The Winterhill Transmission, Debut Single Launch, The Cluny 2, 19/11/10

The Ouseburn, one of Newcastle’s best kept secrets and a great place at the best of times. Regeneration done right. A buzzing mix of artist workshops, start up business’, recording studios, the city farm of course, the Centre for the Childrens Book and arguably some of the best bars in Newcastle all within a few hundred yards; The Tyne, The Cumberland Arms and the Free Trade all strung along the snaking Ouseburn and tied together with cobbled streets and tow paths. At the epicentre of this regeneration is the Lime Street Studios, one time mill, but better remembered for its distinctive, brick conical chimney, emblazed with the moniker of the Cluny, Scotch Whisky bottling plant. There’s a wealth of stuff going on within its labyrinthine corridors, studios, restaurants and 2 live music venues… The long established 300 capacity Cluny, (tonight playing host to Dr “Milk and Alcohol” Feelgood and, as of last year, the 160 capacity Cluny 2, tonight having the honour of hosting The Winterhill Transmission’s debut single launch.

Seeing the Winterhill Transmission tonight isn’t really like a gig, it’s like a party where they’ve invited their friends, no pretention whatsoever. We’re greeted at the door by Ben, singer/songwriter with The Winterhill boys, who shakes our hands warmly, thanks us for coming and then gives us each a copy of their shiny new 3 track CD single. Once inside, the general party feel continues, there’s a friendly chattiness as people mingle and mix.

Support bands appear to be handpicked friends. Sleepy Valley, (aka. Gary Dempsey) first up, serving respectable slices of lo-fi, electonica to a warm, receptive audience. Then from solo artist, we go full tilt to the other end of the spectrum as a quarter of the audience take to the stage in the form of The Union Choir. Feck me, there’s millions of them! They even apologise that they’re a man down?! … but a joyous noise ensues with Elvis Costello look-a-like, Jon Melvin managing to keep his hordes in check and the crowd entertained, all within his 2 square foot of allotted stage space. They were brilliant actually, managing somehow warmth and desperation, awkwardness and beauty all in the same package!

Set

Eleanor

Lifeboat

Dancer in Pearls

Matador

Capital

Rapture

Then our boys meander, almost unnoticed to the stage, the crowds have swelled and are chatting amongst themselves and Ben politely averts our attention with the opening, twinkling, chords of April Snows, (Dandelion Stalks) as the chatter abates, It’s one of my favourites, a beautiful song, with a sing-a-long childlike quality. (My daughter loves this song, despite the reference to pickled lambs hearts, which I think she misses every time!) From then on, the set cranks up a gear, with Satellites. I’m really enjoying the live, Winterhill experience, there’s a confident, richer, live, indie sound that reinforces Ben’s delicate vocals. Don’t get me wrong, the softer, acoustic, stripped back folky sessions are tremendous… but tonight the more forceful, fuller sound has got this audience, moving and singing along… thoroughly warmed up the party is in full flow. There’s easy banter throughout, Lemmy impressions, misplaced set-lists and even a call out to ex-pupils of St Bedes High School, Ormskirk… (just one then?) Three quarters of the way through, the band take a breather and re-join the audience, while Ben does a couple of solo numbers. Light Up all The Dark Houses… a song less than a week old, scribed apparently, during the Everton-Arsenal clash of the previous Sunday and another, Catholic Guilt.

The band rejoin the stage to finish the set and the whole night is wrapped up nicely with If I Ever See You Again… first track off the 3 track single… and a perfect introduction to The Winterhill Transmission. Complex, delicate and intelligent. As befits the night the band step down, unassumingly from the stage to rejoin their friends and family… we thank them and slip home. Brilliant!

Set

April Snow

Satellite

Story of a coastal town

How could we ever know?

Matador

Light up all the dark houses

Catholic Guilt

Signal

Ghost

If I ever see you again

New single available for download here.