What's On

New indie band The Gods of Small Things are celebrating the release of their latest single, Analogue God. The Sunderland four-piece initially started life as a duo when Annabel and Josh came together at the beginning of the year, before deciding to expand so they could perform live. Bassist and backing vocalist Annabel Crowther explains: “Me and Jason launched as a duo in January this year, recording our first EP ourselves, but then decided to recruit a full band to gig, we were very lucky to find our drummer Will Shaw straight from the off and an old music comrade of Jason’s, Graham Mucker Mclauchlin, came in on lead guitar. We then recorded our current EP, Singing In The Dark – the first single off this, Analogue God, came out on November 20.”

Newcastle singer-songwriter Paige Temperley is looking forward to releasing her debut EP. The talented ‘folky-pop’ musician is releasing Let’s Start At The Very Beginning on November 11 and is excited about people finally being able to hear her music. She said: This is the first ever EP that I’ll have released, so I’m really excited about it. It’s a 4 track EP and I’d like to think it sort of takes you through a little journey of my life so far. Its full of stories which hopefully people will find relatable. I recorded it at Loft Studios in Newcastle City Centre, and some friends of mine, who also happen to be great musicians- Jamie Mackay, George Hutton, Matt Splevins and Niles Kreiger played on it; with that lot playing on it, the EP had to come out sounding good.”

Talented singer-songwriter Afnan Prince has already released material, but is most excited about his forthcoming EP, Wolves. Born in Pakistan, Afnan moved to the UK with his family when he was nine and by his mid teens had started playing the guitar and singing. The 28-year-old self-taught musician, who lives in North Shields, initially started playing in a band with his friends but gradually realised he preferred performing as a solo artist. Afnan, has always been creative, and as well as writing songs, he writes poetry as he feels the two go hand in hand, offering him the freedom to elaborate with words. His passion for the English language made him choose to study the subject at university, but things didn’t go according to plan.

A Newcastle-based musician is hoping to kickstart his new music project through his latest fundraising campaign. Paul ‘Pablo Melons’ Fairbairn is hoping to raise £3,000 through his latest Kickstarter campaign to fund the mastering of his new Four Play EP on vinyl. Paul, 30, is a huge Power Pop fan and has been writing, recording and producing for several years under the banner of Toxic Melons. When he’s not composing Power Pop songs he teaches songwriting and produces bespoke music tracks for a diverse range of clients. Influenced by acts including Power Pop magnates Jellyfish, as well as Electric Light Orchestra, Queen, Beck, The Zombies, The Move, The Divine Comedy, Elton John and David Bowie, the Toxic Melons sound is complex, wry, heartfelt and expertly-delivered Power Pop at its finest.

After a successful set at this year’s Evolution Emerging Behold A Pale Horse are now celebrating their release of their debut EP. The five-piece released the self-titled EP the day before they opened Evolution Emerging’s Little Buildings stage and feel it’s a true representation of the band’s live sound. When recording the EP the band were determined to create a record that reflected their raw and intense sound which they describe as a fusion of psych, kraut, neo-folk, dance and garage rock ‘n’ roll.

Folk inspired singer-songwriter, Oh Sister, is hoping to play more in her native North East after her recent Sofar Sounds gig. The 27-year-old musician, aka Sarah Berresford, loved performing a stripped back set alongside Sunderland band Lilliput at Newcastle’s Alphabetti Theatre in May for a secret Sofar show. But the talented singer-songwriter is no stranger to the Sofar Sounds community as Sarah has performed at Sofar London with Viola Beach, the Warrington band who were tragically killed in a car crash in Sweden, as well as touring with other acts to Sofar in Cambridge, Birmingham and Leeds.

Alternative hip-hop act Ceiling Demons are set to release a new EP ahead of their headline performance at this year’s Evolution Emerging. Belly of the Hopeless will be released on May 27 via Durham’s new DIY imprint Frux Tapes and sees the North Yorkshire duo take a different direction with their music. Exploring the uncharted waters of the human psyche, this experimental tape delves through sounds, substances and the fine line between torment and delight. Produced by Jonathan Swift of Outside Your House and recorded in County Durham, Belly of the Hopeless deals a blow of northern grit and rawness – an ongoing theme in Ceiling Demons’ work – intertwined with the trip-hop sensibilities of its Bristol-born producer.

Newcastle five-piece Baker Island released an EP cassette last month ahead of their headline slot at this year’s Evolution Emerging. The band, who describe their music as ‘ lo-fi noise pop’, are delighted to be topping the bill at The Cumberland Arms and are working hard on their set for the festival. The band have recently released a new EP cassette entitled Four Days In The Life Of The Auto-Icon, on American label Weiner Records. It features four new tracks full of quirky sounds and snatches of life in their native Newcastle and fans will be able to hear it alongside the band’s new material at Evolution Emerging.

