Study for an Audio & Music Production University Degree with Middlesbrough College
Courses include:
❱ Fd Audio & Music Production
❱ BA (Hons) Audio and Music Production (Top-up)
Our courses are delivered in state-of-the-art recording studios and control rooms, editing suites and venues.
We are an Avid Pro Tools Authorised Learning Partner, delivering industry standard qualifications alongside our higher education programme designed with industry in mind. Our teaching rooms are equipped with industry-standard software and hardware.
Our course team is built up of active industry professionals. Our course has been designed in collaboration with industry, with Tees Music Alliance, Middlesbrough Town Hall, The Middlesbrough Empire, ARC, KU Bar, Butterfly Effect Records and more on board to offer real work-related learning opportunities for our students!
What will I study?
Areas of study include:
❱ Music Production
❱ Live Events Production
❱ Recording and Mixing
❱ Audio for Film, TV and Games
❱ Composition and Songwriting
❱ Sound Design and Synthesis
❱ Popular and Experimental Music
❱ Career Development
❱ Pro Tools and Ableton Live
Rob
Rob Penrose (FosterSounds.co.uk)
Rob is running his own company, freelancing and working on exciting projects as a voice actor, musician and technical audio mixer. He’s already enjoyed success working on projects for CBeebies on a variety of shows including Postman Pat, The Baby Club and more recently Tinpo where he worked as the Sound Designer and Voice Director.
“The degree programme is practical and sets you up for the world of work. The tutors have industry experience and support you to fulfil your career ambitions. I had job interviews lined up before I had even handed in my final assignments!”
Find out more course information and apply online today!
There have been a few instances during this last month in which I felt unsafe in our region due to the terrible racist violence which has infected parts of the North East (and the wider UK). It’s not a feeling I have much experience with; I recognise the privilege my identity as a white cis-het woman affords me, but the recent riots and subsequent spew of hatred and vitriol that has been on display – always there, of course, now bubbling to the surface and stirred by the press and social media – brought it home how living in fear is a reality for those of the global majority, members of the LGBTQ+ community and people marginalised by society. There is hope and power in our strength as a community; as evidenced by counter-protests which insisted that we will not be complicit, and we will stand up against hatred and violence in our cities. But these words – as thoughtful, carefully chosen and heartfelt as they may be – mean very little to those experiencing discrimination. By our very essence, we at NARC. exist to provide a platform for a creative region which is all the more precious for its diverse, multicultural make-up. We are trying hard to provide better representation for all those who make up our society, and there is no room here for hate in any form.
PREVIEWS
4 HIGHLIGHTS
Some of the best events in September, plus what’s online at narcmagazine.com
6 PREVIEWS
Live shows from Melt-Banana, Mdou Moctar, Art Brut, Jon Spencer, Sløtface, Plantoid, Jenny Lascelles, Lauran Hibberd, Slug, The Pictish Trail, Jo Harrop, Osiah, Jimmy Whispers and more; there’s stand-up comedy from Nish Kumar at Fern Brady at Tyne Theatre & Opera House/Gala Durham, Harriet Kemsley at ARC/The Stand, Andrew O’Neill at The Stand and Scummy Mummies at The Witham; art exhibitions courtesy of Bobby Benjamin at Redcar Contemporary Art Gallery, Mali Morris at Hatton, and Brasilia of the North at The Farrell Centre; plus theatre shows including Othello at various venues, Love It If We Beat Them at Live Theatre, Abigail’s Party at Northern Stage, The Nurse’s Station at Alphabetti, Subterranea at Laurel’s, and much more!
Jason Hayles / Adam Kennedy / David Wala Contributors
Neil Ainger / Thomas Bailey / Jade Mia Broadhead / Matthew Brown / Caleb Carter / Jonathan Coll / Roz Cuthbert / Laura Doyle / Lee Fisher / Nat Greener / Michaela Hall / Lee Hammond / Tracy Hyman / Adam Kennedy / Ben Lowes-Smith / Isabel Maria / Matthew McDonnell / Amy Mitchell / Robert Nichols / Michael O’Neill / Ben Robinson / Damian Robinson / Laura Rosierse / Elodie A. Roy / David Saunders / Mack Sproates / Sarah Storer / Andrew Thompson / Luke Waller / Robin Webb / Ali Welford / Cameron Wright / Matt Young
Reports of live shows from Julie Byrne, Dragged Up, Future Islands, Flamingods, Dactyl Terra,
Moth, Explosions in the Sky, Finn Forster and
Reviews of local singles and EPs from Jeremy M, Tunnel Club/Summer Night Air, Rye, The Ilfords, Jon Doran & The Northern Assembly, Twayn, Will Good & The Mattes, Bosola, Decrepit Youths, Citizens of YEAH, White Collar Rebel and Simon Taylor
Featuring new releases from Tindersticks, Molchat Doma, Party Dozen, The Howl & The Hum, Desperate Journalist, Dora Jar, The Waeve, Masayoshi Fujita, Maxïmo Park, Alan Sparhawk, Hello Mary, 40 Watt Sun and more 54
Wesley Stephenson from Newcastle Festival of Jazz & Improvised Music picks some of his favourite tunes
Next Issue Out 25th September
28 KAY GREYSON
David Saunders talks to the Newcastle rapper about her rise in the North East hip-hop scene, working-class representation in music and her brand-new album
PREVIEWS
SEPTEMBER’S DIVERSIONS INCLUDE SURREALIST ROCK ‘N’ ROLL, BOLD THEATRE, DISCERNING STORYTELLING, JAPANESE REGGAE AND AN ART EXHIBITION NEXT TO A BIN STORE…
MUSIC
SUN 15
MUSIC TUE 3
ROBYN HITCHCOCK
Robyn Hitchcock is an artist who wears many hats; surrealist rock ’n’ roller, acoustic troubadour, poet, painter, writer; Hitchcock has crafted a striking oeuvre rife with recurring marine life, obsolete electric transport, ghosts, cheese and what one writer has described as ‘morbid eroticism’. Idiosyncratic, often surreal, and a total gem.
The Common Room, Newcastle www.robynhitchcock.com
ART & LIT
THUR 5
FAYE GREENMAN
Known for her oil paintings which explore themes of love, self-discovery and the human experience, North East-based artist Faye Greenman’s solo exhibition, Rose Tinted Glasses, uncovers the complexities of romance and the journey toward self-love, also seeking to ignite a passion for art in her viewer. Runs until Saturday 7th.
Newcastle Contemporary Art www.fayegreenman.com
MUSIC
SAT 7
THE RIFLES
Having set indie hearts racing back in the day with their 2005 singles Peace & Quiet, When I’m Alone and Local Boy, London-based indie rockers The Rifles return for their first show on Teesside in over 20 years. With a new album, Love Your Neighbour, in tow, the band offer up a cool mix of nostalgia and positivity, dished up in catchy tunes and a fun live show. KU, Stockton www.therifles.com
STAGE
MON 9
THINGS I KNOW TO BE TRUE
Fran and Bob Price have worked hard raising their four children, and now the kids are grown up the couple are getting ready to relax and enjoy the roses. However life is never straightforward. This critically acclaimed drama by Andrew Bovell is beautifully touching and bold, and will leave you asking if it’s ever possible to love too much. Runs until Saturday 14th.
A must for all budding scribes, Inpress Books have invited a raft of established and emerging authors to take part in their annual writing conference, with talks giving insight into the publishing world for emerging authors from experts in their fields. Discover how to get an agent, the ins and outs of indie publishing and how to get over first draft hurdles.
The Word, South Shields www.inpressbooks.co.uk
GEORGE BOOMSMA
A real favourite among lovers of discerning storytelling and gentle acoustic guitar, Boomsma’s new album, released this April, comprises eight carefully crafted songs that ably demonstrate the artist’s versatility as a songwriter and musician. He’s supported at this full-band show by local songwriter Ani Sandwith. Note that this is one of the venue’s Blues in the Bar shows, and begins at 3pm. The Georgian Theatre, Stockton www.georgeboomsma.com
STAGE
WED 18
A CLASS FEELING
Christina Berriman Dawson’s fully realised production of her love letter to the raw energy of Makina returns to South Shields, following local lad and wannabe DJ Justin as he navigates grief and friendship, with original music from DJ A.D.S and MC Drop Dead Fred. Runs until Saturday 21st. Customs House, South Shields www.customshouse.co.uk
MUSIC FRI 20
TYNE & QUEER FUNDRAISER
Tyne & Queer continue their commendable fundraising shows, this time in aid of Rape Crisis Tyneside and Northumberland. The gig promises raucous and varied sets from the likes of drummer, rapper and stand-up comic Jack Fox, alt. hit pedallers Broken Temples, ska punks Almighty Uprisers and Durham’s punk rock favourites Tin Ribs.
Station East, Gateshead www.facebook.com/tyneandqueercic
Image by Emma Swft
SEPTEMBER HIGHLIGHTS
ART & LIT
FRI 20
JUNIOR DURRANI
We’re willing to bet not many of you have been to art exhibitions in a bin alleyway in Middlesbrough… Junior Durrani’s work draws on themes of nostalgia and his local roots, while also tackling deeply personal narratives around fatherhood and the loss of a parent. Junior’s 22 paintings will go on display behind his garden studio on Thursday and Friday afternoons for two weeks.
12 years since Jody Bigfoot penned his first verses over reggae riddims whilst living in Japan, the artist plans to return this October to tour his latest LP, Geordie Japanese Dancehall. Influenced by the rhythmic capabilities of the Japanese language, the album sees carefully curated features from Japanese MCs alongside his own nature-themed reggae vibes. Catch him live in Newcastle before he gets big in Japan!
Little Buildings, Newcastle www.instagram.com/jodybigfoot
COMEDY FRI 20
MAISIE ADAM
A firm favourite on all the best panel shows, Maisie Adam’s conversational style and anecdotal material has won her fans aplenty. New show Appraisal sees Maisie attempt to take stock of her last whirlwind five years as a comedian by giving herself the ultimate performance review. She also performs at Newcastle’s Tyne Theatre & Opera House on 6th October. Middlesbrough Town Hall www.maisieadam.com
SAT 21
THE NEWBRIDGE ‘OPEN’ OPEN
Co-curated by the individuals and communities who take part, reflecting the context of The NewBridge Project and the many people involved from studio holders to chefs-in-residence to members of their Youth Programme. Every artwork, object, process and person within the exhibition is connected to at least one other artwork, object, process or person. Runs until 9th November. The NewBridge Project, Newcastle www.thenewbridgeproject.com
COMEDY SAT 21
DEAGE PAXTON
North East comedian Deage Paxton is fast getting a name for himself thanks to his engaging presence and twisted humour. Returning with the follow-up to his critically acclaimed debut, new show Inappropriate contains this year’s collection of “dark, dirty and kind of stupid” material.
The Stand Comedy Club, Newcastle www.instagram.com/deagepaxton
NARC. E-ZINE
Issue 13 of the NARC. E-ZINE has landed! Discover exclusive playlists, videos, mini-documentaries and much more, continually updated throughout its lifespan
NARC. TV
Alongside our brand new mini-doc on Durham’s Brassed On event, watch live performance and chats from some of the region’s most impressive artists + ALSO THIS MONTH…
INTERVIEW: TOO FAR NORTH
We chat with Ian Fawdon about his book Too Far North, published by Tyne Bridge Publishing, which seeks to uncover the secrets of the region’s successful musicians
INTERVIEW: FUTURE COLLABORATIONS FESTIVAL
AutismAble’s Ian Black tells us about Future Collaborations Festival, the event at Gosforth Civic Theatre which celebrates collaborations between neurodiverse and neurotypical musicians
MUSIC TRADE WINDS @ THREE TANNERS BANK/THE ENGINE ROOM
Words: Jonathan Coll
Trade Winds is a two-day/two-venue festival taking place in sunny, coastal surroundings in North Shields. Taking place across Three Tanners Bank and The Engine Room, helpfully situated across the road from one another, the festival splits 17 excellent bands across two days.
Friday 13th September will feature the likes of Glasgow punk collective Soapbox; space-disco duo Warm Digits; emerging Newcastle based outfit HMRC, who are producing some excellent, switched-on, politically-minded post-punk tunes; garage punks Irked; genre-fluid band Charts & Graphs; and Ladakee, the solo project of Nano Kino’s Sarah Suri. Plenty to sink your teeth into for a Friday night by the seaside!
Saturday’s offering will kick off around 2pm, offering a thrilling array of garage rock, punk, indie and psychedelic tunes to blow away the heaviest of hangovers. Highlights include the surreal pop of Liverpudlian songwriter Novelty Island; Pit Pony bring their adrenaline-shot bangers to the line-up; there’s alt./psych pop from Single Black Olive; visceral post-punk from TV Death; indie post-popster Bugman; and avant rockers The Unit Ama, among more TBA. Headlining the whole shebang is
experimental dub artist Jah Wobble, who performs under his ‘& Family’ guise alongside his wife and sons, bringing an affecting mix of Chinese and Western styles to the party. www.terns.co.uk
COMEDY
ANDREW O’NEILL @ THE STAND
Words: Michael O’Neill
All art-forms are malleable hotbeds of experimentation, however, the sacred world of stand-up is one which usually tends to bow down to the tradition of a comedian, mic in hand, delivering a side-splitting routine to a (hopefully) enraptured audience. Mind you, this is far from a put down; any budding comedian who has tried out five minutes of material at an open mic is automatically braver than 95% of creative artists working today (in my opinion, at least). With that in mind, I have nothing but respect for comedians who are daring enough to push the art-form into new frontiers. Enter Andrew O’Neill, fresh from acting alongside Jon Hamm in the recent series of Good Omens. You’d be forgiven for taking one glance at the poster for their upcoming tour Geburah, which calls in at Newcastle’s Stand on Sunday 22nd September, and thinking you were about to see a killer metal set at Trillians given the striking artwork, and the material that Geburah grapples with won’t be too dissimilar to the lyrical themes you’d hear in the pit; dealing in the surreal, the occult and the political. This tour follows a widely acclaimed
run at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2023 and is another victory lap from one of the UK’s most singular comic talents. www.andrewoneill.co.uk
EVENTS NORTH SEA WEEKENDER @ VARIOUS VENUES
Words: Sarah Storer
Newcastle-based rock trio The Pale White and DJ Craig Charles are set to play at North Shields’s Salt Market Social as part of the North Sea Weekender on Saturday 14th and Friday 20th September respectively. Organised by North Tyneside Council and supported by North of Tyne Combined Authority, North Sea Weekender hosts a series of music, surfing and wellbeing events, including the Wellbeing Weekender, a family-focused weekend of yoga and other mindfulness activities on Saturday 30th September. On Saturday 12th and Sunday 13th October, there is Tynemouth Surf Co’s annual surfing competition, the Tynemouth Longboard Classic, which attracts local, national and international surfers. On the back of the Paris Olympics, it will be a great opportunity to see professional surfers providing inspiration for any future athletes. www.northseawkndr.com
Andrew O’Neill
MUSIC MELT-BANANA @ THE CLUNY
Words: Lee Fisher
The wonderful team behind Birmingham’s Supersonic put on a gig for kids during the festival every year and it’ll come as no surprise that the year they invited Melt-Banana it WENT
SHOWCASING THE NORTH EAST’S BEST NEW MUSIC
OFF! Because what sugar-guzzling toddler wouldn’t want to see a set of hyper-everything splatter-core performed at full pelt by some joyful Japanese noiseniks?
Melt-Banana – now just singer Yasuko Onuki and guitarist Ichiro Agata backed by a frantically programmed rhythm section – have been doing the brain-melting fizzy noise thing for three decades now, in part due to the support and endorsement of Steve Albini, and
their new album 3+5 is just out. It’s as gleefully delirious as you’d want and expect, and they’re touring the UK for most of September to support it, including a Newcastle show at The Cluny on Friday 13th September. Fashion Tips are crowd-surfing the ecstatic reaction to their recent I Wish You Every Success tape and are obviously the perfect support and so it shall be, which makes for a fantastically in-yr-face bill. www.melt-banana.net
04.10.24 | The Assembly Rooms
COMEDY
QUEERS & BEERS @ THE OLD COAL YARD
Words: Matthew Brown
Queers & Beers, Newcastle’s only regular queer comedy night, returns to Ouseburn’s Old Coal Yard on Thursday 26th September, and offers a vital space for LGBTQ+ performers and their allies. Born from the frustration of queer acts having to “explain away their gay” or apologise for their identity to perform in mainstream venues, this event creates a safe and supportive environment where queer voices can be celebrated without compromise. The night will feature a stellar line-up of comedians and performers, including Nicola Mantalios, Kerris Gibson, Al Stevenson, Chess Tomlinson, Cal Halbert and drag king Vic The Prick. Each act brings their unique brand of humour, offering sharp, insightful and often hilarious takes on queer life, relationships and the challenges faced by the LGBTQ+ community.
The event is designed to be a safe and inclusive space, where performers don’t have to navigate the complexities of performing to a predominantly het-normative audience. Queers & Beers is aimed at being more than just a comedy show. It’s a gathering that fosters community and connection, by centring queer stories and providing a platform where LGBTQ+ performers can express themselves
freely, the event has become a cornerstone for queer culture in Newcastle. www.feltnowt.co.uk
STAGE
ABIGAIL’S PARTY @ NORTHERN STAGE
Words: Amy Mitchell
A new production brings Mike Leigh’s cult classic comedy Abigail’s Party to fresh audiences, with its premiere at Northern Stage from Friday 13th-Saturday 28th September ahead of a national tour. Award winning director Jack Bradfield is “thrilled to be reviving this savage suburban comedy” and promises to ratchet up the awkward, strange, inappropriate and unbearable.
The staging sounds really interesting – aiming to bring a new perspective to the piece, with a contemporary feel bringing it into 2024, whilst being true to the original late 70’s setting. The story follows ‘Queen of Suburbia’ Beverly as she hosts a cocktail party for her new working class neighbours; but meanwhile, next door 15-year-old Abigail is having a party of her own, and no-one can stop talking about it or thinking about it! What is Beverly to do? Something must be done. Expect to laugh, cringe and witness social awkwardness and drama. With characters who say and do some horrible things in the name of middle class aspiration, this comedy has a dark underside.
This is one classic revival that you should make sure to see in this sparkling new form. www.northernstage.co.uk
MUSIC
ART BRUT @ THE GROVE
Words: Lee Fisher
Art Brut – the Sound of Young Parkstone – have been making an adorable, ramshackle, art-punk-pop racket for almost a quarter of a century now, which means they’re fully entitled to move into Boxed Set territory. Thus, the recent Alcopop Records release of five CD-set And Yes, This Is My Singing Voice and limited double-LP A Record Collection, Reduced To A Mixtape to celebrate their five albums and string of absolute bangers – like Formed A Band, Direct Hit, Alcoholics Unanimous and Wham! Bang! Pow! Let’s Rock Out! With Eddie Argos – artist, fop, voice of the kids – front and centre, Art Brut are funny without ever being a comedy band, sincere as your life, absurd and in love with rock ’n’ roll just like Jonathan Richman was. Eddie’s based in Berlin now so UK gigs are vanishingly rare, which is why it’s so cool that they’re hitting The Grove on Friday 6th September. Top Of The Pops might have gone but Eddie and co prevail. Ready, Art Brut? www.artbrut.org.uk
Art Brut
Jack Napper’s vision for a ‘Linear City’, originally presented in Northern Architect, July 1965. Image courtesy of Napper Architects
STAGE
THE NURSE’S STATION @ ALPHABETTI THEATRE
Words: Matthew Brown
The Nurse’s Station, a new folk gig theatre show, is set to captivate audiences with its unique blend of dark humour and powerful music. Created by an award-winning team, including musician Ruth Lyon and Alphabetti’s Ali Pritchard, the show is crafted from real-life stories of seasoned and newly trained nurses, offering an authentic glimpse into their world. The narrative unfolds at a nurses’ station, a place that never sleeps, where shifts are handed over like a centuries-old tradition. It captures the essence of life, death, friendship and change, much like a timeless folk song passed through generations. This show is a celebration of the enduring spirit and dedication of nurses, told through a vibrant mix of love, laughter and the challenges they face.
