Northeast Music Guide

JIM JONES & THE RIGHTEOUS MIND UK TOUR DATES ADDED & NEW TRACK ANNOUNCED: "SOMETHING'S GONNA GET ITS HANDS ON YOU" “Incendiary Rock N Roll at it’s best” – Classic Rock  “A truly mesmerising swampy Beast” -- Vive Le Rock     Jim Jones & The Righteous Mind will release “Something’s Gonna Get Its Hands On You” the 4th single from their recent, critically lauded debut album Super Natural on MaSonic Records. Impact date for “Something’s Gonna Get Its Hands On You” will be 17th November 2017.  In conjunction with the single release, Jim Jones & The Righteous Mind will be rocking the UK for the final time this year, along with a slew of dates on the continent. Tickets for their upcoming shows are now on sale and can be purchased via the band website:  http ://www.righteousmind.co.uk    Support on the UK dates comes from London’s new grunge – punk twosome Dolls, playing in support of their new Jim Sclavunos (Nic...

CHART-TOPPER JOANNA FOREST TO PERFORM AT ROYALTY THEATRE Fans of classical and popular music alike are set to enjoy a fantastic night of entertainment from official number one soprano Joanna Forest, at the Royalty Theatre in Sunderland, on Tuesday October 3rd at 7.45pm. Joanna, who earlier this year knocked Alfie Boe from the top spot in the UK classical charts, and has performed to millions on the BBC, ITV, Sky and Classic FM, will perform at the Sunderland venue to promote her debut album, Stars Are Rising.  The album is the first ever debut by an independent artist to reach the top spot, and was applauded by the national press for its eclectic mix of dramatic arias, cinematic classics and crossover versions of popular gems such as Bowie's Life on Mars and Slade's How Does It Feel?. Joanna says, “I am so delighted to be bringing my tour to the fantastic Royalty Theatre. I look forward to singing songs from my No.1 Classical Album 'Stars are Rising...

THEATRE OF HATE ANNOUNCE EXTENSIVE AUTUMN UK TOUR UK TOUR STARTS NEXT MONTH Cult favourites THEATRE OF HATE have announced a run of UK shows this Autumn. In 1980, Kirk Brandon formed Theatre Of Hate from the ashes of heralded punk band The Pack. Joining Kirk on vocals were notable punk musicians Stan Stammers and Luke Rendall, along with old school friend, Steve Guthrie and Canadian born John “Boy” Lennard, who revolutionised the band’s sound with his haunting sax lines. Theatre Of Hate’s debut double-A-side single, “Legion”/”Original Sin”, topped the independent chart in 1980, and “Westworld”, their debut album, produced by Mick Jones from The Clash and released in 1982, held the number one position for 21 weeks. The single taken from the album, “Do You Believe In The Westworld?” has become an anthem and is still widely played in clubs and on international radio, as well as featuring on numerous compilation albums. Supporting the likes of The Clash & Ian Dury le...

SEAN McGOWAN ANNOUNCED AS LEAD SUPPORT FOR  BILLY BRAGG'S AUTUMN TOUR BRAND NEW EP ‘GRAFT & GRIEF’ - OUT NOW WATCH THE VIDEO FOR ‘COSTA DEL SOLUTION’  "Seán writes the sort of music that enters your ear canal and doesn’t leave your brain for weeks on end.” - Already Heard (4/5) "Channeling the great voices of political and social minded artists, ‘Clear Conscience’ has the vocal snarl of Joe Strummer, the colloquialism of Billy Bragg, and the occasional fragile cracks of an Owen, Frank Turner, or any road-worn acoustic punk.” - Vulture Hound  (5/5) "One to watch!"- Billy Bragg & Fred Perry Subculture Following the completion of a headline tour that has featured some of his biggest UK shows to date, today Seán McGowan is delighted to announce his confirmation as lead support act on Billy Bragg’s Autumn Tour.  The news directly follows thrilling back-to-back sold out shows in London and Southampton of his ow...

HOLY MOLY AND THE CRACKERS ANNOUNCE THEIR BIGGEST HEADLINE TOUR TO DATE TO PROMOTE RELEASE OF 2017 ALBUM 'SALEM' HOLY MOLY & THE CRACKERS are delighted to announce their biggest UK tour to date.  Holy Moly and The Crackers hail from the North East of the UK and have a loyal, devoted and ever-increasing fan base: “They are a bunch of wild gypsy troubadours with more than a touch of magic about them” (Diva). The band have built themselves an enviable reputation, pulling packed houses for their ferocious, visceral live shows, and in November they will be heading out on their biggest headline tour to date, to promote their gutsy new album Salem. Over recent years Holy Moly & The Crackers have produced a moonshine mix of genres, creating their own unique and compelling sound, influenced by an electric and eclectic range of folk and popular music.  But Salem, which they will unleash this year, is a departure. It’s folk only insofar as the songs...

Review: An Evening With Nik Kershaw  at The Sage, Gateshead 17/09/2017 Nik Kershaw has written a lot of songs. Despite a break in recording for a decade, he was always writing for someone. He’s also got a lot of stories and a self-deprecating sense of humour. He easily filled the two-and-a-half hours with tunes and chat and had the sold-out Hall 2 of the Sage enraptured. Taking advantage of the perfect sound conditions in the hall, and armed with a loop pedal, guitar and computer, Nik put on a superb show. Synced video added to the visual experience with three screens behind Nik showing appropriate footage. For The Riddle Nik sang in perfect time to the 1984 video, which was impressive. Nik played songs from a number of his albums and gave an explanation for the origin of most of them. The crowd happily joined in with clapping and singing along to the big hits. This is a highly recommended night out. 

