Four episodes this month! The birthday Q&A special, a quickie about Bandcamp, and a peak at the business side of music with DJ and host Matty J Erskine, and Richard and Eileen from Mr Ant’s Bar in Hexham with special guest Colm Charles Gray. And there will be six episodes in June: full episodes with guitarist Rupert Hughes of The Often Herd and with Aaron Duff, singer and songwriter of the band Hector Gannet; plus bonus episodes previewing Alston Live Festival and Hexham Bandstand Sessions, checking out Andy J Fraser’s new album White Feather, and Sam Shields’ album Live at Polestar Studios, Newcastle.
In May
Photo: Richard Durrant
Out of the traps running with a concert by guitarist Richard Durrant at All Saints Church, West Woodburn on May 1st. Richard is not your usual virtuoso: in addition to classical pieces by Bach and - his personal favourite - Agustin Barrios, he played works by Bert Jansch and John Renbourn and his own compositions, including the lovely The Art of Levitation, after which his tour his titled. Richard performed with one of luthier Gary Southwell’s beautiful bog oak guitars (see podcast episode November 12th, 2024) and a classical guitar that was a favourite of Julian Bream. We were due to record a chat the following morning but Richard was called away, so we caught up online a couple of days later for a most entertaining chat. Episode coming in July.
Next, off to Alston to hear from organising committee reps Steve Sherris and Jess McCormack about the lineup for 2026’s Alston Live Festival. It’s a fun-filled and varied roster, including the bonkers John Otway; upcoming podcast guest Hels Pattison; local faves The Brothers Gillespie, Sam Shields and Emma Robson, and The Flying Thimbles; plus exciting bands from further afield. The festival is on Tyne Willows in Alston on July 17th and 18th.
And for the hat trick, Andy J Fraser visited podcast HQ to talk about his new album White Feather. Painstakingly recorded to create a live, intimate feel, the album features long-time collaborator Jim Bullock on harmonica and eleven songs centred on the people and places of Wearmouth.
Then a return visit to Teesside University for ExpoTees, the annual showcase of work by animation students in their second and final years. It must have been gruelling for the students to show their work and talk to people who might be offering them a career but they were impressive: confident, friendly and very enthusiastic. The animations were of a very high standard and easily comparable with what you’d see commercially. I pitched the Three Tynes project to several students. They were intrigued and we hope to work with them in the future.
Photo: Hels Pattison
The Globe in Newcastle has just won the Grassroots Venue: Spirit of the Scene award from Music Week, supported by the Music Venue Trust. Well deserved too and I was there last week to see Hels Pattison. Hels is probably the happiest person to play sad songs that I’ve ever met so I’m delighted she agreed to be on the podcast. I missed her recent performance at The Vault in Hexham but she’s playing Hexham Bandstand Sessions on 14th June and Alston Live Festival on 17th July. I hope the episode will be out shortly after.
Sam Shields made a welcome return to podcast HQ to talk about his new album Live at Polestar Studios, Newcastle. It is what is says on the tin and it’s testament to the quality of Sam’s live performance that it’s turned out so well, especially as he didn’t know the recording would ultimately be released. Most of the songs are Sam originals - you can hear three tracks and Sam’s story of the album in a bonus episode in June.
In 2025, Tynedale singer songwriter Gareth Davies-Jones completed a pilgrimage from Holy Island to Durham, following first St Oswald’s Way to Heavenfield then the Way of Light Saints’ Way to Durham. He relied on the hospitality of strangers and played a concert wherever he rested. His journey inspired his new album, A Troubadour Journey, which he is now touring in the region. As you can imagine, this story made for a fascinating conversation when he visited podcast HQ to record an episode, when he also recorded two songs from the album for the episode. Although the album is available on streaming platforms, the best experience can be had by buying the CD from his website (linked above) or at a gig. It comes with an explanatory booklet of lyrics and photographs of the journey and features stunning artwork by Horsley artist Rebecca Vincent.
Finally, podcast-wise, I met with Hexham’s Deputy Mayor Penny Grennan and musician John Hirst, the organisers of the 2026 Bandstand Sessions, to record a bonus episode announcing the cracking lineup. Do go if you can - it’s funded by the Town Council and it’s free. Every Sunday from May 31st to July 19th, 12 til 2 in the park.
Three Tynes
While attempting to network at ExpoTees I briefly caught up with our contact there, Senior Lecturer Clare O’Brien, and brought her up to date with current thinking. We’ve decided to seek funding for a consultant who can advise us on a strategy for developing the animations and act as artistic director for that side of things. Claire recommended a colleague, Ellie Land, who I met at her studio in North Shields. Turns out she grew up in the same part of Somerset as me! When the reminiscences were done, Ellie wowed me with the huge range of creative possibilities for animating the Three Tynes songs. It’s great to have such a talented and experienced animator on board.
All the students at Teesside were fully geared up with comms platforms and immediately confirmed their new network contacts on Linkedin. It impressed on me that we should be on there too. This is the second time recently that I’ve been advised to get my act together - a few weeks back, Tyne Rivers Trust CEO Sophia Tovall emphasised how valuable it is for her organisation. So now Three Tynes has a Linkedin account; please connect if you’re on there too.