Pritchard’s direction has been praised for its ability to balance light and dark, infusing the show with dry wit while ensuring that emotional moments resonate deeply. Previous work by the team has been lauded for its pacing, emotional depth and ability to keep audiences engaged with abrupt changes in tone. Coupled with Ruth Lyon’s evocative music, The Nurse’s Station promises to be an experience that honours the incredible dedication of nurses with a heartfelt and immersive theatrical journey.
The Nurse’s Station will premiere at Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle from Tuesday 10th-
For the longest time, I took the infamous ‘walkways to nowhere’ and the occasional wash of brutalist architecture in Newcastle’s city centre for granted, completely oblivious to the incredible and complex story behind how they came to be. The saga of how architects, city planners and politicians rallied together to transform Newcastle into the ‘Brasilia of the North’ is one which can’t be neatly summed up here, but the Farrell Centre are celebrating this iconic and innovative period in the history of the region with an eight-month programme which is geared towards exploring the ideals and aspirations that drove these transformations and the ways they continue to shape the Tyneside of today.
The Concrete Dreams programme will not only explore the history and honour the legacy of what the project aimed to achieve, but will also explore whether it is possible for us build upon the legacies of that era and remake the city once again. Kicking off with the evolving Brasilia of the North exhibition – which focuses on the aspirations to transform the city into the Northern European version of the futuristic Brazilian capital city emerging from the Amazon rainforest – running from Thursday 19th September until June 2025, and there will also be a number of events and
talks which further engage with the complex history of this pivotal era in the evolution of Newcastle, and the wider Tyneside area. www.farrellcentre.org.uk
MUSIC
OSIAH @ THE GROVE
Words: Michael O’Neill I have to simply take every opportunity I can to express my sheer admiration for the phenomenal, undying support that the more extreme forms of metal receive in the North East. No matter how much the region may be evolving, the metal/extreme music community still continues to thrive, with more and more phenomenal groups showing up to push the boundaries of glorious noise further and further.
The phenomenal five-band line-up taking place on Saturday 14th September at Byker’s iconic Grove is a further testament to this. Headliners Osiah are signed to Unique Leader Records and have garnered a wealth of acclaim off the back of a prolific body of work, commencing with 2016’s Terror Firma and recently evolving with 2023’s Kairos. The quartet are a ferocious force of nature, with pummelling riffs, powerhouse drumming and phenomenally dextrous vocals coalescing into a unique and utterly mind-melting storm of glorious noise. The support bill is absolutely stacked, with sets from To Obey A Tyrant, Existentialist, Beyond Extinction and Draconian Reign. All in all, it’s a staggering testament to the brilliant undying spirit of extreme metal in the UK. Godspeed to your eardrums. www.osiah.uk
MUSIC SLØTFACE @ ZEROX
Words: Cameron Wright Sløtface are ferocious. I first came familiar with the band when I saw them open for Toronto-based pop-punk heavyweights Pup, and like the headliners they brought a vibrant energy that merged euphoria with anger; it
felt exciting and giddy, but it felt targeted. Now the Norwegian band is a beast, ridden by Haley Shea. There’s tinges of pop sensibilities, as the hooky knacks of Olivia Rodrigo or Avril Lavigne are ingrained, yet they’re now delivered through a louder amp with a monumental sense of immediacy. You only need to listen to Ladies Of The Fight – a single off their upcoming album Film Bluff – to get a sense of the attitude that pours out
the band, and undoubtedly bleeds across the entire album. Not only a viciously promising band, but a genuinely thrilling live experience, Sløtface bring their sound to Zerox on Friday 27th September, the same day their latest album is released, so the band will be in celebratory mood and ready to take over the intimate venue with their cathartic release of energy. www.slotface.no
Image by Leah Håland Solomons
MUSIC SUNDERLAND SUMMER SESSIONS @ INDEPENDENT
Words: Claire Dupree
Throughout August, venerable Sunderland institutions The Bunker and Independent have been working alongside a brand new cohort of new musicians for their residency-style programme, Sunderland Summer Sessions. As part of the programme, artists received free rehearsal and studio time, alongside support from industry professionals to help them develop their songwriting and performance skills, as well as helping them to navigate the business side of the industry. At the end of the residency, artists came away with professionally-filmed videos and recorded tracks, and will be performing at a special celebratory gig at Independent on Saturday 28th September.
The showcase gig is not only a great opportunity for musicians to show off all they’ve learned in front of an appreciative audience, but also an excellent chance for music lovers to discover brand new music in the city. Performers taking part in the event include heavy rockers Empty Accents, brand new five-piece Facade, singer-songwriter Jenny Dean, punk band Claudia, multi-vocal
group The Last Time and singer and guitarist This Little Bird. www.independentsunderland.com
COMEDY SCUMMY MUMMIES @ THE WITHAM
Words: Amy Mitchell
The Scummy Mummies hit Barnard Castle with their Greatest Hits show on Tuesday 17th September, playing at The Witham as part of their national tour. Join Ellie and Helen as they celebrate ten years of scummy mumminess. They have played to sold out audiences across the country with their hilarious hit comedy show, based on their original podcast, and now they are bringing their most-loved songs, sketches and stand-up together for a night that promises to “make you laugh until you wee”! Strictly 18+, you can expect laughs aplenty, skin tight body suits, props and parenting disasters and dilemmas. It’ll make you feel normal-ish about your parenting skills, or just super glad and smug that you are child-free. Described by audiences as “lairy” and “so true”, the Scummy Mummies cover topics relevant to modern mums and dads, from culture and current affairs to farting and fish fingers. Grab yourself some tickets, a TENA Lady and some gin-in-a-tin and go enjoy. www.scummymummies.com
MUSIC
SICK JOY @ ZEROX
Words: Ben Robinson
Sick Joy will bring their electrifying live show the stage at Zerox in Newcastle on Monday 30th September. Known as one of Britain’s most promising rock bands, their appeal is evident; their music is not only upbeat and infectious but also brilliantly crafted, enticing listeners to move with its rhythms. Yet, what truly distinguishes their sound is the seamless blend of poignant melodies coupled with impactful lyrics. This connection results in music that feels both current and futuristic, navigating a genre that often struggles with reinvention.
In 2018, Sick Joy released their debut EP Amateurs, which garnered acclaim from radio stations and critics across the UK. Their debut set the stage for their ongoing growth and expansion, and their journey so far has seen them perform alongside some of the UK’s leading rock bands including The Hunna and LIFE, a testament to their undeniable skill and artistry.
As they bring their powerful noise pop to Newcastle as part of their latest tour, their show promises to transport listeners to a realm of rhythmic beats and uplifting vibes, ensuring an unforgettable night. www.sickjoy.com
Sick Joy
MUSIC
SEPTEMBER GARAGE ROCK TRIPLE-BILL @ THE CLUNY
Words: Lee Fisher
Due to Cluny mainman Don Hoolio’s excellent taste and loyalty to his favourite bands, Newcastle has always punched above its weight when it comes to what we’ll call – for convenience – garage rock. How else could the
comparatively modest venue host one of the Rocket From The Crypt comeback dates? That band’s frontman Speedo/John Reis has played The Cluny in a dizzying array of bands, and he’s back on Wednesday 25th September with the latest, Swami John Reis & The Bed Of Nails, whose All Of This Awaits You… is just out on Swami Records.
Also due this month are two other Cluny regulars and garage rock legends – Jon Spencer and Kid Congo Powers. Former Blues Explosion frontman Spencer is backed by the rhythm section from the brilliant but possibly sadly defunct Bobby Lees and hits Newcastle
on Wednesday 11th for a night of white-hot garage punk. And Kid Congo Powers (The Bad Seeds, The Cramps, The Gun Club) is always a big Cluny draw (last year’s show was a packed and thrilling night of sleazy, Latin-tinged fun). He’s back on Tuesday 17th with his excellent Pink Monkey Birds.
Truly, our garage rock cup runneth over. What’s more, The Cluny is celebrating this triple-threat run of shows with a special offer: all three shows for a bargain price of £50, which is absurd value for a line-up this good. www.thecluny.com/product/septembertriple-bill
MacCalman | Jeppe Zeeberg and the Absolute Pinnacle of Human Achievement Warp/weft
Ingrid Laubrock / Tom Rainey / Johnny Hunter / John Pope | Alcyona Mick | Juliana Day
FERN BRADY @ GALA THEATRE/TYNE THEATRE & OPERA HOUSE
Words: Laura Rosierse
Scottish Queen of comedy Fern Brady is known for appearances on Taskmaster, performances at the Apollo and Roast Battle, and wrote Sunday Times bestselling memoir Strong Female Character. She’s collected quite the accolades over the years, and is returning to the road with her show I Gave You Milk To Drink which will stop at Durham’s Gala Theatre on Friday 13th and Saturday 14th, and Newcastle’s Tyne Theatre & Opera House on Sunday 15th September.
In this brand new show Brady will be asking important life questions such as ‘what happens when you get everything you want and it’s not enough?’ In 2021 she was diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum and since then she’s been active within the field of autism education. Her Netflix special, Autistic Bikini Queen, highlights some of that journey, but most of all demonstrates her outrageously funny way of telling her life’s stories. If the comedian’s upcoming live shows are anything like her most recent combination of wittily told jokes, we’re all in for an incredible treat. www.fernbradycomedian.com
MUSIC
MDOU MOCTAR @ BOILER SHOP
Words: Lee Fisher
Initially the solo project of Niger-born Tuareg songwriter and guitarist Mahamadou Souleymane, Mdou Moctar gained initial attention as part of the Music From Saharan Cellphones scene, and has been a four-piece band since 2019.
And what a band: the rhythm section lending a heavy, insistent backing to Souleymane’s phenomenal, psych-inflected guitar solos and often fierce lyrics. Recent album Funeral For Justice is his most political yet, looking at global indifference to the evils wrought upon Niger by colonialism and Western exploitation. Souleymane and his band (save American bassist Mikey Coltun) have a background in Niger’s punk-as-fuck wedding scene (Souleymane built his own guitar with bike cables as strings – take that, Brian May!) and still sound raw and loud and in-your-face, with a reputation as a truly blistering live band. So big love to F54 for bringing them to Newcastle’s Boiler Shop on Tuesday 3rd September as part of a short UK tour. www.mdoumoctar.com
STAGE OTHELLO
@ VARIOUS VENUES
Words: Cameron Wright “Then must you speak, Of one that loved not wisely but too well.”
For some, Shakespeare’s greatest tragedy, for others, the greatest tragedy ever penned.
Othello has an undeniable reputation, it is an unmovable mountain, it is the standard by which all stories of heartbreak are measured. The story of deception, manipulation and ultimately, love, has served us time and time again, in a multitude of iterations. Now, Elysium Theatre Company tackle the juggernaut on an extensive tour across the region and beyond. No strangers to the works for literature’s most infamous bard, Elysium have turned their hand to countless Shakespeare productions, including A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Macbeth, all to rave reviews.
The production runs from Wednesday 18th September-Sunday 20th October, and calls in at venues including Alnwick Playhouse, Newcastle’s John Marley Centre, The Witham in Barnard Castle, Bishop Auckland Town Hall and Hexham’s Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, climaxing with a four day residency at Durham’s Shakespeare festival.
Such an extensive tour means there’s no reason not to snap up the opportunity to see and support local talent breathe life into William Shakespeare’s immortal exploration of jealousy and passion.
www.elysiumtc.co.uk
Mdou Moctar by Ebru Yildiz
MUSIC
ANDREW WASYLYK & TOMMY PERMAN @ THE CUMBERLAND ARMS
Words: Cameron Wright
Ash Grey And The Gull Glides On opens with a drum pattern; you feel the synth rhythm deep inside you as it marches on, then there’s murmurs of synth in the back ground, mounting tension. Your mind may jump towards Depeche Mode, or something of a similar oeuvre, until the piano announces itself. This opening track, Climb Like A Floating Vapour, sets the tone and lays the foundation of the new collaboration between Andrew Wasylyk and Tommy Perman. The Scottish heavyweights have flirted with collaboration for years now. Wasylyk’s piano prowess and cinematic compositions have seen him write soundtracks for Radio 4 and win BBC Radio 6Music’s Gideon Coe’s Album of the Year, as well as a nomination for Scottish Album of the Year Award. Perman’s music has seen him DJ across the globe, playing the Sydney Opera House and National Museum of Scotland.
Now finally locking minds, the outcome is singular. The grandeur of the piano compliments and contrasts the acid house tendencies of Perman, creating something truly curious. The grinding rhythms and lilting pianos are a marriage that has to be heard to be believed, yet undeniably it works and it shines. The layered vocals and saxophone accompaniments texture the motifs and rhythms that the pair provide beautifully. The two bring the music of the new album to Newcastle’s Cumberland Arms on Tuesday 17th September. www.andrewwasylyk.bandcamp.com
MUSIC ST. MARY’S CATHEDRAL GIGS
Words: Robert Nichols
Middlesbrough has a new venue for live gigs but it may not quite be where you were expecting. Middlesbrough’s St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Cathedral is opening its doors to two live shows in September and if successful this could be the start of great things to come. Situated next to the Parkway Shopping Centre in Coulby Newham, the modern cathedral opened in the mid 80s and has a pew capacity of over 500, extra seating boosting this up to as many as 700. The seating forms a semi circle ramping down towards the altar/stage area, offering an unobstructed view with superb acoustics.
Middlesbrough Cathedral follows a welcome trend of ecclesiastical buildings opening their doors to the greater community, Sunderland Minster, Newcastle Cathedral and Durham Cathedral being among the churches that have hosted gigs in recent times. With so many music venues having disappeared in Middlesbrough, St. Mary’s Cathedral could be a precious addition to the local gig scene. Coming up on Friday 27th September is a show from dynamic harmonyled duo Plumhall and Pete Davies, while on Saturday 28th I Am Kloot frontman John Bramwell performs a solo set.
Cannon Paul Farrer, the cleric behind the gigs, told me: “We are still learning what will work,” but his Bishop intended the building to be “a cathedral for the people.” They are determined to give it a real go and open the doors of one of the Middlesbrough’s most iconic buildings to music lovers.
www.middlesbroughrccathedral.org
LOVE IT IF WE BEAT THEM @ LIVE THEATRE
Words: Amy Mitchell
Love It If We Beat Them, written by Rob Ward, is a must-see for fans of football and politics alike. The production runs at Newcastle’s Live Theatre from Tuesday 10th -Saturday 28th September, and comes at a most pertinent moment – an election year when Labour have returned to power after a long hiatus. It couldn’t be more topical, but at the same time is nostalgic for the landscape of the 90’s.
The play is set in 1995/96 against a backdrop of the Premier League season when Newcastle United under Keegan were rising to the top of the league, whilst Tony Blair’s New Labour promised that things could only get better as they were set for victory at the ballet box. The play follows Len, a hard-left Labour activist, NUFC supporter and ex-miner standing as a local Labour MP who ends up facing off against New Labour fielded candidate Victoria, sent up from Manchester. His wife Jean is a passionate charity worker who has turned her pain into action. The story explores love, loss, and power, and its impact on people. Questions of loyalty, identity and community collide in a piece that captures a moment in time, but is relevant and challenges today’s audience to consider what is power without principle? www.live.org.uk
Tommy Perman & Andrew Wasylyk by Fraser Simpson
MUSIC GIANT WALKER RELEASE NEW ALBUM
Words: Cameron Wright
In 2022 I interviewed Giant Walker to discuss their debut record, All In Good Time. During the interview and the band’s subsequent rise, I was struck by how much drive and vision the band have. It may be easy to pigeonhole the Newcastle-via-Guildford quartet as a heavy prog rock band, but when you dig into the scope of their sound, you hear a multitude of influences, including the likes of Soundgarden, citing Chris Cornell’s songwriting as a source of inspiration.
In what’s become the band’s blueprint, their truth, honesty and raw unflinching swagger is evident on sophomore album Silhouettes, released on 20th September. With a greater attention to detail, subtle moments of quiet are interjected with bluesy atmospherics, accumulating to mark a mature and attitude-driven record that is as concise
and clear as it is expensive and ambitious. The tracks are made for huge venues, the vocals are made to fill a room and the guitars are made to blast across an audience – all of which you can experience at their Zerox show on Saturday 5th October. These are big songs, made for big things.
www.giantwalker.co.uk
EVENTS
HERITAGE OPEN DAYS
Words: Laura Doyle
Heritage Open Days mark the best week of the year for history lovers, bargain seekers and history lovin’ bargain seekers. The countrywide festival, which runs from Friday 6th-Sunday 15th September, provides the opportunity to celebrate the culture and heritage of their community through a series of events, talks and workshops – entirely for free. The roster for our neck of the woods is absolutely chocka, so doubtless there’ll be something on the HOD handy-dandy website for everyone. Various establishments will be
opening their doors for free over the week, from local institutions like The Bowes Museum, Segedunum Roman Fort and the Lit & Phil to big name places in the National Trust and English Heritage, and from city centre hotspots to rural locations. Get a two-for-one if you check out Cragside with a visit to the nearby Cragend Farm, an ancient Northumberland farm dating back to the 1300s. World Heritage Site Ambassadors have scattered QR codes across Durham’s Palace Green which, when scanned, tell the story of the medieval city through audio. Woodhorn Museum hosts Memories of Wor Jackie, a talk on footballer Jackie Milburn on what would have been his 100th birthday. Meanwhile for anyone who wants history to really come alive, Gisborough Priory are going all-out on a re-enactment of an Anglo Saxon village for their weekend. So if you’ve been meaning to go to that place with a brown sign, schedule a visit in your diary for this week and make some memories. www.heritageopendays.org.uk
Giant Walker
STAGE SUBTERRANEA @ LAUREL’S
Words: Amy Mitchell
This new drama sounds fascinating, a kind of post-apocalyptic social experiment where the disparities between The Above and The Below
threaten to tear things apart. Premiering at Laurel’s in Whitley Bay, Peachplant Production’s new piece is set in a post-nuclear attack North East in the year 2029. Some people live above ground (those who could afford shelters) and some people work and stay below ground (it was only supposed to be for a month) and there is no interaction between the two societies. But what happens when after empty promises and false hope a law comes into place that changes
everything?
Peachplant want to tell relatable stories in extra-ordinary ways. With a small cast and an interesting concept this should be an evening out that gets you thinking. Playing from Tuesday 10th-Saturday 28th September with a range of accessible ticket prices, a matinee show with childcare and captioned, relaxed and audio described shows. www.facebook.com/peachplantproductions
MUSIC JEFFREY LEWIS & THE VOLTAGE @ THE GEORGIAN THEATRE
Words: Cameron Wright
Jeffrey Lewis is a pioneer. If you listen to his early albums you can hear the influences of Leonard Cohen or Will Oldham, but you can also hear how it influenced The Strokes and the indie revolution of the 00s.
Through his wry, self-effacing penmanship, you can see a thousand separate slithers of humanity; you can hear existentialism as he wrestles with his place in the world, then you can hear anarchy as he throws himself into his youth and his life; you can hear joy and you can hear panic. Overall Jeffrey Lewis’ music is something so simple, often stripped down lo-fi folk with songwriting that bubbles with complexity, anxiety and humanity.
