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NEW STOCKTON VENUE PREPARES TO OPEN

STOCKTON INTERNATIONAL RIVERSIDE FESTIVAL RETURNS! WE INTERVIEW ELIOT SMITH DANCE COMPANY!

SONIC ARTS WEEK IN MIDDLESBROUGH! PAUL-RONNEY ANGEL AT THE WESTGARTH! DURHAM BRASS FESTIVAL!

SQUARMS AT THE ENGINE ROOM! THE GLOBE SUMMER FESTIVAL! LAMPLIGHT FESTIVAL SUNDERLAND!

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Thank you so much for picking up NE Volume magazine - the magazine produced by local music and culture fans, for CONTENTS local music and culture fans. Following the government’s NEWS latest announcement, we’re still all waiting in anticipation PG.7 Original Music Returns to Doctor Browns! for when the doors to music venues, theatres and arts PG.10 Paul-Ronney Angel at The Westgarth! spaces can open at full- capacity, however, that PG.11 Polestar Studios Live Sessions! doesn’t mean to say the doors are closed – in fact, there is so much going on throughout July. Anyhow, so here’s what to SPOTLIGHTS look out for this month. In this edition, we find out more about Stockton’s latest venue, The Link, we preview Brass and Lamplight PG.14 Artist Spotlight: Rojor! Festival, Stockton International Riverside Festival (SIRF) is put in the spotlight, and so much more. Just to remind you, if you’re PG.15 Business Spotlight: o_t_b Guitars! bringing any new material out in July/August or would like to PG.16 Culture Spotlight: SIRF! tell us about your story during this pandemic, please email our team at [email protected] and we’ll do all we possibly can to include something in our August edition which will be released on CULTURE Thursday 29th July. And thank you for supporting the North East’s fantastic music and culture scenes – we wouldn’t be here without PG.20 Sonic Arts Week! you. And please stay safe out there. Please note: A number of the gigs/events mentioned may be rescheduled or cancelled due to PG.20 Newcastle Fringe Festival! COVID restrictions. PG.22 Uncanny Island!

EDITOR’S PICK: PG.16 MAIN FEATURE PG.28 The Link Venue Prepares to Open in Stockton! INTERVIEWS

PG.36 Stockton Globe! NEW ALBUM PG.40 Eliot Smith Dance! PG.46 Mortal Fools! 'THE ANUS HORABALIS YEARS' ALBUM / EP / SINGLE REVIEWS THE SINGLES SO FAR PG.54 The Shooting Of! PG.16 STOCKTON INTERNATIONAL PG.55 Archipelago! PG.55 Faye Fantarrow! AVAILABLE NOW ON: RIVERSIDE FESTIVAL (SIRF) AQUAVELVAS.CO.UK Lee Allcock - Editor, NE Volume. SPOTIFY & ITUNES ISSUE #68 OUT THURSDAY 29TH JULY!

AN AQUA SINGLE IS FOR LIFE AND NOT JUST XMAS All rights reserved. No part of this publication can be reproduced in whole or part without permission from the publishers. The opinions expressed in NE Volume belong to the individual writers and do not necessarily reflect the views of NE Volume or its staff. NE Volume welcomes ideas and contrbutions but can assume no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, photographs or illustrations. NE Volume holds no responsiblilty to incorrect content supplied in adverts. NEWS NEWS YOU CAN USE NE VOLUME TO PROMOTE YOUR OWN BUSINESS OR GIG!

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NE Volume is a North East magazine delivered FREE to a range of communities in the North East - covering SWINE TAX Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool, Darlington, Redcar, + WERMS AT BASE CAMP, MIDDLESBROUGH Newcastle, Sunderland, and many more.

We produce adverts covering various sizes. If you would Forward-thinking creative spot, Base Camp, will host two like an NE Volume advertising pack sent out via email or THE GLOBE IN inspiring local bands in the form of Swine Tax and Werms on post, please use the contact details below. Saturday 10th July. Werms will be playing on home territory, the duo in the stripped-down bass and drums tradition flexing their USP: “Ten songs. Ten minutes”. Newcastle’s Swine Tax, of Our trained Journalists can write your copy while our the UK’s post-punk sound de jour, are defined by their sonic dedicated Graphic Designer can help to put your adverts NEWCASTLE’S power, sharp, playful lyricism, white knuckle thrills and national together. So whatever your requirements are, we are here exposure in both media and as a touring attraction, fuelled by to help! an eclectic and artistically considerable string of singles. This SUMMER FESTIVAL will be another exciting date as live acts nationwide restart their engines. This is a free entry event. MICHAEL JOHNSON As things very slowly crawl back to a pace resembling something like normality, we’ve had the much-needed For further information, head to Facebook.com/basecampboro pleasure of some live music returning. However, in recent weeks it has dawned that a second summer festival schedule FOR REGULAR UPDATES FOLLOW NE VOLUME ON SOCIAL is set to largely fall casualty to the pandemic, due to the sheer uncertainty of the situation rendering it impossible for the major festivals to proceed in 2021. We hope this will be the NEWS MEDIA OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE: NEVOLUME.CO.UK last summer without unadulterated festivals; while live music, in general, is also yet to return to its full power, festivals are a distinct delight. Those keeping the flag flying this summer represent a piecemeal arrangement compared to usual but are utterly welcome. Into this void steps The Globe, Newcastle’s Summer Festival. The three-day event, from July 23rd to NE VOLUME TEAM CONTACT 25th will, naturally, take place at The Globe in Newcastle and, as the name betrays, is centring itself at the heart of this Editor : Lee Allcock summer’s local music happenings. Combining the venue’s Listings: Adam Allcock Email: [email protected] now established penchant for combining live performance and excellent livestream (which can be viewed at any time Creative: Tom Brown Phone: 07594 486 754 for the subsequent week after the show) as a mark of the Writers: Michael Johnson, Georgina Website: nevolume.co.uk grassroots adaptation and innovation of the last 18 months, the extravaganza blends a highly eclectic array of folk genres Shine, Lauren Gosling, with a strong regional focus on the North East and Scotland. Wayne Madden, Mark Davies, Like many businesses in all walks of life in the post-Covid Adam Kennedy and Damian E D Q environment, the festival finds The Globe shortening their supply lines. With this much gold to be mined in collaboration THE DEAD REBEL CLUB Robinson. with the local scene’s performers and promoters, the approach is logical in the current challenging climate. Across AT THE EMPIRE, MIDDLESBROUGH the schedule, there will be highly-prized folk from Martin and Eliza Carthy, poetry and comedy from the city’s Born Lippy, feisty and musically diverse soul and rock from Holy Moly The Dead Rebel Club, which will feature shows from the hottest & The Crackers, classical from Bradley Creswick and guests, live touring bands invading the main stage, will open its doors Indian classical from sitarist Jasdeep Singh Degun and tabla on Friday 25th June. While The Empire has featured live music player Harkiret Bahra, and jazz from Edinburgh’s Tenement in its main auditorium for many years, hosting a litany of acts NE VOLUME Jazz Band, alongside much, much more, and all giving a clear including The Arctic Monkeys, Mark Ronson, Tinie Tempah and impression of the distinct flavours brought together for the The Coral, to name but a few, this will be the first time in nearly IS A PROUD festival. The range of artists on offer presents a rewarding a decade that the venue has featured live music as the focal Magazine designed by Printed by JAK HQ Limited spread, with guaranteed fireworks. Events like this are point of one of its regular weekly late-night events. Confirmed Tom Brown Graphic Design. www.jakhq.om SUPPORTER OF nonetheless now a mainstay compared to last summer, and acts include Elvana, Lucy Spraggan, Spinn, Marketplace, Abbie that alone is worth celebrating. The three days of performance Ozard and Komparrison as well as a special guest DJ set from Contact The Sweet Factory, 4 Station Road, ‘MvC Live Sessions and signed memorabilia auctions fund state are divided into six ticketed segments, with all-day options for Radio 1’s Chris Stark. LEE ALLCOCK email: [email protected] Chester-le-Street, DH3 3DY. of the art cancer equipment and intiatives into the NHS and vital the weekend also available. MICHAEL JOHNSON website: tbgraphics.co.uk [email protected] awareness campaigns’ www.musicvcancer.com For further information, head to facebook.com/DeadRebelClub Visit: theglobenewcastle.bar

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THE SHAKIN' NIGHTMARES CAITIE ORIGINAL LIVE + WARD + JEN DIXON AT THE HALT, REDCAR UNVEILS DEBUT SINGLE, ‘LIVE IT UP’ The Halt in Redcar are preparing to showcase a string of MUSIC NIGHTS original artists over the course of this month, with the owners North East music scene newbie, Caitie, is here to banish the firmly believing in the talent on offer across the region. lockdown pandemic blues by bringing the sounds of summer STEVE PILGRIM Headliners for this one, The Shakin’ nightmares, infuse dark, to your ears with her debut single, ‘Live It Up’. The 20-year- sinister sounds interjected with classic rock ‘n’ roll to produce old artist has always used music as an escape and now she’s AT THE GREEN ROOM, STOCKTON TO RETURN TO a high-octane output that will have you dancing like a 1950’s creating a musical escape for others. Caitie’s debut single was rock ’n’ roller then jumping like a punk rocker before swaying written during the first lockdown and it’s clear that she knew like a reggae fan. Support on the night for this free entry what we all needed by creating a musical antidote to the Steve Pilgrim will perform at The Green Room in Stockton show comes from dreamy indie-pop outfit Ward and Teesside doom and gloom. ‘Live It Up’ is joy and sunshine wrapped up on Friday 23rd July. The former Stands drummer and singer- DOCTOR BROWNS singer-songwriter, Jen Dixon. LEE ALLCOCK in a song and is a must-listen. You can listen to ‘Live It Up’ now songwriter will bring his live show to one of the town’s most on all major streaming platforms. GEORGINA SHINE secluded venues, with over 15 years of touring experience Visit: facebook.com/thehaltredcar and four solo studio albums in his repertoire. Hailing from MIDDLESBROUGH Liverpool, The Stands were part of a city scene which represented a bubbling-under outpost of the Noughties British It’s been a long time coming, but original live music will return indie explosion, headlined by figurehead acts The Zutons and to Doctor Browns in Middlesbrough this month, helping to NEWS The Stands’ sometime collaborators, The Coral. Feeling their support grassroots musicians during what has been a turbulent NEWS way towards a sound and identity across two albums, Pilgrim 16 months, to say the least. Following allegations of sexism way had already departed for pastures new shortly prior to the back in 2017, with the previous landlord becoming embroiled in band splitting in 2005. Frontman Howie Payne also launched an online storm after claims it had banned women rock singers a solo career which continues today, laying down significant from performing - because her punters didn’t want to hear them heritage for the band. As with all acts who hammer a dent, – the new landlords are extremely keen to work with all original however sizeable, into the contours of a scene, the band and artists, regardless of their gender, and the line-up reflects their the albums left behind are part of a period ripe for repeat ethos. On Saturday 26th June, their first original gig night in over re-evaluations as the sands of time continue to flick into two years, the venue will welcome Teesside folk, blues & roots the future. Legacies are constantly redrawn and measured outfit Peg Powler as their first headliner, with support coming by the followers converted at the thousands of gigs like that from indie/folk/pop singer-songwriter Toni Sidgwick and blues/ scheduled for The Green Room in July, and Pilgrim’s sound roots outfit, The Woven Project. Expect a high-octane night of across his solo venture is suitably hard-won and traditionally rock on Friday 2nd July as Doctor Browns welcome Mr Treacle, rooted for a musician on the British singer-songwriter circuit. Shallow and Thought Trumpet, followed by a North East female That sound and direction is planted firmly in the folk/pop artists showcase on Saturday 2nd July featuring Khalysis, Elena mother lode of the 1960s, the very same cornerstone which Larkin and Charlea B. Bluegrass outfit The Alice Charmers, original powered Britpop and any movement involving young British rock artist McCormick and blues-rock band Dean James & The people wielding guitars either side of it. Pilgrim’s origins and Blackdogs make their way to the intimate stage on Friday 9th connections fling further back than that for example, with July, before a night of adrenaline-fuelled rock and pop-punk on RIPPERZ The Stands having previously supported Paul Weller during Saturday 10th July as Teesside favourites Set Your Sights are their tenure, which would pay later dividends. Although, joined by Lost in the Crowd and Grolar Bear. On Friday 16th RELEASES NEW SINGLE, ‘CHARM OFFENSIVE’ this isn’t to say Pilgrim’s work doesn’t feature surprises, July, Doctor Browns welcome 3 highly-acclaimed female singer- JEN DIXON such as his collaborations with Japanese folk experimenter, songwriters in Hayley McKay, Beth Macari and Jen Dixton, mixing Akeboshi. Pilgrim subsequently paid many a due and country and soul with pop, before another songwriter showcase UNVEILS NEW SINGLE, ‘SAVE ME’ Middlesbrough-born singer-songwriter Ripperz is coming burnished his credentials considerably by drumming for the on Saturday 17th July featuring Dale Husband, Ellen Hirst, Reece back with a bang. The unveiling of ‘Charm Offensive’ comes supremely decorated John Power (and Cast) and for Weller Hanrahan and Jake Edward Holt. Teesside Looper and pedalboard after Ripperz kick-started his solo project in 2020 following extensively on tour during the last decade, as well as on most specialists Soze then headline on Friday 30th July, with support Teesside singer-songwriter Jen Dixon is back with a bang after years of singing in bands. Together with popular Teesside of Weller’s albums of the period. His role in Weller’s project coming from Newcastle rapper/multi-instrumentalist Jack Fox, releasing her brand new single, ‘Save Me’. Jen, who is well producer Patrick Jordan, he has crafted a sound that draws has grown increasingly central as he has flourished as a solo plus a number of guest DJs, with Saturday 31st July seeing known for her strong vocal performances with harmonies and on influences from guitar bands of the ‘90s, with a focus lying artist, Pilgrim’s most recent album being his fourth, 2017’s arguably the venue’s loudest original night of the month, with choir style middle 8, explores the notion of love and romance heavily on melody. His upcoming single, which forms part of ‘Morning Skies’. This all adds up to nights on tours like this rock/metal outfits Luna’s call, Dead River Kings, Gutlocker and being good and bad simultaneously in her new release. an EP due to drop late summer, has been hailed as a 3-minute upcoming date, where the artists who populate the country’s Ashes of Insurrection gearing up for a raucous occasion.Original And lyrically, the track depicts a relationship that causes guitar stomping track set to the backdrop of lyrics that imply touring scene aren’t cogs in a wheel, they are superstars, live music nights at Doctor Browns will run every Friday and devastation - but there’s always hope. ‘Save Me’ follows on that the grass isn’t always greener on the other side. You however briefly, when they step into their own room. Saturday night starting from Saturday 26th June – and entry is free. from the April release of her previous single, ‘Which Way can listen to ‘Charm Offensive’ now on all major streaming MICHAEL JOHNSON LEE ALLCOCK Was Down'. The new track is available to stream on Spotify, platforms. LAUREN GOSLING Deezer and Apple music. LAUREN GOSLING Visit: ticketweb.uk | Tickets: £8.50 Advance Visit: facebook.com/doctorbrowns1

