Manifesto #21 July / Aug 11

Free Compilation CD / Sunderland Folk Festival / Liberty Circus Liars Lie / CD Reviews / Live Reviews / Top 5s / Listings

21 July & August ‘11 /FREE t

Hyde & Beast Introducing

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July & August 2011 Issue 21

Contents.

: PAGE 12

FROM THE EDITOR How do, so this is the 3rd year since Manifesto was launched on the locals of Sunderland, and to celebrate we have given our design a bit of a shake-up, adding some new features and inviting some very special guests along as Guest Editors. We have also given you, our loyal readers, a free CD full of some of the great bands we have had down to two jam packed Bank Holiday Monday’s of music at The Ivy House. I hope you enjoy your very fresh dose of a spruced up Manifesto, see you all in September!

4 GUEST EDITORS PROFILE Introducing Hyde & Beast 5 TOP TRACKS The Guest editor’s pick their top 6 all-time favourite Local Music Tracks 7 NEWS Catch up with the latest goings on and some words from Bunker Dance 9 THIS MONTH I WILL BE Local Music Show Presenter Nathan Would and Reckoners, Sean Wilkinson tell us what they will be listening to, reading, watching and going to this month 11 SPOTLIGHT ON Liars Lie/Liberty Circus 12 COMPILATION CD Meet the bands who have made their way onto our very special compilation album 14 IGNITION FESTIVAL PREVIEW Family Fun with a LM twist 15 FOLK FESTIVAL 16 CD REVIEWS Hyde & Beast, Cattle & Cane and Album Of The Month 19 LIVE REVIEWS We went along to a whole load of festivals including Sunderland Live as well as Spark FM’s monthly Local Music Night 21 TOP FIVES Meet our random guests and their equally random picks 22 GIG GUIDE Two Months of gig goodness to tide you over.

EDITOR

Emma Howe GUEST EDITOR

Hyde & Beast DESIGN

Callum Brand biggulpdesign@gmail.com WORDS

Nicola Wright, Nicky Braggs, Emma Howe, Seb & Liam.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Anna Miller, Ian West

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Guest Editor.

Hyde & Beast

Just how did two drummers end up making an album?

Our Guest Editors this month are psychedelic twosome Hyde and Beast. Comprised of The Futureheads’ Dave Hyde and former Golden Virgins drummer Neil ‘Beast’ Bassett, their musical project born of jams in Neil’s (possibly haunted) studio has led to them becoming one of the most exciting new bands in the country. So just how did two drummers end up making an album?

“The process was very easy going. We’re both good friends so it was a smooth process, like gliding,” says Dave. “We would meet up at Neil’s studio and stay in that weird little place until something good happened.” “It’s true,” agrees Neil of his Room3Recording studio in the belly of The Bunker, “there’s some voodoo in that room.”

Being immersed in the songwriting process was a new experience for Neil; “I wrote little bits of keyboard lines and things in The Golden Virgins but I’ve never been involved in full song or lyric writing before, apart from some operas.” Originally written and recorded for the pair’s own ears, it was only when it proved a hit with friends that they began to think about making it a public document; “That really prompted us on to maybe release it rather than just let stay in the studio gathering mould.”

A stunning, off-kilter vortex of sound, the album, entitled ‘Slow Down’, has the rare benefit of being created purely for its own sake, and as a result is an uncommonly original and organic record. Free of the tampering’s and machinations of a record label, Neil acknowledges that had it gone through different channels it could’ve been an entirely

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different animal; “We’re releasing the album on an indie label, but it came about in an odd way. We wrote, recorded and produced the album ourselves where lots of bands would normally choose to hire a studio and pay for someone else to produce and mix. If we had tried record this album with an external producer it would’ve ended up sounding completely different.”

The creative freedom hasn’t been the only influence on the album’s unique sound; Neil’s production and even Dave’s shift from behind the drums has helped shape the band’s muted, hypnotically cadenced sound. “Dave plays guitar like John Bonham; heavy-handed and always showing off,” laughs Neil. “He definitely plays guitar, piano and bass from a more rhythmic, drummer’s perspective.”

