LOOKING FOR A THREAD
Karine Polwart, Mary Chapin Carpenter and Julie Fowlis arrive in the northeast primarily to perform tracks from their collaborative album Looking For a Thread. This particular American/Scottish alliance was instigated by Carpenter, who had previously worked with Julie Fowlis on the Transatlantic Sessions and had long since admired the work of Karine Polwart.
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From Scotland With Love
Kenny Anderson, also known as King Creosote hails from Fife, Scotland. He was one of the founders of The Fence Collective a loose knit group of folks who would release music and put on events in their little corner of the world. I was fortunate enough to be also living in Fife at the time and managed to attended several Fence Collective gigs, so it was with a feeling of nostalgia…
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ALL ABOARD FOR SOME DIRTY BLUES
I’m really looking forward to seeing THE WASHBOARD RESONATORS live but when I saw them referred to as ‘Purveyors of Blues, Jazz, Folk and Hokum’, I thought to myself ‘What the hell is Hokum?’ That notion sent me down one of those internet rabbit holes and what I came up with was some fascinating music history.
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The story of the UK’s First Reggae Band
Harder than the Rock begins with founding member and lead guitarist Locksley Gichie reminiscing about his arrival in England in 1962 from Jamaica, then aged 13. ‘It was cold and misty. There was no sun or blue skies. Everything was grey, dark and dull.’ As a boy, Gichie lived in Montego Bay, so it must have been a massive meteorological and cultural shock to find himself in Harlesden, North London. He…
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‘Newgrass’ they call it. Flock to the herd, you won’t be disappointed.
The Often Herd transcend the traditional boundaries of bluegrass music. Although they might resemble an American string band, complete with driving energy, tight vocal harmonies and dazzling instrumental interplay, their vibrant, transatlantic sound is deeply coloured by their surroundings; the striking natural and industrial landscapes of Northern England.
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Waiting For A Miracle
Generally speaking DBTR does not pay much heed to the nostalgia trend that has ripped through the live music scene like wildfire over recent times. However, there is a mystique and enduring respect attached to the work of Leonard Cohen that manages to engage even the most apprehensive amongst us.
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Introducing Jack Francis – Early Retirement: an early contender for DBTR ‘Album of the Year’
In February I had seen Jack Francis open for Ferris and Sylvester at Independent, Sunderland. I was impressed, then I listened to his album Early Retirement and that first impression went up a level. He’s excellent live and the album comes highly recommended. It’s a mix of folk, alt country and soul – as Jack says ‘Its about dedicating yourself to something you really believe in, only to find it’s causing…
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Damo brings the spirit of Bob Marley to Tyneside…as witnessed by DBTR
Damien Dempsey has described his gigs as ‘A spiritual gathering, a medicinal ceremonial sing-song that is a safe space for emotion and tears and joy, a joyous celebration of what truly matters in life’. Could Dempsey, [as he does in Ireland] inspire and lift up the Geordie public ? It seemed a big ask, but what followed was 90 minutes of pure soulful joy, an inspirational blend of poetry, music and…
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A gig of two halves. Can’t you see?
Musically speaking tonight at the Independent it felt like being in one of those pick and mix sweet shops. On the one hand, we had a batch of floaty pop singalongs and on the other, some powerful, guitar driven blues-rock. I’m sure people took what they liked from the Ferris and Sylvester store and went away happy.
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Life in a Northern Town
I always enjoy those end of year lists and those ‘Best Of’ cover CD’s that the music magazines compile. They are a good way to discover new music I’ve found. As it’s that time of year, I took a trip to my local supermarket in order to bag a copy of UNCUT along with some bananas, chocolate and one of those battery powered air fresheners that delivers a spray of exotic…
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Taking out the bad egg.
Maybe Jude Rodgers writing in The Guardian was close to the mark when she described Lisa O’Neill’s music as ‘raw and unvarnished folk for austere times.’ Live, the music is unfussy yet captivating; the voice singular, unmistakably Irish and the song content at times deeply philosophic.
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The Importance of Being Earnest
It’s always tough at the commencement of any artistic journey but there’s one thing that remains a constant — the need for those of us who believe music is a living, vital art form to support emerging artists.
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Some Fantastic Book
In Some Fantastic Place, Chris Difford charts his life from his early days as a dreaming boy in south London to becoming a member of one of Britain’s greatest bands. Along the way he reveals the inspiration behind Squeeze’s best known songs and his highs and lows from over four decades of making music.
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A squeeze down memory lane with Chris Difford
We all know music can provide comfort, especially (at times like these) when our day-to-day lives often feel challenging and of course, there’s nothing criminal about music being a source of nostalgic, escapist entertainment. Music’s attraction is different things to different people and it doesn’t have to be about something shiny and new and the whole time.
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Hector Gannet Live at Hall 2, Sage Gateshead
I spot a bottle of Brown Ale in the crowd, held aloft in a time-honoured salute. A show of kinship and respect for a young Geordie musician who is following in the footsteps of those who have gone before. The songs, though contemporary and original, have their roots in the teachings of Dylan, Neil Young and of course, local hero Alan Hull. The bands love of these forbearers is, I suspect,…
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Aldous Harding at Sage Gateshead
Went to the Sage Gateshead to review Aldous Harding for Rocking Magpie.
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Emiliana Torrini and The Colorist Orchestra FRI-SON, FRIBOURG, SWITZERLAND
Went to Fri-Son to see Emiliana Torrini
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Rozi Plain at Star & Shadow, Newcastle
It’s a chilly Thursday night on Tyneside, for the last few days we’ve had the lowest tempratures of the year and when Rozi Plain and her band take to the Star and Shadow stage, someone calls out ‘You all look cold’. It’s an intro of sorts that brings a wry smile to band an audiance alike.