In more recent years, Lewis’ work can feature jaunty tracks that parody the celebrity life, or often he will retell a classic novel or movie, interspersing it with his own unique flair. Live, he is as candid as he is inspired. It’s a unique experience, as he customises the setlist of each concert, trying never to repeat songs he previously played at that venue or in a recent show. He plays and he jokes and everyone involved comes out feeling all the better for it. Bringing his alternative take of rock and folk to Stockton’s Georgian Theatre on Sunday 1st September, I can not implore you enough to attend this show.
www.thejeffreylewissite.com
ART & LIT BOBBY BENJAMIN @ REDCAR CONTEMPORARY ART GALLERY
Words: Michael O’Neill
The vivid and varied landscape of the North East has long been an incredible source of inspiration for artists the globe over, with its striking views and rich architectural history being as integral to the Pitmen Painters as it was to Ridley Scott when he was conjuring up a vision of a futuristic Los Angeles. There’s plenty of inspiration to be found in our surroundings, but there’s also a lot to be said for how our surroundings influence us in turn. Redcar-raised and Teesside-based artist Bobby Benjamin explores this idea with Lakes, Lords and Queens, a new exhibition coming to Redcar Contemporary Art Gallery from Friday 20th September-Saturday 2nd November. Creating abstract works, predominantly with found objects, Bobby explores themes of place, masculine identity and class, aiming to challenge hegemony and industry inequality, and explore the juxtaposition between his experiences of council estate life and the professional art world in which he works. It’s a departure from the large-scale sculptures and installations with which Bobby is commonly associated, finding the artist instead embracing a ‘kitchen-table’ methodology and aesthetic. This playful and experimental approach to documenting his own lived experiences results in a profound meditation on how Redcar shaped him, both as an artist, and as a human being in turn.
www.instagram.com/bobbybenjamin
MUSIC TEES FOLK @ THE GLOBE, STOCKTON
Words: Laura Rosierse
Saturday 7th September will see the second edition of contemporary folk event Tees Folk take place at The Globe in Stockton. Following on from a hugely successful first year, which saw high profile artists like Kris Drever and Megson take to the stage, this year’s event focuses on the astonishing folk talents of musicians north of the border, with an entirely Scottish line-up.
Aiming to represent the current folk climate, artists present powerful storytelling, lush harmonies and curious tales. Heading up the bill are award-winning trio Lau, whose acoustic folk is superbly combined with post-rock electronics, and it’ll be a welcome return for band member Kris Drever after his headline slot last year. Also on the bill is singer-songwriter Siobhan Miller, who performs her traditional-style folk which is infused with modern influences alongside a full six-piece band; Glasgow quartet Gnoss offer up their characterful livewire instrumental set which will please fans of trad roots and outstanding musicianship; and Hannah Rarity is a BBC Young Traditional Musician of the Year winner whose stunning voice has earned her comparisons to the likes of Cara Dillon and Eva Cassidy. www.stocktonglobe.co.uk
Lau by Sandy Butler
ORLANDO WEEKS @ THE CLUNY
Words: Ben Robinson
Orlando Weeks first emerged onto the indie rock scene back in 2007, amassing a remarkable career as a member of the British rock group The Maccabees. With four
successful albums under their belt, the band captivated audiences with their blend of indie pop rhythms, rock anthems, deep bass-lines and a youthful, whimsical spirit.
Transitioning to a solo career, Weeks has solidified his status as one of the UK’s most promising talents. Over the past four years, his debut and sophomore albums, A Quickening and Hop Up, have been well received, and his latest record, LOJA, is rich with the sounds of contemporary pop music, accompanied by stunning artwork that Weeks crafted in his
Lisbon studio. He emphasises that the visual aspect of the project is as integral to the album as the music itself, a sentiment that speaks volumes about his artistic vision. The album’s themes are optimistic and reflective, delivered in a typically warm and engaging style.
On Tuesday 24th September Orlando Weeks will grace The Cluny with his critically acclaimed music, delivering an evening of electric, modern sounds.
www.orlandoweeks.co.uk
Image by Kate Friend
COMEDY
NISH KUMAR @ TYNE THEATRE & OPERA HOUSE/GALA THEATRE
Words: Laura Doyle
Nish, Don’t Kill My Vibe was originally advertised as one British Indian man explaining why he won’t be voting for a British Indian Prime Minister. One simply must wonder how a politically-charged stand-up professional like Nish Kumar took the news of a UK General Election in July when he’d already announced a full UK tour to take place in September five months prior. Did the entire routine get scrapped? Did he rework what he had as best as he could? Or has a Labour landslide given the left-leaning comic a fresh lease on life that’ll have him skipping across the stage? That doesn’t really sound like Nish Kumar’s style though – as the name may suggest, there’s nothing he loves more than finding a vibe and killing it. I daresay that even with his political nemeses kicked out of office, there’ll be a bucket-load of problems ready and waiting to be picked apart with his trademark scathing satire and biting wit when he performs at Newcastle’s Tyne Theatre & Opera House on Thursday 19th and Durham Gala Theatre on Friday 20th September. Plus if he does run low on problems within the UK, there are still enough terrible events happening internationally (this pessimistic comedian’s
bread and butter) to build up quite the bittersweet act. RIP vibes. www.nishkumar.co.uk
MUSIC
OMNI @ THE CLUNY
Words: Thomas Bailey
Lovers of XTC, Devo, Gang of Four and Television will be sure to enjoy Omni, who stop off at The Cluny on Monday 23rd September as part of their European tour. The US trio will be showcasing their fourth album, Souvenir and are sure to highlight newer tracks such as Exacto and Plastic Pyramid, which manage to mix post-punk with elements of absurdism in order to create a whimsical listening experience.
Established in Atlanta, it is evident that the post-punk scene in the States, which fostered bands such as Devo, Television, The Talking Heads and Sonic Youth, has had a major influence on their musical output. As has been evident since their first album, Deluxe (2016), Omni are able to fuse both nostalgia and modernity together. As a result, they are certain to appeal to fans of classic post-punk as well as fans of modern alternative. For those who seek a nostalgic yet refreshing sonic experience, especially fans of post-punk and new-wave, Omni will certainly be a trio that you’ll want to go and see. www.facebook.com/omniatl
ART & LIT MALI MORRIS: RETURNING @ HATTON GALLERY
Words: Nat Greener
Newcastle’s Hatton Gallery presents Mali Morris: Returning, the largest exhibition to date by the acclaimed British abstract painter. Running from Saturday 14th SeptemberSaturday 11th January, this exhibition is something of a homecoming for Morris, who studied at the University of Newcastle’s Department of Fine Art from 1963 to 1968. Morris is celebrated for her vibrant use of colour, with paintings that exude luminosity and translucence. This exhibition showcases around 40 key works, offering a comprehensive look at her artistic evolution over the past 45 years. Visitors will journey through her early gestural and stained works to her more recent explorations of geometric layering. Morris’s influence in the art world is significant, with her works held in prestigious public collections, including the Arts Council Collection and the Museum of Wales. Elected to the Royal Academy in 2010, she continues to shape the landscape of contemporary painting.
Mali Morris: Returning is a unique opportunity to experience the depth and breadth of the collection; don’t miss this vibrant celebration of one of Britain’s leading abstract artists. www.hattongallery.org.uk
Omni by Gem Hale
MUSIC LAURAN HIBBERD @ THREE TANNERS BANK
Words: Mack Sproates
If, like me, you can feel your inner teenage pop punk heart crying out for some new jams, Lauran Hibberd has got you covered. With fresh, feel good, bouncy power pop songs injected with humour and fun, Hibberd provides catchy alt. rock anthems enough to make
Stacey’s Mom proud. Celebrating her newest album Girlfriend Material with a tour which rocks up at North Shields’ Three Tanners Bank on Wednesday 18th September, Hibberd’s music sends me back to my 14-year-old bedroom plastered in Kerrang! posters, rocking out to a one person MP3 player concert with Wheatus and Weezer headlining. The album features some zingy, personable songs on the uncertainty of growing up, grief, love and nostalgia – with splashes of joy, colour and chaotic energy. Each song features all too relatable lyrics for all the 90s kids out there
who are also trying to navigate being an adult in an overwhelming and confusing world. The playfulness and grounded insights in Hibberd’s lyrics are strong, and often a way in for more vulnerable tracks like I Suck At Grieving to stand out, which offers a raw and honest look into loss and finding comfort. Wrapped in sweet vocals, poppy, fuzzy guitars and light-hearted yet sincere lyrics filled with heart, Lauran Hibberd is a must see treat for all the teenage dirtbags out there. www.lauranhibberd.com
Image by Emily Marcovecchio
MUSIC
JIMMY WHISPERS @ CAFE ETCH
Words: Cameron Wright
Jimmy Whispers might have made a splash with his 2015 debut, Summers In Pain, but then he disappeared. His sweet, kind melodies and tender, frail delivery displays an earnestness and sincerity found in the likes of Daniel Johnston’s releases. The simple, lo-fi bedroom stylings were more polished than anything in Johnston’s catalogue but carried a similar warmth and purity. The instrumentation was gentle and the lyrics sincere, and the record was a lovely blueprint for a promising musician. Now in 2024, Jimmy Whispers returns. Garnering a cult following across America, the artist finally gifts us his sophomore project, The Search For God. Musically, it is evident that the time spent crafting this record was not wasted. Filled with far more texture, nuance and twinkling stardust, the release is as comforting as Whispers always has been. Centred around two synths and a drum machine, the project still feels homemade and accessible, yet is
brightened with the sparks of a true, authentic songwriter.
With a career that seems teetering on the verge of great success, the opportunity to catch this upcoming star in a setting as intimate and quaint as Middlesbrough’s Cafe Etch on Thursday 5th September is a rare opportunity that should be snatched with both hands. www.linktr.ee/jimmywhispers
MUSIC FUTURE COLLABORATIONS @
GOSFORTH
CIVIC THEATRE
Words: Mack Sproates
Future Collaborations takes place at Gosforth Civic Theatre on Saturday 14th September, and seeks to champion neurodiversity through music.
Hosted by the brilliant AutismAble, the festival will include a roster of cracking bands, learning opportunities and the chance for upcoming
artists to share their work to a fantastic audience (that’s you!). There is a wonderful palette of musicians involved, including indie rock and progressive popsters SLUG, local rockers Idle Hands, musician and composer Jeremy Warmsley, DIY alt. rock band Nano Kino, Hartlepool melodic popsters Mt. Misery, revered singer-songwriter Jodie Nicholson, Sunderland composer Ben Lunn with the AutismAble band Garage Above, and The Cornshed Sisters’ Liz Corney playing tracks from her upcoming solo record, among others.
Alongside a fab accessible venue, which is doing some wonderful work in advocating for neurodiversity, the festival offers meaningful work experience for neurodiverse folks who want to work in the music industry. Diversity, inclusivity and accessibility is essential for all music and arts events, and it’s paramount that all folks are able to see a future in a career or passion that they love. It’s so inspiring to see events like this that are forging paths for neurodiverse people to be able to work in all elements of the music industry, especially in the North East.
www.facebook.com/futurecollabfest
Jimmy Whispers
MUSIC JUMPIN’ HOT CLUB REVUE @ GOSFORTH CIVIC THEATRE/ CLAYPATH DELI
Words: Lee Fisher
Decades ago, package tours were the way things were done: Jimi Hendrix, Norman Wisdom and Gerry & The Pacemakers crammed into an old coach playing seaside
towns. And now the mighty Jumpin’ Hot Club crew are fully bringing back the spirit of the revue tour, with an eight-day September jaunt that’ll take in everywhere from the West Country to Scotland’s Central Belt. JHC mainman Shippy has hand-picked the bill from the roll-call of the club’s regulars and it’s headed up by Martin Stephenson, of Daintees fame and Tyneside origin, who’s been a JHC stalwart since the beginning. He’ll have Often Herd guitarist Rupert Hughes backing him up. Appearing without his Tea Pad Orchestra, Rob Heron will bring his laid-back country charm and doubtless a yodel or two with a selection of
his own fine tunes and some carefully chosen cowboy song covers. Hailing from the two Shields, Errant Moose (Philippa and Phoebe) are immersed in that old time, high lonesome sound and play in the classic fiddle and guitar formation. And finally, Shippy himself will be offering up some of his charming, witty, tender songs – full of heart and humour. All four acts will play sets as well as collaborating throughout. The tour hits Newcastle for a show at Gosforth Civic Theatre on Friday 20th September and Durham’s Claypath Deli the following night. www.jumpinhotclub.com
Martin Stephenson
MUSIC
PLANTOID @ THE CUMBERLAND ARMS
Words: Cameron Wright
Since 2019, jazz rock fusion band Plantoid have been teasing us with singles, new ideas and sonic experiments, and finally in February this year they finally graced us with their debut album, Terrapath, via Bella Union. It doesn’t take long for the listener to understand the vast array of influences that Plantoid are plucking from. There’s a fusion across the release that resembles Frank Zappa and Big Thief in equal measure; moments will incorporate the moving rhythms and mesmerising grooves of Hiatus Kaiyote, only to instantly switch into a manic hysteria, more akin to the krautrock of CAN or Yes. Terrapath is ambitious. It’s a melting pot of ideas, there are so many colours that are reminiscent of other things, but all blending together to create an incredibly unique, vibrant new sound. From twinkling, oblique ambience to total spirally mania, the album contorts and
morphs, bucking each expectation along the way. It is, throughout its duration, a genuinely exciting project from a very promising new band.
Plantoid are bringing their myriad of ideas to The Cumberland Arms on Thursday 5th September, and the night will showcase the new release and amazing talents of the band, from stunning harmonies and guitar atmospherics to intricate drums that glitter from prog to jazz fusion. www.plantoid.co.uk
EVENTS THE CAPER @ SUNDERLAND CITY HALL
Words: Neil Ainger
Back in April, The Caper took over Sunderland City Hall, headlined by The Futureheads. The mini-festival is back on Friday 27th September and will once again fill the venue with live music, street food, artisan and vintage market
stalls, entertainment and activities with a Northern funk theme.
Headlined this time around by soul and funk band Smoove & Turrell, support is provided by Middlesbrough funk-popsters Moonwax and revered Sunderland songwriter Lucas Renney. If comedy is more your thing, Lee Kyle will be hosting a line-up that includes Game of Thrones star Ben Crompton, Anja Atkinson and Elizabeth Mitchell. There will be plenty of street food options available, including bánh mi sandwiches from Big Bánh, bean burgers and other veggie delights from Beanie Bun as well as Korean corndogs and other Asian soul food delicacies from Sumo Bento, plus a range of bars pouring beers, spirits and mixing cocktails. If you want to get a little more hands-on then you can learn to dance the samba, take part in some live art with a giant mural painting or show off your singing skills, or lack thereof, in crowd karaoke. There is bound to be something to take your fancy and you can dance, drink and feast until midnight. www.thecaper.co.uk
Plantoid by Cali Titmas
COMEDY HARRIET KEMSLEY @ ARC/THE STAND
Words: Nat Greener
Harriet Kemsley, the celebrated comedian known for her sharp wit and television appearances on Live at the Apollo and Cats Does Countdown, is bringing her latest
stand-up show to Stockton’s ARC on Saturday 21st and Newcastle’s Stand on Sunday 22nd September, as part of her UK tour after a highly successful Edinburgh Fringe run. One can only assume the show’s title, Everything Always Works Out For Me, is somewhat tongue-in-cheek, as Harriet delves into the chaos of her life over the past year; from navigating break-ups to pondering sloths, her new show is a comedic exploration of trying to stay positive when everything seems
to be falling apart. She says of the show: “My life completely fell apart last year which has been incredibly humbling, personally painful and has led to some really fun comedy for everyone to enjoy at my expense.”
The comedian is known for her high-energy performances, endearingly honest and relatable humour, and Harriet’s ability to connect with audiences has made her one of the most exciting voices on the comedy circuit. www.harrietkemsley.com
Tues 10 - Sat 28 Sept 2024
Emmerson & Ward Productions in association with Live Theatre present
A knockout play about Labour, love and the Beautiful Game
Written by Rob Ward
Directed by Bex Bowsher
“Personal and political, local and universal, set in recognisable past yet relevant today.” The Stage H H H H
Image by Linda Blacker
COMEDY
FELT NOWT’S BIG DAFT JAMBOREE BASH @ TYNE THEATRE & OPERA HOUSE
Words: Nat Greener
Get ready for a night of laughter in the aid of good causes as Felt Nowt’s Big Daft Jamboree Bash takes over Newcastle’s Tyne Theatre & Opera House on Tuesday 24th September. This special event, dubbed the ‘North East Royal Variety Performance’ will bring together some of the region’s most beloved comedians for an unforgettable evening, all in support of local community projects.
The line-up features Britain’s Got Talent winner Lost Voice Guy, Game of Thrones actor Ben Crompton and I, Daniel Blake star Dave Johns. Also on the bill are local favourites Alfie Joey and Cal Halbert, reuniting as the iconic impressionist duo The Mimic Men. Hosting the night is North East Comedian of the Year winner Catherine Young, with more acts to be announced.
This event is more than just a comedy show; it’s a celebration of the power of laughter to change lives. Felt Nowt, a comedian-owned community interest company, have organised the event to raise funds for its outreach programs, which bring comedy workshops and performances to communities across the North East. Over the past three years, they’ve helped raise over £20,000 for local charities including
Rape Crisis, Newcastle Food Bank and the Red Cross Ukraine Appeal. www.feltnowt.co.uk
MUSIC GUM TAKES TOOTH @ THE LUBBER FIEND
Words: Lee Fisher
After more than a decade and three fine albums, last year Gum Takes Tooth released Recovery Position to the best reviews of their career and seemed to hit a new level sonically. Perhaps signing to Wrong Speed Records did it – all the best bands will end up with a WSR catalogue number eventually, you wait and see – but Recovery Position saw them transcend the psych rock-meets-electronic elements of their earlier sound in favour of something rhythmically thrilling and sonically challenging, leading reviewers to mention ‘a fully integrated man machine’ and such.
The album was born out of tough times for Jussi Brightmore and Tom Fug – personally and on a global scale, Covid-wise – but this seemed to galvanise them and Recovery Position is an absolute blast. Their recent remix EPs, Recovered 1 and 2, had contributions from the likes of Scotch Rolex, Iggor Cavalera and UKAEA and further entrenched their new direction. And now the duo are heading to Newcastle’s Lubber Fiend on Saturday 14th September as part of a short run of UK shows, with Tyneside noise veterans Waheela in support. Not to be missed.
www.gumtakestooth.bandcamp.com
MUSIC PICTISH TRAIL @ THE ENGINE ROOM
Words: Laura Rosierse
Pictish Trail is the musical project of Isle of Eigg-based musician Johnny Lynch, who also runs the influential Lost Map record label and collective. The Scottish artist is making his way south as part of his upcoming UK tour, and will be stopping off at North Shields’ Engine Rooms on Monday 30th September for an immersive show filled with eclectic electronic soundscapes. Johnny writes and records songs that try to capture the way he thinks and feels, opening up about life and all the feelings and experiences that come with it.
His aim is to create accessible music and shows; central themes in Johnny’s work include songs about isolation, making sense of it, and often finding comfort in it. It’s subject matter that resonates deeply with the artist, given his location on the remote Isle of Eigg, which is home to just 100 people.
The venue is well suited to Johnny’s often psych-pop sensibilities; the intimate space will lend itself well to confessional tunes, introspective lyricism and beguiling sound. www.pictishtrail.com
Gum Takes Tooth by Mário J. Negrão
MUSIC
JO HARROP @ THE GLASSHOUSE
Words: Jonathan Coll
Jo Harrop is a County Durham-born jazz musician and songwriter, who returns for a North East homecoming with a show at The Glasshouse on Friday 27th September. The tour
comes off the back of her finest work to date, the outstanding The Path Of A Tear, which landed earlier this summer. The record marks a fork in the road for the artist; developing her sound and working with legendary producer Larry Klein. It features a breathtaking cover Leonard Cohen’s Travelling Light, the high point of an astonishing album.