The album’s already tangible success being so unanticipated, the band are apprehensive but excited about taking their new venture on the road. They do however have a fool-proof get-out clause if it all goes south; “We’ve got a six piece band for when we play live so if we’re crap, it’s not our fault!”, laughs Dave.

Despite the fact that their début hasn’t yet hit the shelves, Hyde and Beast are already considering the possibility of making a follow-up.

“I’d love to think we will,” says Dave. “We’ve already started recording tiny ideas on our phones that we’re hopefully going to clobber together and make another pretty little mess out of.” Is his beastly counterpart as open to the possibility? “Never!”

On behalf of the ears of the nation, I hope he doesn’t mean that. www.hydeandbeast.co.uk

Top Tracks.

Hyde & Beast’s Top Local Picks

No Futureheads or Golden Virgins Allowed!

With local music somewhat of an in-bred love in at times, asking our Guest Editors to choose their top picks each edition is a request which will have to be forced through with threats of piano digits being gruesomely removed and the tongues that curl words beautifully, tightened in a vice. So here, from Neil and Dave, still strapped down somewhere in the Bunkers chamber of torture on two very different sized tables, are Hyde & Beast’s Top Local Picks.

Anything by Field Music will pretty much be amazing. I am sure those two are white wizards or something.The album “Strange Glory”

by Lucas Renney. Its a beautiful late night album and the rhythm section from Midlake

played on it which is pretty spectacular.

The new Former Cell Mates album “presented as a work of fiction”. Great tunes. I (Neil) used to drum for these a while back and the furthest we toured was Grimsby. Now I’ve left they have started touring Australia and America. Hmmmm!

There’s a guy from Stockton called Head Of Light Entertainment who’s always interesting and fun. Frankie & Heartstrings....... there is just too much good stuff to pick from. We can’t narrow it down!

Ashes of Iron, Toy Dolls, Leatherface, Lisa Stansfield, Chased by Wolves, Where the sea starts, Lionel Richie, B>e>a>k, and on and on the list is endless. ENDLESS ! Lindisfarne !

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Local Music News.

Dance City

Split Festival Announced

We have been following Ian Blevins for some weeks now. His laid back sound caught our attention when we heard Al Gobi – Dusk and featured it on our Spark FM radio show. Next month will see him DJ at The Globe in Newcastle City Centre, playing alongside Liam Vance and NY/AK downstairs, while Cottam takes stage on the outside terrace.

It’s £10 on the door and if you fancy saving a couple of quid then head over to the event’s Facebook page and add a comment, you’ll get a discount (just search That Old Chestnut @ The Globe, Newcastle on Facebook). Expect disco grooves getting mixed with chilled housey beats and a lot of deep house and disco thrown in for good measure.

That Old Chestnut @ The Globe, Newcastle. 30 July - 31 July @ 11pm, Door £10 www.facebook.com/bunkerdance

The third year of SPLIT FESTIVAL is one hell of an exciting prospect, with a proposed set-up and all-round experience promised to deviate from all of the norms we have come to expect from a ‘festival’ and the return to an ethos with a primal Northern feel. By that Barry Hyde means we are all going to go back to our Viking roots for an over-indulging feast of all the senses, including a good old rollicking of the hearing. The line-up continues to grow in stature every year, and with the likes of The Drums, The Charlatans, Dutch Uncles and local bands Frankie &The Heartstrings, BEAK and Hyde & Beast already confirmed, I am oh so ready to whip out my bugle. www.splitfestival.com

Football Crazy The Bunker kicked off its first ever annual Charity Tournament down at Bede College last weekend with over 15 teams entering and raising money for the Tracey Crawford Foundation. It was a great day all around, with some big names in local music showing up with their tight shorts and quiffs toned down for the occasion. Here is a brief run through; Spark FM, easily the worst team on the day and deserved the wooden spoon. Frankie & The Heartstrings proved there was more fire in their belly than a hot & Spicy with extra chilli and Sonner are obsessed with John Mcenroe and boxes of a semi-circle variety. Congratulations to Young Legionnaire who beat The Bunker in the final 1-0!