Newcastle electro pop band Talk Like Tigers are releasing their brand new debut single, Animalistic on Valentine’s Day. The emerging trio, who hail from Newcastle, consists of twin sisters Charlotte and Stephanie Walker (vocals / synths) and Mark Thompson (drums / samples), and none of them are strangers to the music industry. Drummer Mark used to be in band Static Soul and Charlotte and Stephanie have toured the world as Duffy’s backing singers. Their travels have certainly influenced their writing and inspired the band to create something truly different as their unique sound is showered with the glittering harmonies that only siblings can produce.

Alt hip-hop act Jay Simian and The Midnight Society can’t wait to bring their unique sound to this year’s Evolution Emerging, The trio will be joining hip hop artists Ceiling Demons and Kay Greyson at The Tanners on May 28 to perform alongside gritty electro pop group Talk Like Tigers and barely rap group Outside Your House as part of this year’s music festival. Initially starting out as rap collective with other North East artists, Jay Simian and Baddz Beat decided to go it alone and form their own band to pursue their own distinctive hip hop music.

An online music project has led Gateshead based producer Half to unexpectedly record his first album, Here Lies Half. Originally from Berwick but now residing in Felling, Half, aka Jonny Gray, began experimenting with music as a hobby and never intended to become a producer. By collaborating with artists and co-writers around the world Half recorded his debut full length release in isolation swapping a series of ideas, emails and dropboxes then mixing the results to create the album.

Alternative indie rockers Social Room burst onto the local music scene last year and are hoping to build on their strong fan base. The Sunderland based six-piece have been performing together for the last 18 months after friends Matty Smith and Adam Potts decided to form a band once they returned to their native North East after university. Even though, Social Room, are a relatively new band they’re already making waves in the North East with their upbeat indie rock ‘n’ roll music and the band are enjoying their success so far.

Northumbrian ensemble Dansi can’t wait to release their long-awaited debut EP later this month. Drawing on a wealth of collective musical experience, Dansi’s members have enjoyed storming stages across the UK festival circuit in various forms.From Pikey Beatz to The Fiona Clayton Band the band’s core members have performed at various BBC stages and Live Radio sessions, countless headline festival slots and toured extensively.

North East based singer Samantha Lavery is celebrating the release of her new single, A Mile Apart. The track was written and produced alongside Christian Burrell at River Studios and is the first single to be released from Samantha’s forthcoming EP.

Teesside band Cattle & Cane are headlining this year’s Evolution Emerging and can’t wait to take centre stage. The pop-folk five-piece, from Thornaby, are going from strength to strength since releasing their debut album Home late last year. The album has been a real labour of love for the quintet - made up of siblings Joe, Helen, Fran and Vin Hammill plus friend Tom Chapman - as it has been five years in the making. However, it was well worth the wait.

The Shooting Of, aka Northumberland-based Paul Jeans, is one man intent on raising his music above the din. With a new album due to be released next month, the solo artist is hoping his brand of experimental pop noir will be well received. Analogue Heart, which is released on March 4 via League Against Rubbish Records, is an album of contrasts; from the dark, brooding apocalyptic tones of opener Bad Times Are On Horseback, the paranoid grandeur of Captain Of My Soul and recent single This Silence Is Killing Me to the quirky pop of The White Hart and the sinister storytelling of The Beast In Me, it showcases a broad musical landscape while remaining a cohesive body of work.

Newcastle-based singer-songwriter Ditte Elly is set to release her long-awaited contemporary folk-infused debut album. Ditte will launch Songs at a special gig at Trinity Church in Gosforth on March 12, with the album officially released at the beginning of April. The nine-track album will feature recordings, including Ditte’s two previously released singles, I Am Only (What You Make Me) and You Find It Easy, and is the follow-up to her 2012 EP, We’ll Meet Again. Music has always been an important part of Ditte’s life, as she grew up in Oxford listening to her parents’ musical influences and used to sing in a choir with her mum. But it wasn’t until she left school and took a year out that she began experimenting with music.

Cross-genre quartet Zu Zu Cats are hoping their unique sound will help them stand out on the local music scene. So much so they have taken inspiration from all corners of the musical spectrum to create a blend of ‘Anglocana’. The four-piece is made up of Paul Dent (vocals and acoustic guitar), guitarist Gavin Thompson, Paul Jewitt (bass) and drummer Ash ‘the cat’ Staff, who have all known each other for years.

County Durham rock band OFFPEAK will play a trio of UK shows to celebrate the release of their debut EP. Champagne Lifestyle, Lemonade Wages, is the follow-up to the four-piece’s debut single, Feelings Stay The Same, which gained local and national radio coverage last year. The band will release the EP, as well as the eponymous title track, on February 19, along with accompanying music video.

Talented singer-songwriter Warrilow is hoping to make a name for himself on the North East music scene with his unique style of acoustic music. The musician, who is originally from Retford, near Sheffield, is no stranger to performing as he has been playing in band since he was a teenager. His interest in music was piqued early mostly from listening to his parent’s musical influences while growing up and then to his stepdad, who played in a band, so it seems only natural that someone surrounded by music would be likely to catch the bug.