Fortnightly Music Reviews from the streets of Teesside and beyond
DUPLA, Baby Said, Mt. Misery, Loren Heat, Teesside University Student’s Union, Middlesbrough, 5 September 2025
Earlier this year I spoke to a very excited Andy Carr, who told me about a Westgarth Reunion Gig in September with a very special headliner. It was very hush hush, but if it was anything like those historic Westgarth gigs then it was going to be a special night.
DUPLA may not be a band you have heard of, but they are very big in their native Basque Country, playing big festivals and venues over there. So, tonight was very special, their first mini-tour in England on a small stage in Middlesbrough, with people who had taken a chance to see an unknown band. The very essence of the much beloved Westgarth.
Now I must confess I missed the wonderful sets from Loren Heat and Mt. Misery as I was at a NARC social, before Clare leaves for New Zealand for a working break. However, I managed to make in across the A66 from the Angel’s Cut in time for Baby Said.
Baby Said are a energetic rock band fronted by two sisters whose stage presence is evident. Punk sensibilities and heavily noise-laden choruses, they up the tempo and up the ante. And they’ve only just released their debut album this year.
stage with a Palestinian flag behind the drum kit. The two musicians enter and launch into their first song. From the start you may think DUPLA must be a rock band, but this quickly changes. They are impossible to categorise. From rock, it changes to salsa-esque vibes, pop, rap, dance and drum and bass. All with that Basque Country vibe. Infectious and energetic, the pair sing mainly in Euskara, the Basque language, with some Spanish thrown in. Funky and rhythmic, they even teach us some words, before introducing us to some family made cheese and wine from home. It feels like a party, with everyone encouraged to dance, arms round shoulders, round in circles. The lighting dims to tribal drum beats and woodwind sounds. It feels very world music and multicultural at times. The lights flash, it’s now a dance club. Synths pulsing. This really is a gig unlike any other.
There are love songs and stories about small cultures, like the region they are from. Small voices, but not forgotten, like Palestine. Like the Basque Country.
The energy is upbeat, a celebration, and it’s over too quickly. Thank you for bringing this special show to the Boro.
Birds tweet and bells toll. It is atmospheric, an empty
Last Train Home Festival: Du Blonde, Dilettante, Perfect Chicken, Hels Pattison and many more, Various venues, Darlington, 6 September 2025
you can get the train here, its just a short walk away from the festival after all.
Kicking off the festival for me was Hels Pattison. A local singer-songwriter, her soothing ethereal vocals take centre stage at the Hippodrome. Just What I Do is gentle and heartfelt, supported by finger picked guitar. Folk and country influences meld with melodic pop. A perfect start to the festival.
Every year, when you feel the last rays of the Summer Sun and the festival season closing, Last Train Home Festival is there as the early Autumn pick me up. Great local and national (and international) bands, up-andcoming ’ones to watch’, in lovely venues with genuine music fans. Since its inception, Darlington Hippodrome has been added as one of the venue highlights, as well as taking you to The Forum and The Hullabaloo. And yes,
A quick trip to The Forum next for some quintessential 80s grooves from CHAT. They perfectly replicate those funky bass lines, synth riffs, drum machine sounds and pop vocals.
Its back to the Hippodrome for George Bailey, with a new band line-up. His songs of love, pain, grief and heartache are upbeat and melodic, indie pop stylings enhanced by the full band sound. They have an energy to their playing, even in the gentler numbers.
In the Hullabaloo, Isabel Maria is going from strength to strength, with her perfectly crafted sad pop songs. Its just her and her little ghost mascot, sat atop the keyboard, as she serenades us with songs about relationships and loss.
Turning the energy up a few gears, its up to the top of the Hippodrome to a small packed room and the raucous, chaos of Perfect Chicken. Fast-paced punk,
short, wonky songs. Little anecdotes about life against crashing drums, all whilst the balaclava guitarists roll around on the floor. And all the while, I do wonder if the inspiration behind their name came from the Perfect Chicken shop in Boro.
Next, it’s time for another dose of DUPLA. It’s full-house at The Forum, for the Basque-country vibes, bringing the energy and the party centre stage. With a little wine and chees thrown in for good measure, because why wouldn’t you.
