What's On

New indie band The Gods of Small Things are celebrating the release of their latest single, Analogue God. The Sunderland four-piece initially started life as a duo when Annabel and Josh came together at the beginning of the year, before deciding to expand so they could perform live. Bassist and backing vocalist Annabel Crowther explains: “Me and Jason launched as a duo in January this year, rec...

Newcastle singer-songwriter Paige Temperley is looking forward to releasing her debut EP. The talented ‘folky-pop’ musician is releasing Let’s Start At The Very Beginning on November 11 and is excited about people finally being able to hear her music. She said: This is the first ever EP that I’ll have released, so I’m really excited about it. It’s a 4 track EP and I’d like to think it sort of t...

Talented singer-songwriter Afnan Prince has already released material, but is most excited about his forthcoming EP, Wolves. Born in Pakistan, Afnan moved to the UK with his family when he was nine and by his mid teens had started playing the guitar and singing. The 28-year-old self-taught musician, who lives in North Shields, initially started playing in a band with his friends but gradually r...

A Newcastle-based musician is hoping to kickstart his new music project through his latest fundraising campaign. Paul ‘Pablo Melons’ Fairbairn is hoping to raise £3,000 through his latest Kickstarter campaign to fund the mastering of his new Four Play EP on vinyl. Paul, 30, is a huge Power Pop fan and has been writing, recording and producing for several years under the banner of Toxic Melons. ...

After a successful set at this year’s Evolution Emerging Behold A Pale Horse are now celebrating their release of their debut EP. The five-piece released the self-titled EP the day before they opened Evolution Emerging’s Little Buildings stage and feel it’s a true representation of the band’s live sound. When recording the EP the band were determined to create a record that reflected their raw ...

Folk inspired singer-songwriter, Oh Sister, is hoping to play more in her native North East after her recent Sofar Sounds gig. The 27-year-old musician, aka Sarah Berresford, loved performing a stripped back set alongside Sunderland band Lilliput at Newcastle’s Alphabetti Theatre in May for a secret Sofar show. But the talented singer-songwriter is no stranger to the Sofar Sounds community as S...

Alternative hip-hop act Ceiling Demons are set to release a new EP ahead of their headline performance at this year’s Evolution Emerging.Belly of the Hopeless will be released on May 27 via Durham’s new DIY imprint Frux Tapes and sees the North Yorkshire duo take a different direction with their music. Exploring the uncharted waters of the human psyche, this experimental tape delves through sou...

Newcastle five-piece Baker Island released an EP cassette last month ahead of their headline slot at this year’s Evolution Emerging. The band, who describe their music as ‘ lo-fi noise pop’, are delighted to be topping the bill at The Cumberland Arms and are working hard on their set for the festival. The band have recently released a new EP cassette entitled Four Days In The Life Of The Auto-I...

Newcastle electro pop band Talk Like Tigers are releasing their brand new debut single, Animalistic on Valentine’s Day. The emerging trio, who hail from Newcastle, consists of twin sisters Charlotte and Stephanie Walker (vocals / synths) and Mark Thompson (drums / samples), and none of them are strangers to the music industry. Drummer Mark used to be in band Static Soul and Charlotte and Stepha...

Alt hip-hop act Jay Simian and The Midnight Society can’t wait to bring their unique sound to this year’s Evolution Emerging, The trio will be joining hip hop artists Ceiling Demons and Kay Greyson at The Tanners on May 28 to perform alongside gritty electro pop group Talk Like Tigers and barely rap group Outside Your House as part of this year’s music festival. Initially starting out as rap co...

An online music project has led Gateshead based producer Half to unexpectedly record his first album, Here Lies Half. Originally from Berwick but now residing in Felling, Half, aka Jonny Gray, began experimenting with music as a hobby and never intended to become a producer. By collaborating with artists and co-writers around the world Half recorded his debut full length release in isolation sw...

Alternative indie rockers Social Room burst onto the local music scene last year and are hoping to build on their strong fan base. The Sunderland based six-piece have been performing together for the last 18 months after friends Matty Smith and Adam Potts decided to form a band once they returned to their native North East after university. Even though, Social Room, are a relatively new band th...

