Fortnightly Music Reviews from the streets of Teesside and beyond
This Is Middlesbrough, Teesside University’s Student Union
5 April 2025
A brand new all-dayer from the Twisterella gang. Eighteen acts (at least) playing three venues and all under one roof. With a bar serving refreshments in between and plenty of seats to step back from the music if you wished. How comfortable and convenient is all that? What a winning formula, may it be an annual event please.
The live music was served up by acts from Teesside and beyond. Far beyond. Scotland to the Baltic States to be exact. Emerging acts, some knocking on the door of being household names, some returning, some first footing in the region. All for just £27. You really cannot fall off.
And the great thing about the Twisterella crew is that by now we all know they can be trusted to deliver. Even if you have never heard the music behind the act's name before, you can be absolutely certain that they have been selected because they offer something fresh, dynamic or just really, really entertaining. It is all about track record, Twisterella has that in spades and This Is Middlesbrough has every chance of opening the doors wide open once again for live music. This is about recapturing the spirit of the much missed Westgarth and relaunching a new showcase just over the road in a modern, and extremely safe space at the University of Teesside. We need to embrace it and really back it to the hilt and allow This Is
Middlesbrough to put a musical heart back in the town's core.
Oh heck I have blethered on a bit. I need to get to the nitty gritty and rather than just reduce this into a list of acts can I first apologise for all I don't mention. Too little space, Tracy is a very strict editor.
Dossers are anything but. They smash out a really energetic punk sound and move around so much. The singer is really enagaging and the song lyrics show a band with their thinking caps on, a band with a conscience but also not about to take themselves over seriously. Richard III pulls no punches, about a misogynist who is violent. No Thanks is about misdirected government priorities but we are invited to get down and boogey at the same time.
Dilettante is on the comeback trail from recent illness and tested herself to the full on just about as many instruments as was possible to sample and boomerang loop back. The results are experimental but always, always most musical. Complex vocal harmonies, percussive based compositions, guitar and sax duets, with herself. Then a quiet, contemplative lounge song dedicated to anyone not in love. There was no show of hands to that one. Glad you are on the mend Dilettante.
Words: Robert Nichols Pictures: Tracy Hyman
Dossers
Dilettante
We were talking of lounge and over in the Lounge, Robyn Errico was searching for treasure Deep Sea Diving. The young Darlington singer songwriter coaxes up a big orchestral sound from behind her keyboard. Robyn enjoys exploring musically and she can throw us sideways as songs reel from rock orchestral into electronica or even enter a bouncy pop refrain.
Subjects that capture Robyn's attention include the mysterious Whitby Jet and the big skies and open Arizona landscapes of Welcome to Sedona. She has a rich voice and is a rich talent too. Catch this rising star at the Butterfly Effect Festival on 31May.
Luke Evans engaging vocalist with big statement band We Tibetans had a confession to make he was boiling alive in his big jacket. But he was fully committed now, no turning back, no taking it off and that sums up the way We Tibetans play. They are all in and it is pretty much impossible not to dive all in with them. This is how it feels to be running away builds to a real powerhouse flourish.
This this might be big but it is not brash, Mother's Ruin is all about the fragility of mental health. “She goes to bed prays to God she wakes up dead... wakes up to a new day instead” Or words to that effect. Plenty of messaging that is both uplifting and compassionate.
Lilo are so pleased to be returning to Middlesbrough. They love it here. So nice to hear that. It is a country
rock sound, replete with slide guitar and the two and sometimes three-part harmonies of the front women. Back On Your Feet chronicles a long journey and in actual fact they drove all the way up from playing a gig in Bristol the night before, that is commitment for you.
Talking of long journeys Rye is a female, solo performer all the way from Lithuania. Playing an acoustic and running her voice through a vocal harmoniser (I think, I am not technical) Rye also sings in two languages. But it is a unified message of someone that is really talented and able to bridge linguistic and cultural gaps and strike a real chord on Teesside.
Words: Robert Nichols
Pictures: Tracy Hyman
We Tibetans
Rye
Indoor Foxes are vibrant, feisty but fun. Down from Scotland and in Middlesbrough for the first time. Through their vocalist Martha Barr they pack so much energy into their performance. She ditched her guitar to play some bouncy songs, by which she meant she would bounce up and down almost uncontrollably, down past Davis Hayhoe in his famous green striped jacket and out into the dance floor melee leading a riotous cover of LCD Soundsystem's Daft Punk Is Playing At My House.
Time to pause for thought in the Lounge with the incredible Brodie Milner. Amazing lyrics that come out in a stream, a 21st century Dylan. Sarcasm, humour and pithy hyper-realism. Amazing, really amazing.
Upstairs in masks and white boiler suits Perfect Chicken are on a rampage. Swapping vocals and swapping instruments. Anarchic. And a chaotic set list ranging from being hard in a car park to a Justin Bieber cover. Then finally they descend into band civil war. Hand shakes in private after the fight scenes.
North easterners Pit Pony brought their big sound and Chameleon-esque guitars cranking it all up for an explosive finish.
Mandrake Handshake, probably have the best name of the day and surely the biggest line up also. I think I counted eight of them but maybe there were more.
percussive beats and equally groovy dancing. So much going on. I found them absolutely enthralling listening and viewing. I am already looking forward to another blast of Mandrake Handshake at Deer Shed this summer. And I will definitely be diving into their recently released Earth-Sized Worlds album.
And finally, at last, headliners October Drift. Talk about going for it from the first whistle. An absolute rage of energy from their alt rock guitars. The vocalist singing through the crowd and serenading someone seated at the back. Everyone but everyone is part of their show. No exceptions, no pass outs allowed. The guitarist gets in on the act, defying the mosh pit. I hope David Hayhoe is careful with that jacket as he gets sucked into the vortex also. “Middlesbrough, lets do this... nothing exists beyond this room.” We are in a bubble. A musical maelstrom.
And then it is over and as we stagger away from the Uni we can reflect that on this day this was just about the best place to be. Top atmosphere. Inspiring music makers. Great fun. But please do not keep it a secret, get out there and spread the word. Shout it loud and be proud. Let's build on this and make it a full on Middlesbrough music revival.
#UpTheBoro
Words: Robert Nichols
October Drift
From No Parlez to The Secret Of Association – An Intimate Evening with Paul Young
Pindrop Presents: Gabriel Moreno, Sara Dennis, Steve Pledger, Jim and Jess Thoroughgood
Tom Blackwell
April From £32 + bf
Princess Alexandra Auditorium, Yarm
April
Stockton Calling: Maxïmo Park, Finn Forster, Big Special, The Paddingtons, Lizzie Esau and more
The Jack Tars, Alex Lord, Kyle Lennox
The George Bailey Band
+ bf
Vagrant Guitars and Effects,
-on-Tees
Multiple venues across Stockton-on-Tees
Toft House, Middlesbrough
The Devonport, Middleton One Row Lifter
Battle of the Bands: Dots, Apollo, Queen’s Screech, Indigo
Live and Local: Last Case Scenario, Failed to Ignite, Triple Threat
Wasted Youth, Turning Black Like Lizards, Grant Schofield DJ
Carl Green and the Scene, Stock Image
The Waiting Room, Eaglescliffe
NE Volume Music Bar, Stockton-on-Tees
The Forum, Darlington
Gamburtsevs (film screening)
April
8pm Toft House, Middlesbrough
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
Big Little Gigs: David Neil Crabtree Band
Angel Archives, Young Chasers, The 1202, Silver Reed