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CLEAN CUT KID AT THE CLUNY, NEWCASTLE

Geordie indie-rock fans prepare to raise the roof as Clean Cut Kid will kick up a storm with their new show at The Cluny 2, Newcastle. The Liverpool-based indie band, consisting of lead vocalist Mike Hall, backing vocalist Evelyn Hall, drummer Ross Higginson and bassist Gareth Bullock, will perform two socially distanced shows: a matinee show at 5pm and a main evening show starting at 8pm. The four-piece became popular on the rock scene having supported fellow indie bands The JULY GIGS AT THE Courteeners, The Kooks, The Killers and Circa Waves on tour and will be supported on the night by Pet Snake. A limit of 56 tickets are available to purchase for the shows which will take PEACOCK place on Tuesday 13th July. LAUREN GOSLING Tickets: £22.00 Advance | Visit: thecluny.com SUNDERLAND

Wearside music fans will be treated to a packed month of NEWS live music in a series of live gigs set to take place in July at The Peacock in Sunderland. Starting on the evening of Friday 2nd, Nick Parker and special guests will take to the stage at 7pm with his cheerful songs that are very often tongue-in- cheek in nature and, on the rare occasion, self-deprecating and highly satirical. The audience can expect a real treat, with participation often encouraged throughout - a feature that has made him a popular and sought-after act ever since he first embarked on his solo career back in 2010. Parker has since shared the stage with the likes of The Wedding Present, Bright Eyes, Frank Turner and Mike Peters as well as collaborating with members of The Levellers, Carter USM, Pearl Jam, The Wonder Stuff and The Wildhearts throughout lockdown. Tickets for this event are priced at £7.00. The following evening, fans of punk-rock will be treated to a free DJ set by one of the best bassists around, Ali McMordie. Known originally as the founding member of Stiff Little Fingers, who disbanded in 1983, he has taken his hand to turning the decks and is a DJ known for his impeccable taste THE PURNELLS in music. This event is for those aged 18 or over and will + TWIST HELIX AT THE GEORGIAN THEATRE, start at 11pm. Fast forward to 7pm on Saturday 17th, and North East-based punk-rock/folk artist Martyn Stephenson STOCKTON and the Daintees will delight music fans as they celebrate the 30th anniversary of their 1990 album ‘Salutation Road’ with a UK tour and the album performed in its entirety, plus The Purnells are famed for their gritty, guitar-heavy sound and a set of classic hits. Similar to the previous show, this gig is their theatrical live performances filled with face paints, ski also set to be limited to ages 18 or over with tickets priced masks and stage diving. After a 4-year break from all things The at £19.25. Rounding off the month at 7pm on Saturday 31st Purnells, the band are back and they are launching their return July is Britain’s newest folk-punk band to have taken Europe with a performance at Stockton’s The Georgian Theatre. The by storm, Ferocious Dog. Their music is fuelled with passion, band are set to play their old classics and will also be surprising angst and a social conscience that makes this intimate audiences with the first play of their brand new single. Support acoustic experience one not to be missed. And with tickets on the night comes from Newcastle electronic alt-pop outfit, costing no more than £13.20, it would be a shame notto Twist Helix. GEORGINA SHINE invest. LAUREN GOSLING Tickets: £7.00 Advance | Visit: georgiantheatre.co.uk Visit: facebook.com/ThePeacockSun

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CRIMSON BLOOM THE INKLINGS UNLEASH NEW EP, ‘THE MADHOUSE’ PAUL-RONNEY POLESTAR RELEASE NEW ALBUM Teesside indie outfit Crimson Bloom are preparing to kick up The Inklings are a band that refuses to be pigeonholed. From a storm with the release of their brand new four-track EP at their diverse sound that can’t quite be grouped to one genre, to the end of the month. Hailed as the forerunners in the ‘baggy’ ANGEL STUDIOS their work ethic that seems them doing so much of the writing, revival, the outfit are constantly evolving their sound, often recording and producing process themselves, this band are amalgamating elements of alternative, classic rock, funk, + BUBAMARA LAUNCH POLESTAR LIVE SESSIONS independent and most certainly here to be heard. With their psychedelia and acid house. Their latest EP will feature ‘The new album ‘Bring Out Your Dead’, they have done everything Madhouse’, ‘Got Plenty’, ‘The Storyteller’ (featuring Jen Dixon) AT WESTGARTH SOCIAL CLUB, MIDDLESBROUGH Much-loved cornerstone of the regional music industry, on a DIY basis and are ready to share their new works with the and ‘Drive Into The Night’, and there will also be a 10-track Polestar Studios, has launched Polestar Live Sessions to world. With emotive grungy indie numbers and upbeat Brit- extended CD version including remixes and non-album Paul-Ronney Angel of The Urban Voodoo Machine will celebrate and showcase North East musicians and bands pop/punk style tracks, the album has something for everybody. tracks. ‘The Madhouse’ EP will be available via crimsonbloom. touch down at Westgarth Social Club on Saturday 17th July and their pandemic resilience. Polestar Live Sessions are a You can listen to the album now on all major streaming bandcamp.com from Friday 23rd July. LAUREN GOSLING following an eventful 15 months. The hulking figurehead showcase of the hottest grassroots North East music, live platforms. GEORGINA SHINE of the smoky, bluesy, Vaudevillian collective has embarked streamed from Newcastle’s Polestar Studios directly to their on a semi-enforced solo tilt that will wind through Polestar Facebook page. Starting 1st July at 7.30pm, they will Middlesbrough, backed by Luke Arnold as a supporting be bringing digital audiences the top North East music talent musician.Unsurprisingly for fans of the 9-member group, across a specially curated digital programme lasting into NEWS there is a flair for the dramatic in the tale behind this and October. This free programme includes eight live streamed NEWS Angel’s upcoming debut solo album. To hear Angel’s story, gigs across four months and lots of digital content on social he was aboard the very last flight out of Texas to London as media featuring Polestar Live Session musicians - so music Covid lockdowns struck across the Western world. Faced lovers can get to know and fall in love with some of the with the question of how to proceed and indeed survive at region’s best musicians. Ahead of Polestar Live Sessions, Alex this juncture, Angel was quick to begin livestreaming gigs Blamire from Polestar Studios said: “We’re really excited for from home, alongside his wife on sousaphone. This evolved Polestar Live Sessions, especially after the devasting impact of into a weekly tradition that has subsequently morphed into COVID-19 on regional music industry. There’s some fantastic a solo venture officially opened by the release of the single talent in the North East and we want to shine a light on it, ‘One Ghost Town’ in summer 2020. This background is give a platform to up-and-coming “ones to watch” artists and enshrined in the title of that imminent debut record ‘London celebrate their pandemic resilience. Throughout the past year, Texas Lockdown’, due to be released this month. As frontman we’ve seen live streaming become an important part of music and songwriter of the long-running band, Angel’s credentials performance and a whole new way to connect with audiences. were in no doubt, although history proves that stepping out We think it is important to keep live streaming going and want alone can still be as risky as it is intriguing even for the most to be at the forefront of championing its potential to both established of musicians. Despite this being an accidental audiences and musicians alike.” Polestar Studios have just adventure, those rules remain the same. Nonetheless, the released the first part of their Polestar Live programme which credits of the upcoming album reveal much about a musician includes Session #1 on Thursday 1st July with Bajan-Geordie who thrives around others, and the yearning resulting from rapper and performer, Kay Greyson, who will deliver a lush, the lockdowns which dominate the record’s themes. The energy-filled live performance full of her original style and PONYLAND THE SHACKLETON TRIO presence on the album of Linda Gail Lewis, sister of Jerry Lee, flair. Thursday 15th July then sees session #2, with North East Rat Scabies, Jim Jones, Danny B Harvey and Tomi Rae Brown, alt-pop singer-songwriter Lizzie Esau and her band serving an AT THE GLOBE, NEWCASTLE AT GOSFORTH CIVIC THEATRE, NEWCASTLE the widow of James Brown with whom Angel collaborated on alt-pop set with textured basslines and beautifully honest November 2020 single ‘Seven Spanish Angels’, as well as even lyrics. And session #3 comes from North East powerhouse more, suggests a deeply familial atmosphere and approach to and female trio, bigfatbig, who will pack a punch with this Ponyland are an eight-piece Newcastle-based band that This month, audiences are in for a treat as the rising force to crafting a self-leaning album for the first time. This continuity unapologetically fun, fierce and ferocious live stream. More promises a musical experience like no other – honestly, they be reckoned with on the folk scene, The Shackleton Trio, grace of texture is likely to please existing fans, with this Westgarth programme announcements from Polestar Studios will drop will blow your mind. The mask-wearing octet bring their the stage of Gosforth Civic Theatre. The trio are known for gig additionally a unique chance to catch an artist hurled out over the coming weeks and all live streams are happening musical mash-up comprising of jazz, drum and bass, samba- their emotive and skin-tingling music that wraps audiences up of their communal comfort zone, and actively searching for directly on Polestar’s Facebook page. All streams and content reggae and Afro-beat to the stage of Newcastle’s Globe this and finds its way inside their body and mind. Whether they are new allies. In the same spirit, collaboration on the night is will be free, but you will be able to donate. Musicians (of July. On July 10th, audiences can get lost in the feel=good triggering heartfelt tears or the joyous toe-tapping rhythms promised with support act, Durham’s Mediterranean-centric course) are being paid for their contribution to Polestar Live chaos both in-person and at home as the gig offers both in- within, the trio are guaranteed to get you feeling something band, Bubamara. The flavoursome group blend a variety of Sessions, but the owners of Polestar Studios have let it be venue and livestream ticket options. So hop on to the Ponyland and, well, everything all within one night’s performance. theatrical European traditional folk genres and sit naturally on known that they are keen that any donations they receive Express and get lost in the combined rhythms of energy and GEORGINA SHINE this bill, a testament to the versatility of the North East music also go directly to the artists, to support them after such a joy. GEORGINA SHINE scene. MICHAEL JOHNSON challenging year in the music industry. LEE ALLCOCK Tickets: £10.00 Advance | Visit: gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk Tickets: £7.50 Advance | Visit:theglobenewcastle.bar Tickets: £10.00 Advance | Visit: tickets.ents24.com Visit: polestarstudios.co.uk

