NE AOTY 2022 Holly Rees

[ Holly Rees ] [ Holly Rees ]

As is often the best way, the best things in life, they come about by accident, and that is what happened with this years’ NE Artist of the Year, Holly Rees, when in 2019, she embarked on a mammoth, 44-date tour, of Canada. Yes, that cold, snowy, beautiful, North American country on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean, one of those counties, ‘over the pond,’ and she certainly made the most of it – at one, we all wondered if the ‘Magpie’ would return home – she was definitely a miss. But, having found heading there much easier than their neighbours, the USA, it was soon all booked up, and the North-East musician, was heading abroad, on her own trip of a lifetime. Looking back on what was most certainly a journey for her, Holly told NE Online Magazine that: “The Canadian tour came about purely, really, because it was something I wanted to do. “I wanted to do a massive tour; I’d toured the UK with Matt Dunbar the year before (2018) and I just wanted more, you get bitten by the touring bug. “There’s nothing like it, and Canada was a lot more feasible than the USA, purely in terms of how expensive touring visas are, and it’s somewhere I’ve always wanted to go. “I had a few tour dates booked in before I flew over, but I had no idea it would grow to be the huge, 44-date tour, that it ended up being by the time I had sorted out the van and set off across the country, that was mad (and brilliant!). “The response though, was just amazing, and I’m so grateful to all of the promoters, venues and festivals that took a chance on me whilst I was there.”

It would be a tour that began in the April of 2019, and ran all the way through to the mid-October, performing in wonderfully named places such as Chilliwack, Port Moody, Lions Bay, Saskatoon, Bragg Creek, Thunder Bay, Sackville, just to mention a few. The memories though, it is those which will last a lifetime, and more, something to tell the kids, and grandkids, later on in life. “Honestly, I loved all of it,” beamed Holly, looking back on those happy times. “Playing to new people all the time, seeing new places, all those conversations. “It was stressful at times, because you’re on your own, doing this massive thing, and you have to call all the shots, but there’s a part of me that just found so much peace in touring. “I always knew where I was going next, and that I was exactly where I should be - and how many times in life can you really feel that way, 100%? “I had so many incredible shows and moments on that tour as well. “One that really stands out for me was playing a festival up in Flin Flon (mid-tour, August 11 and 15, at the Blueberry Jam Festival, and Johnny’s Social Club), way up north, in Manitoba. “They were so, so, welcoming, and, as well as playing the festival, I was sorted out with a headline show, with a makeshift band of local musicians - it was so much fun, they were so talented! “And, to top it off, the show sold out. You can’t ask for more than that. “Canada though, is an absolutely beautiful country; I loved it, and I would tour there again, in a heartbeat.” Holly did, understandably as well being a musician, source some assistance whilst on the other side of the pond. Getting publicity, music etc, into the big, wide world is hard enough, without doing it another country, on your own. However, Holly being the shining star that she is, made it work, quite emphatically really, and there wasn’t much time elapsing as she continually updated, the world as it seemed, as to what she had done, was doing, or going to do next. So, working in what would become her home-from-home had to quickly become second nature. “It was most certainly an experience, though I had a lot of help,” added Holy, continuously smiling. “The brilliant Crysta, at Jasper PR (now Small Poppies Mixtape), based in Hamilton, Ontario, was my right-hand woman through that whole tour, and she really helped take care of so much of the releases I had while over there (the Live EP, and the first, full band single, Getting By). “Both releases had been mixed and mastered by the wonderful Matt Dunbar, who’s not only one of my best friends, but is also very talented himself. “I remember being on the bus in Vancouver when he sent me the final mix for Getting By, and I was

