Haunting, haunted pop, flawless sibling harmonies and an emerging songwriting star, with a pre-concert talk on one of the North East's most well-known songwriters

The Alan Hull Award
Featuring Ajimal, Cattle and Cane, Jonny Kearney
Saturday 26th May
Hall Two, 7pm

Alan Hull was the wryly observant Geordie poet, songwriter and musician who led the 1970s North East folk/rock band Lindisfarne. Alan died suddenly in 1995. He bequeathed a fund to support developing musicians in the region and, at this concert, three of the most exciting emerging North East singer-songwriters, who have all benefited from this fund, will perform.

Ajimal


Penning emotionally complex songs, delivered impeccably, and with a strong collaborative ethos, Ajimal (AKA Fran O'Hanlon) has earned an earnest and devoted following amongst his listeners and fellow musicians. Ajimal takes grandiose musical constructions and channels them into intimate moments of perfect, haunting pop. Recommended listening: Wolf, The Sea Inside

Cattle and Cane


Current holders of the Alan Hull Award, family band Cattle & Cane are emerging as one of the most refreshing young bands in the North. Featuring brother and sister Helen and Joe Hammill’s magnificently soaring harmonies, their music has a timeless quality that bears repeated, close scrutiny. Recommended listening: Sold my Soul, The Poacher

Jonny Kearney


Often performing with Lucy Farrell, Johnny has emerged as a great lyricist, with his bittersweet kitchen-sink dramas showing sympathy with American storytellers like Dylan and Tom Waits. You may have seen him in support of the Unthanks and Bellowhead here in Gateshead. With an unerring ear and songwriting well beyond his years, Jonny is in the vanguard of the North's emerging musical storytellers. Recommended listening: Song for a Sweetheart (with Lucy Farrell), Dixon Street

 

The evening will also include a look at Alan's musical legacy, with a pre-concert talk from Ray Laidlaw and Billy Mitchell in Hall Two at 7pm. Join us for an evening of great new music and a sense of local music history. 


Tickets: £10