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SQUARMS ROB HERON & THE TEAPAD CHART!JULY 2021 + JOHN DOLE + XAATU AT THE ENGINE ROOM, NORTH SHIELDS ORCHESTRA Chosen monthly by the NE Volume team. AT THE CLUNY, NEWCASTLE The Engine Room in North Shields will host an action- packed bill of intriguing and experimental Newcastle acts in For 10 years now, Rob Heron and The Teapad Orchestra have ARTIST TITLE early August. Innovating, genre-traversing and hotly-tipped been delighting audiences and getting them moving and shaking electronic duo Squarms will feature, as will boundary-pushing with their own brand of North East swing. They sound like 1 CRIMSON BLOOM THE MADHOUSE hip-hop mad scientist, John Dole. Rounding out the line- JULY GIGS AT NE nobody else: they’re not quite rock ‘n’ roll, or blues, or country, up is enigmatic, dark-leaning producer Xaatu, all solidifying or anything else easily categorised and swept into a box. They The Engine Room’s place at the forefront of the local, have all the wonder and mystery of the ‘80s and the guitar 2 CHARLOTTE GRAYSON DON'T DATE contemporaneous underground scene. All three acts are linked twangs of the ‘60s, but also some fantastically cerebral lyricism by a cutting-edge aesthetic that exemplifies some of the finest VOLUME MUSIC BAR inspired by the documentaries of Brian Cox. For this momentous movements currently bubbling in the region’s music capital, anniversary, the ever-evolving feel-good band are bringing their 3 ARCHIPELAGO ECHOES TO THE SKY giving gig lovers and followers of musical trends alike plenty to STOCKTON-ON-TEES sound to Newcastle’s intimate The Cluny on Friday 30th July. be excited about. MICHAEL JOHNSON GEORGINA SHINE 4 AMELIA COBURN THE CHEESE SONG Tickets: £8.00 Advance | Visit: ticketweb.uk As I write this, Boris has just extended the restrictions for Tickets: £10.00 Advance | Visit: thecluny.com a further four weeks; however, we do still have a packed 5 programme of socially distanced gigs lined up for July to FAYE FANTARROW KOLA KISS really whet your appetite for, hopefully, the removal of all restrictions by the 19th July. July starts off with a few sold-out 6 THE SHOOTING OF DRAGGED THROUGH THE STREETS NEWS gigs (Pundits and Ming City Rockers headline shows) before NEWS we welcome Newcastle synth-pop outfit Talk Like Tigers, MELANCHOLY SONGS Darlington electro-pop duo Moodbay and Teesside indie-pop 7 ROJOR OF THE CAGED BIRD band Alfie Blue to Stockton on Friday 9th July. On Saturday 10th July we then welcome Hartlepool hypnotic dark- rock duo Giraffes, Hartlepool singer-songwriter Charlotte 8 DYLAN CARTLIDGE HOPE ABOVE ADVERSITY Grayson and Teesside folk/blues artist, Reece Hanrahan to our intimate venue, followed by a laid-back folk/psychedelic 9 evening on Tuesday 13th July with Scott Free, Spider Noises JEX DIXON SAVE ME and Dreams of the Sun. Expect an energetic and edgy live performance on Thursday 15th July when Nascent North- 10 AQUA VELVAS NEW LIVE EP Eastern jangle-pop outfit Salsola, Teesside folk-pop band Eddie & The Valkyries and Newcastle four-piece alt-rock band Crux take to the NE Volume stage. On Friday 16th July, we 11 CAITIE LIVE IT UP look forward to a high-octane affair as we bring punch, catchy indie-rock/punk outfit EMU, punk, hardcore and metal band Holding Out and fuzzy alt-rock band Mr. Bigfoot to Teesside. 12 LINES FROM A POEM HAPPY PILLS TONY WRIGHT (TERRORVISION) Saturday 17th July sees post-punk/shoegaze/art-rock band JODIE NICHOLSON AND Sorry Escalator, ethereal-shoegaze quintet Palma Louca and 13 SCRANNABIS BUTTERFLIES AT THE PEACOCK, SUNDERLAND alt-indie outfit Blackout the Arcade take to the NE Volume AMELIA COBURN stage before we welcome back Marines, The Warrens and Stone Cold Abyss on Thursday 22nd July for what, hopefully, AT MIDDLESBROUGH TOWN HALL 14 RIPPERZ CHARM OFFENSIVE Best known as the frontman of renowned Bradford rock outfit, will be our first full-capacity gig ever to take place atNE Terrorvision, Tony Wright is also a talented soloist. Wright Volume Music Bar. On Friday 23rd July, expect an evening of writes, records and tours under his own name with a set-list electronic experimentation as we bring the soaring vocals and This summer, Middlesbrough Town Hall is playing host to a 15 KIWI ADDICTION made up of songs he has written on his acoustic guitar - some hypnotic rhythms of Me Lost Me, the dreamlike soundscapes variety of ‘Summer Sessions’, and on July 29th, renowned upbeat, some melancholic, but all thought-provoking. To say of Moonray and the electronic-influenced dream pop of Teesside singer-songwriters Jodie Nicholson and Amelia Tony is a busy man would be an understatement. In addition Madeleine Smyth to Stockton, followed by a laid-back affair Coburn will be bringing their summer sparkle to the stage. After to his three albums with his post-Terrorvision band LaikaDog, on Saturday 25th July as we welcome Teesside’s Finn Forster, the release of Nicholson’s latest single ‘Be Back Soon’ in June, LISTEN TO THE NE VOLUME ‘NORTH EAST he has now released two solo albums to date with a third one Lines From a Poem and Brad Jameston. And on Wednesday and Coburn’s most recent single ‘The Cheese Song’ released in the works. ‘Thoughts ’n’ All’ is just Tony and his acoustic 28th July we welcome back Khalysis, expect original electro back in July, both artists are ready to get out there and play live BANDS’ PLAYLIST ON SPOTIFY NOW. guitar. The follow-up, ‘Walnut Dash’, released last year, brought R'n'B pop infused with tropical rhythms, with support coming once again. Audiences will be in for an extra treat too as the the evolution of Tony with his acoustic guitar and a full band. from Newcastle singer-songwriter Lizzie Esau and Teesside two artists are set to take the stage together for a special joint LEE ALLCOCK singer-songwriter, Sarah Johnsone. performance. GEORGINA SHINE LEE ALLCOCK W Tickets: £11.00 Advance | Visit: thepeacock.pub Visit: middlesbroughtownhall.co.uk Tickets: nevolumebar.co.uk

12 \\ NE VOLUME MAGAZINE \\ NEWS NEWS // NE VOLUME MAGAZINE // 13 ARTIST SPOTLIGHT BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT JULY 2021 JULY 2021 ROJOR OUTSIDE THE TEESSIDE BOX GUITARS

Hailing from Teesside, singer- YARM songwriter Rojor is a legend of the North East music scene. And with a career that has gone from Outside The Box Guitars, or O_T_B strength to strength, he has had an Guitars as they are also known, are a local Yarm-based business with ever-progressing and ever-growing imagination. They are a husband and career. With a career spanning a couple of wife team, made up of artist Janice Foley decades, Rojor has been making music since and Eddie, combining skills in engineering, ‘94 and he shows no signs of stopping anytime artistry and restoration of antique furniture to produce interactive art. Simply put, the business soon. In recent years, his music has started to gain produces guitars that double as an item of art, so the more mainstream recognition, with some of his tracks, artwork on your wall can be removed and played as an including ‘Every Time I See Her’ and ‘The First Time Again’, instrument, generating a readymade talking point, based on familiar cigar box guitar designs. This concept represents exactly hitting both the airwaves and the ears of BBC Radio 2 and its the kind of bespoke experience in physical products that certain listeners. Rojor has a uniquely wonderful essence to his music. demographics of consumer have been increasingly drawn into He has been able to progress his career with an ever-adapting as previously corporeal elements of worlds such as music have sound, with tracks that have an intense ballad sound right become ever more digitised. In an age where algorithms and streaming possess a stranglehold on the course of mainstream through to chilled-out indie-pop numbers and everything in music, one way of flaunting a grasp of and serious passion for such between, including a lot of experimentation. He has a voice that a cultural endeavour is a tangible collection of vinyl or CDs (gasp!), can adapt to whatever sound he has decided to turn his hand another is a guitar mounted on the wall as art. O_T_B Guitars taps to. And once you hear his vocals, you can be guaranteed that easily into this. In keeping with the boutique style of the business and its end products, flexibility is a major facet here. Customers your first listen will not be your last. Rojor can bring the gravelly can specify their desires for a commission and work closely with and somewhat seductive sound to his tracks when they are Jan and Eddie during the creation. The duo are open to styles needed, whilst almost bringing in a sinfully smooth that stray from their immediate bailiwick, in keeping with their philosophy that “there are no rules when and soft tone to his voice that is soothing to both it comes to box guitars!” This is well evidenced the ears and the soul. Rojor has just released by the fact that they already happily cater to latest single, ‘American Girl’, and it is a sure- ambidextrous design, six-string functionality, fire summer hit. It’s got the rock tempo semi-acoustic and acoustic sound, and do so Once you hear his lovingly with the highest quality components, that gets your energy levels up and gives vocals, you can be There are no rules with overseas shipping available. A quick you that bouncing summer feeling, but, guaranteed that your when it comes perusal shows that the tailored approach for juxtaposition, it also has the country has resulted in numerous designs from first listen will not be to box guitars Janice Foley bearing some of the wonders of ‘coolness’ style that gives you goosebumps. your last Teesside, such as Roseberry Topping and the The track is able to embody the feelings Transporter Bridge. The local centricity of the of summer life, which makes it the perfect business is thus reflected back upon it by the soundtrack to a sun-filled English day, and it’s customer base in an emboldening feedback loop - a delight of homely, deep-rooted creativity and also the go-to song when you need a pick me up entrepreneurialism. As impressive and inviting as the long after the summer sun has gone. With a career that artworks themselves are, the technical details of individual has spanned over 25 years, it’s safe to say that Rojor is a master designs espoused on the business’ Facebook account summarise the warm enthusiasm and technical knowledge and ability poured of his craft as he has achieved something so many artists long for into each piece. Post-structural takes on whether a guitar which - longevity. It takes hard work, dedication and passion to survive is also an artwork can, in fact, truly be either are not for here, but and succeed in this industry for so long - and he clearly has it all. in both this and its relationship to contemporary consumption of GEORGINA SHINE cultural artefacts, O_T_B Guitars have hit upon an outstandingly modern idea. MICHAEL JOHNSON

Visit: rojor.com Visit: facebook.com/otbguitars

14 \\ NE VOLUME MAGAZINE \\ ARTIST SPOTLIGHT 1. Peter Gannushkin BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT // NE VOLUME MAGAZINE // 15 CULTURE SPOTLIGHT JULY 2021 STOCKTON INTERNATIONAL RIVERSIDE FESTIVAL

Residents of Stockton are preparing for a summer packed full of family- fun events as the council are putting the finishing touches to this year's Stockton International Riverside Festival. Stockton International Riverside Festival (SIRF) is set to come back with a bang this July after joining the list of events forced to postpone last year due to the pandemic. The event, which is set to take place from Thursday 29th until Sunday 1st August, is jam-packed with world-class shows, from magical and quirky performances to stunning visual experiences. The free festival, which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2017, with the first-ever SIRF taking place way back in 1988, has become one of the world’s oldest and best international street festivals and is a true labour of love from Stockton Borough Council, with support from the Arts Council. Originally inspired by European festivals seen in Holland, France and Spain, it has become an outdoor art spectacular that focuses on international performers and companies. As enthusiasm gained for the exotic festival, the budget grew to allow for more street theatre, dance, circus and PERFORMING ARTS? music acts to get involved. Launching on Thursday 29th July with an awe-inspiring fashion show, ‘Bridge’, by Imagineer, will feature gravity-defying circus, acrobatics, dance, comedy and theatre as well as live music inspired by local people. Commenting on the festival, the organisers said: “At the heart of SIRF are our dedicated audiences that have been coming to the festival for many years and the serious seekers of new trends in street theatre. Our hopes for the future of the festival are the best international street performances, ARE YOU KEEN TO PURSUE A supporting artists and companies to make CAREER IN great shows and inviting audiences to The event is jam-packed enjoy and actively participate in events.” with world-class shows Concluding on Sunday 1st August, the festival will be rounded off in Stockton Town STUDY AT STOCKTON Centre with the highly popular community carnival. This year’s carnival will see hundreds of young people, adults, community members, musicians and street performers dance and sing RIVERSIDE COLLEGE! their way through the town to the riverside where the party continues. And festival-goers can expect to be dazzled throughout the day by toe-tapping, fist-thumping live music, WWW.STOCKTON.AC.UK/PERFORMING-ARTS family entertainment, show-stopping street theatre shows and plenty of creative workshops to take part in - and a fabulous finale show by 'Gorilla Circus'. SIRF 2021 is due to take place from Thursday 29th July to Sunday 1st August and is a free, family-friendly event. LAUREN GOSLING

Visit: sirf.co.uk

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AD MINOLITI AT BALTIC, GATESHEAD