Jo Harrop has been making waves on both sides of the Atlantic for years, with Iggy Pop and Jo Whiley giving her records airtime on
their BBC Radio shows. Her recent album marks the fourth released on Lateralize Records, during a career which has seen her perform at two of the USA’s most renowned jazz clubs, Dizzys in New York and SF Jazz in San Francisco.
Her live performances are spellbinding, and Gateshead’s Glasshouse is the perfect venue for her cocktail of contemporary jazz and soul. www.joharrop.com
MUSIC
NE
MATHIA SHOWCASE
@ THE GLOBE
Words: Ali Welford
What do you mean you didn’t realise the North East harbours its own math rock mini-scene?
Haven’t you been paying attention?! Granted, wacky time signatures and instrumental heroics are among the lesser heard sounds on the local live circuit, but with several stellar torch bearers doing the rounds it’d be remiss of us to overlook the blossoming of this particularly offbeat musical niche. Now, several of those acts have pooled resources with the formation of their own math rock collective. Convening at The Globe, Newcastle on Saturday 28th September (under the tremendously hammy banner of the NE Mathia), their maiden showcase will feature crunchy post-rockers Eigengrau, tangled sonic puzzles courtesy of Okeya, hypnotic face-melters Dutch Elm and dextrous soundscapes via Frogs With Teeth.
Oh, and Badger are on the bill too! Presumably this owes to vocalist Christopher Maltby’s membership of dormant post-hardcore merchants Tiny Mind, though quite how his current synth-punk-spoken-word duo fit among a slew of guitar-slinging instrumentalists beats me. Still, Badger are a blast, and if they can persuade a handful more folks to Support Their Local Math Rock Scene, then all power to them. At the frankly absurd price of £9 for five bands, there’s really no excuse not to! www.theglobenewcastle.bar
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JENNY LASCELLES @ THE CLUNY
2
Words: Isabel Maria
Mark your calendars for Sunday 15th September, because singer-songwriter and pianist Jenny Lascelles is kicking off her Autumn UK tour with a hugely special hometown show at Newcastle’s Cluny 2. She’ll be playing her own intimate, authentic tunes
alongside a delightful six-piece rock band; this promises the grandest of sounds, not to mention the most unique. Jenny herself describes her sound as “like a summer’s walk… but through a graveyard” – and I don’t know about you, but that juxtaposition certainly is intriguing to me.
The evening will be opened by two stellar solo supports: alt. pop post-punk songwriter and ukulele maestro Lockheed Lindsay, and talented acoustic songwriter and guitarist Your Casket Or Mine? The night will be packed with talent and explorative of different musical styles, all patch worked together to form a real treat for ticket-holders – well worth the tenner. Fans of thoughtful original music will be right at home at this show – with the Cluny 2 being a perfect intimate space to share it in. It’s the first of Jenny’s five tour dates across the country, so don’t miss your chance to see it launch: the perfect Sunday evening for those who are open to really great music.
www.jennylascelles.com
Jenny Lascelles by Crisp Sandwich Studio
INTERVIEWS
KAY GREYSON
DAVID SAUNDERS TALKS TO THE NEWCASTLE RAPPER ABOUT HER RISE IN THE NORTH EAST HIP-HOP SCENE, WORKING-CLASS REPRESENTATION IN MUSIC AND HER BRAND-NEW ALBUM IMAGE BY AMELIA READ
In recent years the hip-hop scene has established itself as one of the most relevant music genres in the North East, offering an exciting energy and tales of life growing up in the region. One of the shining lights in this movement is Newcastle-based rapper Kay Greyson, who emerged from house parties and club nights to become an artist whose dynamic live shows and powerful lyrics have caught the attention of audiences everywhere.
Kay’s earliest musical influence was her musician father, but it was her inability to grasp the fundamentals of playing an instrument that drew her to rap. “My dad is a musician and has
been in bands his whole life. I struggled to play instruments so I leaned towards rapping ‘cause it was all about the words. I always loved putting words together.”
Mainstream hip-hop artists first grabbed Kay’s attention, but it was the artists on the fringe of the scene that captured her imagination. “US rappers like Eminem, Kanye West and 50 Cent were my first inspirations.” She goes on to add: “Acid Rap by Chance the Rapper was the album that made me fall in love with alternative rap. I could never relate to the gangsters or the people bragging about Lamborghinis and mansions, but hearing an artist talk passionately about their community and
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do it with an edge really cemented the lane I wanted to be in. I wanted to make people think but I also wanted to make them smile.”
Her home city and the creative contemporaries within it have also played a big part in her development as an artist. “I’m a very proud Geordie. My mum worked has worked in the community for most of her life and she always taught me that you should try to uplift the place that you live in. I don’t include Newcastle in my music in an obvious way but it is a part of everything that I do. All of my stories are from here… There has been a renaissance of talent especially over the past five years. I believe the future is very bright. To name some names, producers like EKA Beats/Ebenezer Good, dblack beats and Nifty Struggle are really back bones for the great music that’s being created at the moment… Artist wise, people like Kema Kay, Mcxxne and Able Jack are just some of the people pushing the sound forward in a positive and exciting way.”
Kay is proudly from a working class background. With reports from the likes of Youth Music, Musician’s Union and UK Music highlighting the lack of socio-economic diversity in music, I ask what she thought about the current situation and what more could be done to improve representation.
“I constantly keep in mind how hard it is for working class people like myself, in any industry, and in music especially these days, when your success can be very much based on how much time and money you can dedicate to your craft. I work with an organisation called Northern Roots who offer free studio time,
IT’S ALL DRUGS, SEX AND ROCK AND ROLL UNTIL IT’S NOT, AND THEN IT’S ALL VULNERABILITY, HEARTBREAK AND NOSTALGIA
free music videos and paid performance opportunities to young artists from these backgrounds in order to aid in levelling the playing field. This has had positive effects and there are other organisations doing similar things to help, but there needs to be more – more funding, more resource and more beneficial opportunities given to young creatives. It’s an industry-wide problem that needs an industry-wide response.”
In 2020 she was signed to music management agency Soul Kitchen, which according to Kay has been instrumental in her success. “Having such an experienced, caring and Geordie management team has been integral to my successes so far. They discovered me at an event I was performing at in the city centre and for a year before I signed they just offered me advice and help before we officially started a partnership. The team has taught me so much about how the industry works and given me connections I need to perform all around the country and have my music played all around the world.“
Soul Kitchen’s recent partnership with EMI North saw Kay added to their roster of artists, something that she describes as “life changing”. She continues: “I’ve dreamed since I was a kid of signing a record deal, and being able to do it as female, queer, Geordie rapper? That’s a win to me! I have a lyric on one of my new songs from the album, it’s goes ‘I got to sign a record deal and show it to my dad, no matter what they take from me, they’re never taking that’. That pretty much sums it up for me.”
Kay’s first album release via Soul Kitchen and EMI North is Chekhov’s Gun, an audacious eight-track incorporating a wide range of genres from the euphoric and anthemic EDM opener On The Table to the dreamy chill-pop Lifestyle, the RnB groove-fest of Vain and the punchy jazz-tinged Over & Over. Despite the scope of sounds, the songs are nicely brought together by the slick production (mostly from EKA Beats, with one song produced by John Elliott) and Kay’s effortlessly engaging and potent vocal delivery, which exudes the confidence of a global superstar.
Kay offers some insight into the album’s themes. “I’d describe it as a mid 20’s album. It’s all drugs, sex and rock and roll until it’s not, and then it’s all vulnerability, heartbreak and nostalgia. The production is amazing… It feels like the album I’ve been wanting to make all my life and I can’t wait for people to hear it.”
She goes on to add: “Lyrically, it’s my most honest work. There’s a song on there called Baby Blue that talks about how I was born which is a crazy story that I’ve not spoken about in my music before.”
The album is built on the NCL x LA project, a community featuring a close-knit group of inspiring creatives in the North East and LA – from stylists to producers, choreographers to videographers, Kay tells me more: “There’s Zavy and Tyra from LA and me, EKA Beats and Shina Collins from Newcastle. I met Zavy during my trip to Los Angeles in 2022 and he introduced me to Tyra during their visit to Newcastle in 2024. It’s always an amazing and beautiful thing to me when artists from two completely different backgrounds have so much in common and can relate to each other’s struggles.”
Kay Greyson releases Chekhov’s Gun via Soul Kitchen/EMI North on 20th September. www.linktr.ee/kaygreyson
DEXTRO
ALI WELFORD TALKS TO THE MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST ABOUT HIS CAPTIVATING NEW ALBUM WHICH SEEKS TO CONNECT WITH THE ECOLOGICAL WORLD
Ewan Mackenzie’s Dextro operates an elusive, periodic model par excellence. For over two decades the Scot’s guiding mantra has been high quality, low frequency; a succession of four-year cycles in which exquisite records have broken spells of extended dormancy. Other pursuits have informed this pattern –particularly now he’s returned to the drum stool of Newcastle’s all-conquering Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs – though equally pertinent is Dextro’s function amidst the multiinstrumentalist’s extensive musical portfolio.
“I think of Dextro like therapy; music as a form of meditation and self-reflection as opposed to a ‘project’,” outlines Ewan.
“That said, I do want it to keep getting better! I like it to be as in touch with my own emotions as possible. I generally find that the more the music helps me, the better it sounds.”
An absorbing fusion of electronic and traditional instrumentation, Dextro likewise offers solace for listeners with a penchant for longform ambience and cathartic escapism. This was especially true of An Hour Is A Sea, an unwitting companion on many a state sanctioned stroll during those surreal spring and summer months of 2020 – and despite the stabler circumstances surrounding its release, there’s no question its follow-up sports similar medicinal potential.
“The title Respire got me thinking about western philosophy, and how so much of it is concerned with recognising ourselves and our society in relation to nature,” Ewan reveals. “We exist within a huge ecosystem which, no matter how hard we try, we’ll never fully understand. We can’t extract from it or dominate it, and yet we’re generally making a mess of it. I wanted Respire to detach from humans as much as possible – to appreciate that wider ecological world.”
Certainly, this thread of interconnectivity is embedded throughout the new album’s 45-minute runtime. Sprawled across eight captivating cuts, its ideas represent the most eclectic and sonically adventurous Dextro fare to date, without compromising the cohesion that’s characterised Ewan’s catalogue from the get-go. There are jazzy flourishes on opener
I WANTED RESPIRE TO DETACH FROM HUMANS AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
Forgetting, trademark spectral synths on Autonomy Fantasy Annihilator and simmering bursts of distortion on In Memory Of The Always Already – yet the emotional core coalescing these enveloping guitar, piano and electronic motifs transcends both mood and genre.
Principle among the new album’s innovations are contributions from guests Faye MacCalman (saxophone), Kate Halsall (harmonium) and Tom Merrit Smith (cello). The former connections were sewn before an audience at Breathe In Me, a one-off evening of collaboration staged back in 2022. “The remit for that show was very improvisational, and that was a space I’d never wandered into before,” Ewan recalls. “It felt like jumping off a cliff with a hand glider… there were elements of it which made me feel mortified, but I learned loads and found it really inspiring.”
“On the flipside,” he continues, “though most of my material stems from live shows, some of these songs were written at the piano and were far more studio-based. This record was probably as distinct as those two approaches to writing have been from one another.”
Issued via Pigs x7 bandmate Sam Grant’s Mr Medicine Records, the upshots defy their humble conception in a manner which simultaneously feels revelatory and naturalistic. An engrossing evolution of the Dextro palette, Respire witnesses a fitful, uncoerced creative mode bear fruit once more.
Respire is released on 13th September. Dextro launches the album with a show at Newcastle’s Star & Shadow Cinema on Friday 20th September. www.dextro.bandcamp.com
Image by David Hall
BEHIND THE MUSIC: MAXÏMO PARK
MAXÏMO PARK’S LATEST RELEASE, STREAM OF LIFE, RELEASED ON 27TH SEPTEMBER, SOMEWHAT TAKES STOCK; AND THE BAND SOUND AS VITAL AND EXCITING AS EVER. HERE, THEY GIVE US AN INSIGHT INTO SOME OF THEIR FAVOURITE TRACKS FROM THE NEW ALBUM, AND THE MEANINGS BEHIND THEM. CATCH THEM IN THEIR EVER-STUPENDOUS LIVE GLORY AT NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY REDS BAR ON SUNDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER, PLUS NEWCASTLE’S BOILER SHOP ON SATURDAY 26TH & SUNDAY 27TH OCTOBER. WWW.MAXIMOPARK.COM
WORDS: PAUL SMITH, DUNCAN LLOYD & TOM ENGLISH
PAUL SMITH
I KNEW THAT YOU’D SAY THAT
I wanted to write a song that had a contemplative, bass-driven verse and a punky chorus. In the end, it ended up being more of a ‘power pop’ number. I sometimes find myself analysing my own motives and behaviour in a bit of a loop, and then being advised to stop it by my nearest and dearest! I thought it would be funny to add the title phrase because everyone can relate to that feeling of almost predicting what someone else is about to say, but being beaten to the punch.
STREAM OF LIFE
Stream Of Life was written in an Edinburgh Airbnb, as a kind of Cars tune but ended up having a lush Mazzy Star/Sundays feel in the verses, thanks to our producer Ben Allen. It’s about finding balance in life despite the continual challenges to our core values in a consumer society(!), and was inspired by the introspective narratives of author Clarice Lispector.
TOM ENGLISH
FAVOURITE SONGS
Paul, Duncan and I went out to Atlanta in February to record most of the album with Ben Allen, but this is one of two we did beforehand, at Polestar Studios in Byker, with Aussie/Canadian producer Burke Reid and in-house engineer, Alex Blamire. The studio had a major upgrade last year and it was great we could
do some of the record there. It also meant we could work with our two wonderful live musicians, Jemma Freese and Andrew Lowther.
YOUR OWN WORST ENEMY
Occasionally Duncan will record me playing along to something on headphones and use the beat to make a new demo. With this song, it was an old DJing favourite of ours, Rock Steady by Aretha Franklin. I love how out of context it now is! You could call it cheating, but I like to think of it more as ‘groove recycling’…
DUNCAN LLOYD
ARMCHAIR VIEW
This is the first song we had for the new album. Musically speaking, I wanted to go somewhere we haven’t, writing it by fingerpicking the notes on an acoustic, then layering and building hypnotic phrases in the spaces. I sent it over to Paul and he put the lyrics together as that’s often how we write. If I had to pick a musical outlier on this album, it would be this song.
DORMANT ‘TIL EXPLOSION
I wrote this, and most of the music for the record, in a strange rush. Ben said this song was his favourite, it just kept unfolding. I enjoyed working closely on the album production with him, shaping sounds together. Like with most songs, he graciously learned my bass and keys lines to play along and capture us live. Vanessa Briscoe Hay (singer from legendary Athens, GA band Pylon) miraculously joined us too, the result is unusual and wildly fresh.
Image by Ruby Pluhar
SECONDHAND SEPTEMBER
LAURA DOYLE TALKS TO TWO ECO-CONSCIOUS ENTREPRENEURS ABOUT WHY SECONDHAND SEPTEMBER SHOULD BE A YEAR-ROUND DEDICATION FOR US ALL
We’re so over overconsumption: this month is Secondhand September, and it’s all about putting the ‘love’ into preloved. Let’s dive deeper into eco-friendly culture in the North East. For two North East entrepreneurs who opened their own vintage stores with a passion for all things hand-medown, Secondhand September is a year-round dedication. Helen Redfern founded Gateshead’s Green Heart Collective in the midst of lockdown… “when people had time to sort out their possessions but nowhere to take them. We sort, wash, steam and mend these beautiful clothes and give them a second life, rather than ending up in clothing mountains in South America or in a mega incinerator belching out noxious fumes.” Newcastle-based secondhand store Friday Vintage is Laura Jackson’s labour of love. “I love finding unique labels or sought after ones. It’s important to me to find pieces that are on trend too. Whilst the high street stores may be making copies of 90s classics, the real ones can be found in our store.”
Both business owners advocate for buying secondhand for the planet and for its people. “There are enough clothes on the planet to dress the next six generations!” Explains Redfern. “An estimated 80-150 billion garments are made a year for a world population of eight billion. The damage to the planet of clothing production and disposal is tragic. We have to stop buying new and buy pre-loved instead if we have any chance of sustaining a habitable planet.”
For Jackson, shopping pre-loved is more than a sustainability choice: it’s just smart spending. “It’s inevitable that secondhand fashion will become the new norm. There’re some incredible gems to be found from decades past, when things were made to last. It’s cheaper for you, in the short term and long term.” What the market needs is a little pressure, she continues: “Even choosing to shop secondhand occasionally can have a big impact. If we knew the real cost of fast fashion, I doubt many people would choose it as often. Fast fashion is only ‘fast’ because the consumer makes it so. It’s in our hands to change the model as to which the market applies itself.”
IT’S INEVITABLE THAT SECONDHAND FASHION WILL BECOME THE NEW NORM
Green Heart’s directory of vintage shopping locations and sustainable eateries across the North East helps close that circle. “We have a huge mission – to reduce waste to landfill. There’s no way we can achieve that on our own. Together, we can make a difference. The work is massive and supporting each other is a key part of achieving our vision.”
So where do we begin? Luckily, this month the Festival of Thrift, the North East’s celebration of sustainability takes place in Billingham on Saturday 21st and Sunday 22nd September, and includes market stalls, workshops and performances centred around creating a cleaner, greener way of living. Entertainment highlights include live performances from local musicians in collaboration with regional promoters Base Camp Industries, and artistic interactive storytelling with the dancers from the Sonia Sabri Company. But the star of the show will always be opportunity to explore sustainable skills and experiences: build your own den out of recycled materials, fix and mend anything from your pants to your laptop, or see a future-facing fashion show featuring upcycled finds before you shop from vintage pop-up stalls in the town centre.
So, whether you check out all that Festival of Thrift has to offer to guide you on your sustainability journey, partake in a meat-free Monday this month, or switch to shopping secondhand at one of the fine vintage establishments in the North East, Secondhand September can be the perfect opportunity to make the move towards an eco-friendlier way of life. www.greenheartcollective.uk www.instagram.com/fridayvintagencl www.festivalofthrift.co.uk
L-R: Founders Helen and Andy outside Green Heart Collective, image by Sarah Winslett, Laura Jackson from Friday Vintage
PARISSA ZARIFI
ISABEL MARIA TALKS TO THE SINGER-SONGWRITER AND VIOLINIST ABOUT THE POTENT LYRICISM AND RICH ARRANGEMENTS ON HER DEBUT ALBUM
Parissa Zarifi’s latest treat of an album, Sing For My Soul is hauntingly beautiful and stuffed to the brim with obvious, effortless talent. The singer-songwriter and violinist serves up potent lyricism and rich string arrangements on a sparkling silver platter of ten tracks, and it’s evident that her creative process is just as magical as her sound.
“Artistically, I can only create when there’s something to say or I have an urge to let out what’s inside. It’s very much a therapeutic process, and so my writing really reflects my experiences and me as a person. I enjoy art and music that fosters connections, is about truth, love and the macabre. I enjoy playing with this through imagery, particularly referencing nature in my lyrics, which I feel a strong connection to.”
Sonically delightful and diverse, Parissa cites a myriad of inspirations for the album. Lyrically and harmonically, names like Chris Cornell and Ville Valo come up, whereas vocally Parissa leans more towards the greats of the 60s and the 70s –Janis Joplin, Grace Slick and Joan Baez. Jimi Hendrix is also highlighted as a formative figure within Parissa’s pool of influences, specifically for the “electrifying energy he brought to the stage” – and what’s truly electrifying here is how unique Sing For My Soul is: not a mimic of any of these greats, but instead a gratifying result of Parissa’s intriguingly varied musical tastes, and her talent-driven individuality.
