Fortnightly Music Reviews from the streets of Teesside and beyond
Babyshambles, Warmduscher, Another Day Middlesbrough Empire, 1 December 2025
I have to hold my hand up from the start, I was probably the one person in the crowd who related to Pete Doherty more for his alternative written word than his alternative music. It was a real thrill to speak fanzines to Pete when he stepped down from the stage between acts to quiz me about Fly Me To The Moon, Boro fanzine. In reply I have written to Pete to ask about his teenage QPR fanzine, All Quiet on the Western Avenue, as well as his current On Strap publication. I will let you know should I get answers in response. I am sure he will reply because he seems so sincere and committed both in his promotion of hidden writers and also in whipping up a hot bed crowd and making it a musical Monday night to remember.
Kicking off this leg of the Babyshambles tour was Another Day, a young band originally from Kent, making the absolute most of the platform and leaving a big first impression. Playing chirpy indie guitar pop, with a stand up percussionist also weighing in with occasional poetic verse. The final song Merry Go Round brought the set to a fitting climax. A bouncy rhythm, a catchy chorus. Not afraid to change tempo mid song and step up or step down. The singer even did a full back flip. Fun and definitely attention grabbing.
What a support to have in Warmduscher. They drive through the gears pinning their brand to spine tingling bass and rhythms, running through a gamut of garage rock, electronica, funk and psychedelia. The mayhem is all controlled by the mad conductor up front and central, Clams Baker Jr. They soon have the whole room up and grooving.
And so the sumptuous, grand Edwardian stage is set for My Pete Doherty and Babyshambles. There are loud roars as the man in the trilby hat, steps out. Looking tall and lean, Pete talks Ironopolis, he has learned his Boro history and now he points the way backward and forward with his cane to Killamangiro. It is a bleak Monday outside in downtown Middlesbrough and the song hits home truths. A full 20 years after the release of Down In Albion every
âOhhh ohhh ohhhhâ on stage is loudly chorused around the the circus ring like auditorium. There are plenty of numbers mined from the debut over the course of the set, La Belle at la Bete, Back From The Dead and of course Albion amongst them.
There is time for talk as well, Pete's dog walking in town, escaping a local hard man. The music is as jaunty as the hat Pete twirls on his cane as things really get going. It can all be chaotic, shambolic even but somehow it all stays together long enough to complete every song in endearing fashion. The crowd are absolutely loving the nostalgia, jumping, laughing and loudly singing along.
It is not all about looking backwards, Pete's fresh start is further on show with his wife Katia de Vidas on stage for recent ska pop single, Dandy Hooligan. In the encore Babyshambles pay their respects as they play a dedication to their former guitarist Patrick Walden who died earlier this year.
We dive in back to Down In Albion and everyone but everyone is leaping around like they are seventeen again to Fuck Forever and that includes the man with the trilby and cane.
A memorable Monday. Babyshambles brought the Middlesbrough Empire house down.
Words: Robert Nichols
Pictures: Tracy Hyman
Ross Leighton, Melanie Baker, The Courtroom, Middlesbrough Town Hall, 30 November 2025
What a wonderful way to spend a Sunday afternoon, in the glorious old Victorian Courtroom of the Town Hall, sitting back to be entertained by two amazing artists. Thank you Middlesbrough Gigs for bringing back one of Middlesbrough's favourite sons. I say that knowing full well that Ross Leighton is obviously from well north of the border but for many years his band Fatherson were treated as honorary Teessiders. This was a home from home for one of Scotland's all-time greats.
Opening was Melanie Baker, truly a rising star of the north east. This afty she was stepping out from her band apart from glittering guitarist John Evans. Melanie doesn't want Slugs in the cupboard, words painting an all too vivid picture of student accommodation. Double Decker Death Machine failed to tempt Stagecoach into a sponsorship option. They wound it up for a rip-roaring finale was the My Head Fell Off Last Night. Blew the cobwebs off. Melanie Baker, superb as always.
What a voice, Ross Leighton. Oh wow. With the high ceiling of the Courtroom it was truly and absolutely so uplifting. We had Fatherson classics stripped back to their highly emotive core and plenty of new material aired to the full. Ross actually admitted to being nervous stepping out from his band and soloing in a
town that means so much to him, to an audience of big fans. If that made the music and the musician that bit more vulnerable then it only added to the appeal. And everyone was busting a gut to join in when beckoned to sing, its a game of two halves.
There was a lament for the Westgarth, sadly so missed and where Fatherson made such a mark on Teesside Then the big finish and everyone joining in for a Middlesbrough Gigs choir on Making Waves and James.
A Sunday Special.