A regular visitor to the North-East and gladly so, Dilettante is always a good shout at a festival. I love watching her mix the sounds and loops as the instruments and vocals mesh together to form a song. From disjointed lyrics, to soaring choruses, the songs
hook you in with saxophone and percussion.
Catching up with a few friends I find myself staying in the Hippodrome for Ruth Lyon. Rich vocals soar across the tapestry of instruments and songs about the cyclical nature of life. The stories behind her songs are as good as the songs themselves. There’s the creepy percussive vibes on Wickerman, whose video was filmed on Druridge Bay on a cold December day with a friend who had been dragged there to wear a mask all day for said video. Then there is Hills, featuring finger picking and violin trills, set on Lindisfarne.
Headliner Du Blonde bring high-energy punk infused pop rock in spades, modulating chord changes infectiously hooking you in on the choruses. “I’m Glad We Broke Up” and “Solitary Individual” reverberate around the room, bringing a perfect climax to the day.
Once again it has been a fantastic day at Last Train Home Festival. The whole team, the bands and the community make it one of the friendliest multi-venue festivals around.
Words: Tracy Hyman
Pictures: Tracy Hyman
Amy Scott-Samuel & Dominoes, The Waiting Room, Eaglescliffe, 14 September 2025
I had gone along to see Elaine Palmer play a set around a video for her forthcoming single, at the wonderful Angel's Cut bar in Darlington. Elaine invited up Amy Scott-Samuel to play a few numbers before Memphis Gerald and herself. I was so taken with the amazing voice and beauty of the songs that I jumped at the chance to be entertained by Amy once again the next Sunday.
The Waiting Room is another intimate setting where you can hear a pin drop or barely a knife or fork drop, such is the respect accorded the artists. That was especially the case for singer from Liverpool alt folk band She's In The Trees, Amy Scott-Samuel, and her musical touring partner Dominoes. The light and shade of the duo works a treat, where Amy's voice dances and romances, Dominoes is raw edged and fragile. While Amy delicately finger picks Dominoes strums confidently.
Amy untangled emotions in a relationship crisis in Future Light. Dominoes unpacked a song written for Bethan who helped him through a mental health episode. Silver Moon shone brightly as a song that
eased Amy's friend as she was passing.
In set two the duo combined for a soothing ballad called Tragedy, popularised in the early 60s by US vocal band The Fleetwoods. Dominoes picked the bare bones from a track drawn from 70s disco troupe Rose Royce Carwash soundtrack. Amy serenaded us with Dragonfly before embarking on Dom's favourite, Tricycle. Returning to her lunar love, Amy waxed and waned lyrical in Moon Song, another totally charming recital.
The set was brought to a really interesting finale with an 80s banger gone to folk, in a truly amazing, unique version of Blue Monday.
I cannot wait to hear Amy's debut album Go Gently, being produced by the esteemed Bill Ryder-Jones.
Look out for a run of top Sundays at the Waiting Room, lots of special talent to round off the weekend in style.
Words: Robert Nichols
Pictures: Tracy Hyman
Edwyn Collins, Boiler Shop, Newcastle, 8 October 2025
20 South Street has been an important location in the historical timeline of the north east. In 1825, it was the offices of Robert Stephenson and Co where the Locomotion number 1 (the world’s very first passenger locomotion train) was designed and constructed before it’s inaugural journey between Stockton and Darlington. There were some breathtaking and moving celebrations marking the 200th anniversary in September on Teesside.
Fast forward to 2025 and 20 South Street is now no longer reverberating to the sound of locomotion pistons but it is the esteemed home of one of the finest independent music and art venues in the north east called The Boiler Shop and it was chosen as the venue for the final English date of Edwyn Collins testimonial tour. The final journey for Edwyn Collins in a career that has lasted over 45 years. A journey that has included trips to Teesside. He played with Orange Juice (The Rock Garden and Middlesbrough Town Hall) and as a solo artist (The Dovecot Arts Centre and The Westgarth).
