Preview: Lande Hekt @ The Cumberland Arms (03.10.25)

There’s a wealth of fantastic gigs scheduled across the North East in October – big and small; local and touring – and where better to kickstart a packed month of live music than at Newcastle’s Cumberland Arms, in the company of cult singer-songwriter Lande Hekt?

Visiting courtesy of Blancmange Records, this much-loved Exeter-born artist’s musical journey began in her teens fronting indie-punks Muncie Girls. Once hailed as “the best-kept secret in British indie” by the NME, the trio released two terrific albums front-loaded with raw, joyous and big-hearted anthems, before global events ground their momentum to an abrupt halt.

For Lande, the opportunity to establish her identity as a solo artist offered a silver lining. Now based in Bristol, and having previously dabbled with debut EP Gigantic Disappointment, she’s since delivered a pair of stellar full-lengths – 2021’s Going to Hell and 2022’s House Without a View – realigning those same melodic instincts in a guise that’s lower octane yet no less impactful, leaning into jangly guitars and the hazy melancholia. Beyond the challenges of the global pandemic, their intoxicating brew of tumult and euphoria stems from a pivotal point in Lande’s own emotional journey, reflecting and documenting her experience coming out as gay during the writing process. Punchy yet tender, politically forthright and revelling in queer joy, these intimate indie-pop gems have drawn a host of new followers, and are ripe for discovery for anyone frequenting the work of Angel Olsen, Sharon Van Etten et al.

Following Muncie Girls’ farewell tour in 2023, Lande’s solo ventures are now her sole artistic focus – and with hints of new music in the pipeline, there’s even the possibility those at The Cumberland Arms could steal a sneak peek at her next steps…

There’s a pair of excellent supports to look forward to too. Visiting from London, Fightmilk arrive with an arsenal of chunky riffs, a commanding vocalist in Lily Rae and a supply of hooks so huge Jason Statham could’ve deployed them in The Meg. I only encountered them for the first time looking them up for this piece, and a couple of songs was all it took to reel me in. Fans of North East heroes Martha, plus classic names such as Superchunk and Weezer, ought to take note.

Melanie Baker’s songs, meanwhile, are cut from similar emotional cloth to Hekt’s, exploring her own queer identity via a sonic spectrum ranging from intimate, folky ruminations to cathartic, grungy ragers. If you enjoy the music of Lande Hekt (and if you’re reading this, you’re presumably at least curious), this Cumbrian-born, Newcastle-based opener is one you’ll not want to miss.

Tickets cost a generous £12 in advance, rising to £16 on the door. Grab yours now to save 25% – and to give a small, independent local promoter peace of mind!