Liars Lie @ Plugged Inn, 28th April 2012

Retriever, Shinies, Arkham Karvers @ Head Of Steam, Newcastle, 11th February 2012

Friday, 17 February 2012 19:51

By Ruth Edmundson

The basement that is the Head Of Steam was fairly full by the time Retriever hit the stage with their mood-inducing set. Together with all-black outfits channeling The XX, strobe lighting and despite a near amp-malfunction, this band competely commanded my attention with their performance. Backed by a simple drum machine, and swathing the room in their darkened lyrics, Retriever use the stage to its full capacity, getting carried away within their music.

Admittingly not ones for small talk, the band make it up for it with the passion and fire that they bring to their set, especially from lead singer Jackie, maintained eye contact with the crowd during new single “Happiness Falls”, fully expressing the meaning behind every line she sang.

facebook.com/retrieverretriever

The Lake Poets, Lilliput, Natasha Haws @ Head of Steam, 3rd December

Wednesday, 08 February 2012 13:46

By Nic Wright

Here’s a sight you don’t often see in Newcastle, unless Sunderland have won a derby game, and everyone’s wearing stab-vests; a bar full of Mackems on Geordie soil. But tonight is special. It’s one of those nights that makes you glow like a radioactive light bulb with pride. Natasha Haws gets better with every performance, a rare combination of heart-breaking song-writing ability and absolute amiability. Lilliput’s technical ability is rivalled only by their incredibly layered and gorgeous songs. The Lake Poets gets a chance to dazzle with a full set, packed with rarely-heard gems and rousing fan favourites. Irrefutable stars, every single one of them.

facebook.com/thelakepoets | facebook.com/lilliputband | facebook.com/HawBagHaws

Spark FM Presents: Bird Island, Young Hegelians @ The Ivy House, 1st December

Wednesday, 08 February 2012 13:41

By Nic Wright

It's a Teeside spectacular tonight at The Ivy House. Young Hegelians impress with a set that's as varied as it is potent. Nicely at odds with their caustic socio-politically themed lyrics, the trio's songs feature a brazen elasticity, mixing heavy doses of bass-lead funk into their alternative rock, making for a buoyant and interesting performance. Headliners Bird Island are bonafide future pop-stars. Although they've only been playing for a few months, they've got that something that makes your ears prick up. Drums-esque, with touches of Dinosaur Jr, they look like a band, act like a band, and once they've settled into themselves live, they'll be making waves across the region.

facebook.com/Bird-Island | facebook.com/younghegelians

The Christmas Project Launch: Gallery Circus, Hollywood and Vines, The Union Choir @ Independent, 8th December

Wednesday, 08 February 2012 13:29

By Nic Wright

Even for the grinchiest of humbugs, you can’t argue that around here Christmas spirit often manifests itself in the guise of some truly brilliant gigs. Tonight marks not only one of those exciting line ups, but the launch of a charitable endeavour as original as it is genuinely enjoyable on its own merit. Three of the artists who’ve contributed to The Christmas Project charity album are here tonight, amongst the delicately constructed presents, mince pies and Christmas lights, to give it the kick-off it deserves.

Opening the night is The Railway Club’s Martin Francis Trollope, who gives a warming acoustic rendition of their Christmas track before joining Union Choir bandmate Jon Melvin for an unplugged set. Rolling through their earnest, elegiac songs, the duo finish with a cover of ‘White Christmas’, a perfect choice for Melvin’s rich vocals.

Read more: The Christmas Project Launch: Gallery Circus, Hollywood and Vines, The Union Choir @ Independent,...