Ad Minoliti will exhibit at BALTIC’s Level 4 Gallery this month, marking their first institutional presentation in the UKand biggest exhibition in Europe to this date. The Argentinian THE FILLETING MACHINE artist’s work is deeply forged in feminist and queer theory - integral components of their expression and processes - and ONLINE is centrally concerned with the concept of the alternative and the uprooting of status quos, consensuses and perceptions, via a prism of the fields of design and architecture, painting New cinematic photography technology is helping to bring and other artistic pursuits, but reaching out undeterred into projects for families to take part in both at the gallery (including a classic Tyneside based play to life and will reach brand the all-encompassing landscape. True to this, the exhibition at ceramics workshops) and at home (with digital/print resources). new audiences who are unable to enjoy it in its original BALTIC is portrayed as an ‘alien lounge’ through which Minoliti Whether audiences would like to look into the potential deeper theatrical setting. North Shields-based Harriet Ghost and will “reimagine the space through the idea of landscape, FIELD FOR THE meanings and intricacies behind the exhibit as a whole, or they Micky McGregor run Blowin’ a Hooley Theatre and have thinking about it as a scenery that goes beyond nature”. This simply just enjoy the aesthetics of the individuality given to each previously toured Tom Hadaway’s classic play The Filleting places the material in a fertile lineage of art exploring the figurine, Field for the British Isles is an engaging exhibition that is Machine to pubs, working man’s clubs, community centres, profound relationship between human environments and perfect for all ages. GEORGINA SHINE heritage venues and theatres across Tyneside. Set on North the physical body while affording ample space also to the BRITISH ISLES Shields’ Ridges Estate (now Meadow Well Estate) in the exploration of the same dynamics when intertwined with Visit: sunderlandculture.org.uk. 1980s, the play centres around the Rutter family and the social institutions and community relationships. Minoliti’s threat to the father’s job as a fish filleter due to the onset work interrogates outwardly for sure but also burrows into AT NORTHERN GALLERY, SUNDERLAND of new technology. The play was originally performed in the the conceptual prescription of gender within art’s own history, TALK round so that audiences could feel more engaged but now, regularly experimenting with the deployment and questioning This month, Sunderland Culture will bring an old classic back using 360-degree camera technology, it is being filmed with of borders, shapes and canvases themselves, from an artist to the region. From July 24th through to September 25th, a special camera placed in the centre of the set which allows highly concerned with how ideas are manifested and the Northern Gallery for Contemporary Art in Sunderland’s viewers to become totally immersed in the production. remoulded. The exhibition will incorporate Minoliti’s ongoing National Glass Centre will play host to the ‘Field for the FRANCIS ROSSI Viewed on laptops, tablets, smartphones and VR headsets, the project, ‘The Feminist School of Painting’. The gallery’s British Isles’ art exhibit. The exhibit itself was created by Sir watcher can change viewing angles and watch from different alcove will be fashioned as a classroom in which bi-weekly Antony Gormley who is perhaps most famed in the region (STATUS QUO) AT MIDDLESBROUGH THEATRE perspectives. Harriet added: “This is an exciting project for us paint workshops “will deconstruct historical narratives as being the creator of the Angel of the North, a piece that and will be one of the first examples of theatre meeting 360 and reimagine the traditional genre of landscape painting was so revered it became a Turner Prize-winning piece. AND TYNE THEATRE, NEWCASTLE film. I think this project will massively benefit audiences who from a feminist, intersectional and queer perspective”. This Gormley has described Field for the British Isles as: “Twenty- aren’t ready to come into theatres just yet because of COVID lends a very bold educational angle to the endeavour.Such five tons of clay energised by fire, sensitised by touch and and it is free to everyone to view thanks to our funding paradigm-shifting and smashing work is heady and essential made conscious by being given eyes...a field of gazes which Legendary rock ‘n’ roll star, Francis Rossi, will share extraordinary from Arts Council England.” Award-winning filmmaker Maria but may come off as overly academic, if not for the glorious looks at the observer making him or her its subject.” The tales of his 50+ year career in the new stage show, ‘I Talk Too Caruana Galizia, from Candle & Bell based in Gateshead, technicolour typifying Minoliti’s output. Minoliti’s is an art Field for the British Isles installation is made up of 40,000 Much’. The intimate evening of music and chat will see the took a business decision to invest in the new technology that is thrashing back against allowing the victors to write individual clay figurines that have each been uniquely crafted Status Quo lead singer talk at length about secrets, mishaps during lockdown and used the time to learn all about how history, yet is exuberant and playful in its approach and and fashioned – a time-consuming job to say the least. The and life on the road with one of the biggest and most loved the cameras operated. She noted: “Once we realised how depiction of the reality of contemporary living. In an oeuvre clay sculptures have holes for eyes and from the surface, they bands in Britain. Deemed a true member of British rock effective the technology was, we looked at who would be where the vanishingly small incidence of solemnity among appear to be 40,000 blobs of clay with holes but, in reality, royalty, Rossi has had an extraordinary career. From singing a good fit to work with, and as Blowin’ a Hooley are a very its artists may be surprising given developments around the they are a collection of time, passion, focus, meaning and the first words at Live Aid 1985 to surviving a brush with forward-thinking theatre company, they were the obvious world, the aura is one of intoxicatingly progressive vitality. purpose. The exhibit controls how visitors physically see it drugs and alcohol, receiving an OBE in 2010 and a BRIT for choice. I’m excited to have this opportunity to experiment This is contextualised well by the fact that Minoliti scans too, by not allowing audiences to occupy the space in which his Outstanding Contribution to Music, Rossi has been there with this new medium and look forward to reaching a new much further back into history than the darkness of late 20th- the exhibit is installed and by only allowing the art to be seen and done that. Francis Rossi: I Talk Too Much will take place audience who want to experience film and drama in different century artistic responses to the lives of the oppressed, citing from a singular specifically chosen viewing point. As well as on Friday 23rd July at Middlesbrough Theatre and Monday ways.” The play stars Micky and Harriet as Ma and Da and, as a huge influence the 1940s Argentinian avant-garde of Arte allowing visitors to access the exhibit, the culture team are 2nd August at Tyne Theatre and Opera House, Newcastle. following Blowin’ a Hooley’s pledge to champion North East Madí and the Asociación Arte Concreto-Invención, whose also planning a creative project ahead of the exhibition which LAUREN GOSLING artists, they have cast two talented actors from the region abstract, modernist tendencies help to inform the character will consist of a variety of programmes and opportunities including Virginia Johnson and William Wyn Davies. and aesthetics of Minoliti’s work.MICHAEL JOHNSON connected to the piece.There will be projects set up in Tickets: £30.00-£75.00 Advance LEE ALLCOCK collaboration with primary schools to encourage families to Visit:middlesbroughtheatre.co.uk Visit: baltic.art visit the exhibit, and there will also be a summer programme and tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk Watch now at: hooleytheatre.com run by the in-house team which will include a variety of

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TIFF STEVENSON AT THE STAND, NEWCASTLE

Tiff Stevenson takes to The Stand in Newcastle this month to showcase her touring show ‘Mother’ for a twice- SONIC ARTS WEEK rescheduled date. Stevenson is a seasoned veteran of both comedy panel shows (8 Out Of 10 Cats, Mock The Week) MIDDLESBROUGH and some of the shows which are the jewels in the UK’s prestigious international comedy crown (People Just Do backgrounds the opportunity to have conversations with industry Nothing), as well as her own repeatedly acclaimed stand-up This summer, Middlesbrough is bringing a festival of fun and professionals and develop skills in all areas of theatre. We’re performances. Stevenson’s contributions to the country’s innovation to an audience of all ages as Sonic Arts Week, a running workshops and talks on financial support, producing world-leading comedy scene have grown increasingly diverse celebration of all things sound, music and art comes to the NEWCASTLE models and new ways of collaboration in the North, to give artists and refined over two decades; deep-diving UK comedy fans town this month. From the brains behind Middlesbrough Art and freelancers support as we start to reimagine and rebuild.” will recognise her small part in the Magna Carta of 21st Weekender and The Auxiliary comes a week-long event from The festival promises two weeks of celebration through live and Century British humour, The Office. ‘Mother’ has attracted Friday 16th to Friday 23rd July. The festival will be filled with online theatre, comedy and music. LEE ALLCOCK no shortage of critical respect since debuting in 2019, its a variety of projects and events that are all being brought to FRINGE FESTIVAL conclusion having been repeatedly staggered for obvious the streets of Middlesbrough for audiences to experience Visit: newcastlefringe.co.uk reasons. Stevenson, a staple performer at the Edinburgh and enjoy completely free of charge. The inspiration initially AT ALPHABETTI THEATRE Fringe Festival, has excellent long-term form in the arena of came from global event, World Listening Day, on Sunday 18th feminist approaches to comedy and unashamedly ploughs July, to honour Raymond Murray who is seen by many as the Newcastle Fringe Festival will be taking place this summer into the subject matter here, taking on a range of cultural founder of acoustic ecology. There will be a variety of talent to live audiences in the North East’s capital. From 27th July ART and societal issues hefty and featherweight, hopeful and on show at this year’s exhibition event that covers a range – 7th August, Newcastle will host a jam-packed two weeks pessimistic, all from one woman’s uniquely thoughtful, side- of artistic areas. The line-up consists of Dan Knight who of theatre, comedy and music as the festival brings the best splitting vantage point. Preceding 2017 show ‘Bombshell’ was makes sculptures that move to produce sound; Sonic Cruise, UK touring work to Newcastle for North East audiences a particular catalyst for Stevenson’s high regard as a stand- a project created by Jodi Rose which takes audiences on a to enjoy. Newcastle Fringe Festival, which is supported by GIBBO IS GOD up comedian, having ranked among the very best reviewed sonic journey along the River Tees; Enviro Bike, a sonicbike Arts Council England and the Community Foundation, will shows of that year’s Fringe. ‘Mother’, her ninth solo show in that makes sound and music through live sonification of the be taking place at the award-winning Alphabetti Theatre, AT ARC, STOCKTON total spanning a decade of work, excitingly follows from that passing air pollution as you cycle; and Odie Ji Ghast who is an where artists from across the UK will be presenting work same platform. The show’s plaudits have generally highlighted improvisational vocalist who creates collages with melodies, on the stage and online across two weeks of programming. and praised a sense of indignation at its heart and the angle sound, speech and poetry using nothing but her voice. There The festival has something for everyone in the line-up, A solo exhibition by Middlesbrough-based artist Bobby of channelling the material through the prism of motherhood are many more artists on the line-up that are set to provide with all shows in the programme being live streamed to Benjamin will be on display at the ARC in Stockton at the or, more specifically, stepmother-hood, lending the show its a week of new opportunities and discoveries for audiences. online audiences as well as performed to live audiences at start of July. GIBBO is God, Benjamin’s first exhibition in over place within a still-rising wave of comedy broadly termed The world of Sonic Arts is an innovative, imaginative and Alphabetti Theatre, with all tickets being Pay What You Feel. three years, will feature a collection of over 30 previously feminist, married to the long, slow but maintained increase eye-opening one that will blow minds as well as ears by The team behind the festival added: “At the heart of this unseen works in paint and video, exploring themes key to in interest in such philosophies societally. That groundswell showing audiences that there is more to sound than the festival and at Alphabetti Theatre, we believe that great his life, his practice, class, place and masculine identity. The has incidentally arrived more or less in unison with the period noise of music. Audiences will get to understand that sound art is for everyone regardless of financial circumstance. exhibition will focus prominently on the visual language of time over which Stevenson has been performing stand-up. is a wonderful and magical thing that enhances even the We have been running Pay What You Feel tickets for years and cultural currency of poverty, presenting a response to The Stand offers the opportunity to catch stand-up shows of most mundane and basic parts of life. Sonic Arts Week offers and are delighted to make the entire festival a Pay What his lived experiences while also paying homage to some of this power and import passing through the region. Equally visitors an opportunity to look at the world from a whole You Feel event.” The festival team, made up of North East- his favourite pieces of graffiti from across the Tees Valley. proficient and engaging as a gag writer and as a thinker, the new perspective. The sonic experiences on offer will leave based freelancers, have said there is much more than just The exhibition, which has been hailed as the most ambitious only thing which seems to have been able to stop Stevenson you listening to the world around you with fresh ears, finding performances happening at this year’s festival. Alongside undertaking from Bobby, will be the first instalment of a as a stand-up in her tracks has been a global pandemic. yourself becoming more in tune with your surroundings and the two-week performance programme runs “Invigorate,” a three-part interlinking exhibition spanning three Tees Valley Upfront and radical in the most endearing and effortless opening yourself up to new experiences. Whether you’re a strand of workshops, talks and paid opportunities for local venues throughout 2021. Commenting on the exhibit, sense, Stevenson is a performer at her peak offering up returning visitor to the Sonic Arts Week event or it’s a new artists and audiences to take part. The festival producer, Bobby said: “Collaboration is very important to me and while essential, hilarious and resonant messaging through comedy. experience for you, you can be guaranteed a great time and Kerrin Tatman, who also runs Newcastle Puppetry Festival, this is a series of solo exhibitions, I was very keen to enlist Unlike with some comedians, this cuts straight to the root and an unforgettable experience. So come one, come all and most said that Newcastle Fringe Festival is an opportunity for some of the artists who best know my practice and can bring purpose of the art form and is all the more appealing for that. importantly, come join the racket. GEORGINA SHINE artists to meet, collaborate and have open conversations their own perspectives.”LAUREN GOSLING MICHAEL JOHNSON with each other about how to learn and develop after Visit: sonicartsweek.com an incredible tough year for the theatre industry. Kerrin Visit: arconline.co.uk Tickets: £10.00 | Visit: thestand.co.uk added: “Invigorate gives artists and creatives from different

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1 y a p • comedy what • • you

EXPANDED INTERIORS theatre •

RE-STAGED AT HATTON GALLERY, NEWCASTLE • feel A popular contemporary art exhibition will be on display at the Hatton Gallery this summer, three years after it was displayed among ancient ruins in Italy. Expanded Interiors: Re-staged, a contemporary art exhibit that explores how artworks interact

with their surroundings, is set to return to the Hatton Gallery, music Newcastle on Saturday 3rd July and will run until Tuesday 27th July - 7th August 2021 10th August. The exhibition by artist Catrin Hubers will be transformed into a brand new multimedia exhibition based on the original art installations seen by more than 600k and REM's Peter Buck on the acclaimed 2020 album, 'Beat Poetry For www.newcastlefringe.co.uk visitors in 2018/19 which focused on two roman houses: The Survivalist'. His latest album ‘Luke Haines In …Setting The Dogs On The house of the beautiful courtyard at Herculaneum and The Post-Punk Postman’ is out now and he tours the UK with Peter the house of Cryptoportias in Pompeii. Huber will re-stage UNCANNY ISLAND Buck in September. This is his first art exhibition.LEE ALLCOCK her striking geometric artworks in a fresh way that explores their connection with the architecture of the Hatton Gallery. Visit: facebook.com/estonartscentre. Alongside this, she will also introduce new physical and digital AT ESTON ARTS CENTRE, MIDDLESBROUGH artworks including an incredible real-time 3D environment that will enable visitors to virtually ‘walk around’ ancient houses in Herculaneum and Pompeii. Commenting on the Eston Arts Centre will welcome a brand new exhibition from STAGE exhibition, visual artist and professor at Newcastle University, Friday 9th – Saturday 31st July in the form of Uncanny Island by Catrin Huber says: “The re-staging of the installations from Luke Haines. Uncanny Island is Luke Haines’ debut art exhibition Herculaneum and Pompeii in the context of the Hatton and will feature a Fall Xmas Tree and psychedelic visions - in acrylic FAULTY TOWERS Gallery’s distinctive architecture will be complemented by and oils on canvas - of British wrestlers from the ‘70s and early new work in a variety of media. Collectively, they’ll play with '80s. Luke noted: “In 2019, I had started painting Christmas tree THE ORIGINAL DINING EXPERIENCE AT BOILER notions of open and closed walls, perspective, and the folding baubles with the faces of members of the legendary Manchester of space. These different aspects will guide visitors through group, The Fall. The baubles were given away to friends as gifts SHOP, NEWCASTLE the exhibition in different ways. The use of colour, light, and to decorate their Xmas trees. Wouldn't it be great to paint all 66 shadows is also crucial to the overall experience, creating and members of The Fall on a bauble, I thought (wouldn't it? Wouldn't disrupting immersive environments and setting up dramatic it...?). It was a big, time-consuming project that had no home or Who doesn’t love a good comedy, right? First broadcast in 1975 contrasts.” The exhibition will also include a brand new the hours needed to complete it”. He added: “In 2020, as the (almost 50 years ago!), Fawlty Towers is a British Institution. commission from local Newcastle-based artist, Rosie Morris, country knuckled down in the first few months of lockdown, I Despite only having 12 episodes in existence, the antics of which will bring theatricality to the experience of crossing received an email from the artist Neil McNally asking if I would hotel owner Basil Fawlty have become legendary, bridging spatial thresholds. Morris’ installation negotiates an exchange be interested in exhibiting some of my paintings at Eston Art that generational gap in a way that few other shows have ever between the viewer, the artist, and real and imagined space, Centre. My Fall Xmas tree now had a home.” Luke has been achieved. Taking direct inspiration from this, Faulty Towers is an as well as multiple visual languages including colour, painting, painting wrestlers since 2011 when he recorded an album called interactive dining experience, in which audiences will be served drawing, photography, light, film projection and dioramas. 'Nine And A Half Psychedelic Visions Of British Wrestling From a period-appropriate three-course meal whilst becoming part Large scale installations incorporate replica 3D-printed The Late 1970s To The Early '80s.’ These new canvases, painted of the performance themselves, interacting with Basil, his wife Roman artefacts that are integrated and re-assembled within specially for the 'Uncanny Island' exhibition, represent the most Sybil and their long-suffering staff on a fine dining gourmet the contemporary setting. Artefacts recreated include statues fully realised visions of the era of World Of Sport wrestling. night. Straight from London’s West End via the legendary of Roman women, face cups and oil lamps. As with Roman Behold, an apocalypse of Half Nelsons and Kamikaze Crashes. Sydney Opera House, the international sensation is coming wall paintings, the exhibition conjures up a balance between “Easy, easy, easy. Don't touch his ears!” Luke Haines has been to the Boiler Shop on Wednesday 28th July. For two hours, real and imagined space, inside and outside space, and the a singer-songwriter for three decades, first with The Auteurs, guests will feel as if they’re in a Torquay Hotel (don’t complain past and present, creating a dramatic succession of rooms whose debut album 'New Wave' was nominated for the 1993 about the view!) and receive world-class entertainment with that contrast and link with each other. Expanded Interiors Re- Mercury prize. His next group, Black Box Recorder, scored a hit their meal as well. If you have any reservations, you’d better use staged will be on display from Saturday 3rd July and will run and a Top Of The Pops appearance with 'The Facts Of Life' (2000). them, though we can’t promise you a Waldorf salad. until Tuesday 10th August at the Hatton Gallery, Newcastle. Luke's memoir 'Bad Vibes – Britpop And My Part In Its Downfall' WAYNE MADDEN LAUREN GOSLING was a bestselling book in 2009. From the early 2000s, Haines has released 14 solo albums, plus collaborations with the acclaimed Tickets: From £46 (Minimum two tickets required per booking) Visit: hattongallery.co.uk Irish songwriter Cathal Coughlan in 2011 ('The North Sea Scrolls') Visit: boilershop.net