One of the huge amplifiers of this individuality is the fact that Parissa is not your average singer-songwriter, she is also an incredibly proficient violinist. “Being a multi-instrumentalist
INCORPORATING A LOOP PEDAL INTO MY SHOWS MEANS I CAN BRING SOMETHING FRESH AND MOMENTARY TO EACH PERFORMANCE THROUGH IMPROVISED VIOLIN SOLOS
allows me to explore melody and harmony in so many different ways, which makes me feel alive. Incorporating a loop pedal into my shows has been a life-saver and means I can bring something fresh and momentary to each and every performance through improvised violin solos.”
The record is tastefully and timelessly recorded, featuring many of these violin solos, and all done in Middlesbrough. “I recorded my tracks in the studio with Mark McGurrin, and mixed and mastered these with Brendan Portues at Loco Studios. Working with both of these brilliant engineers made the recording process so enjoyable for me. With their expertise (and a few pints!) I was able to realise the sounds that were in my head, which felt amazing.” Parissa also notes that she was deeply grateful for the constructive feedback Mark and Brendan were able to offer when at times the recording process became a challenge, mentally – though she assures us the challenge was well worth it upon hearing the final album masters. Once you’ve listened to it, I’m certain you’ll agree.
And what better way to listen to it than live? You can do so, in its entirety, at a release-day candlelit cabaret show at ARC, Stockton. “Expect a night of emotive performances of purely original music – haunting vocals, violin improvisations, epic solos from lead guitarist Rob Harvey and a chance to purchase your copy of the album. Support comes from two of my favourite artists, Mary Elizabeth Webb; piano maestro and angelic vocalist, and Stockton-born guitar mariachi and singer-songwriter, Rob Harvey.”
But whether you can make this show or not, I encourage you to spend some time with Sing For My Soul – hopefully, it sings to yours.
Parissa Zarifi launches Sing For My Soul at ARC, Stockton on Thursday 5th September. www.parissazarifi.bandcamp.com
Image by Simon Shaw
THE GATHERING SOUNDS
IF YOU LIKE…
BANGING HEADLINERS
This year’s headliners include North Wales’ The Royston Club, whose vibrant brand of anthemic and melodic indie has been setting venues around the UK ablaze; South London’s Fat Dog, whose genre-blurring blend of dance and punk and unpredictable live shows have reinvigorated the alt. music scene; and Stroud duo Wings of Desire, who draw inspiration from visual arts, and 20th Century counterculture to produce a sound embracing noughties indie, post-punk and krautrock.
Plus, there’s top spot sets from hard-hitting punk rock trio Snayx; Birmingham noisemakers Overpass; Chesterfield’s dynamic indie quintet The Crooks; and Edinburgh’s much talked about gnarly indie rockers Swim School.
STOCKTON’S QUALITY MUSIC VENUES
As well as being the destination point for the first-ever passenger railway journey and having one of the widest high streets in the UK, Stockton also boasts an impressive array of quality music venues that any city, let alone a town, would be proud of. The Gathering Sounds harnesses these venues to create an experience that any music fan will love. The multi-venue event includes stages at the vibrant party palace KU, the fun, funky-looking The Social Room, the historic music hall The Georgian Theatre, the grand, glass-fronted ARC and bustling beer house The Storytellers – all situated within a minute or two walk away from one another.
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WORDS: DAVID SAUNDERS
Stockton’s newest new music festival is back bigger and bolder for 2024. The Gathering Sounds take places on Saturday 28th September and will bring over 40 artists, from up-and-coming acts to established favourites, to venues in Stockton for one whole day of fun.
Organised by KU/The Social Room’s Jimmy Beck, collaborations will include stages curated by guest promoters UNDER THE INFLUENCE, This Feeling and Famous Last Words to create a fun and exciting festival with something to suit all tastes.
www.facebook.com/thegatheringsounds
THE BEST NEW TOURING ARTISTS
The Gathering Sounds prides itself on attracting buzz bands and festival faves. One of the big names on the bill is the UK’s leading shining light in the world of hip-hop and spoken word, Antony Szmierek. The Manchester artist will be captivating the crowds with his poetic performances and well-crafted melodies. Plus, there’s more highlights in the form of lo-fi trio Borough Council, Glaswegian dynamos Gallus, indie outfit The Cheapthrills, art rock quintet Youth Sector, Northern powerhouse Lissy Taylor, London new wave lot Bowen, Doncaster guitar band The Outcharms, grunge four-piece About Bunny, wonky rock purveyors Erotic Secrets of Pompeii, Liverpool singer-songwriter Dylan Robert, Greenock anthem makers Strange Dimensions, ‘The world’s best kept secret’ The Valla, soulful psych trio Velvet Tuxedo, euphoric soundscapers +P∆VÉ, indie music makers Spangled, Leeds’ alt. rockers The Kites and many more.
THE FINEST LOCAL ARTISTS
As well as their excellent imports, the festival nurtures the region’s best current and up-and-coming musical exports. Expect local talent aplenty, from fuzz-rockers Pit Pony to soul-inspired genre-bending artist Sarah Johnsone, visceral post-punk/garage rockers TV Death, euphoric indie merchants Blackout The Arcade, melodic artist Lizzie Esau, alt. indie five piece Weathership, feelgood indie popsters Komparrison, raw punks Wingz of the Monkey, proggy psych rockers End Credits and shoegaze songsmith Hannah Robinson.
Snayx by Leila Rummery
Swim School by Oli Erskine
Antony Szmierek
MARGINAL GAINS
ALI WELFORD DISCOVERS THE GENESIS AND REMARKABLE EVOLUTION OF ONE OF THE REGION’S MOST EXCITING NEW ACTS
Whichever way you slice it, Marginal Gains stand out from the pack. For one, they’re a curious combo to behold: a slick, sublimely drilled instrumental trio, juxtaposed against a marauding, frequently topless vocalist with hardcore glistening through every bead of exuded sweat.
They’re also unusual for being genuine newcomers, with no connections to established bands or experience in seeing creative dabblings through to fruition. “We never even meant to form a band,” claims guitarist/vocalist Charlotte: “We had access to a rehearsal room and a few cans, and it was cheaper than going to the pub! It was only when a friend offered to put us on at a festival that messing around with instruments turned to actual practice.”
What marks Marginal Gains out above all, though, is their fresh, surrealist take on post-punk protocol. In a genre rife with copycats and revivalists, their wiry, idiosyncratic twists add renewed pep to familiar beats. To a layman’s ear, they sound at once fully formed and bursting with potential, and little over a year since debuting are about as near as a largely self-contained North East scene gets to a word-of-mouth phenomenon.
“Because we started out so casually, it felt quite organic when it did begin snowballing into something more serious,” poses drummer Roberta, on the subject of their uncommon synergy.
“It wasn’t like we were all fixated with being in a band and coming into it with ideas of grandeur – I suppose that probably made it a lot more fun too.”
“We didn’t want to do covers,” recalls lead vocalist Dan. “Not that there’s anything wrong with that, but we had impetus from
WE HAD ACCESS TO A REHEARSAL ROOM AND A FEW CANS, AND IT WAS CHEAPER THAN GOING TO THE PUB!
all those hours of practice to fall back on, and the feeling that we all held an equal stake.”
Whatever its secret, the sound they’ve developed is electrifying and rife with contrast; a place where snaking melody and playful harmonies brush shoulders with crunching riffs and Dan’s theatrical Geordie yelp. “We all have different interests and musical influences,” Charlotte reveals. “I enjoy traditional folk music and choral vocals, whereas Dan’s into punk and hardcore. That [contrast] was never intentional, but it’s been fun to play around with and see what the results are.”
“I’m a bit of a lyrical magpie,” Dan explains. “The songs are very literal; they’re informed by things I see and hear, my interpretations of what’s going on. I’m a big stand-up comedy fan too, so maybe there’s a bit of that creeping in.”
This month sees the quartet tick off another milestone with the release of their debut tape. Issued via Middlesbrough-based label Industrial Coast, the Context EP was recorded live at The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle, and offers a succinct introduction to Marginal Gains’ distinctive soundworld.
“One of the benefits of having music out is that you can hear the songs evolving,” offers bassist/vocalist Ashleigh: “We’re still learning how to be in a band, to embellish things and add bits and bobs here and there. Even these three [Grammar School, Now and CCC] probably sound quite different now to when we recorded them.”
With further live dates on the horizon and plans to enter the studio come the end of the year, there’ll be plenty of opportunities for their growing cohort of followers to hear that development in action. Observational, organic and organised, there are few limits to where Marginal Gains’ trajectory could eventually lead.
Marginal Gains’ debut EP Context is released on 6th September. www.linktr.ee/marginalgains
Image by David Hall
MIDDLESBROUGH ART WEEK
CLAIRE DUPREE DISCOVERS WHAT’S IN STORE AT MIDDLESBROUGH’S CELEBRATION OF CONTEMPORARY ART
Now in its seventh year, the North East’s largest celebration of contemporary art returns to Middlesbrough venues across eight action-packed days from Thursday 26th September-Saturday 5th October.
Any showcase of contemporary art must also address contemporary concerns, and MAW has always done this with aplomb. This year’s festival subtitle is ‘In The Now And The Far’, with themes revolving around key questions including ‘who has the right to take action?’, ‘in what ways does art help us reimagine our communities’ and ‘how can we grow a festival?’
Over 70 artists across 15 venues will help to answer these questions, with visitors able to engage with film screenings, workshops, exhibitions and concerts programmed by instigators The Auxiliary, as well as cultural organisations including MIMA, Navigator North, Platform A, Industrial Coast, Python Gallery, Eden Arts and many more.
Also key to the festival’s success is the emphasis it places on supporting artists at all stages of their careers, with North East creatives given top priority through programmes such as the North East Open Call, as The Auxiliary’s Liam Slevin explains: “This will be the fifth year we’ve run the NEOC, and each year we’ve tried to increase the support and resources that go into exhibitions and the artists that take part. Putting North East artists at the core of the festival and not on the peripheries is something we are very mindful of. We’ve always been about growing what’s here, and the NEOC does just that. It’s also curated by a previous NEOC artist Penny Payne, and we brought back Liberty Hodes to help select this year as well.”
Similarly, the New Graduate Award works with young artists in a studio-based professional development programme.
A new initiative for 2024 includes UPROOT, a creative collaboration with community leaders, migrant networks and schools in the Tees Valley which has seen mini meadows planted at various sites this year, which will be uprooted and transported to a central Middlesbrough Meadow Hub which plays host to talks by acclaimed artist and writer Jace Clayton,
ART & LIT
Mermaids, or Aiden in Wonderland
PUTTING NORTH EAST ARTISTS AT THE CORE OF THE FESTIVAL AND NOT ON THE PERIPHERIES IS SOMETHING WE ARE VERY MINDFUL OF
civil rights activist Gracie Mae Bradley and pioneering horticulturalist Nigel Dunnett.
Further highlights of the programme include ZimbabweanScottish artist Natasha Thembiso Ruwona’s new commission, A Troubling, or, A Sonic Refusal, which investigates Black sound in relation to geography; Amy Drover’s beautiful drawings of endangered animals hides a distressing side; created by Strange Telemetry, Future Poker is an interactive card game which encourages conversations around green-washing, libertarianism and more; while Belgian-born, Mexico-based artist Francis Alÿs will present The Silence of Ani, a film following teenagers as they explore the ancient Armenian city of Ani, playing whistles and flutes that mimic birdsong. Liam is tight-lipped about the opening Orlana Light performance (“Walking trees...I’m not saying anything else!”), and is also excited about teaming up with promoters Industrial Coast for a performance from heavy-hitting noise artist Samuel Kerridge.
Liam picks out a few more of his particular favourites: “The Karrabing Film Collective are a grassroots Indigenous-based media group that will be screening Night Fishing With Ancestors (2023), where a world is imagined if Middlesbrough’s most famous ‘explorer’ never arrived in Australia. The film will be shown in Captain Cook Square throughout the festival. And for Most Creative Train Station, Navigator has curated this beautiful series of public interventions happening across the train station, keep an eye out if you’re coming to Middlesbrough by train!” www.middlesbroughartweek.com
L-R: The Dodo in London by Amy Dover, Karrabing Film Collective -
LAST TRAIN HOME
IF YOU LIKE…
A LAUGH
Hilarity Bites have curated a special line-up of both established and up and coming comedic talent in case the vast array of music all becomes too much and you need to give your ears time to stop ringing for a little while. The line-up includes Bethany Black, who has toured with notable performers like Joe Lycett and Paul Sinha; Joe.co.uk’s Club Comedian of The Year, Mick Ferry; the man who mixes music and satire, Steve Gribbin; as well as Stephanie Lang, Elaine Robertson, Josh Sedman and a slew of other names all gunning to make you laugh.
FINDING YOUR NEW FAVOURITE BAND
The Last Train Home crew have constantly brought fresh new and up and coming talent to the festival over the years, and this time is no exception. Rivkala, recipient of Drake Music’s Emerging Artist of 2023, will be bringing her raw, poignant storytelling inspired by the amazing voices of Amy Winehouse and Nina Simone; Darlo’s very own dark, beat-driven trip-hop duo Moss will also be gracing the stage for one of their first performances; rising Smoggy star Finn Forster brings his anthemic melodies to the stage; and other North East notables include Sunderland indie garage newbies Calvoas, indie pop strummer Michael Gallagher, J.P Riggall of Teesside band Weather Ship, local grungers No Ripcord, Newcastle punks Irked, rock ‘n’ rollers Dossers and Darlington songstresses Jodie Nicholson and Caitlin Morrow.
MUSIC
WORDS: ROZ CUTHBERT
It’s getting to that time of year when bands and stand-up comedians from both near and far come together to quell your post-summer blues on Autumn tours, and a tonne of both will be converging on a trio of venues in Darlington for Last Train Home on Saturday 7th September, organised by Darlo-based music collective Tracks.
In addition to the main event, a special launch show will take place at the newly refurbished Hopetown museum on Thursday 5th September featuring Kathryn Williams and Withered Hand. Another addition to the main line-up will be a music development panel discussion event organised by Generator, happening on the morning of the festival. Here’s a few of our recommendations for the day, with much more besides to check out on the festival’s website... www.tracksdarlington.co.uk/last-train-home
BAGS OF CHOICE
There are a whole heap of different genres of music to tickle your fancy at this years event. From the electronic earworms of Ronald Raygun via the riot grrrl punk vibes of Gaydar, to the indie pop of Teesside’s We Tibetans, there’s something for every festival goer to groove to. Other sonic revelations to alter your consciousness come in the form of Formal Sppeedwear, whose influences include NEU! and Devo, not to mention one of my picks from last year, Gateshead’s Amateur Ornithologist, who play for the first time in Darlington. Another notable addition is Belfast’s Wynona Bleach, who just released their new single Swim In The Bay. There’s also a pop-up stage featuring acoustic performances from Jonny Goodwin, Jade Mia Broadhead, Midnight Library and Izzy Price in the Hippo Cafe.
GREAT LIVE VENUES
The festival’s venues pack a punch when it comes to both atmosphere and live sound. And what’s better is, if you need to make a dash for the train, the station is only a few hundred metres up Yarm Road! The Hippodrome, which will serve as the main stage (and also houses the NARC. stage upstairs) needs no introduction with its sumptuous and inviting Edwardian interior, and it’s where you will be able to catch both Avalanche Party and Isle of Wight’s Coach Party. The Forum Music Centre has long been a mainstay of live music and a general hub for creativity in Darlington, and Hullabaloo, which is located inside the Hippodrome complex is full of character and atmosphere.
Coach Party
Rivkala
Formal Sppeedwear
RUBBER OH
DAMIAN ROBINSON CHATS WITH SAM GRANT ABOUT HIS SONICALLY DEXTROUS NEW RELEASE
Clearly drawing inspiration from his experiences as writer and guitarist with local favourites Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs, Sam Grant, aka Rubber Oh, returns with a ferocious new album and a desire to hook you up with the closest melodic ear worm.
Building on the strength of 2021’s debut album Strange Craft, Soil finds Rubber Oh drifting even further out into the psych pop universe, picking up on the intensity of Pigsx7 but comforting it with lovely poppy melodies and sonic effects which provide glimpses of the deftness of his songwriting techniques.
“There’s certain things I can do with Rubber Oh that I possibly avoid when I’m working on Pigs material,” confirms Grant, “but I’m always hearing different sounds and ideas so it’s mostly about knowing which ideas fit with which project and working on pieces that I might not get to do on something else.”
Grant also dedicates considerable hours to the production studio and working with other artists; having carved a name for himself as a talented producer, he surrounds himself in an atmosphere of different sounds and creative ideas. “I think the work with Rubber Oh is like a palette cleanser in a way, but I also need to be mindful that I can’t work on different ideas at the same time. In that way I tend to work on Rubber Oh when I’m out of cycle with Pigs, so it’s like two sides of my brain, with Rubber Oh being some sort of crazy, almost hyper-pop, piece. Once I put one down, the other tends to come up, and that works really well for me.”
Combing the ‘hyper-pop’ ideas together, Soil bubbles with
poppy, melodic ideas which include excellent collaborations with Rozi Plain (Circles), Voka Gentle (Lift), and Newcastle artists Me Lost Me and Ceitidh Mac (A Morning After and Belly of the Beast) producing fresh, bassy, sonic textures layered with gentle textures and lush production. “Working with other people is really enjoyable,” says Grant, “and that’s made Soil feel really filmic in a way; where Strange Craft was focused on journeying, this is a more literal album.”
Released on the new Pigsx7 collective imprint, Mr Medicine Records, Soil will also find Grant reuniting with Pigsx7 partner Dextro who releases their own new album, Respire, on the same label, in September. “We’re really excited with the idea of Mr Medicine Records,” enthuses Grant, “it’s great that me and Dextro have new albums coming out on the label, at the same time, but it’s also a chance for us to think about the future and the opportunity to work with others as well as Pigs.”
A few joint album launch gigs, including a double-header at Newcastle’s Star & Shadow Cinema on Friday 20th September (with support from Ceitidh Mac), offers the chance for both artists to showcase their new albums, and give audiences the opportunity to see how they will pull off replicating their recordings in a live environment. “I’ve been practising for a while,” laughs Grant, “I have played as a band before but this will be solo so it’ll be a combination of loops and mixers and effects – it’s ready to go but it does rely on multitasking a lot.” Rubber Oh releases Soil on 20th September via Mr Medicine Records, and performs at Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle on the same evening. www.rubberoh.bandcamp.com
BEHIND THE MUSIC: BIGFATBIG
NORTH EAST POP PUNK PARTY STARTERS BIGFATBIG’S ADMIRABLE WORK ETHIC CONTINUES APACE WITH THE RELEASE OF THEIR SOPHOMORE EP, RIPPIN’ IT, RELEASED ON 6TH SEPTEMBER VIA DAEMON TV. AS ADEPT AT A CATCHY CHORUS AS TACKLING HARD-HITTING SUBJECT MATTER, THE BAND’S NEW RELEASE FANS THE FLAMES OF THE DIY PUNK SCENE, TAKING IRREVERENT SWIPES AT THE ECONOMY, RELATIONSHIPS AND THEIR OWN EVOLUTION AS A BAND IN A TYPICALLY FUN, RAUCOUS AND BLISTERINGLY COOL RELEASE. HERE, GUITARIST KATIE RYALL DELVES INTO SOME OF THE INSPIRATIONS AND MEANINGS BEHIND THE TRACKS. CATCH THE BAND LIVE AT THREE TANNERS BANK, NORTH SHIELDS SUPPORTING LAURAN HIBBERD ON WEDNESDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER.
