May Bank Holiday Barbeque
The Penny Black, Stockton
This May bank holiday marked a new venture for The Penny Black in Stockton. Well known for their Saturday night entertainment, they wanted to put on something a little bit different for the Saturday of the bank holiday weekend. Prompted by the success of the Unsigned Nights we have held there recently they decided that a full day of live music was just the thing to get the bank holiday rocking. Of course we were only too happy to help out!
We arranged for four acoustic performances and a further five bands to play throughout the day with the regular night spot filled by The Travellin' Band. Initially we wanted to hold the performaces outside on the decking area but unfortunately the weather wasn't co-operating so we kept the entertainment undercover and in the lounge.
Mick Merryweather of the Band of Mojo's was our first performer to play today. Mick has an incredible reputation locally and has recently embarked on solo performances with his self penned songs. He has a gritty, rawness about him that makes you sit up and take notice and the content of his material is both thought provoking and at times poignant. He is a powerhouse vocally and absolutely superb to watch. We have had him play several times over the last few months at both The Princess Alice and Doc Browns and every time he has been well received. this coming year should be a good one for Mick, he is currently booking at several venues in Teesside and if you get the chance to go and see him then we would definately recommend that you do.
Carl Eaton took to the stage next to perform to a rapidly filling up Penny Black. Carl is a long time favourite of ours having first had him play for us at Borders bookstores last year and many times since. He has a range of original songs every one of which tells a story and have depth and meaning. Carl is currently working on his third album and is concentrating more on his music. He has appeared at both Middlesbrough Music Live and Stockton Riverside Festival as well as many venues all over the North East.
Up next we had Ian Swinburne. This was the first time we have had Ian appear at one of our events although we have followed him around various acoustic events for the last few months. We were delighted when he agreed to play for us and treated The Penny Black to a set of well known, much loved songs. His range is diverse with songs appearing in the set by The Kinks, Amy Macdonald and Julian Lennon. This guy is a born entertainer, a delight to watch and an artist we hope to have back at our events many times again. After Ian had finished to a thunderous applause we had new comer Michael Paul up.
We discovered Michael via his band Death to FX and when he asked if he could do an acoustic slot at the Barbeque we were happy to oblige. A mixed set from Michael of original material and covers he went over extremely well even though he admitted afterwards he had a few nerves! It didn't show though once he got up there the true talent he has came out and he played superbly. No time to relax for Michael though, immediatly after his set he remained on the stage for the next act and the first of the live bands Death to FX.
This band requested a support slot at The Princess Alice one Friday at the start of the year and they blew us away, originally from the Teesside area they are now all studying at Newcastle University. They are a funky, powerpop band and actually very good! They are entertaining and musically fantastic. The whole pub was on its feet by the time this band had finished their set. Time for a well earned pint for Michael and also time for our next band Anonymous Farewell.
Only recently formed and fronted by Kirstie Groom this band shows a great deal of potential consisting of metal riffs, with powerful chords backed up with deep bass. Anonymous Farewell have driving drum beats and smooth groovy vocals which contrast the instruments, couple that with gorgeous front woman Kirstie Groom and this band have all the right ingredients to become something very special! Anonymous Farewell were very well received and again had the audience totally captivated. Watch out for them on the local circuit - we will definately be having them back in the very near future.
This Years Headlines continued the days entertainment. Another new band to the circuit and another female fronted one yet in complete contrast in style to Anonymous Farewll. Contrasting maybe but definately complimentary. Hayley Friedman is the lead singer of This Years Headlines and she definately knows how to front a band. Their sound is more of pop/rock genre and they come together to give a performance that is both catchy, entertaining and powerful. Not one you would forget in a hurry This Years Headlines could well be just that if they continue in the way they have started out. Again The Penny Black Barbeque attendees thoroughly enjoyed the performance and we knew that the next band up would delight them just as much!