The challenge that was presented to Edwyn was to select a setlist that could distil the very best of a glorious career consisting of 4 legendary Postcard singles, four Orange Juice LP’s and 10 solo LP’s but I’m
sure everyone in the beautiful confines of the venue would agree that his 90 minute, 22 song set was a pretty fine testament to his career. From the set opener and his very first sublime Postcard single ‘Falling And Laughing’, Edwyn led us on an sublime stroll through his finest moments. The seminal debut album ‘You Can’t Hide Your Love Forever’ was featured heavily with ‘Falling And Laughing’, ‘Dying Day’, ‘In A Nutshell’, ‘Consolation Prize’ and ‘Felicity’ all being delivered to the delight of his many ardent devotees. His solo career was well served too with songs ranging from his first ever solo single ‘Don’t Shilly Shally’ album to his latest album ‘Nation Shall Speak Unto Nation’ (the self-same title track and the moving reflective strains of ‘Knowledge’). It is so hard to pick out specific moments in such a powerful emotional evening but you would have to have a heart of stone not to be moved by his rendition of ‘In Your Eyes’ when he was joined by his son, Will. His stripped back renditions of ‘Low Expectations’ and ‘Home
Again’ in the encore were also beautifully fragile and heartfelt. The rousing closing ‘Blue Boy’ had everyone in the Boiler Shop singing in unison and hoping that the retirement from touring doesn’t mean he will retire from music altogether.
God bless the mighty Edwyn Collins.
Words: Chris Bartley
Pictures: Callum Robinson / Boiler Shop
Twisterella: Adult DVD, Punchbag, The Lake Poets, Dossers and many more, Various venues, Middlesbrough, 11 October 2025
It is a day of the year when there is a real tingle of excitement rippling through audience and performers alike. Twisterella is in town for a multi stage take over platforming vibrant, developing music makers for an audience that absolutely laps it up. I won't apologise for making it sound like a circus because I am old enough now to remember when the circus was a big, big arrival. Twisterella has a similar impact that delights on the day but also ripples on afterwards and leaves us wanting more and more of the same.
Middle Management opened up. An arty Teesside band with plenty to say that maybe remind me of Talking Heads. The punchy music, the equally pithy word power. The attitude, no platitudes. I really like them. Influencer Influenza. A song called Sluts about sinister Incel aggressors. They are current and hot on topic. Yes. Top starters for ten.
Twisterella like to throw in one of their headliners early. It definitely encourages people to come down early and maybe a band can split their own bills by adding a second set in another town. Will the shoegazery indie of Swim School endear them enough to become another of the long line of Scottish favourites to make Teesside a home from home? I think it is highly possible.
Atmospheric, creative, emotive and with youth firmly on their side. They could well be booking a return ticket.
Down in the Town Hall Crypt Teesside's own Dossers were dressed for success as well as hitting all the high notes of the punky set that has marked them as a stand outs over the past 12 months. The singer looked like he was about to go for a job interview but he passed our audition displaying endless energy. Double barrelled guitars blast out goliath punk riffs as they sink the racists and the rioters and reclaim the town.
It was a short hop across town for another Teessider, Parissa Zarifi charmed the sofa surfers in the intimate Uni Lounge. Accompanied by Rob on electric guitar Parissa picked her way through the narrative rich songs of her acclaimed debut album Sing For My Soul, released last year. A message written in sand. Free Of You. Then a new number Empty Remedy, when I wake up in my make up. The finale sees Parissa pick up her violin and blow us all the way with a solo that builds into a mini concerto. What a talent.
I stay on at the same stage for Elaine Palmer, amazingly playing her first ever Twisterella. Elaine shifts seamlessly between her beguiling little ditty's eg Let Me Dance and folk/country epics epitomised by the stormy and tempestuous Freeborough Hill. Both songs are taken from last year's captivating Half Moon Rising. In between ignoramus talking loudly to his mate and into his phone. times she lets rip at some ignoramus talking
loudly tohis mate and into his phone. Elaine's aren't the only eyes burning into him as he goes suddenly silent.
No one was going to silence the music at this October festival of live, original music. A showcase of so much musical magic from local and national performers. And now in the contrast back to one of the main stages and Roller Disco Party, hi energy korg synth and drums and samples and just real hi octane fun. Music to smile to.
Lake Poets Marty sings of an argument in an Edinburgh Bar before he is celebrating his City By The Sea, flying high in the Premier as I write this. His music is all about family, heritage and northern pride. His ode to granddad the rivet catcher and crane driver always brings a lump to the throat. I hope that I make you proud, he sings. There is nothing more certain.