Words: Robert Nichols
Lauren Housley, Maggie May Treanor, The Waiting Room, Eaglescliffe, 7 December 2025
There was a strong Americana and Country vibe to the Waiting Room when Watermill Sessions brought two exceptional artists to Eaglescliffe. Or maybe that should be three. More of that later. Maggie May Treanor and Lauren Horsley didn't come by railroad, more Trans Pennine Express as the two award winning artists are from Yorkshire rather than Nashville.
Maggie May Treanor hitched up in sparkly top with a voice that lit up the room in similar fashion. The words really hit home also, in second song Medicine, can you be my medicine, can you be my healer. There was definitely a healing power to Maggie's music. She then took us stateside singing songs about teenagers dropping out into a California community, or from the perspective of a resident of the incredible Yellowstone national park. The Maggie told a little of her own story, daughter of a jockey and herself seemingly all set for an equestrian career only to be inspired into taking a completely different direction. As Maggie began to swap the reins for the microphone Lauren Housley had been both an encouragement and someone so talented to drive her to up her game. What heights Maggie May is now hitting with the emotion and the power of her singing
Hailing from south Yorkshire Lauren Housley has been
songwriting and live award accolades from Nashville and beyond. Tonight, Lauren was appearing with another UK country star in amazing peddle steel guitarist CJ Hillman, you may have seen and heard his work with Billy Bragg or Laura Marling.
Another amazing voice, Lauren sounded golden when venturing into old soul with I've Been Loving You Much Too Long. The wonderful Stay Awake To Dream was recorded with her band, The Northern Cowboys, for long time fan, Bob Harris Apple Tree Sessions. It was actually filmed in whispering Bob's garden. Change is a Comin' promised Lauren and all the while the peddle steel's mewing lament underscores the performance masterfully.
Lauren has been a prolific writer of poems from being a child,now herself a mother of two, she treated us to a song written with her husband Tom, The Waiting Game. Then there was one of those hairs standing up on the back of the neck moments as Lauren and Chris Hillman unplugged the guitars and stepped back from the microphone for a captivating unaccompanied vocal. We got funkier with Nice To See You. Then a song Lauren said we might hear in Tesco as it is on the radio 2 playlist, This Aint The Life, which she rightly described as a bit of a bop. Final song, before being roared back for encores, was All You Need Is a Friend and Lauren Horsley certainly made plenty of new friends on Teesside. What a talent.
Amelia Coburn, Robyn Errico, St Maryâs Cathedral, Middlesbrough, 12 December 2025
What a year for Amelia Coburn and Robyn Erico. Seated at her keyboards Robyn confessed that since getting the call from Amelia it had changed her life, playing all over the country as part of the band including an amazing support slot in Glasgow at the Old Fruit Market for country sensation Rianne Downey. Nestled next to the Christmas Tree she launched into a new song, Nobody's Catch. There is much of Kate Bush about this very talented young singer songwriter/ keyboardist. And like Kate, Robyn enjoys her history and literature and treated us to a song about the rise and fall of Tudor Anne Boleyn.
Robyn Erico was soon back on stage again playing the keyboards in Amelia Coburn's exceptional backing band. It was wonderful to experience a completely full cathedral. It is a such a great venue as the arcs of pews sweep down towards the stage, giving an amazing view for one and all. A perfect place then to celebrate Christmas time with Teesside's own twinkling star Amelia Coburn. We shared songs about the perils of dating apps, I'm a nodding dog, she sang. Cover your ears Amelia's boyfriend. There was a run out for a number Amelia recorded as a single sung in French from the former language student and released as a single.
Amelia asks where everyone is from, Acklam shouts one voice. This is a fitting intro to Sleepy Town about getting away but there is always the call from home and Acklam drawing you back.
Amelia has such a vibrant personality as well as voice and in 2025 she captivated audiences in 60 gigs from Teesside to Texas, SXSW.
Like Robyn, Amelia enjoys her literature and gothic novels are the inspiration for the magical See Saw, her personal favourite from her ace album, Between the Moon and the Milkman. Time for an unlikely cover for the setting, the song that cast a spell over the hapless policeman in the film Wickerman, also cast a spell over the audience.
We then were Walking In The Air, Amelia leading us by the hand flying over the rooftops of South Middlesbrough back in time for hot chocolate and a hot water bottle before Santa was due to make tracks.
Words: Robert Nichols
Pictures: Tracy Hyman
Shrug, Pellethead, Miserable Les, Toft House, Middlesbrough, 3 January 2026
Is there a finer way to start the New Year than a gig in the lovely confines of the illustrious Home of Unpopular music, Toft House? Leigh Sayers and friends have been providing such a lovely diverse roster of music for many a year and looking at the 2026 diary, this could be the best yet.