Northumbrian ensemble Dansi can’t wait to release their long-awaited debut EP later this month. Drawing on a wealth of collective musical experience, Dansi’s members have enjoyed storming stages across the UK festival circuit in various forms.From Pikey Beatz to The Fiona Clayton Band the band’s core members have performed at various BBC stages and Live Radio sessions, countless headline festiv...

North East based singer Samantha Lavery is celebrating the release of her new single, A Mile Apart. The track was written and produced alongside Christian Burrell at River Studios and is the first single to be released from Samantha’s forthcoming EP.

Teesside band Cattle & Cane are headlining this year’s Evolution Emerging and can’t wait to take centre stage. The pop-folk five-piece, from Thornaby, are going from strength to strength since releasing their debut album Home late last year.The album has been a real labour of love for the quintet - made up of siblings Joe, Helen, Fran and Vin Hammill plus friend Tom Chapman - as it has been fiv...

The Shooting Of, aka Northumberland-based Paul Jeans, is one man intent on raising his music above the din. With a new album due to be released next month, the solo artist is hoping his brand of experimental pop noir will be well received. Analogue Heart, which is released on March 4 via League Against Rubbish Records, is an album of contrasts; from the dark, brooding apocalyptic tones of opene...

Newcastle-based singer-songwriter Ditte Elly is set to release her long-awaited contemporary folk-infused debut album. Ditte will launch Songs at a special gig at Trinity Church in Gosforth on March 12, with the album officially released at the beginning of April. The nine-track album will feature recordings, including Ditte’s two previously released singles, I Am Only (What You Make Me) and Yo...

Cross-genre quartet Zu Zu Cats are hoping their unique sound will help them stand out on the local music scene. So much so they have taken inspiration from all corners of the musical spectrum to create a blend of ‘Anglocana’. The four-piece is made up of Paul Dent (vocals and acoustic guitar), guitarist Gavin Thompson, Paul Jewitt (bass) and drummer Ash ‘the cat’ Staff, who have all known each ...

County Durham rock band OFFPEAK will play a trio of UK shows to celebrate the release of their debut EP. Champagne Lifestyle, Lemonade Wages, is the follow-up to the four-piece’s debut single, Feelings Stay The Same, which gained local and national radio coverage last year. The band will release the EP, as well as the eponymous title track, on February 19, along with accompanying music video.

Talented singer-songwriter Warrilow is hoping to make a name for himself on the North East music scene with his unique style of acoustic music. The musician, who is originally from Retford, near Sheffield, is no stranger to performing as he has been playing in band since he was a teenager. His interest in music was piqued early mostly from listening to his parent’s musical influences while grow...

Electronic act Denature are set to release their new EP after the band’s success at the Ubeat Music Awards. The North Tyneside group were thrilled to win the best video award for their single Time back in December and hope their forthcoming new material is just as successful. Bass guitarist Justin Januszewski said: “It was a fantastic feeling to win as we have worked very hard to make something...

South Shields band Far Pacific are set to rock the O2 Academy 2 in Newcastle on January 22 with their first headline gig. The indie four-piece are taking to the stage at the popular music venue to launch their debut EP I Can See The Sea. The teenage quartet are already making waves on the North East music scene with their brand of catchy indie rock music and their single Where Do We Go From Her...

Newcastle-based electronic alt-pop group Twist Helix release their debut single next week. The four-piece will be taking over one of Newcastle’s historic landmarks - the Mining Institute - to mark the launch of their highly anticipated single Decade. The single is the follow-up to the band’s demo Flare, which was well received by both music lovers and industry professionals last summer, and is ...

One band hoping to stand out from the crowd on the local music scene is The Firelight Opera. The alternative rock five-piece, who hail from Sunderland, do not have a frontman and were apprehensive about how North East audiences would react to their unconventional line-up. However, since coming together in the summer of 2012 the band have been thrilled with the support they have received and now...