22 \\ NE VOLUME MAGAZINE \\ CULTURE 1. Rebecca Millar CULTURE // NE VOLUME MAGAZINE // 23 COMEDY ART/MUSIC COMEDY 1

fireworks. The project is active in striving to be accessible and welcoming to all; all lyrics to performances will be available during JESS FOSTEKEW the event via Google Drive, aimed at including the deaf and hearing JO CAULFIELD PICASSO BABY impaired. Perangie states: “Picasso Baby is such an important space AT THE STAND, NEWCASTLE for bringing people together through art and music. With so much AT THE WITHAM, BARNARD CASTLE of that missing in recent times, this Picasso Baby will be magical. It’s the perfect chance to reconnect, indulge in Teesside’s creative July is set to be a big month for upcoming comedy, particularly LIVE culture, share ideas, make new friends and make great moments. for venues like The Stand Comedy Club in Newcastle who, Jo Caulfield will head to the North East this month as part And, of course, have a little dance”. No elaboration is needed. This among the long list of up-and-coming stars, will prepare to of a “Funny Way to Be Comedy Work In Progress” Day at event would take pride of place in any major city with lofty creative welcome Jess Fostekew on Monday 26th. The Sheffield-born The Witham in Barnard Castle on Saturday 17th July. If you AT DISGRACELAND, MIDDLESBROUGH ambitions, so we’re delighted to have it. comedian, actor and writer has collected a whole host of haven’t seen Jo in anything (or at least don’t think you have), MICHAEL JOHNSON writing credits over the course of her stellar career including then I’m pretty sure you will have laughed at her work at contributing to Mock The Week, 8 Out of 10 Cats, 8 Out 10 some point in your life. She has been head writer on such Picasso Baby, Middlesbrough’s original “arty party”, returns Visit: facebook.com/disgrace.land.3 Cats does Countdown and The News Quiz. She has also put in shows as So Graham Norton and Strictly Dance Fever as to the brilliant Disgraceland on Baker Street this month multiple appearances at the Edinburgh Comedy Festival, Live well as penning material for the likes of Ant and Dec, Ruby for its first live event of 2021. The venue is precisely the at the Apollo, The Museum of Curiosity and QI and starred in Wax, and the legend that was Joan Rivers. Not a bad little sort of hub the town can accommodate within its growing several sitcoms over the years including Motherland, Cuckoo CV, is it? Add to that regular appearances on shows such as and exponentially diverse nightlife and cultural sphere, LITERATURE and BAFTA award-winning drama, Three Girls. Her popular Mock the Week, Have I got News for You and Never Mind especially while looking to leave the pandemic in the rear- and successful performance at the Leicester Comedy Festival the Buzzcocks on the idiot lantern, as well as Just a Minute view mirror as a blighting interregnum. The flagship Picasso was nominated for Best Comedy Show, and in 2019, her show and Fighting Talk, to list just a few. To say the good people Baby event actualises a living and breathing experimental CAITLIN MORAN ‘Hench’ landed the main award at the Edinburgh Comedy of Dominic Cummings’ favourite town for a sight test are space in which art and music achieve their most uniting Awards. And to add to her acting talents, she has appeared lucky to have the opportunity to spend sixty minutes in her and liberating functions. The collaboration of musicians, AT TYNE THEATRE, NEWCASTLE in a number of feature films including Gavins Hood, Official company is comparable to describing the Grand Canyon as artists and performers of all stripes is highly participatory Secrets, Greed, in the 2020 mini-series Trigonometry, and is a ditch. Don’t be expecting themes or whistles and bells in and inclusive, a firm rebuttal to external forces which, with set to appear in the 2022 upcoming action-adventure series, her material - Jo is not that type of stand up comedian. What varying degrees of seriousness, are looking to push back The fun, fabulous and critically acclaimed author Caitlin Halo. To add even further to her impressive background, you can expect is the feeling of having her chatting to you against such progress. PERANJAMIN, the duo of Bobby Moran heads to Newcastle this July for a highly-anticipated she not only co-hosts the podcast The Guilty Feminist but personally, making you laugh about her experiences, which Benjamin and John James Perangie, curate the event, event at Tyne Theatre as part of her UK book tour. Caitlin is she is a keen weightlifter and has, on numerous occasions, have, in the past, included watching her first pornographic and all attendees of the event will receive a unique hand- the epitome of humble and radiates a down to earth/I’m the incorporated it into her act which perhaps provided the film and how the ludicrous nature of that experience led her crafted piece of original artwork from the pair. All involved same as everyone else style of energy which helps her to perfect inspiration for the title of her latest UK tour…’Hench’. to write her own “real-life” dirty movie. She admits that if emphasise that the event belongs to everyone, and you can connect with her audience at a deep and meaningful level. Have you ever watched a feminist try and take ‘hench’ as a there was nobody in the venue she would still be talking into literally make your mark on proceedings. The night of Friday Moran’s visit to the North East sees her bring her ‘More Than compliment? This new show tells the tale of her journey to the microphone – it’s a talent that may sound effortless but, 2nd July will be preceded by a video open call and a June A Woman’ book tour to the Tyne Theatre and Opera House fitness and how it led to her often being repeatedly harassed realistically, takes an immense amount of preparation. Asa 30th open day on which the public can contribute their own in what is sure to be a night that will make you laugh till you at the gym while weight training, often being called a ‘hench’ result, this show will come into play because it is a work in artwork to Disgraceland ahead of the main event, though cry as she embraces all things ageing and getting older. Don’t by other gym users. Think of it as the ultimate form of progress, allowing Jo to have a yardstick to be able to measure bringing along appropriate materials in order to make a miss this opportunity to join Caitlin for a joyous and hilarious assertive action until she started to view it as a compliment which material lands, and which floats, at a level reserved for creative contribution to the walls on the night itself is also evening filled with uplifting tales of mothers, daughters, to her hard work and dedication. As part of the tour, she will the egg-like stench of a train station boozer at half-past five encouraged. This instalment’s musical marquee will feature female friendship, and life in and beyond your thirties. As also visit The Bread Shed in Manchester on August 6th and on a Friday afternoon. Jo Caulfield heads to The Witham, punk band Mouses, Boro’s Michael CG backed by his freshly if the thought of spending a night with the woman herself 7th as well as The Leadmill, Sheffield and Soho, London. Jess Barnard Castle on Saturday 17th July. The show starts at 8pm assembled Teesside supergroup, and Hartlepool’s hip-hop wasn’t enough, all tickets come with a copy of the book too. Fostekew’s Hench Tour will visit The Stand Comedy Club in and is for over 14s only. MARK DAVIES clan Queensbury in a debut Middlesbrough performance. GEORGINA SHINE Newcastle on Monday 26th July. LAUREN GOSLING Colly Metcalfe will also return, delivering her set in BSL, an Tickets: £6.00 Advance | Visit: thewitham.org.uk ode to the diversity Picasso Baby is true to, as is “Socialist Visit: tynetheatreandoperahouse.uk Tickets: £10.50 | Visit: thestand.co.uk Slut” Sally Tomato, exclusively unveiling a new video. Expect

24 \\ NE VOLUME MAGAZINE \\ CULTURE 1. Hana Marie Photography CULTURE // NE VOLUME MAGAZINE // 25 UNCANNY ISLAND LUKE HAINES 28-29 August

Uncanny Island is Luke Haines debut art exhibition. Featuring a Fall Xmas Tree and psychedelic visions - in acrylic and oils on canvas - of British wrestlers from the 1970s and early ‘80s. Preview: July 8 / 5.30 - 7.30pm July 9 - July 31 ESTON ARTS CENTRE 176 - 178, High Street, Eston, Middlesbrough. TS6 9JA.

CULTURE // NE VOLUME MAGAZINE // 27 THE(ADJOINING STOCKTONLINK GLOBE) PREPARES TO OPEN It’s been a long time coming but, finally, Manager of Stockton Globe and The only) will take place on Thursday 15th The Link, adjoining the iconic Stockton Link, added: “We want The Link to July; however, members of the public Globe, will open its doors to the public become a creative community hub will also be able to view the launch very soon (following government for the high street. The café bar offers via a live stream, with more details to guidelines and the roadmap, of course). a great environment for people to follow shortly. Please check the NE The Link is a multi-functional space meet and enjoy a coffee or try out Volume website at nevolume.co.uk for that will operate as a café, bar and live our daytime menu. The Live at the all of the latest info.The changing of entertainment venue in its own right. Link provides an intimate gig and the roadmap has, of course, impacted The 200-capacity venue will support performance space for local emerging the venue directly and the opening local and emerging artists, with the artists and will help to develop the date for the public has had to be venue’s “Live at the Link” programme talent pipeline. We are working closely moved back to fit in with government adding to the already wonderful live with local venues and promoters to guidelines, but the venue expects to entertainment scene we have on make sure this fits in with the vibrant be open to the general public very offer across Teesside. During the day, grassroots scene in Stockton and soon. LEE ALLCOCK visitors will be able to enjoy coffee, Teesside. We will be exploring working cake and a light food menu before the with groups in the community to For more information, please go to transformation into a live gig space create a creative and safe space.” The stocktonglobe.co.uk on an evening. Jo Ager, the General venue’s industry launch event (invite-

28 \\ NE VOLUME MAGAZINE \\ FEATURE FEATURE // NE VOLUME MAGAZINE // 29 DURHAM B R A S S FESTIVAL The team behind Durham Brass have just Riverside Band within the imposing and Horn Band, performing at the Durham Brass announced that this year’s event, thankfully, beautiful surroundings of the historic festival means finally fulfilling a lifetime’s will take place this summer from July 14- Durham Cathedral. The year 2019 was a ambition.“At last, I finally get to headline 18th. This year, the programme offers a landmark one for songwriter Richard Hawley. a gig in my hometown!” he smiles. One of vast range of brass-related live music, with His ninth studio album release achieved his the aims of this year’s festival is to give a covid-safe audiences across outdoor spaces joint highest chart entry at number 3, he co- platform to acts who are taking brass in new and indoor venues throughout Durham, plus created a musical based on a collection of his directions, showcasing contemporary artists online streaming from incredible brass artists songs which played at Sheffield’s Crucible whose work is pushing at the boundaries. around the globe. Taking inspiration from the Theatre, and he celebrated his twentieth Ibibio Sound Machine certainly fit that brass band heritage of County Durham, the anniversary as a solo artist. Performing bill. The eight-piece band are made up of world-renowned festival weaves together alongside Richard Hawley on the night players from around the world and make musical genres into a vibrant and entertaining are NASUWT Riverside Band. The band a sound that they describe as a clash of five-day festival taking place across the itself was founded in 1877 and was formerly African and electronic elements and inspired County. With headline performances in iconic known as the Newcastle Brown Ale Band. by Western African funk, disco, modern locations from some of the UK’s finest artists, They rehearse in Pelton Fell, Chester-Le- post punk and electro. No one is working to schools’ gigs and an inclusive engagement Street and have an active diary of concerts harder at bringing the magic of brass to a programme, the Durham County Council and contests. Since forming in 2004, the young audience than YolanDa Brown, the festival culminates in a massive three- Sunderland duo Field Music have gained a multi-award-winning saxophonist whose day FREE concert at Durham Racecourse. reputation for an ambitious and intellectual CBeebies show Band Jam has been a smash This is a new and exciting addition to Brass, approach to making music, their relentless hit since launching in 2019. Alongside with the introduction of an outdoor stage creativity bringing them Mercury Award YolanDa, on Saturday audiences can enjoy funded by a Culture Recovery Fund grant nominations, endless plaudits from the critics a brassed-up performance from Cable from Arts Council England. By staging more and, most famously of all, a thumbs up from Street Collective plus some of the best events outside, Brass will not only be safer Prince shortly before his death. Not ones contemporary brass artists in the UK and more accessible, but will channel the to hide from a creative challenge, brothers including Perhaps Contraption, Renegade alfresco carnival vibe the music so often Pete and David Brewis have been specially Brass Band, New York Brass Band, London evokes. By celebrating a contemporary commissioned by Durham Brass festival Street Brass Band & Riot Jazz Brass Band. mix of artists with the more traditional, the in a new partnership with the Durham The Sunday afternoon performance along festival adds a new energy and dimension to Miners Association to write and produce the bank of the River Wear sees Black Dyke Brass, making it an accessible genre across a dedicated composition focussed on the Band performing at Durham BRASS festival the generations. For instance, one of the legacy of the Durham Mining Industry. He’s for the very first time.LEE ALLCOCK highlights this year will be a very special one- renowned for creating some of the most off headline performance by Richard Hawley influential records in music history but for For more information, please go who will be accompanied by the NASUWT Trevor Horn, under the moniker The Trevor to brassfestival.co.uk

30 \\ NE VOLUME MAGAZINE \\ FEATURE Chris Saunderslores FEATURE // NE VOLUME MAGAZINE // 31 Saturday 7th and Sunday 8th August will see Sunderland come to life with the sound of music and light up with the joys of freedom. The event will see audiences come together in one large community of togetherness that is forged through the love of music.

