Paul Murray Paul WWW.NEVOLUME.CO.UK TWIST HELIX SET TO HEADLINE THEIR BIGGEST EVER SHOW! WE’RE LISTENING! PAUL SMITH & FRIENDS IN MIDDLESBROUGH! WE SPEAK WITH PIXIES! ISSUE #48 SEPT 2019 WE REVIEW FIRES OF FREYA’S NEW SINGLE! MIDDLESBROUGH ART WEEKENDER! FOLLOW NE VOLUME ON SOCIAL PUNISHMENT OF LUXURY AT THE WESTGARTH! LAST TRAIN HOME IN DARLINGTON! MEDIA THE GATHERING SOUNDS IN STOCKTON! FUELLING THE FIRE TOUR IN NEWCASTLE! PICK UP OUR FREE NORTH EAST MUSIC/CULTURE MAGAZINE! TO NE VOLUME MAGAZINE WELCOME ISSUE #48! Thank you so much for picking up NE Volume magazine - the magazine produced by local music CONTENTS and culture fans, for local music and culture fans. It’s September 2019 NEWS which means, sadly, I’m now officially old as I turn PG.6 The K’s at Ku Bar, Stockton! 30 this month. 30. It’s all downhill from here - or is PG.13 Indie Redcar! it? Answers on a postcard. I’ll be celebrating, of CULTURE course, with some live music at a ‘secret gig’ and some of you may have already been invited (if you have, think yourself rather lucky). PG.14 The Battle of Stockton Campaign! Anyhow, so here’s what to look out for this month. In this edition, I speak with Alistair James as he prepares to release his new single; PG.21 Middlesbrough Art Weekender! Damian Robinson provides you with his honest opinion of Northern Electric Festival in Newcastle; we keep you up-to-date with what’s SPOTLIGHTS happening in the region this month including Paul Smith & Friends at Middlesbrough Town Hall, The Gathering Sounds in Stockton and PG.22 Business Spotlight: Creative Factory! Last Train Home in Darlington; in our culture section we preview The Battle of Stockton Campaign’s upcoming events, and so much more. PG.24 Artist Spotlight: Nephilim! Just to remind you, if you’ll be running an event or bringing any new material out in September/October then please email our team at FEATURES [email protected] and we’ll do all we possibly can to include a review/news piece in our October edition which will be released on PG.28 Twist Helix at The Georgian Theatre! Thursday 3rd October. And thank you for supporting the North East’s fantastic music and culture scenes – we wouldn’t be here without you. PG.32 The Gathering Sounds in Stockton! INTERVIEWS EDITOR’S PICK: PG.32 PG.39 Big Big Train! PG.40 Thieves Of Liberty! GIG REVIEWS PG.47 Promised Land in Durham! PG.49 Northern Electric Festival! ALBUM / EP / SINGLE REVIEWS PG.51 Sirocco ‘Upside Downside’ Single! PG.51 MVNGOES ‘Chapter & Verse’ Single! PG. 32 - GATHERING SOUNDS IN STOCKTON SEPTEMBER 2019 GIG LISTINGS PG.52-55 Lee Allcock - Editor, NE Volume. ISSUE #49 OUT ON THURSDAY 3RD OCTOBER Venue box office opening hours: Mon-Sat 12pm-4pm (Thurs 12pm-6pm) • Ticket Prices Subject to Booking Fees ticketweb.co.uk • seetickets.com • gigantic.com • ticketmaster.co.uk 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. GIG PREVIEW GIG PREVIEW YOU CAN USE NE VOLUME TO PROMOTE YOUR OWN BUSINESS OR GIG! Promote your events, band and your local business to more than 25,000 music and culture fans in the North East with our help! DOWALLY AT THE GLOBE, NEWCASTLE NE Volume is a North East magazine delivered FREE to a range of communities in the North East - covering Middlesbrough, Stockton, Hartlepool, Darlington, Redcar, Newcastle, Sunderland, Dowally have been touring with their energetic music for and many more. years, bringing their jazz and traditional Scottish fusion to cities throughout the UK and beyond. Next on the list of We produce adverts covering various sizes. If you would like an places to conquer is Newcastle’s Globe where they will play on Wednesday 11th September. The band consists of three NE Volume advertising pack sent out via email or post, please members: Phil Alexander, Dan Abrahams and Rachel Walker. use the contact details below. Alexander hails from London and is a composer whose pieces have been showcased multiple times in the Albert Hall – but Our trained Journalists can write your copy while our dedicated he’s also an esteemed player of the piano and accordion. Graphic Designer can help to put your adverts together. So Abrahams, another composer, is adept at the guitar and whatever your requirements are, we are here to help! double bass and set up five different bands including funk/ soul band The Foo Birds and jazz group Bonzai Quartet. Walker is a Scottish and Irish fiddle player that helps to tie Dowally’s music back into the traditional Scottish scene. For admirers of traditional music, this folk-jazz trio is a must-see. LEAH DAVEY