Fortnightly Music Reviews from the streets of Teesside and beyond
Deer Shed Festival 2025
Baldersby Park, Topcliffe 25-28 July 2025
Summer would not be summer without Deer Shed. I am sure that I speak for all 10 000 revellers who make this an annual pilgrimage to the grounds of Baldersby Hall in rural North Yorkshire to imbibe on music, comedy and just an incredibly cool, friendly, family vibe. There is really nowhere else like it. So many activites for kids and everyone attending above and beyond the music and comedy, I say above because the first thing you see on entering the arena are kids on harnesses climbing trees. The bands and the punters muck in together, The Unthanks sisters were wandering around taking in the other bands, The Big Moon tried out wild swimming in the Swale and Dilettante was DJing in the extensive sports field. Others were grabbing WiFi to watch the England lionesses in the Euros final.
To be able to see such a mix of names and emerging talent and be able to wander to the front of just about any stage is one of the advantages of a festival of this size. You can get reacquainted with neighbours from last year, park your chair for the weekend and know that everyone else will respect it and leave it empty. Deer Shed is truly a one off and long may it continue. But, on with the music. I just caught the final song of the opener of the main stage on the Friday afternoon. Curtis Miles was belting out a sub pop type riff on guitar, he is from the West Coast of the UK rather than
West Coast USA. It was t-shirt weather as we climbed the hill from the main stage amphitheatre to watch Dilettante opening the live offerings from under the In The Dock tent.
Last year Dilettante played here as part of BC Camplight's band. This year the multi instrumentalist was boomerang looping and harmonising vocals and music along with her band. A popular performer in the past at Twisterella, Stockton Calling and This Is Middlesbrough, Dilettante's music cuts across genres. The songs twist and turn never taking the obvious route but fully rewarding all that join in with the journey. Singing, I'm Learning How To Keep Time, we are told this is about growing older and as Francesca is turning 31 on Sunday, time is on her mind and on her side.
Back down the hill and a brand new act for me, The Pill. This young, punky 3-piece from the Isle of Wight, have energy, attitude and are all about fun. Except if you are sporting a mullet. If so beware. Lily and Lottie also poke fun at themselves, they are not good at parking it seems. They have the moves and the groovy costumes, but can be hard hitting at times, issuing warnings about online stalking. It is fair to say they are not fans of Leo DiCaprio either, though they will soon be too old to be invited on his boat. Real stage presence. I love them.
Words: Rob Nichols Pictures: Tracy Hyman
Dilettante
The Pill
Opening the clashfinder there was an interesting head to head between the acts appearing In The Dock and at the Lodge. You could hardly hope for a bigger contrast between the arthouse music and visuals of Honesty and the zany country fun of Honk.
Honesty brought their synthesised electro cool from Leeds. At least three vocalists too with differing styles and approaches. Behind the musicians, striking, flickering, mainly urban townscape videos rushed by but there was also some Saltburn beach footage lurking in the mix.
Rushing over to the Lodge and I can hear the pedal steel guitar from across the kayaker’s lake. This is raucous, country and fun; stetsons and facial furniture. Honk sing songs about cowboys in hot pants, letting the dogs see the rabbits, all set to a Glam Rock drum beat. We sing along and it is great fun.
My mate Mike English has appeared on the hill to see personal favourite Divorce. The male and female lead vocalist protagonists of seem to get on really well together. “I just need a little sugar” they sing, but there are no signs of marital or non marital tensions. Some of the songs that have something of an American vibe were penned in nearby Wetherby they tell us. Divorce have great presence and pack plenty into their performance.
It is time for a tea break now and I opt for Tibetan
gorgeous.
The next act up on the big stage are Joan As Police Woman, quite a name and quite an act too. The New Yorker is a seasoned performer, her band virtuoso musicians. Looking For The Magic she choruses and we are seeing and hearing plenty of alchemy from them on stage.
It’s another of those contrasting head to heads next. Antony Szmierek is the consummate showman, even giving away his jacket mid-set as he sets his lyrics about the Stockport pyramid to the big beats and electric sounds. Antony glides across the stage and into the crowd.