just listening in my headphones, forwarding it to the guys in the band, and just loving it.” The homecoming, at the end of 2019 and moving into 2020, would suddenly become a strange affair, and for everyone really, across the globe. But Holly has kept going, the best that she can, and now, that what has been a dark two years across the globe, is moving back into the light, she’s releasing music, and preparing for the summer of festivals, gigs, and music, music, and even more music. Would you expect anything less from her though? Probably not! Canada though, and coming home for her, Holly says: “Coming home was gorgeous. “As much as I adored being on tour, it was a long time to be away. “I missed my friends, my family, and my band though, and I was so, so, excited for everything we had planned that I was coming back too, and our first show back was the ‘Avoid Sh*t Xmas Parties All-Dayer,’ which was just brilliant, and is still one of my favourite gigs. “We’d built up so much momentum, off the back off the Canada tour, and we were back in rehearsals working on new tracks (including the recently released, English Bay) and prepping for my first, full-band, UK mini-tour, and then the pandemic hit and put the brakes on everything, for two years. “So now, it feels really good to be feeling that momentum come back, and it’s better than ever. “As for Canada, I’m still in touch with a fair few folk over there, and I’d absolutely love to go back one day. “If we could get the funds together, maybe to go and tour with the band, that would be the dream, so we’ll see.” Speaking of this year, the one that is 2022, and what is now a good couple of years since the trip to Canada, Holly is ready to trip the light fantastic, get out on that stage, no matter where it may be, and introduce as many people as possible to, among other, glorious tracks in her repertoire, English Bay, The recently released single, highlighted in NE Online Magazine’s opening issue of the year, is something which Holly is proud of, and rightly so, the response to it, delights her no end. “The response has been amazing honestly,” continued Holly, her smile shining just that little brighter now. “We launched the single at a headline show at Little Buildings, during Independent Venue Week, and it was genuinely, possibly, our favourite ever, full-band show. “We love Little Buildings, but the energy that night was just so special. “We even had mosh pits for Magpie, which is not something I ever imagined happening, and it was so daft and so much fun, whilst the response to the single since then has just been great. “Support from BBC Introducing on Radio Newcastle and Radio Tees (thank you so much!!) has been gorgeous, and we’ve also had a lot of support from Amazing Radio UK and USA which has been class - ‘English Bay’ got play-listed on their Indie Stream, and it’s racking up to a 100 plays on there now, which is just madness to me. “We were over the moon with just one Amazing Radio play. “Everyone has just been lovely and I’m really happy because I think it’s really opened the door just to

say hello, we’re back, we’ve got so much more to share. “I’m excited, and, on top of that, to have such a great response to the full-band track, which I’ve mixed and mastered myself, just feels really good and I’m absolutely buzzing with that.” And now, next for Holly Rees, and band – well we’ll let her finish off with that one, and with a promise of more to come. “This is the summer of festivals, and we can’t wait,” finishes an elated Holly. “We’re kicking it all off with Leazes Live in Newcastle, with a stellar line-up including James, The Futureheads, Lanterns on the Lake, Club Paradise - it’s gonna be great. “Then we’re making our MUNRO debut down in Stockton-on-Tees, which is going to be an absolutely class day. “And we’ve just announced that we’re joining the line-up of the Northumberland Pride festival in August, something which I’m re-

ally excited about. “We played the festival last year and so it’s amazing to be asked back, especially looking at the line-up they have this year. “They’ve definitely gone above and beyond to make this one even better; LDEVINE is headlining, I can’t wait for that, but we’re also playing alongside loads of talented bands and some pals of ours in Cortney Dixon, The Samphires, and I’m especially looking forward to seeing DJ Awkward Black Girl, whilst also catching the Timewasters for the first time! “We’ve also got a few other shows up our sleeves this summer too that I can’t wait to announce, and maybe even a new release or two too, so please, watch this space.” Be sure to catch Holly Rees on your travels, you will not be disappointed that’s for sure, and you can keep up-to-date with all she has going on via her socials on Facebook https://www.facebook. com/hollysounds Twitter https:// twitter.com/hollysounds and via her website http://www.hollyrees. co.uk/

ROMESH RANGANATHAN COMES TO THE CITY HALL FRIDAY 8 NOVEMBER 2019 WITH A BRAND NEW SHOW TICKETS ON SALE 10AM FRIDAY 28 SEPTEMBER 2018

Romesh Ranganathan is back with a brand-new show, The Cynic’s Mixtape, and it’s his most brutally honest show yet.

Fresh from The Misadventures of Romesh Ranganathan, A League Of Their Own and Judge Romesh, he’s putting showbiz aside to deliver a carefully-curated selection of all the things he has found unacceptable since his last tour, including why trying to save the environment is a scam, why none of us are truly free, and his suspicion that his wife is using gluten intolerance to avoid sleeping with him.

Romesh’s cynicism has become his trademark, but since being nominated for Best Newcomer at the 2013 Edinburgh Comedy Awards this deadpan humour has become one of Britain’s most respected and popular comics. Now, though, it’s time for the Asian Provocateur to return to his stand-up roots for a while – there’s things he needs to point out, discuss and have a good moan about. Care to join him?

Show drops 2019, don’t miss it.

Tickets for Romesh Ranganathan are on sale Fri 28 Sep from 10am and are £26.50. Tickets can be purchased online at www. theatreroyal.co.uk or from the Theatre Royal Box Office on 08448 11 21 21 (Calls cost 7p per minute plus your phone company’s access charge)