WWW.LINKTR.EE/BIGFATBIG
WORDS: KATIE RYALL
NOTHING
I know the point of these types of articles is to get deep about the music we’ve written, but sometimes, for us, writing and performing is truly simple, which is absolutely the case with the opener of this EP. We wrote Nothing because capitalism sucks, working for big companies sucks, money sucks, and we wanted to have a moan about it. Reducing these big concepts and our beliefs into a repetitive, easy chorus somehow makes them more manageable, and summarises the truth of what we wanted to say: I’m doing Nothing!
INBETWEEN
I know that the majority of people are a mix of good and bad, and it’s reductive to fit people into those kinds of categories anyway, but for some reason I can’t apply that thinking to myself. I struggle with thinking that I must either be good or bad, and all of the inbetween is invalid and mediocre. Therapy maybe? Lol. Writing this and getting to play it live reminds me that it’s not that deep though, and thinking about yourself too much is not productive.
REASON/SEASON/LIFETIME
Friendships can be weird and complicated and we wrote a punk song about that. The bridge of this song is the crux of it, steady and then speeding.
FINE
If you know our music at all, you’ll know we love a repetitive chorus. That’s how this track started, and it’s hopefully meditative in a way because of that. It’s about telling yourself that you’re fine – sometimes meaning it, sometimes not.
LOVE LETTERS
In 2022 we were lucky enough to tour with the best band in the world, Martha. They’ve always been like legends to us, obviously because of their music but also their ethos. We learnt what it truly means to be punk from watching them, and I imagine a whole community of people can say the same thing. To take such a risk on bringing a band like us, who had never toured, never played any big gigs, were unsigned etc., just ‘cos they wanted to give us the experience, is still mad to us. Playing and watching Martha every night still informs us in our decisions and writing now. Love Letters is an ode to our heroes, and a plea to the universe that we can maybe one day do it all again.
THE WORM SONG
A love song to end the EP, duh! I think it’s important to be bold in our vulnerabilities, and love is certainly both of those things. It is bold but honest to give your feelings, your love, your life, to someone else, especially when that love feels completely unconditional.
Image by Ryan Young
REN LAWTON
LAURA ROSIERSE DISCOVERS HOW THE SONGWRITER DREW INSPIRATION FROM HIS UNCLE’S POETRY TO CREATE HIS MASTERFUL NEW EP
Ren Lawton is the name under which Newcastle-based artist Conor Owen writes, releases and performs. His EP, Harry’s Poems (from the loft), is released this month and builds upon two art-forms and a familial relationship, exploring questions around poetry and lyrics together with his uncle, Harry Owen.
“The Ren Lawton project has been going since about March 2016, and in 2022 I released my debut album.” Conor explains.
“In 2015 I went on a trip to the States with my uncle who is a very good poet and we had many evenings drinking red wine, talking about poetry and lyrics. He was running a monthly poetry evening at the time that I was staying there, and we decided to put together a show between us where he would read three or four poems and I would play a couple of my songs. We did that a few times, and from there we started the conversation about turning his poems into songs. It’s taken me quite a long time to come around to making this EP happen.” Conor is adamant that art can’t be rushed, as this EP is a work of quality; a pensive and immersive collection of poetic songs. “I wanted to have the time and space to work on them in my own time.” He insists.
Poetry and music have many commonalities, however the process behind writing poems and writing music is quite different: “It was completely different from the way I usually write. I usually write from some sort of event or feelings. This
was more a project of trying to craft songs from poetry, as not all poems lend themselves to be worked on in that way. I was trying to let the song within the poem guide me. Good songwriting makes songs have a universal appeal.” Out of the nine poetry collections his uncle published, Conor made shortlists, yet some poems that didn’t make the shortlist still ended up on the EP, evidently this was quite the elaborate creative process.
While Conor’s not certain he would replicate this way of working again, he is keen to broaden his audience, and would love to meet more poets to find out what their take on a project such as his would be. His aim is different to spoken word artists adding music to their words: “They’re using music to fill a space, but it isn’t a song. I had to rewrite some of the poems to make them flow like a song.” The question rests; why aren’t all lyrics poetry? “Some modern music uses words quite cheaply. Also, I think that with lyrics you are allowed to be a little bit lazy and not as descriptive, because the music around it helps deliver the feeling you are trying to convey. Without the music you are left with quite empty words.”
After the release of Harry’s Poems (from the loft), Conor hopes to include songs from the EP in his regular live set before working on his second album. Because of this new experience, project and process, perhaps we can expect a different and more poetic style of writing.
Ren Lawton releases Harry’s Poems (from the loft) on 23rd September. www.renlawton.com
MUSIC
NOYOU
HEAVY EMOTIONAL THEMES ARE OFTEN PRESENT IN OUR LYRICS, AND IT’S PROVED THERAPEUTIC FOR ME TO CHANNEL THOSE FEELINGS INTO SOMETHING PRODUCTIVE
ISABEL MARIA TALKS TO THE SUNDERLAND POP ROCKERS ABOUT THE EMOTIONAL CREATIVITY THAT’S GONE INTO THEIR NEW EP, POOR HEARTED
Since forming in 2019, Sunderland’s favourite pop rock heroes noyou have gone from strength to strength – and after six months of hard work, they’re back with a shiny new EP this month. Poor Hearted is a dynamic six-track work which delves deeply into a myriad of themes and emotions. Talking to Connor Jobes, one of four core band members, it’s evident that the EP is really thoughtfully crafted and emotionally driven: “Speaking personally, to be ‘Poor Hearted’ is to be generally dissatisfied with where you’re currently at in life. We explore various aspects of this sentiment across the tracks, touching on personal struggles, unfulfilled desires and the quest for meaning.”
The production on Poor Hearted is excellent, and even more so when you discover the whole thing was pretty much fully born and self-produced in Connor’s home studio. “We usually start by writing a demo together on my computer. Since we can all play various instruments, everyone’s ideas are welcome, and no one sticks to just their main instrument. Once the demo is solid, we figure out how to play it live, then hit the practice space to refine it. Our goal is to make it sound like a cohesive band, not just a group of guys trying to replicate something they made on the computer. We like to play the songs live early to see what works in a gig scenario.
“For Poor Hearted, we followed this process, then booked a studio for a weekend to track drums. The rest was recorded, mixed and mastered in the room it was written in, my humble home studio. We booked recording sessions over several days, and the lads would come down and stay for a while. We had a lot of fun doing it!” It’s remarkable how much the band’s enjoyment of the recording process shines through the tracks,
even in the more emotional songs.
Speaking of these emotional songs – lyrically, Poor Hearted can be gutting at times. What’s admirable about it is how openly heavy themes are expressed throughout: there is a refreshing lack of taboo in these tunes. “Lyrics are always something that are tough to get right. It can be difficult sometimes to say what you want to say and get the right things off of your chest, without it sounding cringe or like you’re calling anyone out.
Heavy emotional themes are often present in our lyrics, and it’s proved therapeutic for me to channel those feelings into something productive.”
The EP is wholeheartedly original, created with no particular influences in mind, but I’m told that the band have a shared love of artists such as The Band Camino, Biffy Clyro, Nothing But Thieves, The 1975 and The Japanese House. If any of those ring a particularly potent bell in your head, I think it’s safe to say you’ll also enjoy noyou.
And for old and new fans of the band, there’s a massive show at Independent on Friday 27th September: “You can expect to see a performance from us at the top of our game, featuring both new tracks from Poor Hearted and some fan favourites. We’re planning a dynamic set with high energy, emotional depth, and a few surprises along the way. It’s going to be an awesome night, and we can’t wait to share it with everyone.”
noyou release Poor Hearted on 6th September. The band play Last Train Home in Darlington on Saturday 7th and Independent, Sunderland on Friday 27th September. www.linktr.ee/noyoumusic
LISTINGS
THE BEST OF THE REST… EVEN MORE ALTERNATIVE MUSIC, THEATRE, COMEDY, ART AND FILM TAKING PLACE THROUGHOUT THE NORTH EAST THIS MONTH
SUNDAY 1ST SEPTEMBER
BANDIT
Three-piece grindcore band from Philadelphia // Head of Steam, Newcastle
SISTER SHACK: FLEA, HANDMADE & VINYL MARKET
20 local traders selling an array of pre-loved and handmade items // Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle
STRIKE: AN UNCIVIL WAR
Daniel Gordon’s documentary chronicles the Battle of Orgreave, the most violent clash of the 1984/85 Miners’ Strike, with powerful testimonies and unseen archives // Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle
MONDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER
MARY LATTIMORE
American harpist and composer // The Glasshouse, Gateshead
NERDS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN
Chuckle your way through the science scene with Neil Harris, Kelly Edgar, Matthew Wheelright, and Luke Connell // The Stand, Newcastle
TUESDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER
HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL
High-octane, black comedy rock musical based on one of the greatest cult teen films of all time that starred Winona Ryder and Christian Slater. Runs until 7th September // Theatre Royal, Newcastle
WEDNESDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER
SKETCH SLAP
Cabaret sketch night celebrating comedy, queerness, neurodiversity, disability, ethnic and racial diversity // Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle
THURSDAY 5TH SEPTEMBER
DAWN LANDES
North Carolina-based singer-songwriter // The Cluny 2, Newcastle
THE SLOW DEATH
Minneapolis punk supergroup // Pop Recs Ltd., Sunderland
FRIDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER
FEATURED // Elevate 22
Regular showcase event hosted by Marisam Events, featuring rising stars from the local music scene, including sets from Pretty Velvet, Northern Hospitality and Last Orders // Newgate Social, Newcastle
HEARTWOOD
The first artistic response to the tragic felling of the Sycamore Gap tree, showcasing five prints made directly from a slice of the tree. Runs until 19th October // Queen’s Hall Arts Centre, Hexham
LAUREL’S COMEDY CLUB
Featuring Kelly Edgar, Gavin Webster, Rob Rouse and Si Beckwith // Laurel’s, Whitley Bay
THE SILLY BILLIES COMEDY CABARET SHOW
Expect a night of transgressive music hall variety and uncanny lunacy // Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle
VENUS GRRRLS
Fresh from a performance at Reading & Leeds, the goth-grunge band head out on a UK tour celebrating new single, Darla // The Cluny 2, Newcastle
THURSDAY 7TH SEPTEMBER
BIG MOUTH COMEDY CLUB
Featuring MC Freddy Quinne, Rob Rouse, Andy Askins and Dawn Bailey // Middlesbrough Town Hall
ELVIS COSTELLO & STEVE NIEVE
The iconic duo and collaborators rediscover and reimagine selections from Costello’s vast catalogue // The Glasshouse, Gateshead
EVE SIMPSON & MIKE MCKENZIE
Songs of love, loss, forgiveness and gratitude // Alphabetti Theatre, Newcastle
GET HIP!
The night which celebrates 60s, soul, garage, psych, ska and more welcomes mod garage band The Hurricanes // The Green Room, Stockton
OUT OF MY MIND
A solo show of ceramics, sculpture and 2d works by Aphra O’Connor that explore the relationship between creativity and neurodiversity. Runs until 2nd November // Redcar Palace
FEATURED // Pit Pony
The first edition of Sound, a brand new night of top North East artists. Headline show comes from hypnotic fuzz rockers Pit Pony, with support from indie duo Look Terrified // Play Brew Co, Middlesbrough
RIDE
Expect everything from psych folk to noir pop from the revered band // Boiler Shop, Newcastle
ROYAL PHOTOGRAPHIC SOCIETY DOCUMENTARY PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS 2024
Attracting exceptional documentary and visual storytellers from across the world, view nine diverse projects whose subject matter ranges from the impact of conflict and war, migration, reflections on history and memory, performance, ageing, mental health and childhood. The work provides an insight into the range of what can be documentary and how it can be used to tell stories. Runs until 28th September // Newcastle Arts Centre
STEFFEN PEDDIE
Better Call Steffen is an interactive comedy experience where the audience’s quandaries and anecdotes become the heart of the show // ARC, Stockton
STEFF TODD
Hilarious new stand-up comedy from the creator of the online smash-hit Yorkshire Kardashians // The Stand, Newcastle
THE MONOCHROME SET
Influential post-punks, supported by Tiny & The Tears // The Central Bar, Gateshead
SUNDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER
FILIBUS
The most exciting steampunk, crossdressing thriller you will ever see! Filibus presents a leading female character who is in full control of her life // Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle
NEIL DELAMERE
Hilarious tall tales, razor sharp observations and quick-witted improvisation // The Stand, Newcastle
WEDNESDAY 11TH SEPTEMBER
GAIL PORTER
The TV presenter brings her hilarious and touching Hung, Drawn & Portered show to Middlesbrough // Middlesbrough Town Hall
THURSDAY
12TH SEPTEMBER
BOMBAY SUPERSTARS
A glittering concert musical about the disco, the divas, and the drama that created Bollywood icons // Dance City, Newcastle
DAFTIES
Gavin Webster and Si Beckwith pull together some of their favourite daft people and alt. acts for a cracking way to spend an evening // The Stand, Newcastle
FRIDAY 13TH SEPTEMBER
OCEAN FILM FESTIVAL
Venturing to rarely explored depths of the planet, meet the surfers, paddlers, divers and scientists who have dedicated their lives to answering the call of the ocean // Whitley Bay Playhouse
SHOE CAKE COMEDY CLUB
Featuring the Mark Nelson and Lauren Pattison and hosted by Dean Coughlin // The Georgian Theatre, Stockton
FRIDAY 14TH SEPTEMBER
VICE KILLER
County Durham alt. indie band, supported by Tight Collar and Risco // The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle
SATURDAY 15TH SEPTEMBER
HI-STAKES TOUR
A celebration of hardcore punk and the spirit of rebellion, featuring The Last Gang, Clobber, Last Hounds and Split Dogs // The Cluny, Newcastle
MARK SHARP & THE BICYCLE THIEVES
West Lothian rockers // The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle
MICHAEL AKADIRI
Multi-award-winning comedian and junior doctor Michael Akadiri presents his sophomore show, Trust Me I’m a Daddy // The Stand, Newcastle
SUNDAY 16TH SEPTEMBER
THE LAFONTAINES
Scottish rockers // The Cluny, Newcastle
WEDNESDAY 18TH SEPTEMBER
FEATURED // artED
The brainchild of artist Helen Shaddock, arted.online is a new digital zine which explores eating distress through art practice. A talks programme begins this month, featuring conversations with professionals, writers, artists and curators to exchange ideas, knowledge and understanding // The Word, South Shields
NO SUCH THING AS A FISH
Celebrating 10 years of the successful and highly irreverent podcast // Tyne Theatre & Opera House, Newcastle
THURSDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER
ELAINE PALMER
Americana/country songwriter // The Ship Isis, Sunderland
PEOPLESCAPES
An exhibition of stylised realism from David Baillie. Runs until 26th October // Arts Centre Washington
SCIENCE SPEAKEASY: CLIMATE CRIMINALS
Is it illegal to save our planet? Join panellists in a thought-provoking conversation around the climate emergency and protest // Life Science Centre, Newcastle
SPIELMANN
Uncompromising and unmissable one-man live show. Supported by Faithful Johannes & Neocia // The Cumberland Arms, Newcastle
THE SUGGESTIBLES IMPROV COMEDY JOYRIDE
An edge-of-your-seat improv comedy joyride // The Stand, Newcastle
FRIDAY 20TH SEPTEMBER
DOPESICKFLY
Lyrically explosive, musically diverse funk rock hybrid with a hip-pop twist and feel-good vibe. Supported by Conor Michaels // Newgate Social, Newcastle
GAFFA TAPE SANDY
Formed in 2015 by three friends with a desire to do something loud and exciting, Gaffa Tape Sandy’s popularity quickly escalated thanks to a series of incendiary live shows and a seemingly endless succession of instantly memorable garage-punk/rock tunes // Zerox, Newcastle
GOODSPRINGS
The Newcastle reggae band celebrate the release of new single Lo Mejor De Lo Mejor, a swing-inspired bop which shows off their reggae dub skills // Downcast Studios, Gateshead
HILARITY BITES COMEDY CLUB
Featuring Steve Gribbin, Alfie Joey, Mike Wardley and MC Catherine Young // Bishop Auckland Town Hall
THE DANGEROUS SUMMER
Alt. rock with hooks that serve as soundtracks for important life moments // Tapyard Studios, Newcastle
SATURDAY 21ST SEPTEMBER
TCHOTCHKE
Dream pop shoegaze // The Grove, Newcastle
TOM MCRAE
Alt. singer-songwriter // The Cluny 2, Newcastle
SUNDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER
THE TRIAL
Based on Kafka’s novel about a bureaucrat who is accused of a never-specified crime. Orson Welles described this as the best film he ever made // Star & Shadow Cinema, Newcastle
MONDAY 23RD SEPTEMBER
ARTHUR BUEZO
One-man folk band // The Cluny 2, Newcastle
WEDNESDAY 25TH SEPTEMBER
JON BODEN & THE REMNANT KINGS
Post-apocalyptic folk // The Witham, Barnard Castle
PARTY CANON
Scotland’s favourite brutal ‘IQ-lowering and soul-crushing’ party band // The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle
THE FLOCK & MOVING CLOUD
Scottish Dance Theatre set the stage on fire with two of their most physically daring and dynamic works in an unforgettable evening of dance // Dance City, Newcastle
THURSDAY 26TH SEPTEMBER
FRESH THURSDAY
Featuring versatile producer, composer and vocalist Bethany Ley and a contemporary twist on traditional folk from Heen // Cobalt Studios, Newcastle
FROM THE GLASSHOUSE
Featuring harmonies, emotions and stirring songwriting from Kindelan, Sunflower Thieves and Callum Pitt // The Glasshouse, Gateshead
LIVE & LOCAL
Celebrating regional artists, featuring Middle Management, Cane Rouge and Empty Accents // The Forum Music Centre, Darlington
FRIDAY 27TH SEPTEMBER
CATCH 22 COMEDY CLUB
Featuring MC Nina Gilligan, Chris Stokes, Oliver Bowler and John Fothergill // ARC, Stockton
HASSAN PHILLS
Charismatic observational comedian // The Stand, Newcastle
SEA GIRLS
Melodic pop band // O2 City Hall, Newcastle
THE GROGANS
Australian garage rock band // The Grove, Newcastle
SATURDAY 28TH SEPTEMBER
CAT RYAN
The Newcastle art popsters kick off a UK tour // The Cluny 2, Newcastle
GAVIN WEBSTER: AN EVENING OF SWEARING & SHOUTING
Gavin Webster, a stand-up comedian of over 30 years is on tour to share his jokes, routines and set pieces, his one liners, dark observations, sardonic ukulele comedy songs and verbal crash bang wallops // The Witham, Barnard Castle
HAYLEY MCKAY
Much-loved local country music singer-songwriter // Gala Theatre, Durham
HOT POTATO COMEDY CLUB
Featuring MC Nina Gilligan, Chris Stokes, Adrian Hanlon and John Fothergill // Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre
KING NUN
Alt. indie rock band // Salt Market Social, North Shields
FEATURED // Middlesbrough Pride
A celebration of the Teesside’s LGBTQIA+ community, with everything from live performances, music and drag, to a Pride market, food traders, creative workshops, family arts and crafts, a pop-up parade and much more // Middlesbrough
PETE MORTON
Folk, social commentary and superb vocals, support from Rebekah Findlay // Toft House, Middlesbrough Little Theatre
THE POND
Accomplished psych rock band // The Grove, Newcastle
TRAVELER
Californian heavy metal // The Lubber Fiend, Newcastle
SUNDAY 29TH SEPTEMBER
EMMA SMITH WITH STRICTLY SMOKIN’ BIG BAND
Emma Smith is not only a rising jazz star in her own right, but is also one third of the vocal group Puppini Sisters, she joins Strictly Smokin’ Big Band for a unique show // The Common Room, Newcastle
Like a moth to the flame, music fans were drawn to Gosforth Civic Theatre to witness post-rock collective Silver Moth, featuring Stuart Braithwaite from Mogwai and Elisabeth Elektra amongst other rock luminaries. The band recently released their debut album Black Bay, and with six songs on the album, there weren’t going to be too many surprises in the show.
