# Newcastle gigs Music reviews - Site: https://newcastlegigs.com/ ## Halloween. City Hall. 30.10.26 - Link: https://newcastlegigs.com/2026/10/31/halloween-city-hall-30-10-26/ - Published: 2026-10-31T16:03:16+00:00 - Author: nails [[ _image not mine_ Decent show based on 4 dancers/singers with a solid live band a very good lead guitar. Highlights incuded: Music of the night Hungry like the Wolf (very good pun) Werewolf of London (makes me want to rewatch Colour of Money) Poison (Alice Cooper, not the Prodigy) Inxs – need you tonight (nearly 30 years since Hutch died – man) Gaga and Bad Romance (that first and second album period was so good) Rocky Horror – Timewarp and Sweet Transvestite Queen – Bohemian and Kind of Magic Toxic – Britney Eurahymics – Sweet dreams Kate Bush – Running Up that hill ACDC – Highway to hell Ghostbusters into BackStreet Boys is a fitting ending ## Paul Heaton. Arena. 29.10.26 - Link: https://newcastlegigs.com/2026/10/30/paul-heaton-arena-29-10-26/ - Published: 2026-10-30T13:25:21+00:00 - Author: nails [[ _image not mine_ Doing it’s thing – there’s two Northern greats tonight; first up The Lightning Seeds set out with their pop manefesto. Now 68, Broudie looks and sounds as fierce as always and given that Jollyficiation is over 30 years old, and he’d done a bunch of production work before the Seeds, it shows just how prolific he must have been‘ back in the day’. Lucky you and Pure are magic, and i’m slightly gutted they don’t play life’s too short from 1999 – which I used to love Arriving at 845, Heaton and band stagger on – £45 a ticket, sold out, consumate lyriciast and band leader- Heaton’s role as always being the front man who’d rather stand in the back – write the lyrics, provide the backing vocals. A bad back hampers things slightly, but his vocals are spot on (Red eyes), he dances when needed (Happy hour) and the hits are provided – “Song for whoever” and “I need a little time” bang and “Caravan of love”, as always, kicks hard- though it’s slightly out of time– something amise with the bad back, the struggle to hit the high notes (but delivered) and phlem. Rianne Downey stands out the more the gig goes on, and the livier it gets (allowing her to dance/move more and have suitable focus) and Heaton – looking like someone trying to find the local bus exchange depot- still manages to be a local-lad-in-an-anorak-and-a-multi-million-record-artist at the same time. You don’t get many like this at all. ## The Strokes. Arena. 25.10.26 - Link: https://newcastlegigs.com/2026/10/30/the-strokes-arena-25-10-26/ - Published: 2026-10-30T08:49:20+00:00 - Author: nails [[ _image not mine_ The openers Alex Cameron come on 30 minutes early – they’re quiet a dirgy, minimalist, smacked out, type of rock act – the main singer sounds like Chris Rea with that smoky kind of voice and they have interesting percussion and textures at times.  Their songs are good and their 30 minute set is interesting.  The fat white family kick off at 745 – entering to Crocodile shoes.  They’re so good- still maybe the best British band around: all rambely and funky and smacked out and some modern version of the Happy Mondays street poetry and the Libertines cracked out racket and chaos- they’re brilliant tonight; Tinfoil death star standing out. Julian and the guys go on at 907- it’s a sold out show- A set full of highlights sees the greatest response for songs from the first two albums- hard to explain, take it or leave it (into last night) and sometimes are so good There’s red lights and explosions for Juicebox and Babble and going shopping from the new album are mint There’s meant to be a four song encore but they do one- New York City cops- which is good, and fab hugs a fan who wants to drum – which is nice- and that’s it A good show with good songs – but a bit quick and a little less than what they promised. Tables they’re turned sometimes I guess. ## Mercury Music Prize. 22.10.26. Arena - Link: https://newcastlegigs.com/2026/10/23/mercury-music-prize-22-10-26-arena/ - Published: 2026-10-23T14:28:05+00:00 - Author: nails [[ Starting just after 8, it’s local lass Lauren Laverne who opens this year’s Mercury Music Prize; the second time in two years the event has been hosted in Newcastle. With ten live acts from this years 12-long Shortlist, it’s indie gods Suede who open procedures – kicking off with the spectacular “Dancing with the Europeans” from their “Antidepressants” nominated album.  