Tonightâs gig was a north east special. The proceedings were opened by long suffering Gateshead fan and experienced optimist (rather than ultimate pessimist), Miserable Les. Alongside his musical companion, John the trumpet, Les entertained the packed-out venue with his selection of witty and thought-provoking songs. I particularly loved âTemptationâ which entertained the notion of being momentarily reckless in life and succumbing to ermâŠ.temptation and âCharity Shopâ which analysed the trials and tribulations of working in a charity shop. Razor sharp lyrics and deft arrangements. Would definitely recommend catching him live if you get the chance.
Next up were the mighty Pellethead. A band so good that the legendary Vic Godard released their âBest Of A Band Bunchâ album in 2018 after he had been blown away when they supported him at the Georgian Theatre. Their 9-song set was a perfect blend of songs from their incredible back catalogue (âSocial Creeperâ, âAve Mariaâ, âThe Drummerâ and the glorious âMaguireâ) alongside new songs (âManDogâ describing Alanâs alternative name in Staithes and preferring the company of dogs to human beings. It is my new favourite Pellethead song already!). They are playing again in The Chapel in February. You would be a fool not to go and see them!
Finally, and after a break of playing live for two years, we had the legendary Shrug. I realised that after seeing their first Middlesbrough Music Collective gig in the Albert pub in 1985 that this is a sort of 40th anniversary show with original members Kevin Wall, Richard Pink, Sarah OâBrien and Robert Nichols and slightly newer members, Oli Heffernan (looking like a post punk Michael Nesmith from the Monkees, resplendent in his woolly hat) and Richie OâBrien (and his second performance of the night after playing with Pellethead). For over an hour they entertained the Toft House faithful who had braved the snowy Middlesbrough weather with a selection of excellent songs throughout their career including a big chunk of their second 2018 LP, âIsland Complexâ As a keen historian, Rob offers his own unique take of figures and tales of old (âBusby Stoopâ and Doggerlandâ). Alongside carefully selected visual aids (credited to Jackie Watson) a heady melange of props including horses heads and a decommissioned fox from the Little Theatre props department, Shrug demonstrated why they are cherished so much by everyone. My highlights were a blistering âWhitby Kipperâ, âBeirdo Weirdoâ and a perfect encore âWalter Raleighâs Fast Food Take Overâ, it was an amazing evening and with Boroâs 4-0 crushing of Southampton the following day, a serious contender for best weekend of 2026 already.
Words: Chris Bartley
Pictures: Michael Sanderson
Stokesley Songfest 2026
Gamburtsevs
J.P. Riggall, James Leonard Hewitson
NE Thing Goes: Tunnelvision, Ducter, Artemis
Jeremy McMurray and the Pocket Jazz Orchestra: 10th Anniversary
SHDE, Issac (The Regency), AMZ
Chump Wrecker, Ironic Thug, Ounosugo, T-Bone
North East Mathia, Dutch Elm, Eigengrau, Frogs With Teeth, Nuclear Sunset
-on-Tees
The Blackheart Orchestra
Trio Aquarelle
Brook Pridemore, Ceiling Demons, Stebee
Bal Stingray & His Goo Goo Mucks, The Hangmen
An Evening with Ken Scott: Abbey Road to Ziggy Stardust
Listings subject to change, please check with the
Green Room, Stockton-on-Tees
âs website for full information before booking.
Melanie Baker, The Wednesday Flowers, Georgia Smith
The Lovefools, Tunnelvision
RnB Club: Burning Rope
The Dirt, Lurcher, State Laughter
CoLLaBoRaToR-SaLVaTioN Album Launch: Sleeping Rude Boy, The Skapones, Zen Baseballbat, King Zepha
Vincent Cayo
Dr Feelgood, Nine Below Zero
Punk Night: Boilermaker, Monkeys Blood, Jonny Robson Acoustic
Kiosk, Moss, Thought Trumpet
-on-Tees
Blues in the Bar: Louis Brennan, Greg Brice
Boro Sounds 2026
Live and Local: The Heralds, Memoria, The Asatines
Listings subject to change, please check with the venueâs website for full information before booking.
Stock Image, Bruiser, Corduroy Boy
McCormick, Tokyo Rose (ft. Linzi Hunter), Jay MoussaMann
Stockton Calling
4 April 2026
A Stoneâs Throw Festival
23 May 2026
27 February £7 7.30pm Café Etch, Middlesbrough
Munro Festival
8 June 2026
Deer Shed Festival
24 - 26 July 2026
Listings subject to change, please check with the venueâs website for full information before booking.