This year’s line-up will see the artists scheduled to play last year return and finally get their day in the limelight in Sunderland. The event sees the Kaiser Chiefs headline Saturday, whilst Deacon Blue and the legendary Lulu will headline Sunday, with a plethora of homegrown and national grassroots Festival talent also on the line-up over the course of the two-day festival including Frankie & The Heartstrings, Zuzu, Big Society, Faye Fantarrow, Tide Lines and Roddy Woomble, with more to be announced. Lamplight is an event that is suitable for all ages, with family-friendly BACK IN 2020, SUNDERLAND CITY activities for both adults and children to enjoy, a variety of food and drink suited to all tastes, and, of course, incredible COUNCIL DECIDED TO INTRODUCE THE music from both world-renowned artists and local talent. Sunderland City Council is making every effort FIRST LAMPLIGHT FESTIVAL TO THE AREA possible to ensure that the event will not only go ahead but go ahead in the BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO THE GLOBAL safest way possible. They are taking all of the necessary safety precautions and will ensure that the festival will PANDEMIC, THE FESTIVAL WAS POSTPONED. be a safe and enjoyable event for all involved. Music is an important and ever-present element in the North East and its culture and so to have live music finally return to the region has been a long time coming for so many people. BUT NOW, MOWBRAY PARK IS FINALLY The region and its residents are ready to welcome musicians and live music back to its stages with open arms, READY TO WELCOME MUSICIANS AND MUSIC open ears and most importantly, open hearts. Right now, all of us need a little light in our lives and Sunderland is going FANS ALIKE TO THE AREA AND PLAY HOST TO to bring more than just a little light with the Lamplight Festival. Audiences can be sure to have the fire inside them THE FIRST LAMPLIGHT FESTIVAL. relit and the passion reignited with the return of live music and the return of the feeling of togetherness that we have all craved. GEORGINA SHINE

For more information, head to lamplightfestival.co.uk

32 \\ NE VOLUME MAGAZINE \\ FEATURE FEATURE // NE VOLUME MAGAZINE // 33 WWW.NEVOLUMEBAR.CO.UK WHAT’S ON - JULY 2021

FRIDAY 2ND JULY Doors: 6.30pm MING CITY ROCKERS Tickets: £5.00 + SWEARS + LOGOZ

SATURDAY 3RD JULY Doors: 1.00pm STRAIGHT OUTTA LOCKDOWN Tickets: £1.00 PRESENTED BY ROCK THE FOUNDRY

THURSDAY 8TH JULY Doors: 6.30pm KICKIN’ LILLIES Tickets: £5.00 + POST ROME + ABNORM

FRIDAY 9TH JULY Doors: 6.30pm TALK LIKE TIGERS Tickets: £5.00 + MOODBAY + ALFIE BLUE (OF OCEAN FLOOR)

SATURDAY 10TH JULY Doors: 6.30pm GIRAFFES Tickets: £5.00 + CHARLOTTE GRAYSON + REECE HANRAHAN

TUESDAY 13TH JULY Doors: 6.00pm SCOTT FREE Tickets: £5.00 + SPIDER NOISES + DREAMS OF THE SUN

WWW.NEVOLUMEBAR.CO.UK FOLLOW NE VOLUME NE Volume Music Bar & Venue, 21D Yarm Ln, Stockton-On-Tees TS18 3DR Buy your tickets at seetickets.com Phone: 01642 111 111 | Email: [email protected] E D Q

34 \\ NE VOLUME MAGAZINE \\ FEATUREINTERVIEW VENUE THE GLOBE LOCATION Stockton-on-Tees WEBSITE stocktonglobe.co.uk

It’s played host to the likes of The Beatles, Tina How difficult was it to approach the restoration Turner, and Morecambe and Wise, and now the from that perspective? famous Globe is ready to bring the stars back to Jo: Well, that was it. Because the project was Stockton. managed by the council with Wilmot Dixon, they had a heritage consultant, and they had their council Adam Kennedy recently had the opportunity to heritage consultants. So yeah, absolutely, there was glance inside the prestigious building and have a a huge amount of work around what had to remain, few words with the venue's General Manager Jo what the colour choice was, how sympathetic Ager and ATG's International Business Director, we had to be to the heritage and how we future- Nick Potter. proofed it. That was a big piece of the project.

What was it about Stockton that brought ATG You're going to be doing a monthly ticket here? giveaway to the people of Stockton. Was Nick: Well, we've got venues up here, that important to you to get the local but theatrical. So, we have been people involved? looking for, fundamentally, a Jo: Yeah, definitely. We are a music venue. This is a fantastic community venue, irrespective music venue and has been a of what we do. We want the fantastic music venue many “The community need to buy in, community to own part of the years ago. So, the opportunity and we need them to feel like it's venue by being engaged in it. to work with the council on part of their community” So, working with the council, this restoration project is a it was a project we were keen once in a lifetime opportunity. to do. It makes it accessible. We What has been achieved have lots of other ways that we here is amazing. So, I think we provide access to our theatres and just jumped at it - there was no our venues through price promise question, really. and accessible tickets. But yeah, the community need to buy in, and we need How much has the pandemic impacted the logistical them to feel like it's part of their community. elements of bringing this beautiful building back to life? The first show that you announced was Paloma Faith. Jo: It's interesting because the site team didn't stop It sold out in eight hours. Were you overwhelmed by at all. They had lower numbers so they managed to the general response to that first show? carry on the work with a COVID-secure site, and Jo: We thought she was going to do it. We had faith it was quite impressive to see. There were some (no pun intended). For a venue that hasn't been open impacts on things like the specialists. Yes, there's for nearly 40 years, it was fantastic - and it shows been a delay with it, but it didn't stop - we kept there's a real appetite for live music both locally and going. I kept going. It gave us a bit of thinking time regionally. So, it was great, and it sort of said, right, on how we want to do certain things. We've just this is how we're going to perform moving forward. been working hard to position a fantastic venue in the town, plus with our promoters. So, it did have For further information and show listings, please an impact on physical stuff, but we didn't stop. The visit stocktonglobe.co.uk building is a grade-two listed building.

36 \\ NE VOLUME MAGAZINE \\ FEATUREINTERVIEW Adam Kennedy INTERVIEWFEATURE // NE VOLUME MAGAZINE // 37 MUSIC LISA MURPHY WEBSITE womeninmusicproduction.co.uk LOCATION Newcastle

Lisa Murphy is known to many in the industry as the are under-represented in the music industry, studio manager for Blast Studios in Newcastle. And particularly in technical roles. In fact, in 2019 it was as a woman in the music industry, she knows first- found in a study that women make up only around hand that the industry is simply underrepresented 2% of music producers in the industry. I applied for in terms of female numbers. To try and change Arts Council funding to run a six-month project to this, Lisa has launched her project/documentary, support more women into working in the field of ‘Women In Music’, so Georgina Shine caught up recording, mixing and producing music. I felt that with her to find out more. I could share my experiences to help others break down barriers in the industry. The project allowed For those who may not be aware of your ‘Women In me to work closely with these producers to build Music’ documentary, please give us an insight into their experience, skills, knowledge and contacts the documentary... in the music industry as well as the all-important The documentary was made to highlight the work portfolio of professional music production work to of four female music producers in the North East. help them secure future work. After completing a six-month project together, visiting studios to record Did you find you had any issues or bands, working with artists and pushback from people in the on individual projects to record industry when you decided to and produce music, I felt go ahead with the project? that the best way to shine Not at all. Everyone was a spotlight on the work “I’d love to see this really supportive and of these producers was group of producers go many people wanted to by getting them to tell get involved directly to the story themselves. on to inspire and teach support the project to So I decided to make a skills to the next generation succeed. I was particularly documentary about the grateful to the guest project and give an insight of women working in speakers who delivered into women working in music production” sessions with the group technical roles in music, including Hattie Murdoch an area in which women are (songwriter and producer), largely under-represented in Paul Gregory (producer, mix the industry. engineer and guitarist from Lanterns on the Lake) and Sam Grant What initially prompted you to want to (owner/producer at Blank Studios, guitarist make the documentary? for Pigsx7) for providing their insight and knowledge I felt that we could offer an insight into women in such a supportive way to the participants in the working in studios and producing music which project. could act as inspiration for others wanting to take a step towards a career in music production. Also, I Do you have any plans to revisit this project or wanted to give these producers the opportunity to develop other ones like this in the future to boost offer their perspective on the gender balance in the the cause of women in music further? music industry and what advice they would give to Definitely! I’d love to see this group of producers go women wanting to pursue music production asa on to inspire and teach skills to the next generation career. of women working in music production in the North East. Fingers crossed, we will also get some more What inspired you to start the women in music funding to run the second round of this project and production project and help more women get into see what happens. music production? I’ve been working in the music industry for over For more information regarding the project, head to 20 years and I’ve always been a minority. Women womeninmusicproduction.co.uk.

38 \\ NE VOLUME MAGAZINE \\ INTERVIEW Victoria Wai INTERVIEW // NE VOLUME MAGAZINE // 39 DANCE ELIOT SMITH DANCE

LOCATION Newcastle WEBSITE eliotsmithdance.com

Renowned North East dance company, Eliot 10-year journey of ESD. This homecoming film will Smith Dance Company, are celebrating 10 years be available to watch for free from Saturday 3rd July since it was founded with their latest project, at eliotsmithdance.com/10years. Homecoming. Georgina Shine caught up with owner Eliot Smith to find out what we can expect from their What can audiences expect from the experience? latest project. First and foremost, we want the audience to have the experience of the return to 'live performance' and of For those not familiar with you, please tell us more the atmosphere it creates. I personally can't express about the dance company... how jubilant it feels to be back. The four works on Our story began 10 years ago following my first offer present something different for everyone. We contemporary dance work being premiered in have dance pieces created around ancient Greek London. This performance led to the formation of history and Colombia's rich culture - from a more Eliot Smith Dance (ESD) in my home city, Newcastle, informal feel to the short solos. All of the works, I can with the concept of bringing contemporary dance promise, are centred on highly physical and technical to audiences in rural North East England, alongside dancing, dominated effectively by Adam Johnson’s education outreach. ESD has built up a rich repertoire, composed piece of music with its rich melodies and consisting of more than 24 works and still different cultural influences merging in sound. growing, created by me and award- winning guest choreographers from What made you want to put this the UK and around the world, show together and share it with aiming to create works that are audiences? dynamic, diverse, and relevant Following our recent autumn for audiences. We are a small season (and a year of digital company with ambitious “We want the audience works), we wanted to seize plans for the next 10 years to have the experience of the opportunity to welcome and beyond. Our small the return to 'live performance' our regular audience office space is in Gosforth, and the atmosphere it members and people who Newcastle and rehearsals creates” might be new to dance are predominantly in to experience an ESD live Northumberland at Woodhorn performance. This will be Museum. ESD's first live performance since February 2020. Bearing in How would you describe mind that we are celebrating our Homecoming to audiences? 10th anniversary including the recent ‘Homecoming’ really is a homecoming for ESD. announcement of my retirement on stage In this 'Homecoming' we are delighted to present our as 'a dancer' (to focus my energy on choreography recent virtual commissions (premiered online during and leadership), we felt like this was a homecoming. the second lockdown), one of which is Messiah, a work But, of course, we feel that these dance works are by the award-winning choreographer, Mark Baldwin relevant and speak to people. On behalf of Eliot OBE. Another solo work is Onward, created by New Smith Dance I would like to extend our gratitude York City dance-maker Jake Vincent, and my own to Arts Council England, Northumberland Arts newest work TroY is my reimagining of the ancient Development, Community Foundation / Newcastle story, performed by a cast of four male dancers and Culture Investment Fund, Woodhorn Museum, and set to a specially composed piece of music by Adam Dance City for their support. In normal circumstances, Johnson. As part of ESD's commitment to supporting and even more so in these challenging times, we rely new choreographic talent, this season includes a on their generosity to realise our ambitious plans première by one of ESD's founding dancers, Yamit including ‘Homecoming’. Salazar. Bloom is a celebration of the beauty of flowers and diversity of people. And finally, we will For further information, head to eliotsmithdance. premiere a short film online celebrating the incredible com.

