik Berger (Lana Del Rey, Robyn). Thankfully, long-term fans need not worry about Berger softening the group’s signature sound – this, their sixth album, is a full-blooded return to form. Berger’s skilful production enhances the album’s 12 songs, rather than detracting from their ferocity. As usual with The Hives, the album is front-loaded with its strongest tracks, with a powerful opening salvo of Bogus Operandi, Trapdoor Solution and Countdown To Shutdown setting the tone for a return to the sound of the group’s early triumphs. Easily their best album since 2003’s Tyrannosaurus Hives.

Released: 11.08.23

www.thehives.com

VINYL WILLIAMS

AETERNA (HARMONY RECORDS)

Words: Robin Webb

A psychedelic ethereal seventh album from the LA based musician/artist; imagine being performed to in a vast heavenly hall with resultant reverb and you’re part of the way to rapturous enlightenment of the celestial kind. It’s clear that Williams has a sound he likes; jangly guitars, echoey vocals, shimmering jewels strummed in elysian evermore. Self-Fulfilling Prophecy stands out though, because it has a harder edge and is embellished with the occasional sonic shot weaving in and out of the spheres of your consciousness chased by your laser toting ego. The truly angelic closing track Electric Electric delights also, and is a rather fitting way to end as your waking world slips away with the phasing and echoing guitar.

Released: 04.08.23

www.vinylwilliams.bandcamp.com

BUCK MEEK HAUNTED MOUNTAIN (4AD)

Words: Michael O’Neill

Yes, I am also somehow shocked to discover that the almighty Buck Meek (otherwise known as the abstract sonic extraordinaire guitarist in the prolific, restless Big Thief) has managed to carve out some time between touring the world and cooking up an incredible body of sprawling work, to release yet another solo LP.

I’m not shocked, however, to discover that it is another brilliant release from one of the most boundary-pushing, singular six stringers of the century so far. As with Big Thief, there’s a grand plethora of ear candy here, which serves songs that run the gamut from indie pop to the quality country stylings of the title track. It’s an eclectic and engrossing collection of sonic wonder.

Released: 25.08.23

www.buckmeekmusic.com

HEMI HEMINGWAY STRANGERS AGAIN (PNKSLM RECORDINGS)

Words: Lily Pratt

I would not consider it to be an exaggeration to deem Hemi Hemingway’s hauntingly melancholic album Strangers Again an aural renaissance. His elegantly crafted songs seem to be sculpted from a similar chisel to Jeff Buckley; Hemingway’s soft vocals and weighty pleas too become a mournful musical opera. Tracks such as Green Envy invoke the saxophone which imbues the song with a certain gloomy beauty and dreaminess: “Is she just a friend or is her you’re dreaming of?” Alone In The Morning Alley is made richer by the quiet keys of the piano which steeps the track in soulful enchantment and renders the rest of the album a poetic labyrinth of wonder and musical intoxication.

Released: 18.08.23

www.hemihemingway.bandcamp.com

ANNIE HART WEIGHT OF A WAVE (UNINHABITABLE MANSIONS)

Words: Robin Webb

An unfussy collection of post-punk, synth pop songs that hints at being a jaggedly dissonant indie nod to 90’s giants like Throwing Muses or Belly, but retains a largely sanitised lightness of touch. The album’s lyrics examine the paucity of depth displayed in the predominately specious surface tension of social media affectations and plaudits, as in Stop Staring At You; or the dearth of things that dent darkened emotions in Nothing Makes Me Happy Anymore. Annie Hart set challenges when in the studio to come up with at least three songs per session, and these ten tightly wound tunes are the result; one for those who like their indie pop sweetly sung but with a soft and shadowy outlook.

Released: 04.08.23

www.anniehart.bandcamp.com

MIXTAPE

WORDS: JON HORNER

My debut novel, Trust In Trick, is released this month. I like to listen to music when writing. I suppose it’s a kind of attempt at sensory deprivation to help me focus and not get distracted by the ‘real world’. I play music loud or listen through earphones to achieve this. It means I can write pretty much anywhere too. This can be problematic though as sometimes I find myself going off with the musician on their journey rather than finding my own path. I have slowly developed an ear for music that provides a good writing soundtrack, for example I avoid songs with words. It’d be a smidge embarrassing if I accidentally plagiarised some great lyric, mistaking the singer’s voice for my own subconscious. Here are some songs that I hit hard whilst writing this book.

CHRIS CORSANO AND BILL ORCUTT MAN CARRYING THING

This album was my go to if I needed to knock out some serious wordage. It has a very restless, intense energy and that kind of works its way into the mind and fingers. Before I know it, I’m giving the keyboard a right good battering. There’s a freedom to their performances that is liberating too. “Let’s not worry about where to put that comma. Let’s just get the feeling down.”

GROUP LISTENING BLUE CRYSTAL FIRE

Just a clarinet and a piano, guys. That’s all you need. Two friends playing nice tunes on their instruments and there is contentment in every note. A real pallet cleanser, this. Great for writing a moment of recovery after a stressful passage.

JÓHANN JÓHANNSSON MORAL VACUUMS

Tragically gone far too soon, but at least we still have his transcendent music. I love Jóhann Jóhannsson and not just because he is my celebrity lookalikey. He is a true great of our time. This huge song is perfect for writing a moment of great significance, like describing an affecting landscape or a character’s moment of

catharsis. I often feel too small and limited to write these special moments; listening to Jóhann’s music makes me feel close enough to something that matters to at least try to describe it, even if I can’t create it.

BENEDICTE MAURSETH EIDFYRDER

I’m big on drone when writing and this is that but with lovely little flutters of dark beauty thrown in. Edgy strings merging with earthy rumbles are a perfect soundtrack for a trip into those dark places in your mind.

HENRIETTE BOSMANS CHANSON

Classical music is supposed to make babies more cleverer isn’t it? I’m not sure about that but it’s good for getting in a grandiose, expressive mood. It just makes me feel a bit fancy. I get a bit bolder with words with this kind of stuff on. This piece is very cinematic and fits well with descriptive writing.

HAIKU SALUT ENLIST

These guys are one of my absolute faves. I’ve followed them since the beginning and have even been lucky enough to

share a stage with them. They are masters at using space and as such have naturally navigated into the arena of soundtracks. Those spaces leave room for the words to come.

SJAELLA STARS

Choral music isn’t for all occasions but when in need of a bit of auditory inspiration to write a bit of awe, let those voices soar! I’ve never written about anything ancient but if I ever do, this song is going on repeat.

IVAN THE TOLERABLE AND HIS ELASTIC BAND MOTHRA II

It’s big and frantic. It’s dramatic and a little scary. Perfect for writing building tension or a bad trip. As well as making all of his amazing music, Oli (Ivan) did the artwork for the book. That’s not strictly relevant here but it’s cool and shows what a dude he is. This album was recorded in Toft House where my band, Nel Unlit, have a gig on Sunday 6th August. That’s even less relevant but the gang will be happy with the plug for the show.

In partnership with the National Portrait Gallery, we present the rich and diverse lives of people who have shaped the River Tees.

Artworks from the National Portait Gallery and the Middlesbrough Collection sit alongside new commissions created through work with communities.