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Fight for Faye
Last summer I saw a young woman playing live and was very impressed, she clearly had something special so I contacted her and arranged for her to come and play for us in Durham City. Sadly, Faye Fantarrow became ill and was unable to perform. Many will be aware of her story, but some may not…..
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Sean Taylor GEORGIAN THEATRE, STOCKTON on TEES
Sean Taylor came up to the North East and did two gigs with us, one at Claypath Deli in Durham and one at The Georgian Theatre in Stockton.
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Dr Bone has left the building
In January a close friend of mine died. He was a stalwart of the Scottish music scene and over the years he collaborated with DBTR on several recording projects. He will be sorely missed.
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Looking Ahead to 2023
It’s that time of year when people are busy looking back and informing all and sundry of their best album, best gig, best track etc. Well, here at DBTR we prefer to look forward, so I’m going to resist the urge to state who in my opinion has been better than anyone else. I’ve really enjoyed the gigs I’ve been out to in 2022, as a promoter, reviewer and live music…
Continue ReadingFaye Fantarrow at Summer Streets Festival, Sunderland
As well as promoting live music I write for Rocking Magpie.
Continue ReadingHector Gannet (solo) + Ren Lawton at The Engine Room, North Shields
As well as promoting live music I write for Rocking Magpie.
Continue ReadingCowboy Junkies at The Fire Station, Sunderland
As well as promoting live music I write for Rocking Magpie.
Continue ReadingRachael Dadd + Tobias Sarra at Cobalt Studios, Newcastle
As well as promoting live music I write for Rocking Magpie.
Continue ReadingEmilie Zoé at Nouveau Monde, Fribourg, Switzerland
As well as promoting live music I write for Rocking Magpie.
Continue ReadingThe Weather Station at Gosforth Civic Theatre, Newcastle
As well as promoting live music I write for Rocking Magpie.
Continue ReadingJessie Buckley & Bernard Butler at Whitley Bay Playhouse
As well as promoting live music I write for Rocking Magpie.
Continue ReadingThe Magpies Festival 2022, Sutton on the Forest, York
As well as promoting live music I write for Rocking Magpie.
Continue ReadingFawns at NARC Ouseburn Festival 2022
As well as promoting live music I write for Rocking Magpie.
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It’s a Nick Drake thing
Sometimes you just have to concede that amazing things do happen. We had an inkling he might show up at the gig but we had no idea of who or what he might bring with him. Cally Callomon, along with Gabrielle Drake runs Bryter Music which oversees the affairs of the estate of Nick Drake. Cally had driven up from his Suffolk home to be with us at the first of…
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The Pitmen Luthier
A while ago someone asked me why I put so much time and energy into promoting live music. The answer lies somewhere between respect, regret and love. I totally respect those who can play music with what is basically a piece of wood with strings attached and there is a part of me that regrets never having learned how to play the guitar. What’s more, when I experience music played live…
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He Blinded Me With Science
In October 1998 I was travelling down the West Coast of the USA and after spending a few days in San Francisco I headed south 30 miles to the beautifully named Half Moon Bay. Tent pitched, belly filled, I went for a wander. On hearing music drifting through the Californian night air, like a bear in search of food I followed it’s sonic path. Drawn to a detached, white clapperboard hall…
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Got Them Old Housebound Blues
As we are all well aware, since March 2020 when Covid arrived the notion of getting together with a bunch of like mined souls to enjoy live music was put on pause. Thankfully, restrictions are now starting to ease but from DBTR’s perspective this last 15 months have admittedly been very difficult. Everyone has their own lockdown story of course and some will be a lot more fraught than this one,…
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What if? – Never Give Up
An overheard conversation in Durham’s finest café – Claypath Deli in the Spring of 2018 was the catalyst for a creative alliance between the Durham music community and Gilesgate based mental health support organisation RTProjects. Over coffee, the co-founders of RT (Beano and Emma) explained to DBTR that in 2007 they had opened an art studio on the outskirts of the City with the intention of providing an alternative to pharmaceutical…
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Get thee behind me 2020: A look back in anger at music streaming and a year without live music (almost).
Well, who would have thought 2020 would have unfolded the way it did. Back in January I got myself super organised and had a full programme of gigs in the diary, including a new collaboration with The Georgian Theatre, Stockton – a run of gigs under the moniker, ‘Blues in the Bar.’ Come March the writing was on the wall and one by one C.19 put paid to my cunning plan.…
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No More Heroes Anymore?
Noel Gallagher was interviewed by the BBC at the back end of 2014 and claimed that the working class in Britain no longer has a voice and that he finds popular music increasingly dominated by the middle class. Paul Weller has also come out and said, ‘I’m missing a lot of working class bands; I think there are a lot of middle class bands around. Some of it’s good obviously, but I’m…
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What is it about Singer–Songwriters?
In terms of the live music experience I have recently been asking myself ‘what exactly is it about singer-songwriters that captivates me’; the solo performer on stage armed only with a guitar, more often than not an acoustic guitar, sometimes fortified with various sound effects and loop pedals, but nonetheless, a singular person up there alone. Sometimes there are thousands in the audience, sometimes it’s only a handful of people in…
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We saw Nick Drake – Twice!
We were 16 year old schoolmates in the fifth form at a grammar school in Hillingdon, outer west London. We both had similar tastes in music, and apart from other interests in bands like Cream (both of us) and singer-songwriters like David Ackles (mainly Herman), we were particularly interested in the music beginning to emanate from the Island Records stable. We both bought the first Island sampler ‘You Can All Join…
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DownByTheRiver 