The set got underway via atmospheric instrumental Henry before Elektra joined her musical counterparts onstage for The Eternal. Elisabeth elaborates that the record was improvised during lockdown, and watching these gifted musicians onstage the chemistry that spawned the group’s debut album is immediately apparent.
The band delivered a new song by way of Good Wolf Bad Wolf. During Gaelic, Braithwaite’s spoken words are gently layered over the top of acoustic rumblings. A cover of Especially Me by Low enchanted those present, before the band sunk their heart and soul into a beguiling airing of Sedna.
Hello Doom provided an eruptive conclusion to the set. The composition is not just a song, but it’s an atmosphere, you can feel its weight through the band’s use of volume and short sharp penetrating riffs. Shades of darkness and light were omnipresent during Silver Moth’s hour-long set. We could have gladly listened to more.
EXPLOSIONS IN THE SKY, BLU_ARO @ BOILER SHOP, NEWCASTLE (14.08.24)
Words: Michael O’Neill
Local producer Mark Cooper, performing as Blu_aro, kicked off proceedings with an evocative set that blended abstract synth loops and sound collage with dexterous percussion and wonderful left turns into melodic splendour. Performing solo, flanked by synths and a drum kit, Mark conjured up a glorious wash of sound, with expressive, unorthodox drumming providing a crucial addition to the rich sonic palette of his phenomenal set. It proved to be the perfect scene setter for the iconic Texan post-rock quartet.
Regularly regarded as one of the most powerful live acts of the 21st Century, Explosions In The Sky have remained a force to be reckoned with, conjuring up a fierce storm of sound that relies heavily on intricate interplay and expressive dynamics instead of distortion and abrasion. In a career-spanning setlist that showcased the highlights of recent LP End, EITS proved a staggering force of nature live; the band brilliantly utilise the sonic potential of a three-guitar line-up but there is a profound effortlessness and power to their music which never feels laboured or pretentious, resulting in an experience that is unparalleled in its power and its execution. Add this one to your bucket list and thank me later.
FINN FORSTER, KOJ, REMEE, ELLIE SCOUGALL @ THE GROVE, NEWCASTLE (15.08.24)
Words: Damian Robinson
Showcasing their wide roster of artists and sounds, tonight provides the perfect jumping off point for Newcastle-based EMI North imprint Interval Records. Taking over the entire venue, the show starts with a banger from DJ/electro act Ellie Scougall and her blend of garage and electronic jams. She’s the perfect artist to kick the evening off with an uptempo and positive sound, setting the standard for the remaining performances. Up next is Remee, a soulful singer combining hip-hop, soul, R&B and indie pop, and accompanied tonight by an acoustic guitar. Standing out with tracks Dead Inside and Pathetic, Remee’s set is strong and showcases clear pop sensibilities. Liverpool’s hip-hop star Koj delivers an incredibly strong set, bursting through tracks which demonstrate not only great songwriting skills but also a fine technical delivery for the live stage; the lad barely takes a breath in between large sections of rhymes. Focused on political and social commentary, standout (and absolute banger) A Reminder showcases exceptional talent and confidence.
Finishing the night, Boro’s Finn Forster delivers a typically passionate and powerful indie/soul combination. New song Burning Bridges provides yet further evidence of a songwriter growing in confidence and style; Forster is a true force tonight.
Silver Moth by Adam Kennedy
UNWRITTEN WOMEN @ ALPHABETTI THEATRE, NEWCASTLE (15.08.24)
Words: Jade Mia Broadhead
Written and performed by Night-Light Theatre CIC, Unwritten Women is the collective name for three performances dealing with common, but largely ignored aspects of womanhood.
Themes of identity run throughout. From the new mother in Toast, suffering from post-natal depression and coming to terms with the fact it’s “not about me anymore,” to Jo in We Made A Pact who may or may not have developed an alter ego to enable her to deal with a sexual assault. And finally to the Queen Of The Quack, a woman struggling to hold on to her sanity.
Intense subject matters are dealt with sensitively, incredibly directly, and at times with light-hearted humour. We laugh along with the ‘Queen’ – thanks to the wonderful comic timing of the lead actress –but we’re also left with an unease that what we’re laughing at is a very harsh, sad reality.
Yet what we’re ultimately left with in these powerful, single actress plays, is examples of strength. For all her self-doubts, the new mother is compassionate and we feel safe in the knowledge that she will find her feet, and herself again. Jo/Sophie kickboxes herself to a place of physical and mental strength to fight her demons and the ‘Queen’ prides herself on being a good mother throughout the chaos. Even if she can’t look after a hamster…
DACTYL TERRA, PINK POISON,
BUGMAN @ THE CUMBERLAND ARMS, NEWCASTLE (09.08.24)
Words: Luke Waller
Three acts represented a spectrum of psychedelic rock from the verges of punk to its bluesier roots, and there was an array of talent and experimentation on show.
Bugman cracked open the night in rowdy fashion. Proving that the sonic impact of a two-piece should not be underestimated when armed with ear-wormish punky riffs and bass-charged guitar, the first set largely comprised a selection of bombastic tracks merged into larger montages. Finally, Bugman’s fantastically swaggery single Fever Dream crowned his set spectacularly, setting the mood for the evening. Though in keeping with the slightly absurdist vein, Pink Poison’s offering was quite unorthodox in many aspects. Between the guttural vocals and eight-string bass, the four-piece covered a range of genres from dirty blues and garage rock to 1950s schmaltz, evoking a comparable range of emotions. The crowd were guided through by the peculiarly
charismatic and cardigan-clad showman Tyler Jay Allan, and readied for the musical prowess of the headline act.
Dactyl Terra, the self-purported South Wales space-groovers, closed the night with a positively galactic set. Tightly-meshed together, the band glide smoothly from riff to jam with wonderful ease. With a selection from their short but mighty discography, Dactyl Terra impressed their audience in an atmospheric but unpretentious set. An especially stellar performance was given by Erin Julian, oozing cool as only the finest bassists can. Throughout, their psychedelia-heavy sound moved and grooved in euphoric mood.
FUTURE ISLANDS, JOON @ O2 CITY HALL, NEWCASTLE (31.07.24)
Words: Andrew Thompson
Maltese-born Yasmin Kuymizakis, alias JOON, has some clear influences – you’d fancy she’s a Björk fan (aren’t we all?) and that she definitely owns an ESG record or two. She wears her influences front and centre, but when they’re as good as that, why wouldn’t she?
Future Islands are one of those bands that, whenever you mention their name, it’s nearly always followed by someone saying: “They’re great live,” but they had, until now, eluded me.
On a sweltering night in the O2 City Hall, the Baltimore natives endured somewhat of a stuttering start. A small fracas, quickly followed by someone flaking out in the heat before they’d managed barely five songs, meant the opening felt a little flat, and was further hindered by a few slightly softer songs, King of Sweden and The Tower, from their new album People Who Aren’t There Anymore.
But such is the alluring, irresistible force of Samuel T. Herring that by the crescendo of Ran, he is lurching violently, travelling frankly unreasonable distances across the stage, and you are instantly hooked. Much has been written about Herring’s manic dancing and primal screams since that performance on Later… which launched the band into a different orbit in the UK, but it’s genuinely impossible to take your eyes off him. You’d be forgiven for not even noticing the wonderfully Lynchian geometric staging until the most supple man in rock reappears from an archway, beating his chest, his sweat scattering and illuminated by the stage lights.
The band is rejoined by JOON, filling in for Debbie Harry on Shadows from 2017’s The Far Field before the night reaches an obvious climax with Seasons (Waiting on You). Future Islands’ reputation precedes them, but it’s a reputation hard-earned and very well deserved.
Following a day of flying pianos belting out Bohemian Rhapsody and gravity-defying aerial circus and dance shows around the Civic Centre, Newcastle’s art, music and performance festival NOVUM focussed on the main musical acts in the Banqueting Hall. Holy Moly & The Crackers’ Ruth Lyon is carving out a successful solo career of her own, and through tracks like the playful Trouble, a song about causing havoc through activism, and the shimmering Wicker Man, from her forthcoming debut solo album due next year, there’s plenty of reasons to be excited for more solo ventures.
Another act with plenty of buzz is Newcastle spawned but Londonbased Knats, a four-piece instrumental act whose excellent musicianship results in a set full of rollercoaster jazz and garage fused rides that can take you from soaring highs to swooping lows and back again in mere seconds.
Having played at the World Cup and the Brits, Kima Otung commands the stage tonight, bopping and boogying, backed with a live drummer playing upbeat RnB/pop numbers like the self-worth hook-filled anthem Like You. Single I’m Cute is indicative of the confidence she exudes; do not be surprised if she dominates the charts for some time to come. It’s Flamingods’ first appearance in Newcastle and it was well worth the wait. The multicultural and multi-instrument psychedelic rock/dance fusion band know how to put on a show, and take the audience to heights only previously witnessed outside Civic Centre on the aforementioned piano. The Banqueting Hall becomes a feast of sun-soaked Eastern guitars, synths and percussion, last year’s Dreams (On The Strip) from latest album Head of Pomegranate encompassing all of the above and more in a fitting finale.
JULIE BYRNE @ THE GLASSHOUSE, GATESHEAD (25.07.24)
Words: Caleb Carter
Despite sounding all liquid, when Julie Byrne played The Glasshouse it felt like return. Inside the sonorous beehive stage, lighting melted around a spellbound audience who paid her enthusiasm with a currency of deep, shared silence. Byrne has the kind of vocal control that undoes the seam separating her from her instrumentals, and an ethereal lilt that delivers lyrics on the pollinated updraught of a memory. Yet those same
lyrics talked of homecoming, to a place, to a person, or to the self after a soiree into relationship or grief, and the entire tone of the evening took on the same atmosphere as a grounding breath in which everyone was returned to the body.
When Byrne let her music suspend us through extended synth arpeggios and building guitar – as in highlights Hope’s Return and fan favourite Sleepwalker – it was a minor, peaceful levitation that she always generously brought us back down from. Over an hour she explored these cycles: vivid loss then its crystal return with an expanded spectrum of awareness. When we left the stage, there was a brilliant sunset beyond the panel windows of The Glasshouse: oranges melting into pinks, just as they are sure to always do.
DRAGGED UP, LOVELY WIFE, PAVE THE JUNGLE @ THE CUMBERLAND ARMS, NEWCASTLE (26.07.24)
Words: Roz Cuthbert
I hadn’t been to The Cumby Arms for a long while prior to this evening. I’d forgotten what a picturesque and characterful area of Newcastle it’s situated in.
We arrived just in time to see the loud, doom-laden idiosyncratic sounds of Lovely Wife, a three-piece comprising of a bassist (who somehow manages to make his bass sound like a guitar), a drummer and a singer effecting his voice via a guitar pedal. I can’t not mention the Biffa bin that the vocalist spent the entirety of the set in. I thought I’d seen every gimmick one way or another over the years but this was a new one, even to me. The music was good enough for him to pull it off though and I was intrigued by the way he rose up from the bin gradually as the set progressed, like a spectre of waste eerily materialising. Lovely Wife are far from trash, I’d see ‘em again!
Pave The Jungle were a classy group who gelled really well live, paving the way for the headline act Dragged Up, A wickedly delightful live band with original, memorable songs. They even did my favourite track of theirs, Missing Person. The Glasgow lot are a very original outfit with a distinct sound which melds genres as diverse as pop and elements of doom with a psychedelic twist.
Flamingods by David Wala
TRACKS
JON DORAN & THE NORTHERN ASSEMBLY S/T EP
Words: Matthew Brown
Jon Doran & The Northern Assembly’s debut EP offers a vibrant reinterpretation of traditional folk, blending powerful storytelling with dynamic musical arrangements. The trio, featuring Jon Doran’s compelling vocals, Heather Ferrier’s skilful accordion and Jordan Aikin’s lively pipes, kicks off with Robin Hood And The Pedlar, an energetic reworking of a classic tale.
Bold Wolfe transports listeners to the Battle of Quebec, while The Evening Sun offers a hauntingly beautiful contrast, drawing from Appalachian and blues influences. Kitty of Ballinamore and Heenan And Sayers continue the EP’s exploration of historical narratives with a modern twist. This EP reinvigorates traditional stories, making it a must-listen for folk music enthusiasts who enjoy a blend of the old and the new.
Released: 27.09.24
www.jondoranmusic.co.uk
JEREMY M IS IT TOO LATE? EP
Words: Matt Young
This debut EP from York-born now Newcastle-based singer-songwriter Jeremy M has self-reflective indie pop and soulful vibes. Songs dealing with tough emotions are often given self-explanatory titles, like Oversharing, Boys Don’t Cry (no, not the Cure one), It’s Not Your Fault etc. That’s not to dismiss them though, as Jeremy manages to wring engaging stories out of these seemingly simple opening gambits. The arrangements are pretty robust too; a surprising guitar solo in Boys Don’t Cry, the heartfelt balladry of Gone Forever and an almost disco beat of It’s Not Your Fault mix things up enough to stay interesting, with his vocals front and centre, especially on the rueful sounding What I Believe. It’s a solid tracklisting with great potential and should seek out the audience it deserves.
Released: 06.09.24
www.jeremym.co.uk
(PLEASE TRY TO GET IN TOUCH 8-6 WEEKS AHEAD OF THE
RYE PERFECT
Words: Mack Sproates
Perfect is an absorbing, fragile and immersive single by newcomer Rye. Careful, stripped back keys and vocals draw us in close, with vulnerable lyrics analysing the toxicity of being moulded by another’s hands. It’s easy to get lost in Rye’s beautifully crafted vocals, which are a conduit for the absorbing synths and gentle drums. The multifaceted track blends verses in English and Spanish effortlessly, with a captivating section of spoken word giving the track a poetic edge. The structure cleverly unwinds perfectionism, as the instruments unfold into quiet madness, all while Rye’s melodies hold us in her hands. We are led to an ending that swallows us whole yet leaves us gasping for more, with only Rye’s haunting vocals to hold onto for safety.
Released: 06.09.24
www.ryemiss.bandcamp.com
TWAYN MESS EP
Words: Michaela Hall
It’s clear after listening to Twayn for just 30 seconds why they’re taking the world by storm. At just 19, twins Hannah and Grace have already had a sold-out gig at the iconic Bedford Arms, widespread radio exposure, festival appearances, supported the likes of Ruth Lyon and have even appeared on Sunday Brunch’s playlist.
Even more impressive is their new EP, in which 80s disco meets contemporary pop. Their catchy and irresistible anthems nod to calling out crappy relationships and empowering yourself to say how it really is. From sassy Mr Perfect to punchy The Way It Is, we fall in love with their stories and want to know more; their tracks are more than just music – a sign of our times, prioritising self-love in a crazy world.
Released: 06.09.24 www.twayn.co.uk
Image by David Hall
Image by Megan Savage
THE ILFORDS THE DEMON & THE DONKEY
Words: Jonathan Coll
The Ilfords are a Newcastle-based four-piece, hailing from the Jesmond street from which the band took their name. A UK tour kicks off this September, and this year looks set to the biggest of their burgeoning careers.
They’re a proper indie outfit; of the kind that you’ll reminisce about in fifteen years’ time when you hear one of their tunes that was on a FIFA soundtrack. That may be a little trite, but it’s intended as a compliment. The Demon & The Donkey is superb. Not too dissimilar to AM-era Arctic Monkeys; and not a million miles off the riffs and soaring vocals of tunes like R U MINE. They aren’t quite there yet, but there’s an awful lot of potential and a lot to be excited about.
Released: 13.09.24
www.linktr.ee/theilfords
TUNNEL CLUB/SUMMER NIGHT AIR SPLIT EP
Words: Matt Young Newcastle’s strong musical pedigree often leads to mutual appreciation and fandom, as in this case with Tunnel Club’s 90s-influenced euphoric dance and Summer Night Air’s dreamy pop bliss finding themselves remixing and reinterpreting tracks by one another, adding the original songs and a brand new track on the suitably titled EP, Split. The collaboration yields so much, not only in the new songs Glow and Turn Into Flowers, but particularly when the artists reconfigure each other’s material. The Tunnel Club treatment of International Year of Soil takes the SNA original’s chaotic d’n’b scope and weaves a cool extended interstellar world; similarly, Summer Night Air takes Tunnel Club’s Sky High to epic places with thick beats and lush synths conjured in their ‘drum & bliss’ style.
Hope Love Drink Death is unapologetically about those avoided feelings. The four tracks weave between emotive topics like heartbreak and being trapped in the mundane everyday. They do so with a unique indie softness that draws the listener in and the intense rhythms and chords feel authentic, genuine and heartfelt. This confrontation of those topics brings the music a raw power that is not afraid to be what it is, and explore those feelings that only this type of magically honest music can. The strong melodies and nods to multiple genres make the EP a whirlwind that leaves you wanting to know more about the man behind the music, Steve Chaplin. This special ability to connect with listeners is something truly worth experiencing.
Released: 01.09.24
www.willgood-themattes.bandcamp.com
WHITE COLLAR REBEL VALENTINE
Words: Roz Cuthbert
Valentine kicks off with a strumming pattern similar to The Jam’s That’s Entertainment, but that’s where any further similarities end. I read in their press release that they are influenced by 90’s acid house which I can’t really detect in this song, maybe White Collar Rebel have vastly changed direction?
The track is probably too top 40 influenced for me. Don’t get me wrong, it has its place in the musical landscape, it’s just a little bit too clean and overproduced and a bit generic in the lyrics department for me. The lads definitely know how to write a tune though. Valentine is due to be released on 2nd September with a gig at the Head of Steam in Newcastle on Friday 6th.
Released: 02.09.24
www.facebook.com/whitecollarrebelband
CITIZENS OF YEAH! 3 LITTLE PIGGIES
Words: Roz Cuthbert
I thoroughly enjoyed Citizen of YEAH!’s previous release Thermonuclear Warmth. The talented songwriter from Ryton seems to have gone down a more mainstream route than his more arty output of last year. I hear that Dan from Amateur Ornithologist provided backing vocals for 3 Little Piggies, which is indeed a welcome addition.
There are a myriad of analogies and references to fairy tales, which captured my imagination and serves the music well. The vocals on the main chorus refrain could have a one or two part harmony behind, as it sounds a bit bare, but Citizens of YEAH!’s new track is well worth a listen.
Released: 09.09.24
www.linktr.ee/citizensofyeah
BOSOLA VANILLA BEIGE
Words: Isabel Maria
On 13th September, Newcastle-based alt. rockers Bosola release their energetic new single, Vanilla Beige. An instantly commanding short story of “muted rage, mental illness and trauma”, the tune rings itself in with a dynamic, pounding drumbeat, and then soars full-throttle into a three-and-a-half minute epic. The guitars are shredding, the vocals are punchy, the bass is pounding and the drums – well, the drums are more than a pulse, they’re a full on heartbeat.
Recorded at Polestar Studios and inspired by names like Shame and The Libertines, Vanilla Beige cements Bosola as one of the up and coming rock names you should be shouting about. Unique, bold, catchy and crunchy, this is one for your finest rock and roll playlist.
Released: 13.09.24
www.bosola.bandcamp.com
DECREPIT YOUTHS BLACK DOVE
Words: Isabel Maria
Black Dove is the latest metal banger from dual-fronted Newcastle five-piece Decrepit Youths, an immediately all-consuming fairground ride of a song which effortlessly zigzags between all of its dynamic moments and structures. Instantly tense and dramatic – like a slap in the face, but a welcome one – it’s a work that grabs you and holds your attention captive until the very end.