Gallery Circus EP Release After a slow burner of a year, making waves and all of the right noises in all of the right places, it appears the Ross brothers are stepping it up a gear and ready to launch an official onslaught on us lucky souls with the release of a new EP which will include tracks, Club House Killer, Cool Your Foolish Heart and Hurricane On South. I spoke to the boys recently and they seemed very excited about the mixing of their tracks as well as the prospect of some live dates both in the UK and across in the US. www.gallerycircus.com

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Guest Editor.

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This Month I Will Be...

Nathan Would New Presenter of Spark’s Local Music Show

Listening to….

Oooh, well... As a self-confessed radio geek, I’ll be listening to t’wireless: 6 Music or Spark FM, shameless plug, I admit! Music wise, I’ll be hammering the life out of Hyde & Beast, Young Liar and Vinyl Jacket. There’s been genuinely world-class stuff coming out of the North-East recently. I’ll give a massive swerve to the Arctic Monkey’s new LP, which, despite the media brown nosing, is profoundly inane.

Reading….

If I’m honest, I don’t do a lot of fiction. I’ve an insatiable thirst for knowledge, so it’s factual material all the way. ‘LEARN, LEARN, LEARN!’ It’s not quite my motto… because if it was it’d make me sound like a jaded and world weary teacher.

Watching….

Well for starters –HBO dramas’ aside- Telly is dogshit. Films are good. When’s Submarine out on DVD? Richard Ayoade is a genius. As too is Paddy Considine. Self-confessed ‘man crushes’ on them both.

Going to…..

Well, I’ll not be going too far; as some skip-rat has nicked my car. The jokes on him though, it’s got no fuel. Tosser. No festivals for me this year, so I’ll probably be watching the sterilized TV highlights, consoling myself with a gigantic mixing bowl full of Coco Pops.

The Local Music Show goes out on 107 Spark FM every Sunday from 4pm. www.sparksunderland.com

Sean Wilkinson Reckoner Listening To….

Recently I got a hold of Frank Turners new album, his last album was great and this ones the same, brilliant. I also keep putting on Laura marling’s I Speak Because I Can, she’s a heavy influence on my own music.

Reading….

I have just finished reading ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ it’s something I’m going to go back too and read again and again, it’s a beautiful piece of literature. Also a friend lent me ‘Time Machine’ by H.G Wells, something I’m looking forward to reading, I want to revisit 1984 as-well, it’s been a long time since i last read it and i recently saw my friends art piece which was amazing and linked to Room 101 in the book.

Watching….

A friend suggested Game Of Thrones to me, I started watching that this past week and now I can’t stop watching it. I have actually nearly finished the series but I’ll be sad when it ends. I keep trying to find a spare half an hour to spread them out longer!

Going To….

This year I’m not going to Leeds, sadly I couldn’t afford it, but I am looking forward to some local gigs like Ignition Festival to see some friends play. Also, Hot Club De Paris, a band which I have known for years and i can’t wait to hear live, it’s been too long!

Reckoner will be playing Spark FM’s Live Local Music Night on Thursday 7th July www.facebook.com/reckoner www.manifestosunderland.com 09

Spotlight On.

Liberty Circus

This Sunderland four-piece have played together, creating original material since their school days. There is a collaboration of tastes from each member of the band which results in a mixture of punk and funk and some very original melodies, complex rhythms and melodic guitars that produce a final sound which is fantastically cohesive.

Liberty Circus’s melodic rock has quickly gained a name for itself with the band playing some great sets in our biggest venues supporting the likes of Thomas Tantrum and most recently Club Smith at Independent and Plugged Inn. The band will also be featuring on the British Heart Foundation Charity Album, alongside some of their musical heroes Field Music and Baz Warne.

