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…

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…

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…

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…

(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…

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…

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…

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…

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…

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…