logistics

NEXT GIG: Joyce The Librarian + Cyan Circus + Skylark Song + Roger Tarry at The Head of Steam, ...

Sat, 04 May 2013 08:23:49 +0100

JOYCE THE LIBRARIAN

is a band from Bristol fronted by singer-songwriter Martin Callingham.

'Their sound is understated but undeniably beautiful, simple guitars and flashes of cello and trumpet back softly-spoken lyrics.' (Ian Parker FFS).

Recently signed to Folkwit records, their first LP ‘They May Put Land Between Us’ is released on 5th November 2012.

http://joycethelibrarian.bandcamp.com/

http://www.joycethelibrarian.net/

http://folkwit.com/

http://www.facebook.com/joycethelibrarian

https://twitter.com/joycelibrarian

CYAN CIRCUS

Cyan Circus are an up-and-coming 4-piece rock band hailing from sunny NE England with a diverse catalogue of instant, catchy, and carefully crafted tunes.

http://cyancircus.com/joomla/

http://www.facebook.com/CyanCircus

https://twitter.com/CyanCircus

SKYLARK SONG

are an acoustic duo from Newcastle that use guitar, vocal harmonies, fiddle and mandolin. Playing our own songs, contemporary folk and blues.

http://www.facebook.com/skylarksongmusic

https://twitter.com/skylarksongfolk

ROGER TARRY

Roger Tarry spins homespun tales of love, loss and longing, melding folk themes around a soft vocal delivery. The nod to influences such as Iron & Wine and Fairport Convention set him apart from the reams of identikit singer-songwriters

http://rogertarry.net/

PINS & Post War Glamour Girls at The Head of Steam on Friday 3rd May 2013

Sat, 04 May 2013 08:21:43 +0100

PINS

Formed in the final few months of 2011, PINS began to cause a stir long before their first two tracks were recorded, thanks to a series of scintillating shows in their native Manchester. Once they were finally online - the moody Eleventh Hour and the punchier Shoot You - in spring 2012, things quickly began to develop, with the band self releasing the single through their own HAUS OF PINS label as a limited run of gold cassettes, which sold out in minutes.

Since then, PINS have released their debut EP on gold glittered 10" vinyl - the now sold-out LUVU4LYF. Taking in four tracks, it gave a brief glimpse of the bands range - from the combative eponymous opening track, through to the languid heat of You Don't Need To Be, and all the emotion in between.

PINS debut album will be released in 2013, which will be released through Bella Union.

http://www.wearepins.co.uk/
http://www.facebook.com/wearepins
https://twitter.com/WeArePins

POST WAR GLAMOUR GIRLS

the-outsider veterans and favourites return after more than a year, armed with an album of new songs in preparation for an Autumn release. With plans to headline tour the UK and also Europe in support of ILikeTrains, we're thrilled to have them back as main and sole support to PINS.

http://www.postwarglamourgirls.com/
https://twitter.com/#!/P_W_G_G
http://postwarglamourgirls.bandcamp.com/
http://postwarglamourgirls.limitedrun.com/

Dog Years + Eeves + Goodbye Chanel at The Head of Steam, Newcastle on Saturday 20th April 2013

Sun, 21 Apr 2013 13:56:59 +0100

DOG YEARS

Dog Years are a Newcastle-based band made up of marital unit Simon and Carly Fee and their prodigious offspring, Paul Burns and Craig Woolf.

Describing themselves as ‘cynical optimists’, they merge seemingly schizoid elements: rusty razor guitars scrape and slice through heart-squeezing harmonies, amid a surreal linguistic landscape.

Dog Years pack the melodic pop poetry of The Beatles and Big Star, the snotty sarcasm of Nirvana and the Pistols, the wit and lyricism of The Smiths and the warped weirdness of Tom Waits and Daniel Johnston.

That’s not to say they don’t listen to loads of brand new, edgy, obscure shit that you definitely haven’t heard of. They do. Obviously. But they’re not gonna show off about it. It’s not top trumps.

