Fortnightly Music Reviews from the streets of Teesside and beyond
Brassed On: Faithful Johannes and Neocia, Amateur Ornithologist, Liz Corney Gala Theatre, Durham 19 July 2025
Durham Brass Festival is an annual highlight taking place across County Durham each year. Across one week in July the event showcases ground-breaking performances from renowned UK and international artists, this year with LYR, Bill Ryder-Jones and Barry Hyde. And, as it’s a brass festival the performances are very special, featuring brass ensembles. Alongside this there is the Streets of Brass event, a weekend of pop-up brass performances from some of the best brass street bands in the world, all playing across the streets of Durham and even on the Prince Bishop Boat.
However, it was a special collaboration event pairing local artists with talented brass ensembles that caught my eye as a must-see. In partnership with BBC Music Introducing and NARC Magazine local bands Faithful Johannes, Amateur Ornithologist and Liz Corney were transformed for the big screen, and they all very much lived up to expectations.
I’ve seen Faithful Johnannes and Neocia many times in smaller venues and was interested in how they would translate to the big stage. The lo-fi rap duo, equipment sitting on an ironing board, are joined by trombonist Tim Hurst (Suboptimal). It’s so seemless that Tim looks like he’s part of the band, with his looped trombone riffs and resonating sounds. Songs about the everyday; Charity Shops, Phobias and how TV Raised Me. Giant artwork of ghouls, spanners and
torches adorn the stage as well as spiders and video tapes on the big screen. A thank you to seat E7 for the cardboard. It really works on this wonderful theatre stage.
Next is Amateur Ornithologist with a full band and brass section from Small Town Brass. The singer’s winged cape and makeup taking us up amongst the trees, leaves on music stands. His unique voice soars above a cacophony of brass sounds. There are songs about memory, Winter Sun and Kiss The Stones. Then, we are left with Birds Fly Over Me as we come back down to Earth.
Liz Corney is best known for being part of The Cornshed Sisters, but she is a fantastic musician in her own right. She plays with her band and brass section underneath a screen of her legs, taken from her ballroom dancing video for Babe. She takes us for a trip down the A19 underneath a giant glitter ball. Her pop sensibilities, melodic tunes and suitably wonky, disjointed syncopated offerings (the David Brewis coproduced Common Denominator) take us through her debut album. All this accompanied by some very talented women musicians, including drummer Fran, mapping out some very complicated rhythms.
Once again Durham Brass Festival has shown its importance in the musical calender, with some very special collaborations. Long may it continue.
Words: Tracy Hyman
Pictures: Tracy Hyman
We are all decamping to North Yorkshire this weekend for our favourite weekend music festival of the year, Deer Shed. The family friendly cavalcade of music, comedy, kids science, spoken word and much, much more takes over Baldersby Park, Topcliffe once again between the 25th and 28th of July. So, here are a few acts that have made their mark on Teesside in the past and should be a treat to watch in the open air.
Dilettante
Get down In The Dock on Friday for Dilettante. No stranger to Deer Shed having plied the Main Stage last year performing in BC Camplight's band. This time it will be a solo outing for the talented composer, vocalist and multi instrumentalist aka Francesca Pidgeon. Dilettante is not exactly a stranger to Teesside having appeared in a hat trick of festivals, This Is Middlesbrough, Twisterella and Stockton Calling, Francesca was also once a semi regular in the Nel Unlit line up. The music is thoughtful and defies easy/lazy categorisation. She makes greet tunes.
The Sick Man of Europe
Saturday – looks like a top day for me and we at Off The Beat are recommending you get In The Dock for The Sick Man of Europe. If you were at the Georgian Theatre in March for Snapped Ankles then you will certainly remember their support. A Joy Division vs. techno art rock sound that comes blasting out of London.
The Unthanks
Back at Deer Shed after a four year absence are The Unthanks. The north east folksters musical arrangements revolve around sister vocalists Rachel and Becky Unthank. But you know all that already I am sure. Lots of local links for Rachel and Becky whose dad was a notable player in the Teesside folk scene. I recall The Unthanks performing at Preston Hall Museum back in 2013 and the sisters once paid tribute to Teesside legend, the late, great Graeme Miles at Middlesbrough Town Hall. It will be great to see them singing, playing and dancing at Deer Shed.
Mandrake Handshake
So to Sunday and Mandrake Handshake were a sensation at Teesside University for This Is Middlesbrough. Krautrock, psychedelia, latin, folk and California poptones are just some of the musical moods evoked by a band that is a whole ensemble and could fill any stage let alone Deer Shed's Main Stage. Numerous vocalists, percussionists and musicians drive on the riotous rhythm based sounds.
Benefits
Finally, we have to underline the street credentials of Teesside;s own firebrands, Benefits. We won't be flying any flags for the duo of Kingsley and Robbie. Hard hitting and Uncompromising could be their middle names. But 2025 album Constant Noise actually saw them spread their sounds and even get a bit musical with singing and stuff without in anyway blunting the full force of their political attack, attack, attack. Top performers. We absolutely love our friends from Benefits.
Please do let us know your own picks and have a great Deer Shed.
Words: Robert Nichols
Pictures: Tracy Hyman
The Wednesday Flowers, Mr Bigfoot, Last Request
Stokesley Summer in the Square: The Roddy Gordon Band, Anita Aslin
Woodburning Fest 2025: Last Case Scenario, Ochisia, Seven Year War, Failed to Ignite and more
Orange Pip Market: Jay Moussa-Mann, Andi Grainger, Jack Campbell, Abbie Dodsworth, Honky Tonks, Jenna Louise
Orange Pip Captain Cook Square Stage: Jack Campbell, J.W. Darwin, Jay MoussaMann, Urban Kaos, J.W. Darwin
Soundwave Festival: Eternal, B*Witched, Chesney Hawkes, East 17 and more
Big Sound All Day Festival: Zela, Dossers, Look Terrified, Chicken Man and the Bad Eggs, Loren Heat, Risco, Jack Fox
Credits
Rock the Hall: Brad Thompson
SilverReed, The Voss, Bazza
Fade, Flat Moon
Baker Street & Bedford Street, Middlesbrough
Whitehouse
’s Barn, Northallerton
Listings subject to change, please check with the venue’s website for full information before booking.
Detonator, Ashes of Insurrection, Desolation
Cause of Concern, Brass Eyed Dragons, Nerv
Teesside Mind All-dayer: Memoria, Corduroy Boy, The Magnetic North Band, Aidan Feners and more
Visions Alldayer: Scruffy Bear, Dawks, The Ransoms, Crescent, Deer Shed, Cardiac and more
The Wednesday Flowers, The Regency, The Voss, The A66
Jeremy McMurray and the Pocket Jazz Orchestra
July 2025 Deer Shed Festival 25 - 28 July 2025 Saltburn Folk Festival 8 - 10 August 2025
subject to
before booking. Soundwave Festival