Long ago and far away when Hyde park was just a flower pot and underground meant the Bakerloo line to me I was given to lurching around England in my capacity as a musical trade paper journalist with a group…
Oct 28 2019
Nov 30 2018
Barry McKay remembers - 40 years ago today: The flight of the gravy
Lindisfarne & Chris Rea post-Christmas Show supper, Mathers Kitchen, Eldon Square, Newcastle
After a lengthy "Magic In The Air" tour, we were all ready to let our hair down. Circa 50 of us arrived at Mathers Kitchen restaurant after one…
Jul 21 2018
Clear White Light - a play featuring the songs of Alan Hull
CLEAR WHITE LIGHT, the WORLD PREMIERE of a new play featuring the songs of ALAN HULL!
Live Theatre, Newcastle, 18th Oct - 10th Nov 2018 | Tickets on sale 25th July
Venue & ticket info: https://www.live.org.uk/whats-on/clear-white-light
…
Apr 4 2018
The Tale of Lindisfarne in Wonderland: NME, March 1972
Picture five Newcastle lads touring in the overwhelming, monstrous United States.
The hustle and bustle can drive a country boy mad unless he relaxes, sitting on the edge of his Holiday Inn bed, watching the colourful street lights below…
Feb 9 2018
The Lindisfarne File (Melody Maker, 1972)
(With thanks to Michael Clayton)
Evolution: Rod Clements and Ray Laidlaw formed the Downtown Faction Blues Band in Newcastle in the summer of 1966 and renamed it Brethren in the summer of 1969, when their colleagues were Jeff Sadler…
Jan 23 2018
Lindisfarne: It's Tyne Time - Melody Maker, 1971
It's Tyne Time
by Roy Hollingworth (1949-2002: Guardian obituary)
from Melody Maker Dec 18, 1971 - discovered by Michael Clayton
"No, we'll never work as hard as this again. It's killing the magic. And it's not doing us…
Jan 22 2018
Alan Hull & Radiator - rare photos!
Here's an interesting letter published in Record Collector Magazine a few years back about Alan's band Radiator, featuring Ray Laidlaw and the late Kenny Craddock, amongst others. (Reproduced with permission from Alan Lewis, with thanks to Marcel Ruf and Mike…
Sep 3 2017
Arranging 'Dingly Dell'...
Dingly Dell, the title track - and final track - on the band's third album, features a sparse, haunting arrangement. featuring guitar, bass, and orchestra.
The basic track was recorded during the 'Fog On The Tyne' sessions but all…
Aug 22 2017
The Call of the Wild - the story behind the video
From Ray Laidlaw...
'There's a little tale behind this one. We originally planned to shoot the whole video in one day at Flamingo Park Zoo. We completed a couple of shots and then got thrown out when they…
Jun 13 2017
BBC blue plaque awarded to early Lindisfarne and Led Zeppelin venue
Mayfair Ballroom honoured by BBC Newcastle as 47 Blue Plaques are awarded as part of BBC Music Day
BBC Local Radio, BBC Asian Network and The British Plaque Trust announced today (Wednesday 14 June) 47 new Blue Plaques…
Jun 13 2017
New Lindisfarne book - 'We Can Swing Together'
John Van Der Kiste's new biography of Lindisfarne - We Can Swing Together - is available now from Amazon.
It charts the history of the band (and extended family), from their beginnings in the youth clubs of…