Liberty Circus are set to start recording at the end of July with an EP release date set for early August. You can catch the boys live at the Sunderland Summer Festival on Friday July 8th @ The Stadium Of Light. www.soundcloud.com/liberty-circus

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Liars Lie

These are three of the hardest working down to earth lads in local music today. There is an obvious passion watching the band live that radiates out from Lewis Cookes drums right through the base strings of Mr Peverley to Carrolls teeney tiny guitar (yes I know it has a technical name, but that is way more suggestive). Liars Lie display a certain innocence to their sound which is still developing into one of the most unique to come out of a young outfit since I care to remember. They have a knack of throwing out great tracks that reek of anthemic possibilities, and send you away from their performances, eager to observe carefully the growth of a band who are a refreshing dose of optimism in local music, refusing to take themselves too seriously. Liars Lie have an abundance of catchy pop melodies that sit in the verge awkwardness with their off-beat, almost bewildering rhythms to create a live sound of rare intensity.

Liars Lie are part of this editions Ivy House Compilation CD with their track ‘Wasp Nests’ and play the Saturday of Sunderland’s Summer Festival on July 9th. www.myspace.com/liarslieuk

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Compilation CD.

The Ivy House Compilation CD The Ivy House is one of Sunderland’s leading venues for supporting Local Bands and Artists and providing one of the most unique atmospheres for gigs in the City. With regulars such as Frankie & The Heartstrings, Futureheads and many of Sunderland’s most prominent movers and shakers settling to sup their pints in the modest establishment on Worcester

Terrace, The Bunker recently put together two Bank Holiday Local Music Celebrations, with more than 15 bands performing and ensuring they gained a spot on our IVY HOUSE COMPILATION CD . Here is a brief lowdown on the bands and where they are in Local Music today , an interesting lot I’m sure you would agree.

Black Goose

Black Goose is a performer from Sunderland who plays his own music comprising of guitar and vocals. Fairly new on the circuit, he has established himself via live performances earlier in the year and hopes to record at the end of the summer. Look up Black Goose on Facebook for demo’s. www.facebook.com/blackgoose

The Eyes

The Eyes are a 5 piece band from Sunderland formed in 2010, they are one of few bands creating a unique blend of 60’s Garage Physc fused with American roots music in the North East.

Work is currently clogging the pipeline with the Zutons frontman Dave McCabe and some UK dates in the bag ,this is an ideal time to check them out for yourselves before you only catch the dust of their Vespas. www.myspace.com/thisistheeyes

Liars Lie

Liars Lie are a 3 piece math-rock/progressive indie band from Sunderland, at the age of 17 the cheeky scamps are still growing and developing their noodling, aggressive sound. The band are making a name for themselves already supporting the likes of: Bang Bang Eche, The Victorian English Gentleman’s Club & Hot Club De Paris and have many more in the pipe line in the very near future. www.myspace.com/liarslieuk

Sonner

This band is perfectly capable of saying this…. ‘We play rock and roll with heart and soul. Nothing is over analysed, mulled over for weeks or made into an experimental haze to please the ever growing snobbery of the music press. If it doesn’t come from the heart then we aren’t prepared to persevere towards second best’…..so there, now enjoy! www.soundcloud.com/sonnermusic

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Compilation CD. The Silence

The Silence are a fresh, young band from Durham. They`ve been together since 2010 and successfully gigged in the UK and Europe. Formed by drummer Max Griffiths and his sister Livvy, The Silence have quickly built up a solid reputation with their energetic live shows and catchy, hook-heavy pop punk songs. www.myspace.com/the-silence

Sunday Best

Sunday Best are a Sunderland a raconteurs of ‘Tilted English Rock.’ Making music that sits somewhere between then and now, weaving tales through melody with assured craftsmanship, Sunday Best sound like swagger smoking a pipe. www.myspace.com/putonyoursundaybest

Masamune

Masamune are a Sunderland based three piece alternative rock band that take influence from Muse and Red Hot Chilli Peppers. Known for their loud energetic rock they are a rough around the edges, chaotic live sound with a blend of polished instrumentals and affecting vocals. www.myspace.com/masamunem

The Poet & The Beat

The Poet and The Beat are a Sunderland based folk act comprising of one man Daniel Stringer.