Richard Dawson on the other hand is almost invisible seated in the near darkness of the Lodge. We are left to watch the drummer, a rare sighting of free form folk from the Newcastle musician, obscured by a piercing bright LED stage light.
One thing both performers have in common is their highly engaging narratives. Richard Dawson sings about sightings of ghosts and UFOs, the scariest thing about ghosts would be if there were none. He puts that thought out there as he prepares to end his set in a flurry of feedback.
By the end of the weekend there have been many highs and plenty of snacking between meals. Ice creams and melon shakes are going down a treat.
Antony Szmierek
Saturday is a packed programme of musical delights across the main stages. Honeyglaze providing the soundtrack to a relaxing afternoon. Gentle guitar riffs and luscious vocals echo across a hillside of families and adults, playing and chilling in the sun.
The Sick Man of Europe’s singer prowls across the bass speakers. Back and forth, and back again. It is dark, red and intense. The Joy Division-esque sound is brooding and hypnotic, rhthymically pulsing forwards.
In contrast over on the main stage, Scottish singersongwriter Jacob Alon’s ethereal vocals soar through the air. The gentle, delicate beauty that is Of Amber is highlighted by finger picked guitar. Lizzie Reid is part of their band, before re-appearing later with Edinburgh’s flamboyant Hamish Hawk. Hamish struts and poses as he takes us through his set, including tracks off recent release A Firmer Hand with his distinctive baritone vocals.
Two Deer Shed favourites take us through the evening. The upbeat Afrobeat-fused electro pop of Ibibio Sound Machine gets us dancing before we witness another ground-breaking performance from Kae Tempest.
Sunday sees Child of Prague, a young band from Dublin, blending traditional, alternative and emo ( is that still a thing?) together. “I never even knew this was a place,” said the singer. “I will be back every year.”
Time for some mid afternoon magic from Mandrake Handshake. Eastern, western, mystical, hippy, krautrock, motorik beats. Layered, textured. A big, big band with a big, big sound. Hand gestures pointing the way through phenomenal songs. We bask in the mystery of their Earth Sized Worlds, the history of King Cnut and the utterly glorious Hypersonic SuperAsterid. Then, a very Happy Birthday to Trinity, the main singer.
Live and Let Die is playing out from In The Dock. It announces a duo that are going to entertain, but also take us to the edge. “What Will I Be Required To Hate Today?” Kingsley, the man in white, spits out the words and poses the questions. “What do you do?” All the while Robbie is stoking up the heat from the red and white heat noise.
We are drowning in constant noise. Do not beg, do not bow, do not curtsey. Divide.. divide..
All the way from Middlesbrough, a guest appearance from Shakk, a rapper in baseball cap prowling and stalking the stage.
“That's the hits out of the way”, jokes Kingsley. He croons over blood soaked promenades before delving back into the hit parade and unfurling flags. From flipping to jeffing is no let up. Then the family fun begins as his daughter appears in butterfly wings on stage. What a moment!
You know what, I am running out space, which is a pity because hard popping 3-piece The Bug Club were enormous fun and a bundle of energy. Quality Pints all the way. Hats off to Bodega for their Ozzy and Black Sabbath tribute in playing Paranoid. Roddy Woomble played superb sets with the action packed Idlewild and earlier as a folk, acoustic performer. Geography lessons down Waverley Steps.
“We were Welly” yell Welly as they close their high energetic pop punk set bouncing up and down across the In The Dock stage, “and continue to be Welly. We will see you all tomorrow at Trowell Services never stand still and turn the energy up a notch, getting ready for the Brummie Sleaford Mods stylings of Big Special. A duo of drums, words and gas a plenty. Powerful. Hard Hitting. Real. Then, a pilgrimage into the audience for Trees. Oh, and another young family member on the stage, after young George has also been on lead cymbal.