Raye (“I hate the way I look today”) and local jazz act Knats (“Wor Jackie”) follow quickly afterwards with live performances– the Knats gang looking genuinely elated about being nominated and playing the Arena. Olivia Dean (“Let Alone the one you love”) performs next before a pre-recording interview with Paul McCartney who’s, understandably, unable to make the show.  Pulp, who were here last year for their recent album, represent the War Child album tonight( with “Begging for change”) before Kojey Radical (“Conversation”), Dove Ellis (“To the Sandals”) and Nia Archives (“Boys in Blue”) follow with a mixture of beats, falsettos and breaks.  A live video recording from Dave (“Raindance”) follows before live moments from Jade (“Angel of my dreams”) and Florence and the Machine (“One of the greats”) who are probably tied for the loudest, and longest, audience reactions of the evening.  A vote count, an award, and a winners performance from Raye (“I hate the way”) finishes an evening which feels both too long, and too short, in equal measures.  Most importantly though tonight, perhaps, is a recognition of the strong work done by Generator and local North Eastern partners to bring an event back to the North East and to showcase not just the city of Newcastle but also the hospitality and talent of the region. It’s a shame Knats or Jade didn’t win, so that we could retain the award in the region, but Raye’s album is a banger – and we’re all winners really. [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ ## Heidi Curtis. The Grove. 21.10.26 - Link: https://newcastlegigs.com/2026/10/22/heidi-curtis-the-grove-21-10-26/ - Published: 2026-10-22T13:39:16+00:00 - Author: nails [[ Finishing off her recent “Hollow Heart” tour, North Shields Heidi Curtis’s last stop ends tonight in Newcastle’s Grove.  A sold out show, Curtis recent musical output, including “Hollow Heart” and her recent “Summon” single, demonstrates an artist filled with confidence and strong musical ideas.  Arriving on stage at 9.15, Curti’s set tonight is strong and filled with well-rehearsed musical output.  It’s a short, but effective, showcase. Backed by a three-piece band, tonight’s highlights are the ones which pushes Curtis’s spiritual-themed-pop into the FM radio space; “What am I Missing?” kicks hard though it’s “Porcelain” which steals the show with it’s confident songwriting approach and deliberately slows the evening down whilst placing focus squarely at Curti’s distinctive guitar lines and vocals.  Although recent single “Summon” was only released in September, it’s the promise of new music which is most promising, suggesting that Curtis is an artist filled with growing momentum.   Given the response from tonight’s crowd, it feels like her audience are ready to grow with her.  [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ ## Knats. An evening with. John Marley Centre. 20.10.26 - Link: https://newcastlegigs.com/2026/10/21/knats-an-evening-with-john-marley-centre-20-10-26/ - Published: 2026-10-21T09:15:10+00:00 - Author: nails [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ ## F54 Showcase. Cumberland arms. 16.10.26 - Link: https://newcastlegigs.com/2026/10/17/f54-showcase-cumberland-arms-16-10-26/ - Published: 2026-10-17T10:06:45+00:00 - Author: nails [[ Opening up tonight’s three act show at the Cumberland, solo star Crimewave produces a one man solo army attack on the dancefloor.  Primarily using guitar and keys- and sounding like Bowie circa ‘Little Wonder mixed with Sonic Youth – Crime’s show pops with hardcore edge and energy.  Layered up with interesting beats and breaks, the intensity of the Crime sets deliberately falls as his 30 minute show progresses, moving him into an interesting Animal Collective sounding space with light electro beats mixed with minimalist and receptive melody lines.  He sets an incredibly high bar.  