The Poet & The Beat combine poetic lyrics with melodic guitar playing. Influences ranging from the more obvious Bob Dylan to the more obscure 19th Century poet Arthur Rimbaud. www.myspace.com/thepoetandthebeatmusic

27 Side Effects

Nod, Dave Miles and Matt Gibbs are a genius blending of grungy riffs with the energy of ROCK! They are easily one of the best ‘live’ bands around! Their current EP Mountains of Madness is available online now via i-tunes. Later this year they will be releasing their new album/DVD! www.myspace.com/27sideeffects

The Real Davina

The Real Davina is about creating live shows that both entertain and amaze in a whirlwind of musical expression, that has been described by some as “something fresh” and a “unique” sound with a “feel good factor”. www.facebook.com/therealdavina

Craig Wosahlo

Craig Wosahlo is a young musician from Cramlington, Northumberland. Despite gigging the hell out of the North East, Craig is currently writing and recording his new EP ‘All The Great Lakes’, which he describes as an eclectic mix of ambient-acoustic music, aimed at lovers of all genres. www.youtube.com/craigwosahlo If there isn’t a CD attached to the front of this copy of Manifesto, please just send an email to info@manifestosunderland.com or go to www.manifestosunderland.com to download it. www.manifestosunderland.com 13

Ignition Festival.

Ignition Festival Preview We are entering the final furlong before Ignition Festival embarks on it’s first year on The North East Festival Calendar, a line-up has already been confirmed by organisers which reads like a form guide of a who’s who of Grand National past winners.

new generation of talent will be on display as Miles Kane continues to steal festival headlines with his popular indie beats and gritty rock and roll newcomers Twisted Wheel are joined by fellow rising UK talents Vinyl Jacket and Life in Film.

Ignition’s aim to refresh the North East music scene by mixing exciting emerging talent with well known established acts whilst providing a platform for local music, is hardlys an original approach, as local sister festivals would claim to have a similar ethos. But why fix what aint broken? Why not just put a twist on it and up the ante. The unique open-air location of Newcastle’s Gosforth Racecourse is not it’s only stud like draw, Ignition have also added ‘The House Party’, a key element present at a number of major festivals such as Kendall Calling. The House Party will literally consist of a house built inside the grandstand. Events taking place inside will include everything from tea and toast, Northern Soul Dance lessons, spoken word from Howard Marks, and a Tim Burgess (The Charlatans) DJ set.

Local thoroughbreds will be on full display as Stockton troubadours, Young Rebel Set, bring tales and jigs of tough love, hard luck and the triumph of romance against the backdrop of the kitchen sink genius of The Little Comets and wistful indie pop of Lets Buy Happiness.

The Field of artists announced is a mix of fillys, foals and stallions with the likes of postpunk cult legends Echo and The Bunnymen, folk icon Frank Turner and a classic acoustic set from Ocean Colour Scene. A wealth of a

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Lets not forget the big boys, they deserve a mention. Calvin Harris has proved a more than capable draw to events down the years and this will be no different. Sunshine Underground and Feeder add a little nostalgia to the line-up and Sunderland will be represented by some of their most recognised sounds of today in Chased By Wolves, The Lake Poets and guest editors Hyde & Beast.

Other local spots have gone to Grandfather Birds, The Watchers, Mausi, The Greeting Committee, We Beat The System, Prison Libary, The Union Choir and Brilliant Mind.

For the full line-up go to www.i-fest.co.uk £30 Day Tickets/ £50 Full Weekend (available from The Bunker in adv)

Folk Festival.

Sunderland Folk Festival How fitting that at a time when the local folk scene is rife with talented bands and artists clawing their way alongside the indie boys and up the ladder, that Sunderland goes and hosts a three day event that celebrates and galvanises the appetite for folk music in the City. Sunderland Folk Festival will be held over the Bank Holiday weekend in August (27th until the 29th) and will be staged at some delectable, in my opinion, underused venues along the riverside and in the city centre including the National Glass Centre, the Independent club and Mowbray Park. Headline acts confirmed included the Peatbog Faeries and Cara Dillon amongst a number of leading, popular bands and performers expected to attract thousands of folk music fans into

the city. No doubt there will be an opportunity for those closer to home to revel in the atmosphere created by a genre once on the backburner, but now very much in the front window of local music.