Too many great acts to mention. But from one north east legend to a soon to be legendary north eastern band in Irked. The constant wanderings of singer, Helen, bellowing into the mic about the Hardest man In Billingham, as she picks us off one by one when circling the dancefloor.
I'm not your punchbag was the gist of the first song by Punchbag. Wow, the singer never stopped bouncing to the punky, pop-y, guitar-y, synthy. Totally hyper with her brother just behind her in full on support. So totally uplifting. Outstanding entertainment.
Half of Adult DVD come from Stockton I am informed. From Stockton to the world. Such an exciting act. Electro indie disco or something of that ilk with loads of synths, loads of rhythm and piles of passion. It is vibrant, it is urgent, it is intoxicating.
An encore is demanded, it is not negotiable. Everyone but everyone is grooving along and is joining in at the top of their voices with Bill Murray, Bill Murray is lost in Japan.... Tom Hanks is Castaway. Fantastic.
Thank you so much to promoters TKASG and Henry Carden, they are truly golden and we are so lucky to have their dedication or more accurately, their devotion to the music community cause. For this is all about community and the battle to preserve it. At times since Covid it has seemed to be an uphill battle but quite simply we cannot afford not to have our live music and with guys and gals like this on our side how can we possibly lose.
Words: Robert Nichols
Pictures: Tracy Hyman
Chris Helme, JP Riggall, The Waiting Room, Eaglescliffe,
12 October
2025
What do you want to hear, the Seahorses stuff or my more recent material? Chris Helme posed the question at the start of the night. The mix of replies meant the man from York could plot a course betwixt and between. Accompanied by the brilliantly talented but superbly understated Simon Snaize on electric guitar Chris Helme could serve up a real Sunday night treat for the packed and enraptured crowd.
Chris Helme revealed that he changed his set after being somewhat blown away by the songs of JP Riggall. Without his band mates the Weathership troubadour strips it all back to those spiralling guitar patterns and the kind of vocals that not so much pull but uproot your heart strings. We are struggling against the current in The Swimmer. Jim used to get sad about Sentimental Things, a newie but goodie in the set. Don't look down from his Crow's Nest, I almost developed a fear of heights I thought I had left behind high at the top of the wall bars in Primary school. There is no such thing as plain sailing with this emotive Weathership stalwart.
Setting out with bluesy material Chris Helme was soon able to name drop in the best of all possible ways a co-authored song with Liam Gallagher, that the Oasis man appeared to be oblivious to. There was heavy
acoustic strumming to Desert Drive from his latest album release. Chris apologising for a frog in his that was dislodging at a rate he said could cause alarm to the front row.
Always an incredible singer, the first time I heard Chris play solo was up at the Lion Inn, Blakey Ridge and I have never been able to forget it. The Seahorses only lasted 3 years in all but similarly the impression he has left behind continues to draw people out on an autumnal night to relive their youths and once again rock their worlds. Love Is The Law and Blinded By The Sun still shine as blindingly good pop songs. Simon Snaize was able to deliver the John Squire guitar lines on a plate for Chris to nail.
The duo are now combining to record the Chris Helme back catalogue. Judging by this Waiting Room gig it is an exciting prospect. I haven't seen so many wide mouthed smiles on a Sunday for many a moon. But then again this was a feast from a trio of special performers.
Words: Robert Nichols
Pictures: Tracy Hyman
So many of my friends have raved about Our Man In The Field, after seeing the London based Teessider playing live in the big smoke. His roots Americana really strikes a chord.
On the eve of his solo performance at Angel’s Cut in Darlington (Nov 5th ) I asked him a few questions about how it was all going for him.
Off The Beat: I was first alerted to you by so many people raving about your gigs in London on fmttm. Canyou tell us a little about your development as an artist and band, Alex?
Our Man in the Field (aka Alex Ellis): I moved down to London to study acting and spent a long time doing that and writing songs was really just something I did for myself. This was until a friend sent a song in to Tom Robinson at BBC Introducing, just a basic recording but he played it and seemed to like it. I started doing solo gigs in London and then met a few people playing cool instruments like upright bass and pedal steel so got the first band together.
