Simon Jones casts an appreciative ear over the musical times of the late Alan Hull
On one occasion I met with James Alan Hull, keen to question him on the oblique and obscure lyrics of his most famed composition Lady…
May 3 2020
Jack the Lad: Getting down to the real things (Album Tracking, November 1976)
Chas De Whalley investigates the Joie De Vivre of Newcastle’s latest in line as they undertake their first headlining tour.
“Do you want another drink? ‘Cos you can have one, you know.”
Ray Laidlaw peered out me from behind his…
Apr 18 2020
Lindisfarne (Disc, November 18, 1972)
Rosalind Russell traces the history of the band, through their schooldays, previous groups in which they played, and their emergence first as Newcastle's top outfit and then later as one of Britain's best-selling bands and almost legendary live performers.
The…
Oct 28 2019
Selling Newcastle (Record Mirror Jan, 22 1972)
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…
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…