FEATURE
EVENTS
AMELIA COBURN: CRIMSON BLOOM/ GEORGE BOOMSMA
I recommend local indie band Crimson Bloom. Although hailing from Teesside, they seem to have a much bigger following out of the area, including the likes of Robert Carlyle! They’ve been hard at work even throughout the pandemic, having put out five singles and an album this year, and I’ve not stopped listening to them. For fans of Stone Roses and Kula Shaker. I’m also a big fan of folk singer George Boomsma, whose emotive, poetic lyrics and gorgeous string arrangements have hints of Nick Drake and Leonard Cohen. I could listen to George’s voice all day – it’s like honey! I’m still yet to see him play live but really hoping I get to catch him at some point in 2021. www.ameliacoburn.co.uk / www.crimsonbloom.bandcamp.com / www.georgeboomsma.com Rachel Horton by Marion Botella Photography
THE CULTURE VULTURE RACHEL HORTON, AKA THE CULTURE VULTURE, CELEBRATES RESILIENT AND PASSIONATE CREATIVES AND SPACES Well what a year 2020 has been; it has felt a bit like accidentally competing in Ninja Warrior whilst everything is also on fire. As The Culture Vulture, someone whose passion and purpose is to champion and celebrate all the lush spaces, places, faces and happenings across the North East, I could not be prouder of the response of creative folx; how resilient, brilliant and innovative everyone has been. The passionate creative people of the North East cultural scene all bring a huge smile to my massive face. I recently heard an ‘innovation expert’ claim that we’ve done the learning, growing and innovating as creatives that we’d normally achieve in seven years, across 2020! I agree with this – whilst it has been GRAFT, it has also led to amazing new things, pivoting in ways unimaginable, connecting with audiences and fantastic digital events. I’d like to give a special shout out to a few 2020 trailblazers who have thrived in spite of everything. Gosforth Civic Theatre – Their socially distanced live gigs were brilliant and they’ve invested in special equipment to livestream theatre in the future; watch this space. www.gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk Sunderland Culture – Their commitment to Sunderland freelancers through their digital Unlock Programme has been ace; they’ve offered high quality training and support at an important time. www.sunderlandculture.org.uk The Spaghetti Factory – These creative lasses have created a glorious regional digital map of street art with QR codes; the urban landscape is one big art gallery! www.spaghettofactoro.weebly.com Good Strange Vibes / Slutmouth – Two artists with amazing creative products, creating lush social media content; both rays of positivity whilst challenging gender stereotypes and body taboos. www.goodstrangevibes.com / www.slutmouth.co.uk Mortal Fools – From reimagining their projects with young people, supporting freelancers and building a digital game to support children with anxiety, to their audio theatre experience When The World Is Loud, this theatre company is the definition of achieving great things and supporting their network in 2020. www.mortalfools.org.uk Check out some of the folx listed and if you know of anyone who has SMASHED this year in spite of the pandemic, tell me on social media via @ theculturevulturene www.facebook.com/theculturevulturene
BAD AMPUTEE: THE UNIT AMA
The Unit AMA are a great band, I was lucky enough to be on the same bill (as part of Yakka Doon) with them when Sweet Williams played the Cumberland last year. They’re an amazing live act, don’t play very often and seem to be quite different every time I see them. I find describing their sound almost impossible, so I looked up what their label said about them – “The Unit Ama make music that explodes outward: dense but soothing metronomic pulses morph into a wild fracturing of the traditional rock trio” – so there you go! And they put on a show, there’s definitely a sense of occasion when they’re on stage. www.badamputee.bandcamp.com / www.theunitama.bandcamp.com
FAITHFUL JOHANNES: DRESSES LIKE WOLVES Dressed Like Wolves affect me emotionally. Every time. Even after a thousand listens. Rick Dobbing is Thornaby’s answer to Conor Oberst (Bright Eyes), but with better songs. I’ve seen them live with a full band of five or six, playing loud and rocking out, just Rick alone, unamplified, and loads of line-ups and set ups in-between. It’s hard to work out exactly why DLW simultaneously upset me and make me smile. The songs have a colourful, broad vocabulary – halogen ovens, lost toothbrushes, White Russians – but aren’t quirky or contrived. Rick’s voice is fragile and small. The music is fuzzy and warm; chords, organs, strings, overdriven guitars. I’ve got their CDs in my car. When I see Rick about I try not to scare him. www.faithfuljohannes.bandcamp.com / www.dressedlikewolves.bandcamp.com
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