Talented singer-songwriter Soham De has already started to get noticed on the North East music scene despite only playing a handful of gigs. Originally from Kings Lynn in Norfolk, the 18-year-old acoustic musician has spent the last three years experimenting with different guitar styles taking influence from his favourite acts to hone his craft. However, he didn’t start performing live regularl...

Acoustic folk singer-songwriter Craig Clark is currently working on his highly anticipated debut album, Sometimes Bewilder. Featuring songs composed in the arrivals lounge at Macau Airport, on a train somewhere in the Pacific Northwest, and from the cabin of a plane over the Atlantic, Sometimes Bewilder, is an album concerned with the condition of travelling, and indebted to memories of convers...

Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Kate Edwards is thrilled to be releasing her debut single, Every Key, next week. Inspired by artists such as Sufjan Stevens, Belle & Sebastian and Elbow, Kate has been cultivating her own brand of tasteful, confessional alt-pop since moving to Newcastle from her hometown in East Yorkshire.Combining bold piano lines with striking vocal delivery, Every ...

Indie-funk group Driving In Aspen are hoping to make a name for themselves on the local music scene. The fledging three-piece, who hail from North Shields, are currently working on their debut EP which they hope to release next year. However, it is definitely a work in progress as the band are recording it one song at a time due to juggling studying and music. The teenage trio – made up of lead...

Talented singer-songwriter Savannah Betts has already released two EPs, but is most excited about her forthcoming new material.Born in Hong Kong to a German mother and South African British Father, Savannah has always been creative, although she fell in love with both acting and music. She developed both her talents at school and began learning to play the guitar when she was nine, but didn’t p...

County Durham singer-songwriter Jodie Fitzgibbon is hoping her debut EP will help her stand out from the crowd. Growing up in musical family Jodie has been performing form a young age, and after being given a keyboard at the age of seven she became a skilled player and learnt to play music by ear. Three years later she enrolled in Reavley Theatre School, where she studied various styles of danc...

Newcastle based electronic act Border Scout are hoping their new album will help them stand out from the crowd. Brothers Sam and Dan Burt have been making music together since they were young and have been involved in various music projects over the years.The duo began creating their album, Nature of Things, in self-imposed isolation and have worked hard to develop their cinematronica sound.

Singer-songwriter Conrad Ashton is hoping to make a name for himself on the local music scene after releasing his debut album One For The Road. The 19-year-old, who hails from Spennymoor in County Durham, has been writing and performing since a young age after being inspired by the musicians who played at Live 8. Conrad was aged nine at the time when he watched the benefit concert on television...

Paige Temperley, who performs as a solo act as well as duo with her friend Jamie Mackay and as part of acoustic band Ourselves & Us, is passionate about teaching music to children and young people and hopes to create the next generation of local musicians. Despite having played the guitar since she was young, Paige only decided to pursue a career in music last year and is now focusing on both t...

Emerging band Calf are no strangers to the North East music scene as they have been pulled together from the remnants of other well-known local bands. Consisting of ex-members of The Golden Virgins, Peculiar Disco Moves and The Fantastic Car, the four-piece, who hail from Newcastle, are passionate supporters of local music. They have built up strong ties with other bands doing the rounds at the...

Initially starting out as a guitarist, singer-songwriter Ryan Bird toyed with the idea of writing his own material until he took the plunge and started singing. The talented musician has spent the last three years honing his craft and now feels he has finally found his own style and sound of music, which he describes as “indie-folk with a hint of melancholy”. He released his debut EP, Lessons, ...

One act determined to stand out from the crowd on the local music scene is electronic outfit Grey Tapes. The North East is not known for its electronic music, but Grey Tapes – a collective of Newcastle beat makers, composers and producers – are determined to put the region on the map.Grey Tapes released their first EP, Tape_001, back in June and have been busy promoting it over the summer with ...

Singer-songwriter Immy Williams is working on new material after the success of her debut single. Immy has been singing and performing since a young age, and wrote her first song at the tender age of 11, and it impressed both her parents and music teacher. Since then the singer has continued to write her own material and has been performing around the North East for the past few years. Audience...