There used to be so many places to play in London that you could more or less get a gig any night you wanted but Covid definitely changed that. Just before Covid I
had some interest from Universal who sent me to record some songs in Poland, I didn’t like what we recorded, it didn’t sound like the band I wanted so I told them I’d come back with a better record and see if they wanted to do anything with it. That’s when Covid happened and I ended up meeting some Swedish people who had a label which was a much better fit - I would also keep ownership so it made sense.
We then got the opportunity to go to Portland in Oregon to work with Tucker Martine who is one of my all time favourite producers to make our second record Gold On The Horizon. That record caught the ear of Guy Fletcher who plays keys in Dire Straights and produced Mark Knopfler’s records. We went into Mark’s studio to record which was quite an amazing experience.
That new record has exposed us to a lot more people in the industry and we’ve been able to get on some big stages like The Hyde Park show and Glastonbury. It also helped get the new band together and we’ve already played a load of shows.
We’ve still got got Raul on keys, Henry on pedal steel and Maddy on cello but we’ve added Matt Owens (Noah and the Whale), Jimmy on drums, JJ on bass and Steve and Stewart on horns (Paul Weller’s guys) and the amazing Will Fry on percussion, plus Guy comes and plays when he can.
OTB: Could you speak about the forthcoming album –Silverado. How did the recording go at Dire Straits, British Grove Studios?
OMITF: Silverado is a bunch of songs written over a few years about America. I’m an unapologetic fan of American cars, guitars, art and music and I think lots of people are. But it’s an imperfect muse and I’ve had many conversations with folks in different parts of the world that start with how much we love America and then end with our sadness about the current state of it.
Recording at British Grove was a dream. We had 5 days to record as many songs as possible and I expected we might get 6/7 but in the end we got 13 - and with an 11 piece live band that was quite something. Chuck Prophet told me that him and his pals sit around talking about dream studios to work in and they always say British Grove is the one, they’re not wrong.
OTB: You have toured so extensively, was it a buzz to play roots and Americana out in USA?
OMITF: There’s something cinematic abut the light in America. The roads go on forever and the sky seems to
hold some sort of magic. Henry and I drove from Atlanta Airport to Nashville a couple of years ago and the sky was amazing at night, there was an orange glow, hard to describe but we got all the way to Chattanooga getting honked by everyone we passedwe thought it was weird until we realised we’d driven 200 mile with no lights on because we were looking at the sky. I could happily spend the rest of my life travelling to small towns in America playing shows and as long as I had enough money to cover the gas I wouldn’t need much else. Live music still seems to be held up as a staple of a night out in a lot of America. We’ve lost that I think here which is a shame.
OTB: Was it an amazing experience to play Glastonbury?
OMITF: Yes, amazing . I played the general workers Red Lion tent at Glastonbury in 2016 on my own. It was quite a strange experience as it was a noisy bar, not really suited to solo acoustic music and then it was the night of the Brexit vote so the next day everyone was depressed. It felt like I exorcised that experience when we played the acoustic stage this year.
OTB: And tell us what it was like to play with Neil Young?
OMITF: I had to do a load of organising that day and it took me 3 hours to drive 20 miles in to the gig with all the gear so it wasn’t until I was sat at the side of the stage watching him that I realised what an amazing day
I’d had. Sitting next to Van and watching him walk on stage, in a mood, was also a highlight.
OTB: You have played some very big gigs but how do you look forward to playing intimate gigs?
OMITF: I do. I think we have to become something else on the big stages and I’m leaning how to do that the more we do it but I’m at home in front of a small audience who want to know what the songs are about.
OTB: I know you left Teesside a few years ago now but how do you feel about returning to the region for the show?
OMITF: It’s really special. I look forward to it in a different way to just another gig. I’ll always be from Teesside, I was born in Middlesbrough and my son will always support the Boro whether he likes it or not. We happened to play in Newcastle more because I opened for acts that toured there and we got a following on the back of those shows. It took me a lot longer to get on the radar of the Teesside music promoters and I appreciate it so much now. Its a delicate thing and I fully, understand why some people might not think a guy who left for London deserves a look in but thanks to Elaine and the guys from Twisterella we’ve got one and I intend to make the most of it.