40 \\ NE VOLUME MAGAZINE \\ INTERVIEW INTERVIEW // NE VOLUME MAGAZINE // 41 INTERVIEWS // NE VOLUME MAGAZINE // 43 MUSIC MUSIC

DAVID NEIL CRABTREE “‘Gasoline’ is a dark, brooding song about being totally disillusioned with love and relationships”

NEW SINGLE Gasoline LISTEN ON All Streaming Platforms JACK RASMUSSEN “You’ve often got to take risks or put yourself outside your comfort From production to performing, Tell me a bit more about your new sea while running backwards filming. zone when doing something completely new” David Neil Crabtree is a man of many single and the story behind it... We then had two other sessions talents, and now he is set to showcase I co-wrote ‘Gasoline’ with my producer which were filmed across the North his skills as a solo artist with his new Danny Schogger (Paul Young, George York Moors, where I live, including the NEW SINGLE City Road LISTEN ON All Streaming Platforms single, ‘Gasoline’. Georgina Shine Michael) and a fantastic singer- scenes with the fire. It was important caught up with David to discuss his songwriter called Charlie Dore (Tina to film here as I’m a Yorkshireman at solo career and to get the lowdown Turner, George Harrison). ‘Gasoline’ heart. on his latest solo record. is a dark, brooding song about being Jack Rasmussen has already picked up an instrument and started What’s next for you and your totally disillusioned with love and What does the future look like for experienced a pretty impressive singing. I think the whole message musical journey? You play regularly in The Mentulls but relationships. It's laced with vengeful you and your solo endeavours? start to his career by supporting of the song I wanted to portray to I’m just getting a set-list together what made you want to go solo too? lyrics that try to capture the feeling of ‘Gasoline’ is the first single from my the likes of The Bluetones and the listener is that you’ve often got and then I’ll be ready to start playing I've always loved writing and total loss when a relationship turns forthcoming debut album which Shaun Ryder. Now, Jack is yet again to take risks or put yourself outside some gigs. There will be a few more performing my own music as well as bad. I like to think nearly everyone should hopefully be out later this showing audiences his talent with your comfort zone when doing singles this year released too - the working with the band and it's just can relate to the sentiment of the year. I'll also be touring around that his new single, ‘City Road’. Georgina something completely new. next one is ready to go. been a case of finding the right time lyric, as we’ve all been there at one time and I've got gigs lined up across Shine caught up with Jack to discuss to release and push that material in point or another in our lives. It's got the UK. I'm building a great team of his newest release, his future and How did you decide on your sound? If you could play a gig with any between everything that we have epic "big" drums, distorted bass, people around me with my solo work his dream gig. Was it something you knew you three bands/artists, who would you been doing. We recorded 'Gasoline' sweeping strings and guitar solos and and 'Gasoline' is getting playlisted wanted to do or did you fall into choose? in 2019, so I've been sitting on it for I'm so proud of the final result. at radio stations across the country Your new single ‘City Road’ is your personal sound style? That’s a tricky question! I’ll go with a while. It should have come out last which is really exciting; it recently fantastic. Give me some background I think I’ve carried over some Fleetwood Mac and The Smiths year but we all know what happened What was the inspiration behind the got played on BBC Tees Intro and to the song's story... elements of Brit-pop from my who have always been two of my there. In The Mentulls, I suppose my theme for your music video? there's a chance (fingers crossed) of At the beginning of 2018, I previous band, VELVET. However, all-time favourites. Then I’ll go with main job is to be the singer in the I worked on the video with Richard some national BBC airplay. We've unexpectedly moved back to I’ve always been a huge fan of Flyte who I’ve only recently been band whereas, on my own material, I Doney at Landscape Studios. We also got a new Mentulls album out in Melbourne for a little while and I stripped-back melodic acoustic introduced to and I love their new play a lot of lead guitar too which is did the filming on the beach just the autumn and UK/European dates, wrote this song reflecting on that stuff and that was always a sound album. something I really enjoy. My original before the first lockdown and were so that's really exciting. I can't wait to time. It was kind of an unexpected I wanted to experiment with. I think material is less rocky than the band hoping for a grey day, which would play live again. last-minute decision to move back it probably suits my voice more, Rasmussen’s new dreamy and stuff but it still has its moments. I'm help capture the dark mood of the and I guess this song is all about the stuff I’m writing now. I will, soulful indie track is out now. You inspired by artists like Jeff Buckley, track. But, of course, it was absolutely ‘Gasoline’ is out now and is available that journey. I might not have been however, look to experiment with can listen to ‘City Road’ on all major Sting, Peter Gabriel and Elbow, so glorious, which suddenly wasn’t such on all major streaming platforms. doing music if it wasn’t for that my sound in the near future. streaming platforms. there are all sorts of influences. a bad thing when Richard fell into the decision - it was the first time I

44 \\ NE VOLUME MAGAZINE \\ INTERVIEW Ricky Atterby INTERVIEW // NE VOLUME MAGAZINE // 45 CULTURE MORTAL FOOLS LOCATION Newcastle WEBSITE melva.org.uk

Multi-award-winning North East theatre, drama the Quest for Barnabas Boggle which is designed to and creative learning charity Mortal Fools support help young people aged 7-11 better understand, talk 500+ North East young people’s mental health and about and manage their everyday worries and anxieties well-being. Georgina Shine spoke with Business in the contemporary modern world. This interactive, Development and Communications Manager, Rachel choose your own adventure style game has so far Horton, to find out more about their latest project. supported 500+ North East young people’s mental health and well-being. Tell me about your young people’s mental health project and what you’re looking to achieve... What feedback have you received so far? Melva Mapletree and the Quest for Barnabas Boggle is The quote below is from Samantha Rickleton, of North Mortal Fools’ online, interactive storytelling game East Family Fun, and her family: “The game is fun that supports children’s mental health and to play and a fantastic conversation starter/ wellbeing for families, schools and way to chat about issues which are community groups. It follows the important for every child I think, adventure of Melva, a mountain- especially after a particularly climbing, sweet-eating, eye- stressful year. There is no doubt rolling just-turned-11-year- the pandemic, lockdowns and old who has been battling being away from school, with anxiety – or ‘worrits’ "The mental health of friends and family have as she calls them. We young people and our impacted on my children and meet Melva as she tries to professional artists is at the Melva online has enabled us manage a changing world, to explore these thoughts with new worrits popping core of Mortal Fools and and feelings a little further. It up every day, and users help all our project" has provided an opportunity her on her quest to find her for open discussion rather missing best friend, Barnabas than just getting on with Boggle. The game is available to things. During the course of families, schools and community the game, we have chatted about groups everywhere now - and our emotions, decision-making and Mortal Fools’ ambition is that it helps whether a 'quick fix' or longer-term thousands of young people across 2021 solution is better when trying to deal with to better understand, talk about and manage their problems, plus how we deal with anything that is everyday worries and anxieties in the contemporary worrying us and the importance of sharing our worries/ modern world. who we can talk to.”

What initially made you decide to branch out into a What is it like knowing that you’re providing such an new mental health project? important initiative that is having such a wonderful The mental health of young people and our professional impact? artists is at the core of Mortal Fools and all our projects. It is wonderful to have created something that is fun The global pandemic has turned all our lives upside and innovative with such a strong mental health and down, but especially for children and young people. well-being utility. Post-pandemic, it is estimated that Children’s mental health problems were already on now 1 in 4 young people have a diagnosable mental the rise pre-COVID-19, with Public Health England health condition, so it is great to have this Melva estimating that 1 in 8 young people have a diagnosable creative resource available to support them and all mental health condition, and now there are growing children with their well-being. Melva Mapletree and fears that the global pandemic, lockdowns and social the Quest for Barnabas Boggle is the perfect fun digital distancing will have a negative lasting impact on many tool to support a young person’s mental health during children’s well-being. In response to this reality, in this challenging time. March 2021, multi-award-winning theatre, drama and creative learning charity Mortal Fools and creative For more information, visit melva.org.uk. agency, Vida Creative, launched Melva Mapletree and

46 \\ NE VOLUME MAGAZINE \\ INTERVIEW Sam Rickleton INTERVIEW // NE VOLUME MAGAZINE // 47 MUSIC

JAY MOUSSA-MANN “I’m currently finishing up ‘The Breakup Album’”

NEW SINGLE Tell Me LISTEN ON All streaming platforms

Jay Moussa-Mann is a defining talent new album? from the likes of Gregg Alexander in the North East music scene, with ‘The Breakup Album’ is a collection and Gary Clark. her writing and filmmaking talents, of songs I wrote all based on the and she has let those talents flow theme of a breakup. The album tells What does the future look like for into her career as a musician too. a loose story from start to finish, the you and your career? Ahead of the release of her new storyteller going through the stages I’m currently finishing up ‘The single, ‘Tell Me’, which is both of a breakup: the dawning of betrayal, Breakup Album’ and once it’s stunningly beautiful and painfully anger and sorrow, acceptance and released, it will be a case of getting realistic in its lyrics, Georgina Shine finally, freedom and a hope for it out there and living with it for a caught up with Jay to discuss her something new. Anyone familiar with while. I would like to take the songs music, her creativity and the merging my songs will be getting the same old to a live audience. I’d love to find of the two. ‘heart on her sleeve’ Jay with a new some unusual venues to play in in twist. These songs lean much more the future with other musicians. Tell me a bit about your new single, into indie-pop and soft-rock than I’ve I’ve been developing the music ‘Tell Me’, and its background... ever attempted but they are still very production side of things, something ‘Tell Me’ is the second single from much me. You can expect pop songs I really enjoy. As well as my own my upcoming second self-produced on acoustic guitar with stripped-back work, I’ve been producing some album, ‘The Breakup Album’. The strings and some more upbeat rock- music themes for a client for video song is about heartache and realising influenced tracks - my first foray into production. I trained in Film & TV so that perhaps the love someone said electric guitar territory. I really enjoy creating music for the they had for you wasn’t as real as you moving image. first thought. I wrote it in October What influences your music and your 2020 when I was going through a creative process? ‘Tell Me’ is a stripped-back acoustic period of emotional turmoil. I found I’m always influenced by stories number that leaves Moussa-Mann myself drawings parallels between about people, so when I set out to pulling at your heartstrings whilst some of the shocking responses write music it always comes from she plucks her guitar strings. This of society as a whole during the imagining somebody’s story. I’m track will have you falling in love, as pandemic and a really bad breakup. also influenced by the music I love. you find yourself getting lost in the Although the words are sad, the For this album, in particular, I was graceful and eloquent sounds that music isn’t really as it’s led mainly by inspired by the soundtrack of all of wrap themselves around you like acoustic guitar with stripped-backed John Carney’s films as well as Dawes a blanket of delicate and emotive strings elevating the track. Band and Mandy Moore’s ‘Silver beauty. You can listen to ‘Tell Me’ Landings’ album. I intentionally set now on all major streaming platforms. What can fans expect from your out to draw on ‘80s and ‘90s pop

48 \\ NE VOLUME MAGAZINE \\ INTERVIEW INTERVIEW // NE VOLUME MAGAZINE // 49 VENUE MUSIC

LITTLE BUILDINGS “Little Buildings is a venue with a fantastic reputation as a first step on the ladder for many bands” LOCATION Newcastle WEBSITE littlebuildingslive.com VIIA Newcastle’s Little Buildings venue ourselves at the helm, we then with our regulars - so it’s very is a delightful, intimate venue for upgraded the original venue to add much like a family party (without “It’s a perfect mix of all my favourite things in music” music lovers and artist alike. The a stage, sound desk and bar. After a cousin getting chinned). Our bar venue offers a stage that plays host leaving our old premises, we spent offers a decent mix of fair priced LISTEN ON Spotify LOCATION Darlington to a variety of artists and performs nearly a year in the wilderness drinks alongside our famous Bucky to an intimate audience of around before moving into our new home Bombs. As of recently, we can offer 55-60 people, as well as offering on Stepney Bank, only for Covid to a live recording and same night sale the stage as a rehearsal space for interfere with ours and everyone for artists playing our stage. Darlington based Viia is emerging on the was it somewhat spontaneous when you surrounded by rock music. Wolf Alice and artists outside of opening hours. else’s plans. music scene with her debut single – and did the shoot? Arctic Monkeys are two of my biggest When you add the stylish bar With preparations for your return, it’s a track that you simply cannot ignore. I wanted a really cool video where the inspirations, which I think you can hear offering specialty cocktails, you can You have the option to use your what does the future look like for Georgina Shine caught up with her to focus was mainly on me [Laughing]. I in my music. I’m a huge fan of distorted speak all things Viia. wanted to have red lighting, projector electric guitars too so I try to put them be guaranteed a good night at Little venue as a rehearsal space. What the venue? shots and to use a fisheye lens. I’d made into every song. Buildings. Georgina Shine caught up prompted this decision? The future is as ever-unpredictable Your debut single ‘Falling’ is a fantastic a Pinterest board for inspiration which with head honcho Allan Scorer to We started as a rehearsal space and in this industry so other than power track. What made you decide to I sent to my friend Ethan Fenton, who With such a strong debut, what’s next? find out more. offered these services beforehand making sure we have our house in make this song your debut single? shot the video, and he helped me create It gets bigger and better. My debut single, so it just felt like the right option to order in case this happens again, Thank you so much. We wrote ‘Falling’ exactly what I wanted. Even though it ‘Falling’, ties all the other music together. For those who aren’t familiar with continue. we are just excited to hear nearly back in January 2019 when I was still was difficult shooting a video with the It gets rockier, more emotional, big the Little Buildings venue, how two years of new bands we haven’t working out my ‘sound’. As soon as we coronavirus restrictions, it was a lot of choruses (always) and some pop thrown would you describe yourselves? For those who visit the venue, what had the chance to work with yet. wrote it, I realised – this is my sound. It fun. in. My second single is coming out in Little Buildings is a venue with a can they expect from a typical night Little Buildings is far from little in made everything make sense and it’s a July too so that’s something for you all perfect mix of all my favourite things in Have you always been drawn to the rock to look forward to. I can’t wait to start fantastic reputation as a first step at Little Buildings? its appeal and offerings so head on music: it has electric guitars, big drums, sound? Or did you try a few different performing again too, so hopefully, if on the ladder for many bands. Since You can expect a warm Geordie down. massive vocals and the lyrics are very sound styles before settling on your corona allows us, I’ll be back gigging all opening in 2014, its reputation welcome from ourselves and our honest. Therefore, it was only right that sound? my new music. grew from a humble practice crew who will generally look after For more information, head to ‘Falling’ was my debut single. Absolutely. I’ve always loved rock space to a DIY utopia. Under new the artists and promoters but littlebuildingslive.com. music. Muse, The Killers and Radiohead You can listen to ‘Falling’ now on all major management since 2017, with also are on pretty familiar terms When making the video, did you have an were always playing in the house when streaming platforms. idea of what you wanted beforehand? Or I was growing up so I’ve always been