Alt-Folk singer-songwriter Keiandra is currently making waves with her music across the North East. The fledgling songstress only emerged on the local music scene at the end of last year, but is already in demand as a regular performer in Tyneside and in London.Keiandra is known for her clever use of lyrics in her self penned songs, which leave the listener filled with intrigue whilst her haunt...

Alternative duo Slurs burst onto the North East music scene in May and can’t wait to perform their second gig on August 1. The pair will be joining four other local bands at Think Tank? in Newcastle to celebrate the release of Elephant Memoirs’ new EP. Slurs will be kicking off the night, before Velvoir, Kashmir and Altradias take to the stage ahead of headliners Elephant Memoirs. This is the f...

One band hoping to stand out from the crowd on the local music scene is four-piece rock act OFFPEAK. The band, who hail from County Durham, are hoping their ‘fresh new bluesy rock’ music will help them make a name for themselves and are set to release their debut single. Feelings Stay The Same is the result of two years’ hard work as OFFPEAK have spent the past 24 months writing material and ...

Folk-pop band -kosoti- are embarking on a run of festival dates this summer ahead of their charity single release. The Newcastle five-piece are playing the South Tyneside Festival, Northumberland Live and the Mouth of The Tyne Festival over the next month and can’t wait to take to the stage. The band have had a successful start to their career releasing double A side digital single War and Pi...

Acoustic folk duo, YUMA, are hoping their unique blend of acoustic folk and blues music will help them stand out from the crowd. The pair, who hail from Sunderland, formed when members Shannon Pearl Powell and John Timney started writing original material last April and realised they shared a lot of interests and musical ambitions. Even though YUMA is a new project the duo have known each oth...

Pop songstress Meghann Clancy released her highly anticipated EP Lay It On The Line this week. The follow up to her debut album, Take Flight, her new EP demonstrates her ability to write captivating songs, which combine catchy melodies, powerful vocals, and themes from life experiences. Her music draws influences from a wide spectrum including rock, pop, country and folk, drawing favourable c...

Alternative band Cloud City Trap are hoping their new single, Walking Through, will help raise their profile on the local music scene. The four-piece, who hail from Sunderland, initially started life as an acoustic duo with Clint Westwood providing the music and Tosh Watson on vocals, but as their sound developed the pair decided they needed to expand their line-up. Bassist Clint said: “We we...

Newcastle band Shields are set to officially release their demo, Enemy, after their headline slot at this year’s Evolution Emerging. The alternative-pop quintet have had a phenomenal year so far including a successful performance at the BBC 6 Music Festival in February, as well as finishing second in Glastonbury’s 2015 Emerging Talent Competition proving why they are are a band to watch. The ...

Singer-songwriter Joe Ramsey is thrilled to be playing this year’s Evolution Emerging. The musician, who hails from Middlesbrough, is guaranteed to impress festival-goers at Ernest with his indie-folk music and describes his sound as “poppy alternative.” The 21-year-old has only been active on the local music scene since mid 2014 but Joe has been playing music since he was young.

From the ashes of another band came the unexpected, but very welcome, creation of The Railway Club.The four-piece – had all been playing in different bands but knew each other from the local music scene. Gradually, they decided they wanted to perform together and The Railway Club was born in 2011.

Acoustic singer-songwriter Alex Dobson releases his third single, Taking You Under, today. Originally from Peterlee, the musician is known for creating contemporary pop songs although he has recently slipped some blues comfortably into the mix to develop his music. After his first two singles, Kites and Louder, gathered positive press and a huge number of plays on Youtube, Alex was signed to ...

Indie-alt rockers The Great Curve released their debut EP last month ahead of their headline slot at this year’s Evolution Emerging, EP 1 was was launched at a hugely successful gig in the Ouseburn Valley on April 11, before its official release two days later. It features the three tracks: Carried Away, Big Business and The Peril of It All. Even though the five-piece are a new band, they hav...

After a successful 2014, Newcastle-based band Kobadelta are back with a more mature and heavier sound. The Newcastle five-piece are set to release their third EP, Open Visions, on May 1 with a special launch gig at Think Tank. It is the highly anticipated follow-up to their second EP, Remain Distracted, which was released last September to great acclaim. Kobadelta threw all their efforts into...