Our Man in the Field plays the Angel’s Cut in Darlington on Wednesday 5th November.
Words: Robert Nichols
Skindred, Monvrchs, Dead Pony
Jess Silk and Joe Solo
Stuart Copeland – Have I Said Too Much?
Kris Barras’ Hollow Souls
Nik Void, Daisy Dickinson, MSHR
Ian Bosworth Quintet
Strahinja Mitrovic & Salome Jordania
Pictish Trail + Faith Eliott
Our Man in the Field
The Aniseed Lounge, Stingray, Stellacaster
Lottie Turner, Isaac Thompson, Sky Parker
Saving Disgraceland: Rainy Miller, ++ Duellist, Lenacha, Million, Wren Adobe, Hewn
Nightshift Charity Gig (Teenage Cancer Trust)
November
November £15 + bf
Middlesbrough Town Hall
The Green Room, Stockton-on-Tees
The Princess Alexandra Auditorium, Yarm
Stockton-on-Tees
November FREE 8pm The Auxiliary, Middlesbrough
November
November £7 + bf
November
1pm Chapel, Whitehouse Street, Middlesbrough
Methodist Church
Eaglescliffe
Darlington
Volume Music Bar, Stockton-on-Tees
Middlebrough
Hartlepool Mik Artistik’s Ego Trip
Green Room, Stockton-on-Tees
Saving Disgraceland: FWL, Lee Round, Riley O’Neil and more
November
+ bf
Disgraceland, Middlesbrough Winter Wilson, Avril McCall
The Len Price 3
Listings subject to change, please check with the venue’s website for full information before booking.
Polyfillas, Pretentious, Cherry Knowle
NE-THING GOES: The Ogres Hummingbird, Jacob Fletcher, Mety, Luke Witham
Toby Lee, Isabella and James Emmanuel
Moss
Aidan
Onlooker, Tiger Island, Empty State, Grave Faces, Surface Waves
Industrial Coast: Jake Muir
Elaine Palmer, Robyn Errico
Granny’s Attic
Listings subject to
Beans on Toast
Royal Northern Sinfonia: Mendelssohn’s Violin Concerto
Live and Local: Falchion, Cat Rose, Noah AJC
Alligator Gumbo
Bez in Conversation: The Nine Lives of a Happy Monday
The Heralds, Memoria, The Howlers
Break the Waves: Motherman, Cane Rouge, Spyderz
The Marawders
Cream Middlesbrough: Seb Fontaine, Tall Paul, K-Klass, Lottie, Rob Harnetty
Cleveland Philharmonic Choir: Mendelssohn’s Elijah
Johnny Campbell, Michelle Laverick
Glam Slam 6
Guisborough Choral Society: Winter Songs
The Crazy World of Arthur Brown
Georgian Theatre, Stockton-on-Tees
Middlesbrough Town Hall
The Friarage Theatre, Yarm
-on-Tees
Volume Music Bar, Stockton-on-Tees
Georgian Theatre, Stockton-on-Tees
Gerardo Rodrigues “The Simple Things” Tour
Princess Alexandra Auditorium, Yarm Concert and Cake – November 2025
Detonata, We Don’t Bite, Nathan Crook
Princess Alexandra Auditorium, Yarm
Listings subject to change, please check with the venue’s website for full information before booking.
Low Girl, Brodie Milner, Sarah Johnsone
Fisherman’s Friends
Michael Gallagher
John Hackett Band
Hark! The Sound of Stories: Roxanne de Bastion, Frazer Lambert
Riverside Rebellion Punk Fest: Dirt Box Disco, Boilermaker, The Gakk, MC16, Nervous Twitch, The Inklings, Peesh (LoGOz)
O Holy Night with Newcastle University Chamber Choir
Darlington Choral Society: Schütz – Christmas Story, Joanna Forbes l’Estrange – A Season to Sing
Classical Café: Cobweb Orchestra
Ross Leighton
Passion Killers, Sara Dennis & Bob Beagrie, Glad Town Ghost, Oui Bee band
Calling 4 April 2026
Listings subject to change, please check with the venue’s website for
before booking.
Darlington Library
Central Hall, Dolphin Centre, Darlington