South Tyneside is a metropolitan borough in the metropolitan county of Tyne and Wear, North East England. It forms part of the Tyneside conurbation.
Deacon Blue are a Scottish pop rock band formed in Glasgow during 1985. The line-up of the band consists of vocalists Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh, keyboard player James Prime and drummer Dougie Vipond. The band released their debut album, Raintown, on 1 May 1987 in the United Kingdom and in the United States in February 1988. Their second album, When the World Knows Your Name (1989), topped the UK Albums Chart for two weeks, and included "Real Gone Kid" which became their first top ten single in the UK Singles Chart and reached number one in Spain.
Sparks is an American pop and rock duo formed in 1967 by brothers Ron (keyboards) and Russell Mael (vocals). Known for their quirky approach to songwriting, Sparks' music is often accompanied by sophisticated and acerbic lyrics, often about women or Shakespearean literature references, and an idiosyncratic, theatrical stage presence, typified in the contrast between Russell's animated, hyperactive frontman antics and Ron's deadpan scowling. They are also noted for Russell Mael's distinctive wide-ranging voice and Ron Mael's intricate and rhythmic keyboard playing style. They were much more successful in Europe compared to their native US, though they maintain a loyal cult following there.
The Captain Matchbox Whoopee Band, also known as Soapbox Circus or Matchbox, were an Australian jug band formed in 1969. It centred on Mic Conway on lead vocals, washboard and ukulele; and his brother, Jim Conway, on harmonica, kazoo and vocals. They issued four studio albums, Smoke Dreams, Wangaratta Wahine, Australia and Slightly Troppo (1978), before they disbanded in September 1980. The Conway brothers reformed the group in 2010 as Captain Matchbox Reignited and disbanded again two years later.
Gryphon are an English progressive and medieval folk rock band formed in London in 1972. They are known for their medieval and Renaissance style of music.
The Peatbog Faeries are a largely instrumental Celtic fusion band. Formed in 1991, they are based in Dunvegan on the Isle of Skye, Scotland.
Linda Ann Fredericks, better known as Linda Lewis, is an English vocalist, songwriter and guitarist. She is the eldest of six children, three of whom also had singing careers. She is best known for the singles "Rock-a-Doodle-Doo" (1973), "Sideway Shuffle" (1973) and her version of Betty Everett's "Shoop Shoop Song " (1975), and for albums such as Lark (1972), Not a Little Girl Anymore (1975), Woman Overboard (1977) and the later Second Nature (1995), which became successful in countries such as Japan. Lewis also provided vocals for others such as David Bowie, Al Kooper, Cat Stevens, Steve Harley and Cockney Rebel, Rick Wakeman, Rod Stewart, Peter Bardens, Hummingbird, Joan Armatrading and Jamiroquai.
Joe Lean & the Jing Jang Jong were an English indie rock band based in London. Although the band attracted considerable press attention following the 2007 release of their debut single "Lucio Starts Fires" they failed to capitalise on this, and disbanded in 2010. The band are perhaps best known for failing to ever release their critically acclaimed debut album.
The Unthanks are an English folk group known for their eclectic approach in combining traditional English folk, particularly Northumbrian folk music, with other musical genres. Their debut album, Cruel Sister, was Mojo magazine's Folk Album of the Year in 2005. Of their subsequent albums, nine have received four or five-starred reviews in the British national press. Their album Mount the Air, released in 2015, won in the best album category in the 2016 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards. In 2017 they released two albums featuring the songs and poems of Molly Drake, mother of singer-songwriter and musician Nick Drake.
Baddies were a British high energy indie rock band formed in late 2007 and played through 2012. Baddies with Attitude BBC Introducing included them on their BBC Introducing stage at One Big Weekend as tipped by BBC Essex Introducing. They are set to support other BBC Introducing acts such as Marina & the Diamonds, Temper Trap, Little Commets & Master Shortie. In May 2009 BBC Essex Introducing further backed the act in the form of a live session and Glastonbury Festival announced that they would be playing on the John Peel stage.
D.I.D, formerly known as Dog Is Dead, are a five-piece indie pop band from West Bridgford, Nottingham, who have described their music as "an original blend of harmonious, indie-pop in the disco, with a cheeky jazz hint" and "uplifting pop for jazz junkies and choir folk". The band consists of Robert Howie Milton, Rob 'Paul Roberts' White, Joss Van Wilder, Lawrence 'Trev' Cole and Daniel Harvey (drums).