Along with the world class music on offer, there is also the unrivalled chance for people to actually get involved in a series of master classes and workshops, organised by Phoenix Folk. Local folk and those who have travelled from far and wide will be able to share and improve their own performing or songwriting skills alongside leading musicians and artists.

Guests performing over the weekend include Cara Dillon, The Doonan Family Band, Jez Lowe and Billy Mitchell. Sounds like a great folking time!

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CD Reviews.

PICK OF THE MONTH:

Baskin’s Wish – Dailyfun (EP)

Puppies, ice cream, stopping the petrol pump on a perfectly round number; there are some things in life designed solely to bring pure unadulterated joy to the people of the world.

This EP is one of those things. The Newcastle trio have created a summery, surging power pop gem in ‘Dailyfun’. Decidedly ramshackle, low-fidelity bliss, it’s playfully wry lyrics shimmer with Pavement-esque cheek and quirkiness. In short, it’s the bee’s knees. 5/5 www.facebook.com/pages/BaskinsWish/172936122196

Is Shepherd – Songs for Sons (EP) ‘Songs for Sons’ is the newest addition to the Is Shepherd family, in which they’ve given birth to six tracks that sway between pretty folk melodies and foot-stompingly gritty rock.

Thought-provoking and thoroughly enjoyable.

3/5 www.isshepherd.com

Mammal Club – Otter Inventive and complex, it bestows a depth of both sound and sensation that most modern bands can barely grasp at, without relinquishing its captivating hooks and mammoth tribal beat. A dazzlingly exciting record that carves out its own lustrous path. 4/5 www.myspace.com/mammalclub

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Vinyl Jacket – Koala (Single) ‘Koala’ glimmers with tropical cool like sunlight bouncing off a thousand of your mam’s shiniest pans. Melodic and certainly livelier than it’s marsupial namesake, this positively iridescent tune is an absolute charm. 5/5 www.vinyljacket.co.uk/

The Union Choir – Eleanor (Single) A sprawling piece of orchestral gloomladen pop with all the haughty charm of The Smiths; treading a fine line between melancholy and dejection, its warmth elevates it out of its self-imposed misery and transforms it into something bigger. 3/5 www.myspace.com/theunionchoir

Grandfather Birds Higher Bridges (Single) With enough sincerity to tug at the heartstrings yet rocking a thumping drum beat and a choral hook sharp enough to burrow itself into your head at spin one makes this a truly exceptional track. Sweeping, poignant and cleverly understated. 4/5 www.grandfatherbirds.com/

Air To Achilles – EP Massive, moody guitars, swelling, pulsating synths and a set of lungs to make NMEbaiting grumps bristle with envy. Broody with an underlying sense of hope that permeates even their darkest track with heart as loud as it is sincere. 4/5 www.facebook.com/airtoachilles

CD Reviews.

Baron Von Alias – Move Over (Single)

Nick Pride and the Pimptones – Midnight Feast of Jazz (album)

Another thumping tune from the moustachioed Geordie rapper, ‘Move Over’ pairs classy funk soul trumpets with his trademark swagger, to typically banging effect. An undeniably agreeable compendium of beats, sir. 3/5 www.baronvonalias.co.uk/

A colossal, up-tempo titan of freak-out, this is all big tunes, rolling grooves and a tight beat.

