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Darlington’s celebration of live music and comedy returns with a typically stacked bill
Image: Coach Party
It’s getting to that time of year when bands and stand-up comedians from both near and far come together to quell your post-summer blues on Autumn tours, and a tonne of both will be converging on a trio of venues in Darlington for Last Train Home on Saturday 7th September, organised by Darlo-based music collective Tracks.
In addition to the main event, a special launch show will take place at the newly refurbished Hopetown museum on Thursday 5th September featuring Kathryn Williams and Withered Hand. Another addition to the main line-up will be a music development panel discussion event organised by Generator, happening on the morning of the festival. Here’s a few of our recommendations for the day, with much more besides to check out on the festival’s website…
A LAUGH
Hilarity Bites have curated a special line-up of both established and up and coming comedic talent in case the vast array of music all becomes too much and you need to give your ears time to stop ringing for a little while. The line-up includes Bethany Black, who has toured with notable performers like Joe Lycett and Paul Sinha; Joe.co.uk’s Club Comedian of The Year, Mick Ferry; the man who mixes music and satire, Steve Gribbin; as well as Stephanie Lang, Elaine Robertson, Josh Sedman and a slew of other names all gunning to make you laugh.
FINDING YOUR NEW FAVOURITE BAND
The Last Train Home crew have constantly brought fresh new and up and coming talent to the festival over the years, and this time is no exception. Rivkala, recipient of Drake Music’s Emerging Artist of 2023, will be bringing her raw, poignant storytelling inspired by the amazing voices of Amy Winehouse and Nina Simone; Darlo’s very own dark, beat-driven trip-hop duo Moss will also be gracing the stage for one of their first performances; rising Smoggy star Finn Forster brings his anthemic melodies to the stage; and other North East notables include Sunderland indie garage newbies Calvoas, indie pop strummer Michael Gallagher, J.P Riggall of Teesside band Weather Ship, local grungers No Ripcord, Newcastle punks Irked, rock ‘n’ rollers Dossers and Darlington songstresses Jodie Nicholson and Caitlin Morrow.
BAGS OF CHOICE
There are a whole heap of different genres of music to tickle your fancy at this years event. From the electronic earworms of Ronald Raygun via the riot grrrl punk vibes of Gaydar, to the indie pop of Teesside’s We Tibetans, there’s something for every festival goer to groove to. Other sonic revelations to alter your consciousness come in the form of Formal Sppeedwear, whose influences include NEU! and Devo, not to mention one of my picks from last year, Gateshead’s Amateur Ornithologist, who play for the first time in Darlington. Another notable addition is Belfast’s Wynona Bleach, who just released their new single Swim In The Bay. There’s also a pop-up stage featuring acoustic performances from Jonny Goodwin, Jade Mia Broadhead, Midnight Library and Izzy Price in the Hippo Cafe.
GREAT LIVE VENUES
The festival’s venues pack a punch when it comes to both atmosphere and live sound. And what’s better is, if you need to make a dash for the train, the station is only a few hundred metres up Yarm Road! The Hippodrome, which will serve as the main stage (and also houses the NARC. stage upstairs) needs no introduction with its sumptuous and inviting Edwardian interior, and it’s where you will be able to catch both Avalanche Party and Isle of Wight’s Coach Party. The Forum Music Centre has long been a mainstay of live music and a general hub for creativity in Darlington, and Hullabaloo, which is located inside the Hippodrome complex is full of character and atmosphere.