WINNER OF BBC ONE’S ‘EVEN BETTER THAN THE REAL THING’ BELINDA DAVIDS PAYS TRIBUTE TO WHITNEY HOUSTON IN A BRAND-NEW SHOW COMING TO NEWCASTLE’S CITY HALL ON FRI 13 APR 2018. The Winner of BBC One’s primetime show ‘Even Better Than The Real Thing’. Tickets available NOW for 2018 UK concert tour, with the 30-piece National Philharmonic Concert Orchestra Belinda Davids, winner of BBC One’s ‘Even Better Than The Real Thing’ is to star in a nationwide UK tour next year in a glittering, glamorous and glowing tribute to the Queen of Pop herself, Whitney Houston. Coming to City Hall in Newcastle on 13 April, this is a joyous celebration of her life and work; The Greatest Love Of All: The Whitney Houston Show spans the legend’s extraordinary 40-year career with a smash-hit show featuring Belinda’s flawless vocals, a 30-piece orchestra and a troupe of dancers.  Crowned as the winner of BBC One’s talent search for the best tribute act in the UK, Belinda Davids is no strange...

JORDAN ALLEN ANNOUNCE FIRST UK-WIDE HEADLINE TOUR BAND WILL PLAY BIGGEST SHOWS TO DATE WITH SUPPORT FROM SEVEN CITIES, REAL LIFE ENTERTAINMENT + MORE 2500+ MANCHESTER ACADEMY DATE W/ THE SHERLOCKS TONIGHT "Confident, cool, catchy." - Chris Hawkins, BBC 6 Music "Sharp lyrics, great attitude and a seemingly unstoppable momentum behind him" - Tom Robinson, BBC 6 Music Today, JORDAN ALLEN are delighted to announce to you their first ever headline UK tour; a run that also promises some of their biggest shows to date. Getting a taster for what surely lies ahead, the news comes as the four piece from Bolton prepare to show the 2500 strong crowd of Manchester Academy what they’re made of this very evening (15 Sept). Supporting northern compadres The Sherlocks for one last time in 2017 after a spate of shows together earlier this year, Jordan and co. now set their sights on the centre stage for their own Winter shows. Kicking o...

Review: Picnic EP Launch  at O2 Academy 16/9/2017 With fantastic support from a trio of superb bands Picnic had to be something special to be the headliners. St Buryan, Post Rome and Peace Frog are all headliner material themselves. So this made for a great night out at the O2. Picnic, a 7 piece jazz-influenced pop band from Sunderland, have a new EP out called Nothing to Write Home About which turns out to be false modesty as they are rather good! Joyful jazzy pop with changing time signatures and funky rhythms had the audience dancing and my foot tapping. Starting with Bill You Murray Me and then Madame Butterly the band showed their syncopated unique style. Someone at the gig mentioned 90s Acid Jazz? I’m not sure. 45 To Go was a particularly catchy pop number from the EP. The pace was disrupted nicely by a slower number Everything Nothing. The sheer size of the band and variety of instruments including piano and brass make every song a big production. Fronted by c...

DANNY & THE CHAMPIONS OF THE WORLD SET TO RELEASE NEW DOUBLE ALBUM ‘BRILLIANT LIGHT’ - OUT 23RD JUNE 2017 AUTUMN UK TOUR DATES ON SALE NOW REVEALS NEW SINGLE: “SWIFT STREET” LISTEN Here come Danny & The Champions Of The World with album number 6 - writing themselves large, giving themselves the space and taking the time to deliver a magnum opus. With Brilliant Light Danny Wilson has made his All Things Must Pass - a big record of hit after hit stretching over two albums plus a further bonus set of instrumentals. ‘Swift Street’ is the first song to be shared from ‘Brilliant Light’. Listen to “Swift Street” here: https://soundcloud.com/loose-music/danny-the-champions-of-the-world-swift-street/ Producer and bass player Chris Clarke says outright it’s the best record the band has come up with so far while for Danny it’s:  “a bit like taking a peek into somebody’s house, there’s great stuff that immediately grabs your attention and then there’s othe...

A Brasstastic Birthday Homecoming for  Dave Stewart As the audience liked to remind us. Dave Stewart is “One of Ours”. Having never played Sunderland since he was a fresh faced 17-year-old, Stewart decided to play Ringmaster to a fantastic show celebrating his musical career and his 65th birthday, at the Sunderland Empire. Known as the “Ringmaster” for his diversely populated stages, Dave handpicked the support including 3 superb young bands. Picnic were a lively female fronted 8-piece with brass section. Their complex rhythms, syncopated structures brought to mind a combination of Big Country with a hint of math rock. I can see these getting snapped up for festivals. Lilliput brought the power pop with close harmony vocals and insightful lyrics. They have a big sound bolstered by 3 guitars and a piano. With the 90s style fashion making a comeback, why not magical guitar pop in the vein of Jellyfish, David Devant and His Spirit Wife, and our own more recent local power...