Rhythmically, Black Dove feels kaleidoscopic and wild; it’s one of those songs you can listen to over and over again and still enjoy as if it’s brand new. Lyrically fantastic and ever-dynamic, it is a nostalgic echo of all the genre’s greats, while consolidating itself as an astonishingly unique and engaging new entry to the world’s library of metal tunes.
Released: 06.09.24
www.facebook.com/decrepityouths
SIMON TAYLOR THE THEATRE OF BROKEN SOULS
Words: Laura Rosierse
North East-based singer-songwriter Simon Taylor hints at a more uplifting and energetic sound with the release of his new single. The track is a shimmering summer anthem with soft vocals and a guitar-driven soundscape that is catchy, and a chorus that is easy to sing along to. The new funk rock track shows a different side to the musician’s abilities, which thus far have taken a more pop/Latin-focused approach, and as such uplifts his entire catalogue.
The Theatre of Broken Souls is the first track from his upcoming EP Northern Star, which offers a tongue-in-cheek narrative on working in a music venue. If the EP sounds anything like the single’s happy-go-lucky soundscape, I can’t wait to hear it!
Released: 06.09.24
www.simontaylormusic.com
ALBUMS
/ 5
TINDERSTICKS
SOFT TISSUE (CITY SLANG)
Words: Matt Young
It’s been over 30 years since Tindersticks first announced themselves with their sombre-sounding, molasses-thick drama and enduring imagery, conjured up in their music alongside the lugubrious vocals of band founder, singer-songwriter, and producer Stuart Staples, and time has not diminished their creativity or ability to hue fine melodies and introspective refrains from the granite. Soft Tissue begins with the curiosity of New World, in which Staples proclaims “I won’t let my love become my weakness” in his unmistakable drawl, forever tethered across time to Roxy Music and Bryan Ferry, Gina Foster’s soulful backing powers his message over the retro horns and thick bassline. Rarely known for their pacy tunes, The Secret of Breathing and Falling, The Light meander through pensive thoughts and esoteric musings on life and its potential end. Simple lines are sung like bible verses in hymnal form. Always A Stranger though is a shimmering waltz decrying lost love, until brass horns blare and drown out any self-pity. The bossa nova groove of Nancy is light years away from the similarly themed and pivotal release Kathleen. It’s stark and retrospective.
The funky prowl of Turned My Back comes to life in unexpected contrast with gospel and soul tones from the backing vocals and a typically emotional Staples vocal turn, and again as the album closer Soon To Be April shuffles in, a little off-kilter. Tindersticks’ experimentation via many collaborative scores with film director Claire Denis has seen their palette change over the years, an in-built optimism is more visible, but they’ve always been ambitious in their songwriting and sought to process initially small ideas into huge, orchestrated, wide-screen vistas. The band are ever-inquisitive and searching for ways to interpret life and their music. They exist outside of trends and outside of traditional popularity. They began doing what pleased them and audiences gravitated towards their lush sound. Tindersticks remain noticeably excited about where their music will take them, and on Soft Tissue it’s evident yet again that they have journeyed hard and long to find new muses, and that’s an uplifting place to both begin and end.
Released: 13.09.24
www.tindersticks.co.uk
ALSO OUT THIS MONTH
Blossoms - Gary (ODD SK Recordings, 20.09) // Dale Crover - Glossolalia (Joyful Noise, 13.09) // Pale Waves - Smitten (Dirty Hit, 20.09) // Foxing - S/T (Grand Paradise, 13.09) // Or:la - Trusting Theta (Fabric Originals, 20.09) // Midwife - No Depression In Heaven (The Flenser, 06.09) // TR/ST - Performance (Dais Records, 13.09) // The Jesus Lizard - Rack (Ipecac Recordings, 13.09) // Midland - Barely Blue (Big Machine Records, 20.09) // Deadletter - Hysterical Strength (SO Recordings, 13.09) // Boston Manor - Sundiver (SharpTone Records, 06.09) // Snow Patrol - The Forest Is The Path (Polydor Records, 13.09) // Mercury Rev - Born Horses (Bella Union, 06.09) // Sløtface - Film Buff (Propeller Recordings, 27.09) // Nina Nesbitt - Mountain Music (Apple Tree Records, 27.09) // Sophie - S/T (Transgressive, 27.09) // Nala Sinephro - Endlessness (Warp Records, 06.09) // Jamie XX - In Waves (Young, 20.09) // Erland Cooper - Carve The Runes Then Be Content With Silence (Mercury KX/Decca, 20.09) // Fat Dog - WOOF (Domino, 06.09)
5 / 5
MAXÏMO PARK STREAM OF LIFE (LOWER THIRD)
Words: Lee Hammond
Their eighth studio album sees Maxïmo Park on exceptional lyrical form. Stream Of Life distils their ever-evolving sound into an exquisite record that takes in the best bits from their previous seven albums and makes it all shine. Packed with nuance, at times there is a delicacy to the album, particularly in Armchair View, whereas Doppelgänger Eyes and The End Can Be As Good As The Start both have an upbeat feel, the latter certain to become a live favourite.
A passionate but often downbeat message cut with stark realism runs through Stream Of Life, though No Such Thing As A Society bucks that trend, a nudge not to listen to those in power and instead look around you.
Released: 27.09.24
www.maximopark.com
5 / 5
DESPERATE JOURNALIST NO HERO (FIERCE PANDA RECORDS)
Words: Jade Mia Broadhead
The Londoners’ fifth record could be their best yet, from the slow build to an enthralling crescendo of the opener Adah, right through to You Say You’re Lonely’s hauntingly moving melodies and beyond. Afraid is the standout track, delicate piano touches scattered throughout a song about anxiety and finding the one person you feel safe with. But there are plenty other highlights too; from the gothic synths of Comfort to the epic
Unsympathetic Parts 1 & 2, full of the band’s usual noirish indie but taking it further to experimental – dare I say prog? – levels in a thoroughly widescreen piece of art. Some of the most exciting records take you on a journey and No Hero’s one is full of twists and turns.
Released: 27.09.24
www.desparatejournalist.co.uk
Image by Richard Dumas and Suzanne Osborne
4 / 5
DELILAH BON EVIL, HATE FILLED FEMALE (TRASH QUEEN RECORDS)
Words: Jade Mia Broadhead
One-time frontperson of the wonderful Hands Off Gretel, Lauren Tate’s alter-ego’s sophomore record takes no prisoners, including Jeffrey on the justifiably angry Epstein. Tate is pissed off –having lost none of that riot grrrl edge – the title track being a delightful nursery rhyme that is soon filled with nu-metal rage.
Grown Ass Men are the biggest source of Bon’s fury, the track itself all appropriately dirty big beats as she spits venom at rape culture, whilst The Internet deals with trolls and transphobes, another running theme. Tate’s rapping style may be more Eminem than Missy Elliot, but this is an album for young girls encountering a world where they are taught to be the victim and will surely delight that audience.
Released: 13.09.24 www.delilahbon.co.uk
4.5 / 5 4 / 5
DORA JAR
NO WAY TO RELAX WHEN YOU ARE ON FIRE (ISLAND RECORDS)
Words: Isabel Maria
Dora Jar’s music is a curious thing, impossible to imitate and even harder to describe – but there’s no other word for it than excellent. No Way To Relax When You Are On Fire plunges headfirst into the existential, resulting in a whimsical fantasyland of dark pop sonics and rich, questioning lyrics. She confronts her childhood, her career and her sense of self gracefully.
Unlucky for some, but certainly not in this instance, the debut album is thirteen tracks long, shapeshifting on each one into a new sound. Dora cleverly dodges boxes and labels, instead forging her own winding path. She forages for all of the best sounds and stirs them together across her epic cauldron of a record – I encourage you to fall in.
Released: 13.09.24 www.dorajar.world
PARTY DOZEN CRIME IN AUSTRALIA (TEMPORARY RESIDENCE LTD.)
Words: Robin Webb
Sleazy pulp rock ‘n’ roll to soundtrack the grimiest of cop shows where the baddies generally get away with it. Spliced with healthy cynicism and a pastiche of funky, fuzzed out, gnarly grooves contrasted by plenty of customary noisy beats, as on Money & The Drugs, from the gruesome twosome Kirsty Tickle on slaughtered sax and Jonathan Boulet bashing heads. It’s a relentless cracker throughout, from Coup De Gronk Street’s savvy funk opener to the album closer Jon’s International Marketplace; a blistering joyride to hell via the cosmic sonic wastelands, psychedelic and spaced out punk tears flesh from the bone as it hurtles back to the void at whip smart speed. Immerse yourselves in Antipodean far-out monster cop vibes!
Released: 06.09.24
www.party-dozen.bandcamp.com
4 / 5 4 / 5 4 / 5
COLIN STETSON THE LOVE IT TOOK TO LEAVE YOU (INVADA)
Words: Lee Fisher
Restless composer, collaborator and innovator Colin Stetson has been quietly building a vast and varied body of work across the last 25 years, and The Love It Took To Leave You (his first non-soundtrack solo release in seven years) is as good a place to dive in as any, featuring eleven tracks of emotionally demanding music. There’s the opening, title track that to these ears sounds like a haunting, a visitation, the ‘vengeful strut’ of The Six, the pulsing beauty of The Augur, the almost industrial echoes of The Hollowing, the sacred raptures of Malediction and the lengthy, complex, genuinely remarkable Strike Your Forge & Grin, 22 minutes of anxious throb and blast before the album ends with the Reichian, shimmering Bloodrest. Truly affecting stuff. Released: 13.09.24 www.colinstetson.com
THE HOWL & THE HUM SAME MISTAKE TWICE (MISERABLE DISCO)
Words: Isabel Maria
On 6th September, The Howl & The Hum’s sophomore studio album Same Mistake Twice will be released, and your heart will duly be punctured. It’s a twelve track tearjerking triumph which grabs your attention immediately and firmly.
Introspective and raw, the album feels comfortably familiar and beautifully crafted, yet uncomfortably guttural in a lyrical and emotional sense. For fans of The National, Big Thief and Phoebe Bridgers, Same Mistake Twice is full of Sam Griffiths’ self-proclaimed “deathbed songwriting” – painfully direct and offensively human, with an unusual but deeply powerful fixation on feelings of dread. Even the inanimate string section sounds like it’s crying on this record. Euphoric and brave, this is a must-listen for anyone intrigued by vulnerability, intensity and masterful songwriting. Released: 06.09.24 www.thehowlandthehum.com
HELLO MARY EMITA OX (FRENCHKISS RECORDS)
Words: Robin Webb
This band is rapidly maturing into something quite special, with an album of inventive alt. rock featuring some pristine production; relaxed, deft even, yet delivering such a hard edge, dissonant and experimental in places, challenging the listener to work at it to appreciate its depth. It has elements of 90’s grunge and the erudite indie alternative US scene, a la Muses etc., with a very healthy serving of shoegazed wonderment. It doesn’t lurch as one might think, but effortlessly blends all displaying contrasts of light and dark in true juxtaposition to capture at least this guy’s attention. They’ll be in the UK supporting American Football in September – nowhere near us sadly – but well worth capturing them if you can. Released: 13.09.24
www.linktr.ee/hellomaryband
4 / 5
MOLCHAT DOMA BELAYA POLOSA (SACRED BONES)
Words: Ben Lowes-Smith
Belaya Polosa is the fourth long-player from Belarusian post-punk band Molchat Doma, and is significant in the sense that it’s the first the band have produced since leaving their native Minsk in favour of the American West Coast. The record plays as a mournful document to the group’s relocation and turbulent socio-political situation they have left behind, capturing them at their most pensive and expansive. Early highlight Son recalls Depeche Mode and Pornography-era Cure and is a six-minute sonic adventure, plaintive and propulsive, melodic and mechanical. Ne Vdevodem is another perfect example of the group’s newfound love of ambience and soundscapes, its slow, menacing build showcasing a melodic meticulousness. A marked change from their previous high-energy releases, Belaya Polosa is a melodically and texturally rich record which rewards repeated listens.
Released: 06.09.24 www.molchatdoma.com
LICE
THIRD TIME AT THE BEACH (AD 93)
Words: Matthew McDonnell
I find that Lice have a remarkable ability to walk that fine line between accessibility and subversion, playing with the listener’s expectations, but never to the point of alienation. Third Time At The Beach is pushing this sentiment to its limit; all the hallmarks of Lice’s music are here, from the heavy, dissonant guitar lines on tracks like Red Fibres, to the disorientating and menacing synths on White Tubes. Piano is a new and welcomed edition to their sound, a distinctly acoustic instrument, amongst a frenzy of digital ones.
Third Time At The Beach is a restless, unnerving listen. It’s taut, muscular and lean, yet completely artificial, sterile and cold. The final result is utterly defiant and uncompromising, a square peg in a round hole.
Released: 20.09.24
www.linktr.ee/licebanduk
MASAYOSHI FUJITA MIGRATORY (ERASED TAPES RECORDS)
Words: Elodie A. Roy
Vibraphonist and marimba player Masayoshi Fujita has been releasing records for nearly fifteen years. He has made music for even longer. But most importantly Fujita listens. Migratory bears testimony to the composer’s power of listening, his capacity for absorbing the spirit of places –near and far. These eleven new tracks were recorded in the Japanese mountain village of Kami-cho.
I like best the emptiness, the intervals when almost nothing happens; the tiny vibrations, the space between two sounds. It is ambient electronic, yet it never feels remote or abstract. Human voices are scarce, but when words appear their warmth lingers on forever – as in the collaboration with US spoken word artist Moor Mother. Migratory is gentle, companionable music – it feels like having a friend.
Released: 06.09.2024
www.masayoshifujita.com
THE WAEVE CITY LIGHTS (TRANSGRESSIVE)
Words: Tracy Hyman
A little over a year since Graham Coxon and Rose Elinor Dougal’s first album, and The Waeve are back with City Lights. Whereas their initial offering felt self-contemplative, City Lights is a gritty departure into the urban sprawl of life. The wonky distorted guitars on the title track and motorik beat of Moth To The Flame sit alongside the finger picked Girl Of The Endless Night. Relationships have grown, and a much more indulgent Coxon-esque noise is evident on both guitar and saxophone. This is contrasted on the Song For Eliza May, a folk offering about the couple’s young daughter. The orchestrations and layered complexity bring the album to life, as The Waeve grow firmly into their own.
Released: 20.09.24
www.thewaeveofficial.com
40 WATT SUN LITTLE WEIGHT (FISHER’S FOLLY)
Words: Neil Ainger
Patrick Walker’s poetic lyrics hang in the air amid the repetitive, weighty guitars and achingly slow, crawling instrumentation that drips with emotion. Voids between each lyric express just as much feeling as Walker’s weathered but assured vocal tones; sometimes strapping, sometimes frail and fragile. There is no urgency to arrive at the next lyric. Instead, the songs organically develop with each savoured chord or silence.
Little Weight taps into the raw emotion of some of Walker’s earlier material. Each lyric delivered with an extreme vulnerability, like a vein opened and letting blood. The music of 40 Watt Sun is just as much about hope or healing as it is longing, heartbreak and pain. A web of interconnected contradictions, grounded in reality; this is love in its purest form.
Released: 06.09.24
www.40wattsun.co.uk
ALAN SPARHAWK WHITE ROSES, MY GOD (SUB POP)
Words: Lee Fisher
The songs Alan Sparhawk played live not long after he lost Mimi sounded absolutely, unbearably harrowing but don’t seem to have survived to this solo album, a very strange but very affecting release. I’ve no idea if the use of a pitchshifter throughout is about detaching his voice from Mimi’s somehow, through pain or need, but it’s a brave and intriguing choice.
The whole album has a melancholy vapourwave feel, with the majority of the lyrics elliptical and evasive, save for Heaven’s simple, heartbreaking plea – “Heaven is a lonely place if you’re alone” – and most of the instrumentation is electronic or treated, save for the shards of guitar on Brother. This is a powerful, mysterious break with the past that’s as rewarding as it is confusing.
Released: 27.09.24
www.chairkickers.com
MIXTAPE
WORDS: WESLEY STEPHENSON
It’s a delight to be asked to produce a Mixtape based on some artists appearing at this year’s Newcastle Festival of Jazz and Improvised Music, which takes place over the weekends of Friday 27th-Sunday 29th September, and Thursday 3rd-Sunday 6th October.
Beginning in 2017, the idea was to focus on presenting an innovative and diverse international line up, celebrating and pushing boundaries that challenge perceptions of jazz and improvised music. We also started the sister project New Jazz and Improvised Music Recordings during the 2020 lockdown when it was not possible to stage in-person live events, the 19th label release with Juliana Day is planned in conjunction with this year’s festival. www.newcastlefestivalofjazzandimprovisedmusic.co.uk
JEPPE ZEEBERG AND THE ABSOLUTE PINNACLE OF HUMAN ACHIEVEMENT
LOOKS LIKE NOODLES TO ME
There’s a quote from All About Jazz website: “If Zeeberg isn’t a genius then he certainly ranks pretty close to one” and I’d have to agree. Laura Toxværd and Jeppe Zeeberg stole the 2023 festival in a saxophone and piano duo formation, so I’m delighted to invite this completely different revelation from Jeppe’s musical canon, without doubt one of my favourite new artists from the past few years since I caught him at Copenhagen Jazz Festival. He’ll be sharing the bill with Taupe and a new string quartet Warp/weft at The Cumberland Arms partnering with Endless Window on Saturday 28th September.
JULIANA DAY
THE EARTH YEARNS FOR A STORM
The calm amongst what’s guaranteed to be many musical storms at this year’s festival. We’ve commissioned Juliana to create a series of Interludes which will be played over PA systems at each festival event, an idea trialled with local keyboardist Paul Taylor last year, drawing inspiration from Brian Eno’s Music For Airports, creating performances in alternative ways. Juliana will also perform soundtracking to some surrealist films at Gosforth Civic Theatre in a double bill with Alcyona Mick on Thursday 3rd October, in partnership with Northern Silents.
MANON MCCOY DISSOLVE//COMPRESS
Harpist Manon McCoy appeared with Balo at last year’s festival and we’re delighted to have her return in a brand new duo collaboration with New York vocalist Amirtha Kidambi. This will be the first meeting of the two musicians, a key part of the festival is creating new improvised collaborations. We’ll be working in partnership with Gateshead-based South Asian arts organisation GemArts, who do so much good work in the region, for this show at The Lit & Phil on Friday 4th October.
IZUMI KIMURA AND GERRY HEMINGWAY KAIROS
American percussionist Gerry Hemingway was last spotted in Newcastle performing at Dance City for the inspirational Paul Bream On The Outside festival in 2006. This new duo with pianist Izumi Kimura was suggested by Andy Hamilton of Durham University Department of Philosophy, and it really hits the nail on the head for the kind of uncompromising hard edged semi-structured improvisation we love to celebrate at the festival. Very much looking forward to hearing Izumi Kimura on the fantastic grand piano at The Lit & Phil on Friday 4th October.
TARA CUNNINGHAM THE FIRST ONE
Tara Cunningham was in Newcastle on a couple of occasions last year, performing with Corrie Dick’s Sun Swells band for International Jazz Day, but also as the regular guitarist for legendary Bristolians Red Snapper on Warp Records. I was instantly drawn to her sound and as we regularly feature a solo guitar set at the festival I was delighted she responded enthusiastically to the offer. Her set at The Lit & Phil on Saturday 5th October will be one of those hidden gems in the programme for sure.
HEATHER FERRIER CIRCLES
I’ve managed to catch a few concerts by Heather Ferrier around town and she’s always brilliant. The new trio she’s put together with Adam Stapleford and Alasdair Paul is fantastic and just incredibly imaginative and virtuosic. Her show at The Globe on Sunday 6th October is going to be a great Sunday afternoon finale featuring Catriona Bourne Harp Quartet, Heather on solo accordion and Emma Johnson’s straight up Jazz Saxophone Quartet.