Radio Dynamics have long been firm favourites of ours here at North East live so we were really looking forward to their debut appearance at The Penny Black. As always the guys didn't disappoint us - or anyone else in the pub! They played a brilliant set of their own unique tunes and had the audience shouting for more! Radio Dynamics are really starting to make a name for themselves locally and indeed further afield having just finished a tour of Scotland where we are informed they went down a storm. Made up of Seamus on lead vocals, Dan on Bass, Chris on lead guitar and Gav on drums this unit is possibly one of the tightest we have had the pleasure of seeing play in a long time. They are highly entertaining, know their levels and read their audience well. Definately worth going to see live and if you are lucky they may even have a CD available for you to take home with you! Trust me when I tell you that if you do get one you will not be able to stop playing it!
As usual when we do one of these events, time was our enemy so despite shouts for more for the Radio Dynamics it was time for our final act of the day before the evening band could set up.
We had chosen The Purnells to play us out - four lads from Stockton who are outstanding. They have a great sound - dark edged but up beat, front man Stu plays harmonica on some of the tracks and altogether they put on one hell of a show.
So good was the performance today that they were booked by the organiser of the Linthorpe Festival to play there on the 13th June. The Purnells were a fabulous band to finish our session with and they brought the house down. Already the evening crowd had began to come in for Cover band The Travellin Band yet they still shouted for more from The Purnells! They have a presence that seems to draw the audience to them and whenever we have had them play for us they have always, without fail left their audience wanting more.
Altogether the day was a brilliant success and The Travellin' band rocked the pub out for the rest of the night. We are already planning the next Barbeque which will be held August Bank Holiday so make sure you come along for another great day of Live Music and great food!
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We arranged for four acoustic performances and a further five bands to play throughout the day with the regular night spot filled by The Travellin' Band. Initially we wanted to hold the performaces outside on the decking area but unfortunately the weather wasn't co-operating so we kept the entertainment undercover and in the lounge.
Mick Merryweather of the Band of Mojo's was our first performer to play today. Mick has an incredible reputation locally and has recently embarked on solo performances with his self penned songs. He has a gritty, rawness about him that makes you sit up and take notice and the content of his material is both thought provoking and at times poignant. He is a powerhouse vocally and absolutely superb to watch. We have had him play several times over the last few months at both The Princess Alice and Doc Browns and every time he has been well received. this coming year should be a good one for Mick, he is currently booking at several venues in Teesside and if you get the chance to go and see him then we would definately recommend that you do.Carl Eaton took to the stage next to perform to a rapidly filling up Penny Black. Carl is a long time favourite of ours having first had him play for us at Borders bookstores last year and many times since. He has a range of original songs every one of which tells a story and have depth and meaning. Carl is currently working on his third album and is concentrating more on his music. He has appeared at both Middlesbrough Music Live and Stockton Riverside Festival as well as many venues all over the North East.Up next we had Ian Swinburne. This was the first time we have had Ian appear at one of our events although we have followed him around various acoustic events for the last few months. We were delighted when he agreed to play for us and treated The Penny Black to a set of well known, much loved songs. His range is diverse with songs appearing in the set by The Kinks, Amy Macdonald and Julian Lennon. This guy is a born entertainer, a delight to watch and an artist we hope to have back at our events many times again. After Ian had finished to a thunderous applause we had new comer Michael Paul up. We discovered Michael via his band Death to FX and when he asked if he could do an acoustic slot at the Barbeque we were happy to oblige. A mixed set from Michael of original material and covers he went over extremely well even though he admitted afterwards he had a few nerves! It didn't show though once he got up there the true talent he has came out and he played superbly. No time to relax for Michael though, immediatly after his set he remained on the stage for the next act and the first of the live bands Death to FX.As usual when we do one of these events, time was our enemy so despite shouts for more for the Radio Dynamics it was time for our final act of the day before the evening band could set up.
We had chosen The Purnells to play us out - four lads from Stockton who are outstanding. They have a great sound - dark edged but up beat, front man Stu plays harmonica on some of the tracks and altogether they put on one hell of a show.
Altogether the day was a brilliant success and The Travellin' band rocked the pub out for the rest of the night. We are already planning the next Barbeque which will be held August Bank Holiday so make sure you come along for another great day of Live Music and great food!