Sin Clair jumps in next with her set of keyboards and effects; nicely opening her set with minimal piano-based textures before expanding out into interesting electronic effects – in the style of XX – which pushes and pulls her lush vocals into and out of focus in an effect which makes both the music and her vocals equally as important. A quick turnover happens before things get seriously warped with the Newcastle based Nadine Hurley Trio who jump into bad-ass energy with their techno/noise combination. Led forcefully by interesting sample lines and techno based build ups and drops out, the Hurley set is filled with dark energy and interesting blind-turns.  With all three acts proving that they could headline in their own right, tonight is a real demonstration of the work of local industrial acts and their drive for perfection. [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ ## Moses Yofee Trio. Blue Note. 13.10.26 - Link: https://newcastlegigs.com/2026/10/14/moses-yofee-trio-blue-note-13-10-26/ - Published: 2026-10-14T08:17:41+00:00 - Author: nails [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ ## Walt Disco. 20.10.26. The Grove - Link: https://newcastlegigs.com/2026/10/11/walt-disco-20-10-26-the-grove/ - Published: 2026-10-11T19:15:23+00:00 - Author: nails [[ Opening up tonight’s EMI North Showcase/ Mercury Prize Fringe event, it’s Leeds- based, Hyperpop duo, Lucky Iris who start things off with a bang.  Mixing 80’s sounding synth pop with modern club textures, the duo pull together various beats-and-bips to form a solid 30 minute set; standing out with the 2026 releases “Fall in love with the DJ” and “Lalalalala” which both provide pulsating dance floor textures and euphoric rushes.  With a strong back catalogue already, and an enjoyable live performance, they’re certainly ones to keep an eye on. A quick turnaround sees 5-persona act Walt Disco complete tonight’s showcase.  Following a path similar to Kings of Leon, the Walt’s seem to have grown up considerably on their (recent) solid third album complete with shorter hair and more quaffed attire. Lacking none of their original New York Dolls edge, the Walt’s tonight seemed to have honed their craft and style in tight fashion – they still have the glammy, wired, live edge of their debut – but it’s now fixed tight with Bowie/Queen operatic moments, leather pants and a hard-to-fake onstage confidence.  Stand out performer tonight, Lewis Carmichael, propels the show beautifully with grungy/arpeggiated guitar lines and stunning effects and reverbs – all of which provides the perfect platform for lead vocalist Jocelyn Si to dance/scream/vouge their way through a range of vocals and moods.  Si’s performance is poised beyond belief tonight; their confidence growing hugely as a live performer and their vocals have a real range of depth, spanning operatic swoops to more classic pop elongations. A guest appearance by South Shielder Eternal Rim helps give tonight an even more exclusive feel with the Disco Diva’s showing that now might well be their time.  A new album, a new look, and a confident live show – they’re wishing on a star.  [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ [[ ## Man Woman Chainsaw. 24.9.26. The Grove. - Link: https://newcastlegigs.com/2026/09/25/man-woman-chainsaw-24-9-26-the-grove/ - Published: 2026-09-25T13:48:23+00:00 - Author: nails [[ With this tour having sold out almost immediately, and their newly released tour dates just about all gone, it’s fair to say that there’s something of a buzz around Man/Woman/Chainsaw at the moment.  Seldom off 6-Music, the Chainsaw’s have proved that there is still a place in the cultural space for the type of art-punk that kicks physically and moves emotionally.  Playing mostly from “Cannonball”, tonight’s show provides serious guitar intensity mixed with spiky, almost post-punky, hooks and structures.  Made possible through a six-piece set up, tonight’s show glistens thanks to timely grab-and-hold moments from each musician, it’s a cut to the violin, then back to the vocals, then a drop for the keyboards – both structurally and musically it’s quiet an astonishing display of interplay and collaboration.  “Canyons” stands out in a show that comes in at around the hour mark and leaves almost no moment for a pause.  They’re back in the North East in May… tickets MAY still be available. 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