If you can listen to this without wanting to swing someone around a dance floor, then you, my friend, are dead inside. 4/5 www.myspace.com/nickprideandthepimptones

Morris Ford – Wait ‘til Morning (Demo)

Steve Omac - Ozooo

Grounded by wistful vocals, this is a two minute master class in how to make affecting, uplifting acoustic music. Organic and dreamlike, it radiates a sense that Morris Ford doesn’t quite realise how good he really is. 5/5 www.myspace.com/morrisfordmusic

Young Liar – Can’t Do Attitude (Single) This is a sprawling, euphoric cloud that reaches depths of sound and feeling you couldn’t physically probe without losing a limb. A fuzzy plethora of intoxicating power and all at once tighter than the Grinch’s shoes. 4/5 www.facebook.com/youngliar

The Castells – Romance (single) As with all The Castells’ recent recordings, this track is soulful, catchy and refreshing. A dusty, deep-south rock vibe led with a quiet confidence that makes début single ‘Romance’ a proper winner. 4/5 www.facebook.com/thecastells

Local lad knocks out a belter of a tune, provoking thoughts of a packed club far from home, with a superstar DJ building up the pace and the atmosphere to a crescendo.

With shades of Roman Flugel, each breakdown introduces a riff with a bendy saw lead which makes you stand up to attention. Add a handful of bright sparkly hats and techno percussion and you have a track groomed for the dance floor.

NY*AK - Tight on the white (EP)

Due to be released on Newcastle based label ‘Audio Parallax’ in July. Highlight of the EP is ‘Space and Retreat’, a sample based, slow paced but upbeat house track. Jamie L provides a superb deep remix, with a nice and mellow bass line. The title track has a deep house beat with vocal pops, a sweeping organ and a rise and fall while the acid lead drives you into a foot tapping funk and soul groove.

‘Nomoremusic’ serves up the very best of Detroit House with tight bongos, rolling snares, shuffling cabasa, laid back keys and cool vocal samples. If only it was a 12” release as well as a download

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Live Review.

Spark FM Live Music Night @ The Ivy House, 9th June First up, Natasha Haws puts in a stellar turn with her wispy voice, and Adam James Cooper’s Little Monsters storm the venue with their bluegrass tunes. And far as reliable performances go, you can’t get better than headliner Paul Liddell.

Recently parted from his record label, Paul is feeling good about striking back out on his own; “Everything that happened with them I could’ve done myself , so I decided to take control again. They promised they could do a lot for my music, which in the end just didn’t materialise. I was happy at the time but it felt really good to be free of it.” A veteran of the live circuit, he’s still happy to be gigging. “Even at the worst gig you’ve ever come across I’d still rather be doing that than anything else. It’s the only thing I want to do, so I keep going.” After his set of classics and top new tracks it’s easy to see how he’s become a staple of the acoustic scene.

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Live Review.

Coal Train @ Ashbrooke Cricket Club 6th May

Openers James and the Wolf aren’t bad by any means, but in these times of indie-rock saturation, they don’t really make an impression. Young Liar however have dissimilarity in heaps, storming with powerful surges of industrial-sized noise. Lastly, Coal Train showed they can do it all; the post-rock anthems and the delicate affairs that pair keys with poignant vocals. This is a performance that’s exemplary of the drive and vigour that makes them one of our top bands.

Hyde and Beast @ The Little Room 7th May

Super-group Hyde and Beast aren’t your average band. From the first blunt, twanged notes it’s clear that this is something special.

Organic and unprocessed, they sail through intoxicating, balmy tracks, and although we’re in a room on Holmeside, we might as well be strolling in the sun somewhere, feathers in hair. And that is the beauty of Hyde and Beast, and of all truly great performances; transportation.

Party in the Park @ Mowbray Park 29th May

Mowbray Park’s bandstand had the honour of showcasing the hottest indie-folk action in the North with Party in the Park, getting Sunderland Live off to an outstanding start. Brilliant sets and stunning songs were delivered to an eager crowd of sun baked music lovers

by Morris Ford, the Old Friends/Bookends Collective, This Little Bird, Chased By Wolves, Matt Stalker and Fables and Sharks Took The Rest. And as that wasn’t good enough, there were deck chairs. The perfect Sunday afternoon.

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The Stranglers @ North Shore 11th June

Does wonders for your ego, being the youngest person in a venue by twenty years, but then again it says something about the lasting legacy of The Stranglers that they still manage to fill a room, not least with fans who’ve maintained their loyalty for nigh on forty years. The Stranglers see blistering preceding sets from a gaggle of our finest acts, and raise us a set that plays like a greatest hits record.

