FEATURE: The Gathering Sounds

Image: GIRLBAND

Once again setting out to highlight how great Stockton is for multi-venue festivals, The Gathering Sounds all-day celebration of music returns to ARC, KU, The Georgian Theatre, The Social Room and Storytellers for its fifth year on Saturday 30^th September. The impressive line-up of local and national artists proves that organisers have their fingers on the pulse.

Taking inspiration from festivals like Brighton’s The Great Escape, The Gathering Sounds’ line-up covers a variety of genres and has established itself as a key tastemaker in the North East music scene.

ARC’s main stage will host Newcastle-born Andrew Cushin, who has received compliments from the likes of Noel Gallagher and Pete Doherty for his catchy and energetic indie rock sound. This year has seen him gaining fans across the US whilst supporting Louis Tomlinson and he’s certain to go down well in Stockton in a coveted headline slot. Also on the ARC line-up is Middlesbrough’s blues-soaked songwriter Finn Forster; the sunny-sounding Deco, whose songs that will take you back to the days of 80s synth-pop; distinctive bluesy indie singer-songwriter Ruby J; alternative indie rockers San Quentin; candid songwriter Frankie Dobson; and Newcastle-born and Manchester-based indie band The Redroom.

Over at KU, headliners The Skinner Brothers will show off their matured sound which fuses genres as varied as jazz, indie rock, hip-hop and punk, plus there’s sets from indie disco band The Clause; rock ‘n’ roll outfit Fat Dog; alt. rockers Casino; three-man rock band The Molotovs; energetic indie rock trio House of Wolves; Hartlepool singer-songwriter DAWKS; and the punk-influenced heavy-guitar-laden tunes of Northern Hospitality.

The Gathering Sounds’ line-up covers a variety of genres and has established itself as a key tastemaker in the North East music scene

The Georgian Theatre has a stellar line-up which includes straight-talking pop punk quintet, Komparrison; no-nonsense trio GIRLBAND, whose sound has been compared to the likes of Wet Leg and The Big Moon; hard-hitting brat-pop siblings ZELA; indie newcomers Bedroom High Club; indie punk Lipfiller; sax-driven funk popsters Picnic; Teesside’s indie outfit Provenance; and indie rockers High Tide.

Hull promoter Under The Influence will take over ARC 2’s stage with a line-up which includes York’s King No-One, who will close the stage with their infectious indie sounds; Hull’s very own five-piece alt-rock powerhouse, Fever; indie folk singer-songwriter Yasmin Coe; bedroom-pop-meets-psychedelic band Delights; alt. pop indie queen Mollie Coddled; introspective Springsteen-inspired songwriter Kieran Bowe; and anthemic indie solo artist Lissy Taylor.

Located above KU Stockton, The Social Room’s vibe nods to social clubs of the past. Liverpool promoters EVOL curated the stage, which is set to host grungy guitar pop singer Zuzu; riff-rollicking glam rock-esque trio Mexican Dogs; Liverpudlian indie rock band Ambedo Blue, who will be preceded by their home-town friends Headfeeder; and alt. pop singer-songwriter Martha Goddard.

Promoter, label and riotously popular club night This Feeling will take over The Storytellers to showcase some of the nation’s finest rock and indie acts. Stage headliners Rolla have a sound that nods to their home-town of Manchester’s well-known sound, taking inspiration from bands like The Verve and The Stone Roses. Joining them are groove-laden indie rockers The Utopiates; Britpop-inspired band Stanleys; singer-songwriter Fitzroy Holt; alternative rock four-piece The Facades; the recently formed LOCK-IN; and Liverpool’s Britpop-meets-dance-music band Columbia.

The Gathering Sounds takes place at various venues in Stockton on Saturday 30^th September. Read an exclusive interview with promoter Jimmy Beck here.