50 \\ NE VOLUME MAGAZINE \\ INTERVIEW Barnaby Fairley INTERVIEW // NE VOLUME MAGAZINE // 51 GIG REVIEW GIG REVIEW JAMES LEONARD HEWITSON + SUPPORT AT KU, STOCKTON. 04/06/2021 NE VOLUME RATING 

Remaining one of the best venues in the region, it’s good to see KU sold out tonight, especially with a home crowd full of encouragement for local heroes. Openers The Voluntears provide a garage-rock start to the evening, though it’s second act Rambler who stand out with their 70’s Southern-boogie/ classic rock feel, belter ‘Ghostly Girl’, and greatest fall into a drum kit that you’re likely to see. Proving that music is often a team game, it takes a little while for James Leonard Hewitson’s Mike Flower Pops/ Beck stage persona to fully form tonight and the first ten minutes rely heavily on the lead guitar/bass combination to lead the set both by stage presence and technique. By ‘Shy of Hard Work’ (sounding close to The Fall this evening), Hewitson’s back to his wise cracking best though, and standouts ‘Deader’ and new one ‘Commercial Vibe’ remind us of the star potential Hewitson clearly has. DAMIAN ROBINSON THE LAKE POETS AT THE GLOBE, NEWCASTLE. 11/06/2021 COMEDY REVIEW NE VOLUME RATING  TINY TIM Tonight, The Globe played host to an be mates with. The set was filled with + PHIL REID + MILES CRAWFORD evening of pure bliss for myself and the classic, self-described ‘depressing’ AT THE JUBILEE CLUB, NEWCASTLE. those in attendance as this hybrid live tracks which highlighted the heart of 11/06/2021 gig was welcomed with open arms. The Lake Poets, with the perfectly The hybrid gig had a live, in-house captured emotive expression towards and socially distanced audience for real-life situations, whilst also bringing NE VOLUME RATING  a slight glimpse of the old feeling in the more ‘happy’ songs such as of live shows we all know and miss, ‘Your Face’ and ‘See You Tonight’, Still a relatively new venue, Walker’s but it also hosted a livestream for both of which were inspired by his renovated Jubilee pub is a great home audiences at home. Over the course wife. Throughout the whole set, the for tonight’s three comedian line- of the evening, audiences both honey-smooth vocals that seemed up. High ceilinged, and with a nicely physically and virtually were treated to flow effortlessly never faltered, sized stage, the Jubilee offers the to a set by Martin Longstaff, aka The leaving the audiences in-house, and whole crowd a good vantage for the Lake Poets, and it was a masterclass no doubt the livestream viewers too, show and allows perhaps more room that showcased Martin’s true talent. entranced by each track. ‘Lonely In than other venues you may watch The set comprised of Longstaff and The City’, a set highlight, was written comedy in. Pretty blue in delivery, two guitars. The acoustic simplicity with a youth group he taught which opener, and compare, Miles Crawford of the performance was incredible as was based around the subject of warms the crowd up with his brown- audiences were left hanging on every Brexit and was so poignant it needed ale drinking, self-deprecating style beautiful vocal that echoed around to be heard. Being proud to be of comedy before second act, Phil the room. The set was a medley of northern isn’t just a part of Martin Reid, hits all of the right notes with The Lake Poets’ hits intermingled but is also a part of his music, with a 30-minute set tight with ‘Mother’ with the personal stories behind tracks that are inspired by the North jokes and a couple of superb crowd each song and how they came to be East and its life and times. As for the interaction pieces which work well in - and with every emotionally-driven venue for the evening, The Globe the space. Headliner, Tiny Tim, closes song came an equally emotional deserves special commendation as the well-crafted evening with pranks source of inspiration. But each story they provided a seamlessly safe and and a live spin-off of the delivery from had a down to earth and personal open environment for the evening, his YouTube greatest hits. The Jubilee connection to Longstaff and his with tables distanced, hand sanitiser may well become the go-to place for life and musical career; each story and table service to ensure safety comedy if they keep this standard up. displayed him as the northern, salt of concerns were non-existent for the DAMIAN ROBINSON the earth type of guy you just want to evening. GEORGINA SHINE

52 \\ NE VOLUME MAGAZINE \\ GIG REVIEWS GIG REVIEWS // NE VOLUME MAGAZINE // 53 LINES FROM A POEM CHARLOTTE GRAYSON AMELIA COBURN NEW ALBUM BY ‘HAPPY PILLS' SINGLE 'DON'T DATE' SINGLE 'THE CHEESE SONG' SINGLE NE VOLUME RATING:  NE VOLUME RATING:  NE VOLUME RATING: 

THE SHOOTING OF Redcar/Saltburn- Hartlepool Teesside’s own based indie super songstress Amelia Coburn songsters Lines Charlotte Grayson has released her From A Poem are is back with her latest single, ‘The ‘DRAGGED THROUGH THE back with a brand new single, ‘Don’t Cheese Song’, and new track – and Date’ - and it’s a it’s the perfect STREETS’ it’s an absolute country-inspired antidote to all the cracker. Despite a mega-hit. The doom and gloom global pandemic song delves of the current NE VOLUME RATING  and being newly formed, they’ve not into the world of dating with a realistic times. The song is a fun-filled couple of let that stop them - having released an take on the concept. Grayson takes the minutes that is sure to bring a smile to the EP and three singles already - with their concept of dating and tells it how it is face of anyone who hears it. It doesn’t take latest track, ‘Happy Pills’, the best one yet. with a frank and honest review of the do’s itself too seriously in terms of its lyrical Northumberland-based artist Paul Jeans is better Whilst the song itself is about the darkness and do not’s when it comes to pairing up content either; however, its lyrics are known as The Shooting Of. Rather than recording of the world of depression and the use with someone. The song is a refreshing guaranteed to stick in your mind and leave what he had just lying around, Jeans decided that 2020 of anti-depressants, the accompanying take on the lovey-dovey dating world. So you singing the song long after you’ve would be the year for a new album release and set upbeat sound of the song brings about often we hear songs of the heart eyes and stopped listening to it. Sonically, Coburn about recording material for just this purpose. What the ultimate juxtaposition. If you’re in the romantic fairy tales of dates, but we never has brought together elements of pop and we have presented to us, therefore, is a poptastic mood to feel upbeat and positive then get the realities of dating - until now. This jazz that give the track its wonderfully album that follows several different genres including simply focus on the beat and the sound. track will be any listener’s new addiction. bright and joy-filled energy. It’s a song ‘80s synth, ‘90s RnB and even a little ‘70s disco-funk. And if you need a little downtime and Whether you put it on repeat for its power that embodies simple but effective: it’s emotional reflection, focus on the heart- anthem-style lyrics or Grayson’s hypnotic not over-complicated with lots of genre While all the songs here are traditionally fun and wrenching lyrics. The song is quite simply vocals and the all-consuming country-pop influences or sounds, but it still feels like poppy in nature, there is a really serious element in a work of genius. You can listen to ‘Happy sound, it will stay with you for days. You a well put together song that envelopes SCRANNABIS FEAT. KATE BOND parts - the song ‘Dare 2 Be’ is a perfect example of Pills’ now on all major streaming platforms. can listen to ‘Don’t Date’ now on all major listeners in a hug of happy vibes. You this. The author talks about the anonymity we can GEORGINA SHINE streaming platforms.GEORGINA SHINE can listen to ‘The Cheese Song’ now at all hold online and, therefore, that the possibility for ameliacoburn.bandcamp.com. ‘BUTTERFLIES' SINGLE cynicism, abuse, negative criticism and even bullying GEORGINA SHINE exists and can be detrimental to the subject. Other NE VOLUME RATING  songs like ‘Drifting on That Wave’ are a melodic ARCHIPELAGO FRAZER LAMBERT journey through your emotions and I couldn’t help FAYE FANTARROW Taken from ‘Invincible’, his final ‘true’ but draw comparisons to The Beatles in this sense ‘ECHOES IN THE SKY' ALBUM ‘THE GUM TREE' SINGLE while I was listening to it. Some songs, such as the album, ‘Butterflies’ represented the   very best of Michael Jackson’s final album’s closing number ‘Undergrounds’, take a more NE VOLUME RATING: NE VOLUME RATING: 'KOLA KISS' SINGLE artistic statement: it was bouncy duplicitous meaning. Beginning as a sobering piano- NE VOLUME RATING:  with hip-hop breaks and a layered, led ballad reminiscent of one Freddie Mercury, it takes Archipelago are Teesside industrial- almost R&B vocal delivery floating a dramatic turn with percussion and a cacophony of back with ‘Echoes folk artist Frazer over the top. Around the same time, atmosphere shortly thereafter. This idea of conflicting to the Sky’, their Lambert has the Sunderland’s Faye both Crazy Town (with a smash first album since ambition and Fantarrow is going single) and Mariah Carey (with a meanings is also displayed elsewhere on songs like 2017’s critically vision to add from strength to smash album) released content ‘Forced to Pretend’ which tackles the so-called acclaimed himself to a limited strength and it’s christened with the same ‘Butterfly’ ‘imposter syndrome’ of never feeling completely sure ‘Weightless’, and, but rich genre clear to see why name; each, like Jackson, containing dreamy pop which kicked in of yourself in what you do or your actions around honestly, I’m heritage - and with the release places with catchy beats. Continuing this pop/Butterfly tradition, others, while also confronting the conflict within of certain it’s going a track like ‘The of her most recent Scrannabis’s track takes dreamy hip-hop breaks, layers in jazz/ wanting to call bullshit on those causing injustice but to be a favourite with fans old and new. Gum Tree’ backs that up hundredfold. single, Kola Kiss. chilled-out vocals (by Kate Bond) and adds introverted bars feeling powerless or underqualified to do it. Taking The band have their uniquely iconic jazz/ Bookended by disconcerting, lobotomised The track is about escaping from broken relationships. Layered with well- full creative control in everything from the writing to electro-synth pop sound out in full force Aboriginal samples and accompanied by set to be a sure fire-hit with audiences, defined production and an overall sense of optimism, Scrannabis with this new release, augmenting their a glowing scorched-earth landscape for with its dreamy indie-pop sounds that maintains the Jacko/Carey/Town ideals of both the metaphor of, the production, this album truly is reflective of Paul core sax-drums-bass palette with voice, artwork, the haunting campfire dirge is leaves listeners with that floating, feel- and the sound of, a Butterfly. Cracking. DAMIAN ROBINSON Jeans’ passion and creative abilities, with a polished electronics and synth. This stunning typified by striking psychedelic imagery. The good feeling. The song’s lyrics explore and professional sound. If indeed the artist is suffering album is the perfect soundtrack to a combination of lamentation, hallucinogenic female empowerment and show how from any sort of imposter syndrome, then like me, party, with its upbeat rhythms such as lyricism and white-hot atmosphere recall relationships are not the centre of our be the first to reassure them that there is nothing those in ‘undercurrent’, or is also the ideal QOTSA cooking at their most Palm Desert universe and that there is more to life counterfeit within this album’s digital walls; the artist background anthem to a relaxing chill downbeat. Lambert has more serious intent than finding a romantic partner. Whilst is doing what he’s meant to be doing and he’s doing session with its smoother jazz moments though. It seems a shame to spoil the the song does make reference to a male an excellent job at it as well. ‘Dragged Through the like those captured in ‘Wine Dark Sea’. central line of the song, which cuts through partner, Fantarrow does hope that it won’t NE VOLUME RATINGS EXPLAINED With its unique output, unlike anything the proceedings breathtakingly, carrying pigeonhole the song as she hopes that Streets’ is out now and its dexterous experimentation coming out of the North East at the the pain and devastation of colonialism the message will translate to everyone. will be yours to hear throughout the remainder of moment, ‘Echoes to the Sky’ certainly with it, upending the received wisdom and Whilst the song is an anthem for female THIS IS AMAZING!  2021 and beyond. You can listen to ‘Dragged Through stands out from the crowd. There’s narratives of immigration, so I won’t. ‘The empowerment with a message that can the Streets’ now on all major streaming platforms. something for everybody in this Gum Tree’ is a track heavy with unspoken translate to anyone, at its heart, ‘Kola Kiss’ WORTH A LISTEN!  WAYNE MADDEN release which makes it one of the most violence, evocative of the tragedies is just quite simply great music that can be SO, SO. GOOD EFFORT. iconic albums released by a North witnessed by nature and the human enjoyed as such. ‘Kola Kiss’ is available on  East outfit so far in 2021. You can delusions of destiny which inspire them, all streaming platforms now. TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT...  listen to ‘Echoes to the Sky’ now at and will leave an impression on anyone GEORGINA SHINE E W newjazzandimprovisedmusicrecordings. who hears it. You can listen to ‘The Gum NOT FOR ME, THANKS...  bandcamp.com. GEORGINA SHINE Tree’ now on all major streaming platforms. MICHAEL JOHNSON

54 \\ NE VOLUME MAGAZINE \\ ALBUM REVIEWS ALBUM REVIEWS // NE VOLUME MAGAZINE // 55 Festival 7-8 AUGUST 2021

SaTUrDAY 7

SUnDAY 8 DEACON BLUE

fringe fesTival / f ooD & d rink Terrace / f amilY acTiviTies Mowbray pArk, sunderlAnd lAmplighTfeSTivAl.com