Northeast Music Guide

TOM ROBINSON ANNOUNCES "2-4-6-8 MOTORWAY" 40th ANNIVERSARY SHOWS THIS OCTOBER To mark the 40th anniversary of 2-4-6-8 Motorway in October 2017, TOM ROBINSON pays tribute to the original Tom Robinson Band by performing his entire 'Power In The Darkness' album at select venues across the country.  Taking in 15 dates in total, the tour will also see Tom back at London's legendary 100 Club for a 3 night residency with a classic four piece lineup. His incendiary live quartet features Faithless drummer Andy Treacey, Richard Ashcroft guitarist Adam Phillips and keyboard virtuoso Jim Simmons plus Tom himself on bass and lead vocals. Full dates listed below. Born in Cambridge in 1950, Tom Robinson first became known in the late 1970s as a musician and LGBT activist with the Tom Robinson Band (TRB) who were early supporters of Rock Against Racism and Amnesty International. In 1977 their Top 5 debut release 2-4-6-8 Motorway became one of the landm...

Tom Robinson  Mighty Sword of Justice Tour  at The Sage, Gateshead 09/11/2015 Tom Robinson is known to many as the voice on BBC6Music with his unique Saturday Night Show with its blend of the classic and brand new. Tom is on tour after the release of his album Only The Now, his fist studio album in nearly 20 years.  Hall 2 at The Sage was first entertained by a short set of eclectic songs, about, or related to, schizophrenia and other mental illnesses, by Kitten Pyramid. The band on this occasion only consisted of frontman Scott Milligan (on various instruments) and his son Tom on drums. I found this interesting prog music for a live gig though perhaps would not be my personal choice of CD for a long journey. Tom Robinson took to the stage to perform two sets with a short voice break in between. He mixed the old and the new with the audience joining in with such classics as Martin and Glad to be Gay but also with new tracks like Risky Busine...

Tom Robinson Releases ‘Only The Now’ New Album Out October 16 th Featuring John Grant, Nadine Shah, Billy Bragg and Many More Inspired by the new music he has heard through his 6 Music shows, Tom Robinson has returned with his first new album in twenty years ' Only The Now ' a record made with award-winning producer and multi-instrumentalist  Gerry Diver  and released on his own Castaway Northwest Recordings. ‘After my second child was born in 1997 I took a break from recording and did more radio work’ says Tom. ‘Both my kids are now grown up now, I've turned 65, the decks are clear, and my musical tastes have changed enormously since working at 6 Music. I've finally met the right producer for all the songs I've had on a backburner for the last 15 years, and the record has exceeded my wildest expectations. Gerry creates the kind of fresh, adventurous noises I actually enjoy listening to - and playing on the radio - in 2015.’ Guest appearing ...

Tom Robinson Interview New Album: Only The Now Jo: So, First of all let’s talk about this new album, Only The Now . TR: Yeah have you had a chance to hear it yet? JO: I’ve had a quick listen through and I love Mighty Sword of Justice . TR OK, Cool JO: You’ve obviously got a whole new set of axes to grind with this album? TR: No not really, there are only a couple of songs on there that are overtly political but they seem to be the ones that other journalists write about. Also they are the ones that live, seem to get the audience going, get the biggest reaction, because they connect with people’s lives. JO: Yes definitely TR: I’d say its an album of things I’m passionate about but not all of it involves tubthumping and banging a drum. JO: The song you had out in the summer was quite a powerful one. TR. Yes that was Don’t Jump Don’t fall , in support of the anti-suicide charity CALM. Because I know first hand that young men in their teens and twenties are at re...