What they will show off about, though, is the veritable cavalcade of frothy superlatives thrust upon them by the press in response to early demos and gigs:

'Absolute killer tunes. Simple as. I say 'simple', but it’s the hardest thing in the world to come up with melodies as seemingly effortless as this.’ The Crack

'Dog Years are fantastic. Now that's out of the way let me tell you why. Its in the very fabric of songs which draw parallels to bands like The Shins, My Morning Jacket or Sebadoh/Lou Barlow, the expansive sounds of joy and pain laid down with gusto and glee, haunting, other-worldly vocals and out and out happy rock tunes.’ Narc

‘Dog Years have concocted a sound all of their own which nestles snugly somewhere between indie brilliance and down-beat baroque… the overall result is bursting with an almost unhealthy amount of originality’ Evening Chronicle

http://www.facebook.com/dogyearsmusic
http://www.dogyearsmusic.co.uk/mainindex.html
http://dogyearsmusic.bandcamp.com/
https://twitter.com/dogyearsmusic

EEVES

Eeves are an Alternative / Post-Punk band from Teesside - England, consisting of Peter McDonald and brothers, Stephen, Andrew and Thomas Masterman.

http://soundcloud.com/eeves
http://onesheet.com/eeves/
http://killingmoonlimited.com/2012/04/04/track-of-the-day-eeves-silhouetteso-long-hurricane/

GOODBYE CHANEL

Sometimes a song begins to play, and for some reason or another it just makes you smile. Charged full of character and with a certain air of youthful hopefulness floating about it; Goodbye Chanel’s “Liefe” is certainly one of those songs.

The upbeat guitar – exquisitely dreamy and so clean, it sounds almost innocent – is the noise we’re convinced twinkling stars in the clear night sky would make, if they could. The stunning, melancholic and on occasion even slightly despondent sustained vocal harmonies make for a vibe of understated romance and a definitively folky feel – perhaps reminiscent of the traditions we like to imagine you’d find in hidden away in a tiny Celtic village somewhere. On top of this, aside from its striking, emotive gentleness, Goodbye Chanel also simultaneously manages to inject “Liefe” with a distinctly modern element; namely its captivatingly atmospheric electronic undertones, which wonderfully enrich the song as they drift from wintery echoing into the realms of tender distortion – of course, applied with utmost care so as to not engulf what really is a song so peaceful and beautiful, you could be forgiven for finding yourself quite moved by it - Abacus Post

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Goodbye-Chanel/236254503122743
http://goodbyechanel.bandcamp.com/
http://soundcloud.com/goodbyechanel

The Railway Club + Kyoti + Paige Temperley at The Head of Steam on Saturday 6th April 2013

Sun, 07 Apr 2013 13:52:31 +0100

THE RAILWAY CLUB

Songwriter Martin Trollope is joined by Richard Milburn, David Garrick, Grant Lagan, Glenn Coyne and Carmen Green to form The Railway Club, from the coastal town of South Shields, UK. Currently, they are both recording and producing their debut album in our own recording studio which will be released in August through Newcastle-based label ‘Tiny Lights Recordings’.

http://therailwayclub.co.uk/
https://www.facebook.com/therailwayclub
https://twitter.com/railwaymusic

KYOTI

Kyoti is the new music project of Newcastle-based singer/songwriter Ed Burgon. Blending the harmonies and epic scope of American Alt-Country, with the whimsical lyrics and borderline humour of the likes of The Kinks and Belle & Sebastian, Kyoti creates a sound that is simultaneously familiar and unique. Songs tackle subjects as wide-ranging as the breakup of a first relationship, to first contact with Extra Terrestrials. Coupled with a vivacious and quick-witted onstage persona, Kyoti is taking Folk to weird and wonderful places.

https://soundcloud.com/thisiskyoti/
http://www.facebook.com/thisiskyoti

PAIGE TEMPERLEY

Paige writes beautifully crafted tunes with heart-felt lyrics and original catchy hooks.

http://www.facebook.com/PaigeTemperleyMusic
https://twitter.com/PaigeTemperley

Tickets £4 advance / £5 on the door

http://www.wegottickets.com/event/208265

By Toutatis + Crooked Hands + Hannah D'Arcy at The Head of Steam on Saturday 23rd March 2013

Sun, 24 Mar 2013 11:14:51 +0100

BY TOUTATIS

We say - a gem of a band who blew us away when we featured them in early November. Hard to categorise and that's always a good sign in our book. No, easy - categorise under "brilliant'