Meanwhile I have been tuning in to the BBC and England v Spain on my phone. England have equalised before extra time takes hold. The white knuckle ride of the penalty shoot-out has an equally stunning soundtrack from Idlewild. We are in a celebratory mood as we are thrust into he capable hands of indie pop maestros The Big Moon. There is another birthday on stage, so it is a big night all round. There is even a Fat Boy Slim cover as we praise the gals playing great feel good indie.
Then, as the live music is turned off there is only thing to do, turn on Sweet Caroline. The whole outdoor amphitheatre, young and old, family and friends, join together in a big celebration for the Lionesses, The Big Moon and a wonderful, wonderful long weekend. Totally memorable. It will take some topping but we will be back next July for the highlight of the summer.
Words: Rob Nichols / Tracy Hyman Pictures: Tracy Hyman
The Bug Club
Off The Beat with Robert Nichols and Tracy Hyman
Off The Beat with Robert Nichols and Tracy Hyman
Maruja
Moonchild Sanelly
Ibibio Sound Machine
Saltburn Folk Festival: Martin Simpson Trio, Nancy Kerr, The Wilson Family, Nick Hart & Tom Moore, Goblin Band and more
8-10 August Various (incl. free bandstand shows) From 1pm Various (Emmanuel Church Hall, Community Theatre, Huntcliff School), Saltburn
RnB Club: Bex Marshall 8 August £16 + bf 7.30pm The Forum, Darlington
Summer in the Square: The Twilight Surfers, Bangers & Thrash and more 9 August FREE 11am Stokesley Square, Stokesley
Shot for Self Downfall, Indigo, Sherwood, Jetpacks for Hire
August
From £2 + bf 6pm NE Volume Music Bar, Stockton-on-Tees
Desert Vipers 9 August £9 + bf 7pm Pealie’s Barn, Northallerton
The Undertones 9 August £32 8pm ARC, Stockton-on-Tees
Industrial Coast 24 Hr
Selector Set: Seb Hewison, Wren Adobe, MC H.U.G.H., Perfect Chicken 10 August From £1 10am Café Etch, Middlesbrough
Hopak! A Ukranian Dance Show 13 August £8.50 7.30pm The Crypt, Middlesbrough Town Hall
The Asatines, Last Request, Will We Talk? 14 August PWYD From £2 + bf 6pm NE Volume Music Bar, Stockton-on-Tees
The Conjuring Festival 15 August £96.75 + bf 12pm Pealie’s Barn, Northallerton
Owen Elstob, Fin Hudson, Camaro 15 August £7 + bf 6pm NE Volume Music Bar, Stockton-on-Tees
Alex Fawcett Band 15 August £10 + bf 7.30pm The Forum, Darlington
Listings subject to change, please check with the venue’s website for full information before booking.
Off The Beat with Robert Nichols and Tracy Hyman
Angel Archives, Deer Shed, Silverreed
Jay Sean (Middesbrough Mela)
Dylan Ribeiro, Ethan Cramer, Dan Rochford
King Creosote
The Cides, Snide Remarks
Enda Kenny, Sara Dennis
Nevermore Festival: Brothers of Destruction, Haddonwood, Failed to Ignite, Brass Eyed Dragons and more
Claire Hamill Band, Frazer Lambert
Mercury Rev
Wild Folk Party: Beans On Toast, Funke & the Two Tone Baby, Bassie Gracie
Corduroy Boy, Zeta Point, Jim Dixon
Mascara’s Lies, Offski, Alvo Jade
Garden Party: Cherry Blur, Velvet Tuxedo, Dorothy Ella
’s Barn, Northallerton
Listings subject to change, please check with the venue’s website for full information before booking.
Be Quiet. Shout Loud!
Set Your Sights, Tired of Fighting, The Resurgence
Dash Summer Bash
House, Middlesbrough Adam Holmes with Jen Austin
Hutton Rudby Village Hall, Hutton Rudby
Last Train Home Express: Sunflower Thieves, North Riding, Phil Cox
Saltburn Folk Festival
8 - 10 August 2025
Last Train Home Festival 2025 6 September 2025 The Gathering Sounds 2025 27 September 2025
Listings subject to change, please check with the venue’s website for full information before booking.