PAUL SMITH & FRIENDS FOR REGULAR UPDATES FOLLOW NE VOLUME ON SOCIAL Tickets: £10.00 Advance | Visit: jass.coop or the venue AT MIDDLESBROUGH TOWN HALL Teesside’s very own Paul Smith has an absolute treat in store for North East music fans this month. The beloved Maximo MEDIA OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE: NEVOLUME.CO.UK GIG PREVIEW Park frontman is heading to Middlesbrough Town Hall on Saturday 7th September for an evening of blissful collaboration like no other. Paul is no stranger to Middlesbrough’s illustrious Town Hall. Having played countless gigs with his band Maximo Park over the years at the Hall, not to mention more recently headlining the venue’s celebratory birthday bash, it’s safe to say NE VOLUME TEAM CONTACT that he knows how to throw a party. So why’s it going to be so special? Well, the ‘Velocity’ veteran will be joined on stage Editor : Lee Allcock by a whole host of northern talent who’ll celebrate the art Email: [email protected] of the duet through the medium of music. Ranging from pop Listings: Adam Allcock anthems to folk fusions, the night will play host to an eclectic Creative: Tom Brown Phone: 07594 486 754 feast of talented musicians, finished off with a generous Website: nevolume.co.uk PHASE dusting of northern magic. Sunderland outfit Field Music will Writers: Leah Davey, Kyrie Morris, Charlie Richardson, be on hand to fill the air with the unmistakable sound of their Laura Freyaldenhoven, Rosie Murphy, Charlotte Simpkin, AT HMV, NEWCASTLE jittery, post-punk rhythms and unique orchestrations. Having William Brown, Hayley Ellen Watson, Daniel Metcalfe, recently released their new Trump-funk concept album, ‘School Jake Carr-Smiith, Damian Robinson, Ricky Atterby, of Language-45’, the Mercury Prize nominees are sure to treat Samantha Hall, Paul Broadhead and Wayne Madden North East-based post-punk revival outfit, Phase, are celebrating revellers to some new, politically-charged post-punk material - the 10th anniversary of their debut album, ‘In Consequence’, by what’s not to love? Also gracing the line-up are three critically re-releasing the record as well as playing an in-store performance acclaimed female forces including renowned folk singer Rachel at HMV in Newcastle this month. Despite its initial underground Unthank, Shropshire songbird Mara Carlyle and the talented release, ‘In Consequence’ managed to grab listeners’ and Kathryn Williams. All three artists share a phenomenal back critics’ attention alike to the band’s surprise. They noted: “We catalogue of albums, awards and creative collaborations; recorded the record with virtually no budget at all and we never they’re sure to add yet more diversity and duets to an NE VOLUME thought the release would bring us a cult underground status incredible evening of creative celebration. Handpicked by Paul and following, the respect of well-established artists and key Smith himself, the line-up is a force to be reckoned with and is IS A PROUD people in the music industry, gigs in a radius we couldn’t even brimming with talented musicians from far and wide. It’s not Magazine designed by Printed by JAK HQ Limited dream of, and very good relative recognition.” Fast forward often that night’s like this come around, but when they do, it’s Tom Brown Graphic Design. www.jakhq.om SUPPORTER OF ten years and the band are stronger and more productive than safe to say they’re pretty damn special - music is power after all. ever. They added: “We’re determined to set things right for ‘In Paul Smith and Friends are heading to Middlesbrough Town Contact The Sweet Factory, 4 Station Road, ‘MvC Live Sessions and signed memorabilia auctions fund state Consequence’, with a proper release that will do the album, and Hall on Saturday 7th September. And please keep an eye out email: [email protected] Chester-le-Street, DH3 3DY. of the art cancer equipment and intiatives into the NHS and vital the love that has been put in it, justice.” Phase head to HMV, for additional line-up announcements!KYRIE MORRIS website: tbgraphics.co.uk [email protected] awareness campaigns’ www.musicvcancer.com Newcastle on Wednesday 18th September. LEE ALLCOCK Further Information: phase.org.uk Tickets: £19.00 Advance | Visit: middlesbroughtownhall.co.uk 4 \\ NE VOLUME MAGAZINE NEWS // NE VOLUME MAGAZINE // 5 GIG PREVIEW FESTIVAL PREVIEW TEEN AT STAR & SHADOW CINEMA, NEWCASTLE Often described as a rock band but leaning heavily on the synth side of things, Teen play at The Star & Shadow Cinema in Newcastle on Friday 4th October.