Lucas Renney @ The Central, Gateshead 16th June

Sour Mash Trio are a musical anachronism, presenting,thoroughly loveable rockabilly tales of whisky and women straight out of Sun Records studio. With the sort of voice that could sing a fire out, even backed by a full band headliner Lucas Renney performs with an intrinsic intimacy that makes your hair stand on end. Boasting substance, naked sincerity and agelessly beautiful songs, it’s a set nothing short of majestic.

Kings of Leon @ Stadium of Light 17th June

It’s 6pm and Mona know no one is listening.

Probably best, because they struggle to fill the venue with their wet Americana. White Lies on the other hand, kill. Their euphoric, heartfelt rock is what stadiums are made for.

KOL may have lost their grit lately, but tonight proves a pleasantly surprising stab at reclaiming it, as they sweat, graft and thrash their way through their anthems like the lumberjack poster-boys they once were.

Top Fives.

Abbie’s Top 5 Abbey’s

Billy’s Top 5 Bar Snacks

Paul’s Top 5 One Hit Wonders

1. Abbey Road 2. Abbey Titmiss 3.Westminster Abbey 4. Abbey Clancy 5. Finchale Abbey

1. Pork Scratchings 2.Cheesy Nuts 3. Scampi Fries 4. Barney Rubble 5. Pig on a bar stool

1. Aqua- Barbie Girl 2. Katrina & The WavesWalking On Sunshine 3. Toy Dolls- Nellie The Elephant 4. Joe McEllderyThe Climb 5. The Firm – Star Trekkin’

Dave the Rave’s top 5 Names

James’ Top 5 Festival Essentials

Danny’s Top 5 Facebook Status Updates

1. No.1 Northeast Raver crew 2. Top raver legend on the dancefloor 3. Bunker posse dance crew 4. Dave the rave no.1 raver hallelujah 5. David Common

1. Loo roll 2. Beans (sausages optional) 3. Red Wine 4. Wellies 5. Ticket

1. HELP! My eyebrows have disappeared 2. Am gan down the bunker like to see uncle Kenny like.

3.Anyone deein owt?

4. I’m loving me new pink plug like.

5. Want to know who’s looking at my profile, click here . . .

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Gig Listings.

July & August Gig Listings.

1st July The Endgame + 27 Side Effects + Sunday Best + Young Hegeligans @ Washington Arts Centre £4, 8pm 1st July Kings of Lyon + The Generals + Rayne + The Familiar Ones @ Sunderland Festival, Northern Area Playing Fields Washington £3 1st July The Railway Club, Waiting for Winter, Ajimal and Reckoner @ The Little Room, Independent FREE, 7.30pm 1st July The Woven Project + Chased By Wolves @ The Clarendon £4, 8pm 2nd July S.C.U.M @ The Independent 7pm

7th July Matt Stalker and Fables + Reckoner + Corrine @ The Ivy House FREE, 8pm 8th July 27 Side Effects + Yellowstone + Liberty Circus @ Sunderland Summer Festival, Stadium of Light £2 9th July Shake Aletti @ Independent £5, 7.30pm 9th July The Real Davina + Moonrunners @ Sunderland Summer Festival, Stadium of Light £2 15th July B>E>A>K + Grandfather Birds @ The Little Room, Independent £4, 8pm 20th July Floods + A World Defined + Lychway + Backfire @ 7even £5, 7pm

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21st July Invoke + Liberty Circus @ The Ivy House FREE, 8pm 29th July The Suzukis @ The Little Room, Independent £4, 8pm 4th August Spray On Jeans + support @ The Ivy House FREE, 8pm 4th August The Real Davina + With Strength Comes Honour + Vintage Revolution @ Passion £1.50, 9.30pm 18th August Mammal Club + support @ The Ivy House FREE, 8pm 26th August Sunderland Folk Festival @ National Glass Centre

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