Northeast Music Guide

BROOKE BENTHAM  UK Tour Dates also announced ‘This Rapture’ EP coming November 17th Video for new single – ‘Losing, Baby’  “Brooke Bentham is bewitching” DIY "We think Brooke Bentham might be the Angel (Olsen) of the North" Loud & Quiet "Brooke Bentham soars into 2017...a formidable transformation" The Line Of Best Fit "Exquisite...a vocal that rivals pretty much anyone at this moment in time" Crack In The Road "A prodigal talent...a statement of intent” Clash BROOKE BENTHAM has announced details of new single ‘Losing, Baby’, and her upcoming EP 'This Rapture', which is out this November 17th.  This follows Brooke’s highly acclaimed debut EP ‘The Room Swayed’, which saw lead tracks ‘Heavy & Ephemeral’ and ‘I Need Your Body’ pick up support across Radio 1, 6Music, Radio X and saw Bentham play festivals ranging from Green Man and Reading & Leeds to Latitude and Great Escape. A series of UK dates h...

Review in pictures:  Toxic Melons "Bus Therapy" Album Launch Mining Institute, Newcastle 15th Oct 2014 Toxic Melons, which always consists of at least Paul Fairbairn, tonight was augmented by a full band to fully encompass the sound of these compositions. Written on many bus journeys, hence the name, Bus Therapy draws influences from the Beatles, ELO and 90s power pop legends like Jellyfish.  The Mining Institute lecture theatre was an interesting gig venue. Unfortunately those house lights were not great for photography, especially when turned right down to the level of 10 candles as they were for the first support act Fading Face. Luke Hobson was indeed a "Fading Face" in the darkness so no lovely photos of him. Luke is a purveyor of the psychedelic flavoured 60's style songs driven by personal experience it seems. Despite a possessed plectrum Luke put in a good shift and managed not to be too disturbed by the disembodied voice that at one poi...

Toxic Melons Bus Therapy Album Launch In the Lecture Theatre The Mining Institute, Newcastle. We nicked this from the Facebook events page "With special guests: Peculiar Disco Moves, at the Newcastle Mining Institute's lecture theatre for an evening of catchy pop, experimentation and other fun and games! There will be a bar! So drinking and other hinjix are allowed and encouraged when class is in session!  This is a seated venue so there are limited tickets! You can pre - book tickets directly from Pablo Melons - pre gig for £5 and this comes with a copy of the highly acclaimed new album, Bus Therapy!  Tickets will be £4 on the night and merch will be available. CLASS IS IN SESSION!" Very much a recommended event!

Time Travelling Treats The Mining Institute is becoming a favourite venue of mine. Whether in the large stain glass windowed library or the small room we were in, the Institute has a number of interesting old rooms and is well worth a visit. This room was particularly suited to this launch party, due to its "large living room" feeling and the handy adjoining, reasonably priced bar. First on was Ani Sandwith, a young singer songwriter with a lush bluesy voice, an ability to write good tunes and very busy piano fingers. Ani can be heard playing as a part of Michael Blackwell 's band and so will be involved in the recording of his album as well as her own new EP. So What Robot came on and blasted through a number of their older and newer tracks including their latest single In Love With Love with their usual enthusiasm winning themselves a few new fans in the process. This was developing into a really fun evening.  Peculiar Disco Moves have been gracing...

Horse, In a Library! Perfect. My other half and I stumbled into the rather dramatic surroundings of the library at the Mining Institute, three songs into Horse’s set. The parking in Newcastle city centre is extra scarce right now due to the alterations at Central Station, taxis are parked everywhere. Enough of our logistical problems what about this gig? First of all, I’m a little annoyed. Horse has been making amazing music since 1989. It took me until this week to hear any of it. I got in touch with Horse to get a couple of tunes for the Jowheretogo Show on NE1fm, to give a gig a little plug, as I do. I heard the songs and knew that this was something special. I feel I’ve missed out on some amazing tunes. Jools Holland is a fan and Q Magazine have been raving about Horse. This may be the year of finding Horse where you don’t expect. The music of Horse is soulful pop. A blues – soaked picture of a woman’s life, struggles, relationships, hopes, dreams and loves. In ...

Peculiar Disco Moves Launch their single Joining Fee at the historic Mining Institute The North of England Institute of Mining and Mechanical Engineers has a respectable (if a tad long) name and provides alternatives to the usual live music venues, which is welcome in the current climate. The smallish venue Peculiar Disco Moves chose for their single launch is a meeting room that resembles an oversized old fashioned living room. The bar acts as an ante-room and provides refreshments at very reasonable prices, also a welcome change. The room was very cosy and the upholstery provided perfect acoustic conditions for the artists. You can tell I'm impressed with this venue, can't you? The first of the evening's acts was The Shoeshop Quartet. A group of ladies specialising in the art of creating barbershop harmonised versions of popular songs. Their acapella skills impressed the small crowd and they covered material from the '40s right up to a bit of Lady Gaga. I though...

Newcastle Band speaking out for those of us who don't get paid £1000's an hour! Peculiar Disco Moves "Joining Fee" Launch Gigs Peculiar Disco Moves are back with new single Joining Fee , their take on the ridiculous sums of money involved in the top echelons of the football world! The single will be supported by an intimate launch show at the Newcastle Institute for Mining on Friday 22 nd November, as well as from HMV Newcastle with an exclusive in-store performance of the single. Joining Fee will be available to download from the Peculiar Disco Moves’ Bandcamp page and as a limited edition CD. Joining Fee examines and compares the life of footballers and their agents with the everyday working man, challenging the disparity between them, as well as other sportsman and athletes who struggle to finance their careers. It seems that the difficulty experienced in modern society is not reflected and in proportion with the astronomical amounts of mo...