Byker Grave Festival @ Newcastle University Students Union, December 7, 2024 Appetites had already been whetted by a stacked bill of doom, sludge, black thrash and hardcore. Anticipation for 2024’s Byker Grave Festival, however, reached fever pitch in the autumn, as Venom Inc. were announced as headliners. And a move to Newcastle University’s higher capacity … Continued
Satan @The Cluny, Newcastle, September 5, 2024 On an alternative Earth, Satan’s Court In The Act is on a par with The Number Of The Beast. Guitarists Russ Tippins and Steve Ramsey are as revered as Adrian Smith and Dave Murray. Hell, frontman Brian Ross might even be an airline pilot, with a sideline in … Continued
“Northern Darkness II: Brominion Edition – Seven Sisters, Riot City and High Spirits @The Little Buildings, Newcastle upon Tyne, May 4, 2023 Four weeks ago, this gig wasn’t even on the calendar. But with the cancellation of Durham’s Dominion Festival – set to take place from May 5 to 7 – and a subsequent salvage … Continued
“Northern Darkness II: Brominion Edition – Visigoth, High Spirits, Riot City, Seven Sisters and Spartan Warrior @Anarchy Brewery Newcastle upon Tyne, May 5, 2023 Day two of Newcastle’s hastily arranged metal mini-fest Brominion struck on the eve of King Charles’ coronation in London – but perhaps the new monarch should have been further North, defending … Continued
“Northern Darkness II: Brominion Edition – Green Lung, Mars Red Sky, High Spirits, Weedpecker, Dawn Ray’d, Calligram, Kylver and Crowley @Anarchy Brewery Newcastle upon Tyne, May 6, 2023 Taking a musical step away from the NWOBHM and NWOTHM dominated Thursday and Friday shows, Brominion day three juxtaposed blackened blast beats with doom grooves and psych-outs. … Continued
“Northern Darkness II: Brominion Edition – Satan, Mythra, Millennium, Born Tö Lose and Equitum @Cluny 2, Newcastle upon Tyne, May 7, 2023 For many UK-based NWOBHM fans, Satan’s appearance at County Durham’s Dominion Festival was a godsend. That festival’s cancellation? A real let down. But Byker Grave Bookings’ rescue mission saw Satan booked for a … Continued
‘BACK AFTER A COVID-RELATED, THREE-YEAR HIATUS, BYKER GRAVE FESTIVAL BROUGHT A HOST OF UK AND INTERNATIONAL ACTS TO TYNESIDE. RICH HOLMES WAS THERE TO WITNESS THE FEST’S 10TH ANNIVERSARY. Byker Grave Festival 2023 @Anarchy Brew Co, Newcastle, November 11, 2024 Since its humble beginnings in a Newcastle pub back in 2013, Byker Grave Festival has … Continued
“Live Burial, Coffin Mulch and Eyeteeth @The Cluny, Newcastle, July 9, 2023 It’s 2012 and outside The Cluny, Jamie Brown is chatting to Jake Bielby about creating a band to “rip off” Last One On Earth – the seminal album from Dutch masters Asphyx. Great ideas often flow from a pint or two… Fast forward … Continued
“Rosalie Cunningham and Druidess @Cluny 2, Newcastle, May 3, 2024 Local history fact of the day: before becoming one of Newcastle’s most popular independent gig spaces, Cluny 2 was a theatre called The Round. So it was perhaps fitting that Rosalie Cunningham and her travelling players, seemingly transported from Tudor England via Camden ’68, graced … Continued