Staying true to its (folk and) roots
Staying true to its (folk and) roots
The Beyond the Moor festival is back to showcase established and emerging artists via a cracking day-long folk and roots feast in Newcastle. Sam Wonfor reports.
Just three years after making its debut, the Beyond the Moor festival already feels like it has its place in Tyneside’s music calendar.
An all-day tasty casserole of folk and roots music delivered at Gosforth Civic Theatre, in Newcastle, the event was developed to offer a platform for grassroots artists while also giving audiences the chance to catch some top drawer established acts.
Previous Beyond the Moor bills have included the likes of Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, Lauren Housley & The Northern Cowboys, Siobhan Miller Trio, Tim Dalling, Holly and the Reivers and Flook.
For 2024, organisers - who are predicting this year will be the busiest yet - have booked folk stars, O’Hooley and Tidow to headline.
Propelled to a new level of wider acclaim after they penned the theme tune to Sally Wainwright’s drama, Gentleman Jack, the Yorkshire-based twosome have been successfully doing their thing for a decade and a half… so have a big back catalogue to choose from.
Having never been to Beyond the Moor before or played Gosforth Civic, the October 12 gathering offers a double debut for the duo (one for the alliteration fans there) who are headlining alongside three-strong folk collaboration outfit, Leveret.
“We have always been impressed by the line ups and hoped that one day we'd get to play it,” says Belinda O’Hooley, who is looking forward to hitting the GCT stage for the first time with her other half in music and life, Heidi Tidow.
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Asked to pick out some highlights from the rest of the busy bill, Belinda adds: “We both love Leveret and we're particularly excited about hearing Me Lost Me who have garnered a lot of attention for their peculiar soundscapes.”
Others on the bill include folk luminary Jez Lowe, French trio, Cri du Canard, Sam Baxter, the Ouseburn Folk Choir and the class of 2024 from Newcastle University’s Folk and Traditional Music degree.
“It's great that performers from the Newcastle Folk Degree are playing as well as it's a great platform to gain experience and exposure performing in front of a larger audience,” says Belinda.
Led by their tutor Cariona Macdonald, Newcastle’s next generation of musical up-and-comers will be opening festival proceedings at 3pm, showcasing traditional tunes that allow them to demonstrate their talents as the latest graduates of a degree that broke new ground in England when it opened for tuneful business in 2001.
Belinda remembers the benefits of being given that kind of opportunity well.
“I remember supporting Chumbawamba, Billy Bragg, Peggy Seeger in the early days and having the opportunity to play bigger crowds, and learn from these amazing people and their craft.”
You won’t get any arguments from Scott Forbes, marketing and programme manager at Gosforth Civic Theatre.
“Providing the opportunity for artists and young people, either at the beginning of their career or at a turning point on their journey, to perform on a bill with established musicians is something we’re passionate about,” he says.
“We’re chuffed to have such a good relationship with the Newcastle University Folk and Traditional Music degree which has played a huge part in the thriving folk scene in the region, and we can’t wait for one of their talented bands to open the day for the third year in a row.”
Scott says the reception for Beyond the Moor after just two previous events (at the two-weeks-out time of writing, there were only 20% of tickets left for the 2024 festival) cements their founding belief that there was “a hunger for a platform like this, which showcases national and regional folk and roots artists on one stage”.
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“And we’re delighted to have such a strong lineup this year, headlined by the incredible O’Hooley & Tidow and incendiary Leveret,” he continues.
“To have artists of that calibre underpinned by amazing local artists Me Lost Me, Cri du Canard, Jez Lowe, Sam Baxter and Ouseburn Folk choir is a real coup for us.
“We have always sought a programme of artists that show the kaleidoscopic nature of traditional music from trad folk and tunes to more contemporary artists, while also keeping a gender balance across the lineup.”
Once again taking place across two stages in the venue, another thing which remains the same is the ticket price and a broader commitment to make the event as accessible as possible.
“It’s about sustainable growth for us, we want to put down roots in the local music scene so Beyond the Moor becomes a mainstay of people’s calendars,” says Scott.
‘And with everything we do at GCT, it’s about raising the expectations of what the event and venue can offer people in an inclusive atmosphere.”
Talking of what will be on offer on October 12, Belinda is happy to give a few headline setlist spoilers.
“We can't wait to play some songs from our new album Cloudheads, which explores many topics including our joint autism diagnoses,” she says.
“We have many requests for our song The Ballad of Anne and Ann which we recorded with Suranne Jones (Gentleman Jack herself) and which is definitely an audience favourite.
“Also, it wouldn't be a headline set without playing Beryl, Chimneys Moors & Me and of course Gentleman Jack!”
Belinda says they have really enjoyed the wider attention being associated with a hit TV series has offered O’Hooley and Tidow.
“Just after the show was screened, we received so many messages and orders for albums all over the world that we had to hole ourselves up in our loft which we'd turned into an online distribution centre!
“What has been lovely is that many people have discovered our music through that song and have stayed with us through discovering the rest of what we do. That feels lovely.”
Beyond the Moor takes place at Gosforth Civic Theatre from 3pm on October 12. For all-day tickets, which are priced at £35 (or £20 for concessions, students and under 18s) visit the website.