John E Vistic is a British, Bristol-based singer-songwriter, and the lead singer and/ guitarist for The John E Vistic Rock N Roll Soundsystem. John E Vistic is the founder of The Ark Charity Album series Vols.1 and 2. compiling 47 Bristol acts giving their work for the Quartet Charity Covid Appeal The Ark Vol. 1 contains a cover version by John E Vistic of the Portishead song, "Glorybox" recorded in the same studio as Portishead's original. John E Vistic is also lead guitarist with James Ray and the Blackhearted Riders, most recently touring and playing on their album Broken Glass & Bullet Holes (2018). James Ray is known for his work with Gang War and The Sisters of Mercy.
Frankie & The Heartstrings are a Sunderland-based indie rock band formed in 2008. The band's debut album, Hunger was released on 21 February 2011, and debuted at No. 32 on the UK albums chart. Known for their partying, they were labelled as the indie Mötley Crüe.
Jeffrey Wootton is an English musician, guitarist and songwriter from Manchester. He has been the lead guitarist in Gorillaz since 2010.
Spector is a British four piece indie rock band from London, composed of Frederick Macpherson, Thomas Shickle (bass), Jed Cullen and Danny Blandy. The band's debut album Enjoy It While It Lasts reached number 12 in the UK Albums Chart and went to number one on the Official Record Store Chart on the week of its release.
Let's Buy Happiness were a British alternative rock music group. The group consisted of Sarah Hall (vocals), James Hall (guitar/keys), Graeme Martin (guitars), Mark Brown (bass) and James King (drums). They began playing local shows in hometown Newcastle, England. Their first EP No Hot Ashes was self-released and received national success. Following this came singles Six Wolves, Fast Fast and Dirty Lakes. The band have twice been invited to the Maida Vale Studios for both BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Radio 1. Dirty Lakes has also been included on Spotify's Songs of 2011 list. Their tour manager was Alex King who is the brother of former drummer, James King - their father is Hairy Biker Simon King.
The Electric Swing Circus are a six piece electro swing band based in Birmingham, England. The line up features Vicki Olivia (vocals), Fe Salomon (vocals), Chandra Walker, Tom Hyland (guitar), Rashad Gregory and Patrick Wreford. The Electric Swing Circus formed in June 2011. The band's preview EP, Penniless Optimist, was released in September 2011, and their debut album "Electric Swing Circus" in May 2013. They released their second album "It Flew By" in January 2017.
Turrentine Jones are an English indie rock band formed in 2012 in Manchester, UK. The band consists of Julian Neville (guitar/vocals), Joe Chilstone-Vause (bass) and Rich Watts. They have released one studio album: Our Days (2014) and one live album Live in York (2015) as well as two singles.
Grice Peters aka GRICE, is a London-born English art rock musician, vocalist, lyricist and songwriter. Grice formed and fronted underground brit-pop flavoured bands Laugh like A Madman, The Burning Martyrs, The Martyrs, SWANSTON and the avant-garde art rock outfit hungersleep, before starting his solo career. In 2012, he released his debut solo GRICE album, PROPELLER, which featured saxophonist Raphael Ravenscroft and pedal steel guitarist BJ Cole, as well as a number of contributors including Markus Reuter, 05Ric, and Luca Calabrese amongst others. The album was produced by Lee Fletcher and co-produced by Grice. In 2013, the track "Highly Strung" was remixed by English synthesizer player, keyboardist and composer Richard Barbieri. "Highly Strung" was selected by Tom Robinson and played on his BBC Radio 6 Music Mixtape show. In 2015, GRICE released his second album ALEXANDRINE, working again with Richard Barbieri and Steve Jansen. The track "She's in my Garden" was supported by Tom Robinson and played on his BBC Radio 6 Music radio show. In 2019, GRICE was also a special guest on the show.
David Rhodes, stagename Rhodes, is an English singer and songwriter from Baldock, Hertfordshire, England. He released his debut EP Raise Your Love on Hometown Records in October 2013 and released his second EP Morning on Rhodes Music on 12 May 2014. His debut album Wishes was released on 18 September 2015.