Others say ->

"wilfully different and with talent to spare, By Toutatis are the kind of distinctive band that needs to be celebrated more often."
Let's Get Cynical

"...stirring chamber folk."
Sounds XP

"Something of a jazz tinged Jacques Brel in English feel."
LINK

"...what a joy it is. It feels soaked in that elusive quantity which you’d probably call “authenticity”’; Northumbrian folk by way of addled shanties and unexpected shifts of direction..."
The Crack

“Brilliant folk tracks”
Dauphin

“Unique and intriguing, an almost medieval sound”
Backs to the Wall

http://bytoutatis.bandcamp.com/
http://bytoutatis.tumblr.com/
http://www.facebook.com/Bytoutatis

CROOKED HANDS

"He interweaves harmonies that are so haunting it sends a shiver down your spine. His vocal has a gravelly quality that can build from a quiet whisper-like tone to break-your-heart soulful." - Generator

"...the frontman initially took to the stage alone and, despite his shy and muted mannerisms, unleashed one of the most exceptional voices I personally have ever heard live." - KYEO.tv

Crooked Hands is a band. They make nice noise.

They also happen to be great people - bonus!

Listen here

https://soundcloud.com/#crookedhands

HANNAH D'ARCY

"Angry little thing with a big guitar and a big voice"
Hannah D'Arcy

She's recently returned to live performance and having hosted her once and seen her twice we reckon her return was long overdue.

http://www.soundcloud.com/hannahdj
http://www.facebook.com/hannahdarcyNE

Goy Boy McIlroy + Witch Hunt + Gallery Circus at The Head of Steam on Wednesday 13th March 2013

Fri, 15 Mar 2013 22:22:40 +0100

GOY BOY McLIROY

Goy Boy McIlroy are an alt blues band from the Northeast of England. It would be easy to describe their background using the clichéd stereotype of a grey and dreary skyline clogged up with factories and massive chimneys spewing out black clouds of smoke, but Darlington is different to its industrial neighbours. It is a small Quaker market town void of hope and filled with apathy and closed mindedness. It is from that bleak social landscape that they draw their inspiration.
They effortlessly blend rock, blues and post-punk influences to create a “Crazy blues wailin’ righteous racket that embraces Beefheart and the Delta in equal measure”
The commanding baritone vocals of frontman David Saunders combined with the heavy, warlike drums and the expansive, distorted charge of the guitar and bass create an army of sound that assaults the senses, invades the brain and captures your imagination.
“On stage they are raw and overwhelming with explosive bursts of intense energy that create as much suspense and as many twists as an Alfred Hitchcock film.”
They have recently been named Band Of The Day by Louder Than War and featured on Tom Robinson’s Mixtape on BBC Radio 6. On 24th September they released ‘Black Glove’ and ‘The Pilgrim’ as a double A-side single via iTunes, Amazon and on 18th March 2013 they release their new EP 'Iconoclasm'. Get It.

“Like the zombified bastard child of Bauhaus and Kyuss.” -Artrocker , Sept 2012

“A heartfelt deep and dirty blues rock homage done with true GRIT! – BugBear

“Like The Doors playing a gig atop Saruman’s mountain in Lord of the Rings.” – The Crack Magazine, Oct 2012

“Could they be the North East’s best kept secret?” – NARC magazine, May 2012

“If you need a signpost, the nearest is probably the darker elements of Joy Division, tinged with elements of seventies blues.” – Louder Than War

http://soundcloud.com/goyboymcilroy
http://goyboymcilroy.bandcamp.com/
http://www.facebook.com/goyboymcilroy
https://twitter.com/GoyBoyMcIlroy

WITCH HUNT

Leeds duo with a sparkly sinister edge

http://wearewitchhunt.com/
https://www.facebook.com/wearewitchhunt
http://soundcloud.com/wearewitchhunt
https://twitter.com/wearewitchhunt
http://www.youtube.com/user/wearewitchhunt/videos?flow=grid&view=0

GALLERY CIRCUS

A unique and abrasive blues-rock outlet, Gallery Circus have quickly gained a strong reputation for delivering breathtakingly powerful live shows . Hailing from South Tyneside, Gallery Circus consists of 22 year-old identical twins Daniel (lead vocalist, guitar and piano) and Graeme Ross (drums and backing vocals).

http://www.gallerycircus.com/
http://www.soundcloud.com/gallerycircus
https://twitter.com/gallerycircus

Morris Ford + This Little Bird + John Pattison + Rose Alexander + Ryan Bird at The Head of ...

