Fortnightly Music Reviews from the streets of Teesside and beyond
Stockton Calling 2024, various venues, Stockton-on-Tees
30 March 2024
Chris Bartley joins me as special guest reviewer to cover the amazing Stockton Calling Festival. Once again the town centre was brought alive with music; a staggering eighty bands across ten venues. And a poignant tribute to local legend Tom Butchart in the renaming of The Social Room stage to the Tom Butchart Stage. It seemed fitting for Tom to be remembered in this way, he is Mr Sound It Out Records after all, with a vast knowledge and passion for music, championing so many Teesside bands.
It is so sad that since COVID that many music festivals have struggled financially or had to stop altogether. It makes us appreciate how blessed we are to have Stockton Calling going from strength to strength and the 2024 line up was possibly the most varied and diverse so far.
My first port of call was The Green Room and the sight of Maeve and the Trains taking the stage. Maeve in a £10 wedding dress bought from Oxfam Darlington (fact) and the drummer with a papal tiara. It would be fair to say I was hooked immediately and they didn't disappoint. A super cover of The Chats 'Mam stole me darts' and a tribute (not) to the beautiful game 'Ronaldo (I don't like football)'. Truly sublime.
It is nearly two years since I saw Sarah Johnsone at Darlington's Last Train Home festival and she has continued to go from strength to strength and didn't disappoint at the Ku Bar. A really soulful performance
covering all of her career from first single 'Tonight' to the more recent 'Sofia'.
Next up was the magnificent West Lothian band Dictator. With songs called 'Rubik's Cube' (including an audience challenge to complete it before the song finished) and 'Stan Smith' (possibly about the legendary tennis player), their inventive samples and Primal Scream riffs went down so well with the Storyteller crowd.
Getdown Services
At Ku Bar, Reverend and the Makers guitarist Ed Cosens previewed some songs from his forthcoming second solo LP 'Somewhere between dark and light' ('Doghouse' and 'Suckerpunch'). Beautiful songs with powerful reflective lyrics. Another great Sheffield songwriter alongside Alex Turner and Richard Hawley. Can't wait to hear the new album.
The final port of call was The Georgian Theatre and the apocalyptic disco musings of Bristol's Getdown Services. From a lockdown project that just grew and grew, Josh Law and Ben Sadler have been called LCD Soundsystem meets Sleaford Mods in some quarters which I sort of understand but they were such a joy seeing them live. With songs about evil landlords and Jamie Oliver, they had The Georgian crowd in the palm of their hands and finished with a rousing sing-along of Yazoo's 'Only you'.
Another epic day in Stockton.
Words: Chris Bartley
Pictures: Tracy Hyman
A hot and sweaty start in Ku Bar, packed out for the first band of the day. Driving rhythms and punchy bass riffs, Dossers set the standard with their punk rock power tunes. Energy cranked up to eleven.
Next up is Bob Fischer opening the new Tom Butchart Stage with a tribute to Tom before the musical offerings commence with up and coming local band Jam Tub, a band very much on an upward trajectory. Alternative, gnarly punk rock blended with indie sensibilities, Jam Tub are anything but smooth and boring. One to watch as it’s still early days (they formed last year!).
The opening for the ARC2 stage is Hull’s Brodie Milner. Intricate guitar riffs are overlaid by more understated and pensive spoken word lyrics. Edgy and compelling. At times beautiful yet melancholic vocals float across gentle instrumentation. Lucky for us Brodie is coming back in October for Twisterella Festival.
After a visit to take a few pictures of Maeve and the Trains, I popped in to find out what the curiously named Tina Sandwich was all about. That’s the great thing about a festival, discovering new bands by chance. From the fast-paced synth-pop of ‘Fast Cars (and Movie Stars)’ to the more quirky, wonky riffs of ’Sick Girl’, Tina Sandwich hooks you in, building towards a noise-fuelled climax.
The Chase had every single person dancing in main ARC venue. Their infectious energy and fast paced
rock, ska, gypsy-jazz and punk. The jumping stomper ‘Trumpet’ had the dancefloor bouncing, and there’s even a stage dive from a willing fan.
Over at ARC headliners The Zutons smash out hit after hit, plus a new song or two. Downstairs a quick stop at the ARC2 stage and I was blown away by the punk energy and presence of DEADLETTER. Singer Zac intensely leaning over the front row to sing at us. Sax highlights and percussion elevate the tunes.
After a quick pit stop at Ku Bar to catch the anthemic choruses of Corella before ending the nights at The Tom Butchart Stage for the phenomenal psych rockers CVC. Lush harmonies, sumptuous guitar solos, soulful and laid back and clearly enjoying themselves. And what a finish they gave us. Bring on next year.
Words: Tracy Hyman
DEADLETTER
Off The Beat with Robert Nichols and Tracy Hyman
CVC
Tina Sandwich
Corella
Dossers
Jam Tub
Off The Beat with Robert Nichols and Tracy Hyman
Listings subject to change, please check with the venue’s website for full information before booking.
Stockton Calling
30 March 2024
Deershed Festival
26 July - 29 July 2024
The Gathering Sounds
28 September 2024
Listings subject to change, please check with the venue’s website for full information before booking.