Driven Serious & Friends....

First off, this line-up is so far left-field that it should go in the “off-genre” box but that would be almost criminal, to side-line one of the best nights out I’ve had in a while; the sort of night you’d leave hospital and risk bursting a few stitches for…

Okay; first band up; Moonlight Grove, lad/lass acoustic duo and I hope that’s their band name; got the evening away to a cracking start with their rock’n'roll folk style. They really got into their groove, mixing originals & covers and as is the way, their slot was all to soon over.

Next up, Durham’s Bubamara, and if the Fezzes didn’t give it away, then the lead Bouzouki surely did; these guys gave the night’s proceedings a right kick up the Balkans with their East European folk & revolutionary stylings, and the best cover I’ve heard of ABBA’s Money, Money, Money I’ve heard in many a long while. These guys would give ANY music festival a caffeine shot.

Following, a total style change, the punkier stylings of Newcastle’s The Pastures. This, the only electric band of the evening, hit the stage full of p*** & vinegar and turned in a really powerful set which had strong echoes of The Pogues. At the risk of sounding “old git”, musically they got more interesting the slower they played, and their front guy (wish I caught his name - Daryl Burns?) has a cracking voice: overall a powerful young band to keep an eye on and an ear out for.

Headlining the night though, the worst kept secret in the North, Driven Serious, Rob Jones’ rag-taggle bunch of Steam-punk Folk pirates. These guys deliver a set, comparable to The Levellers, The Waterboys and even early R.E.M. that’s more like an event than a mere gig. Great time, great energy, great vibe and Rob is just about the best frontman/compare I’ve seen since Fish. Loved their mix of originals as well as unique takes on covers like Another Brick In The Wall..

Question is; does 4 bands classify this as a festival? Well if it does, then it’s probably the best I’ve been to in 30 years. Four local bands, approaching “folk” in four entirely different ways, each hugely entertaining in it’s own way; as Rob in his compere’s hat said “open the sluices and let the fresh waters flow”. And for a ticket price at the princely sum of £5; if not the gig of the year, then surely the absolute bargain.

Seriously; ANY of these playing bands in your vicinity; poke your head in the door; you won’t regret it.

O.K. I've discussed Folk music - now call the Blues police.....