Sat, 02 Mar 2013 15:34:13 +0100

MORRIS FORD

Headlining is Morris Ford. One of the North East's most humble and underestimated singer songwriters. Morris played the-outsider as part of The Lake Poets in December 2011 and solo in February and December 2012.

http://www.facebook.com/MorrisFordMusic

THIS LITTLE BIRD

Rebecca Young takes her performance name from a Marianne Faithfull track and this beautifully emotive singer songwriter is something of a sixties throwback; a young woman out of time. She writes and performs with the influence of that seminal decade to the fore. A class local artsist who is in our opinion vastly under-rated. Watch her here

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_VbNK4wyPk4
http://www.facebook.com/thislittlebird

JOHN PATTISON

John's debut ep has been getting some airplay on radio Newcastle. His music is fresh and inventive. Check him out here

http://johnpattisonmusic.bandcamp.com/
http://www.salvar.co.uk/johnpattison/

ROSE ALEXANDER

Former member of Shark Teeth and occasional member of Brilliant Mind, Rose Alexander is one of Newcastle's hidden gems. If you like great songs sung with feeling then you'll love Rose. Check out the few songs she has thus uploaded to the web here

http://soundcloud.com/rosealexander70

RYAN BIRD

An 18 year old musician in Gateshead who has recently released his debut ep, "End of the beginning", displaying lyrical and musical maturity beyond his years and great potential. Check out Ryan and his music via these links

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ryan-Bird-Music/155816714481553
http://ryanbird.bandcamp.com/

Kontiki Suite + James Allan & Co + Meghann Clancy at The Head of Steam, Newcastle - 22nd ...

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 10:11:04 +0100

KONTIKI SUITE hail from the isolated outskirts of the Lake District in England's 'Deep North'. Following on from the 2009 release of their debut CD 'Stars EP', and national airplay on Steve Lamacq's BBC Radio 2 show and Tom Robinson's BBC Radio 6 Music show, the band are currently recording new songs for the forthcoming album and booking gigs throughout the country.

The band consists of song writing brothers Ben & Jonny Singh on rhythm and lap steel guitars, cousins Marcus Dodds and Mario Renucci on lead and bass guitars, and the disappointingly unrelated Chris Brown and Craig Bright on drums and percussion.

The band share a collective love of melody, harmony, psychedelia and country, borne out of an appreciation of the B-troika brigade of bands from the mid-1960s to today; The Beatles, The Beach Boys, The Byrds, Buffalo Springfield, Burrito Brothers, Big Star, Bob Dylan, Brian Jonestown Massacre, Beachwood Sparks, Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Blazin’ Squad, have all had an undeniable influence on the sound of the band.

http://www.kontikisuite.co.uk/
http://kontikisuite.bandcamp.com/album/on-sunset-lake
http://www.facebook.com/kontikisuitemusic
https://twitter.com/kontikisuite

JAMES ALLAN & CO
You get superior guitar folk pop from Newcastle's James Allan & Co. They recently played to a packed out Cluny as part of our North East Showcase and we are thrilled to have them back.

http://soundcloud.com/jamesallanandco/sets/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/James-Allan-Co/230991503599664
https://twitter.com/Jamesallanandco

MEGHANN CLANCY
Meghann Clancy is an acoustic singer-songwriter originally from North Yorkshire and now living in Newcastle upon Tyne. Her music combines catchy melodies and a pure, haunting vocal, with songs drawn from stories of life experiences. While predominantly a solo performer, Meghann has most recently been working with a group of most excellent musicians to create her first album, ‘Take Flight’

http://www.meghannclancy.co.uk/
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Meghann-Clancy/155401754533220
http://soundcloud.com/meghannclancy
https://twitter.com/MeghannClancy

