INTERVIEW
RIGHT HERE
STEVE SPITHRAY TALKS TO THE THREE LOCAL PROMOTERS WHOSE NEW TOURING NETWORK HOPES TO GIVE MUSICIANS AND AUDIENCES A WEALTH OF OPPORTUNITIES As the live music scene gets ready to explode once more, three of the most sought-after promoters in the region have teamed up for the inaugural Right Here event, a new mini-tour with an ethical approach aimed at promoting and supporting new music in the live environment. ‘Co-pros’ are nothing new, and the three promoters based in Wearside, Tyneside and Teesside may be familiar to many as some of the most forward thinking in the region, however this will be the first time they have worked together. I caught up with Ben Wall from Independent Live, Allan Scorer from Little Buildings and Adam Gallagher from Famous Last Words, who will bring the unique three pronged tour to Sunderland, Newcastle and Stockton respectively in August. Headlined in turn by a band from each area, the musical triptych consists of three of the North East’s best new bands: Sunderland’s noyou, Newcastle’s Motel Carnation and Hartlepool’s Marketplace. Right Here is an idea that has been floating around for a while and
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was fuelled by a kindred spirit for inclusivity and co-operative ventures, as Ben explains. “I don’t think it is needed, in the sense that it’s not essential, but the North East grassroots music scene is a fairly close-knit community, and something like this should have been organised before now. It came from numerous conversations about how difficult it can be for say, a Sunderland band, to get a decent show in Newcastle or Middlesbrough just because their profile in that city isn’t quite there yet, but as promoters we have an opportunity to help them out and also bring wonderful new bands to our venues at the same time.” The North East music scene is blessed with a wealth of genuinely supportive and conscientious promoters, particularly at grassroots level, and I wondered what pulled these particular three together. “We’ve all been fairly active throughout the lockdowns.” Says Ben. “Some venues just shut their doors and sat and waited until they could sell beer again, and probably don’t have the same concerns about their local acts and bands. But as a group, we’re probably a bit