TICKETS

Will be £4 Advance / £5 On The Door

http://www.wegottickets.com/event/205085

Amy Holford + The Last Spectacular + Iceni at The Cluny - 22nd January 2013

Wed, 23 Jan 2013 11:52:43 +0100

AMY HOLFORD

Normally I'd cut and paste some information about the band or artist here but in Amy Holford's case I'd prefer to tell you why I think she is a rare and special talent. First and foremost she writes beautiful songs from the heart. She also sings from the same place with a voice so pure and yet so strong it pierces your soul and, as many have said before, produces goosebumps. Last January Amy played to a rowdy Cluny audience as part of the-outsider's 1st Annual North East Showcase and by the time she's sung the second a capella verse of Wayfaring Stranger they were silent and attentive. Since then she's played to many and supported established artists such as Newton Faulkner. If there is any justice she is destined to become a household name. For now though, we can have her all to ourselves. Make the most of the opportunity.

http://www.myspace.com/amyholfordsinger
http://www.amyholford.tumblr.com/
http://www.thruthemill.net/amy-holford
http://www.facebook.com/amyholfordsinger

THE LAST SPECTACULAR

An Americana band from the North East of England? Sounds like a recipe for disaster but in the hands of these talented and professional musicians it works beautifully. Gorgeous songs played and sung with genuine feeling. I'm pleased to count the members of this band as friends.

This gig will feature 3 or 4 of the 5-strong band - a stork is due so we won't know the exact make-up if the band until the night. You can be sure that they will deliver a heartwarming and achingly beautiful set though. Don't miss it.

http://www.thelastspectacular.com/

ICENI

How do you describe Iceni? It's not as easy as you might imagine. We've read them described as "Epic & Bold, Complex & Compelling pop" which is a decent stab at it. They are louder than you might expect. Their 3 part harmonies are every bit as sharp and beautiful and you might expect and they're as tight a 3 part band as you'll hear (keys, bass and drums). Hell, why not just come along and hear for yourself.

http://www.facebook.com/IceniMusic

The-Outsider North East Showcase at The Cluny - Saturday 12th January 2013 - SO WHAT ROBOT, ...

Sun, 13 Jan 2013 16:58:40 +0100

SO WHAT ROBOT

If you want to know about So What Robot you could look herehttp://www.sowhatrobot.com/ but we'd suggest that to gain a true appreciation of this great Newcastle based band you need to see them live. We featured them at our Head of Steam gig in September when they really impressed with their craft and where their songs truly came to life. Add to that that they are amongst the very nicest people we've had the pleasure of booking and it was a no brainer that we should ask them to headline our special annual Cluny gig. We are delighted they agreed.

STATIC SOUL

Fusing soulful melodies with electronic beats and music technology with traditional instruments Newcastle based 'Static Soul' have shaped a sound of their own!

We're quoting from their facebook page but we certainly don't disagree!

Take a peek here http://www.facebook.com/officialstaticsoul

JAMES ALLAN & CO

You get superior guitar folk pop from Newcastle's James Allan & his band - have a listen here

https://soundcloud.com/#jamesallanandco

PECULIAR DISCO MOVES

Peculiar Disco Moves are a Newcastle based band which mix booty shaking grooves, witty lyrics and singable tunes to create their own unique sound.

The band have spent the last 6 months following the release of their self-titled debut EP, recording, and finding new musical toys and gadgets to coax melodies from for their first full album, and foray into Festival season. The harmonies (and trousers) have been tightened, the instruments primed and the synths tuned.

Listen here https://soundcloud.com/#peculiar-disco-moves

STUDPUPPY

Mark Hammond from Gateshead is Studpuppy. We struggle to define his sound - which is one of the many things that appeal to us about his music. Have a listen here

https://soundcloud.com/#markjameshammond

ALEX BURGESS

Alex is a lovely lass from South Shields and a great gig promoter in her own right as Lone Wolf. But did you know she can sing n stuff too? Well now you do. Have a listen herehttp://soundcloud.com/alexxburgess

This will be, we are reliably informed, Alex's debut gig. This makes us very happy because the local showcase is all about giving new and/or local artists a chance to be seen and heard on the iconic Cluny stage.