We were delighted to be performing as part of the Newcastle Fringe Festival 2023. The festival was two jam-packed weeks of theatre, comedy and music across 5 city centre and Ouseburn venues.
Review
A youthful (ish), mainly student based, audience got what they came for – did they not!
This band don’t know the meaning of pf. Their pf is my ff by which I mean they are loud and, judging by the whooping and the hollering, the whistling and the traditional hand-clapping and stamping of feet (later, stomping of feet on the cobbled floor), this is what the night was all about.
The solos were shared around with Jacob Lightfoot copping for most of the alto spots although Max Storey had a nice chorus late on. On bari, front-man Wicks didn’t solo but did tell some jokes – don’t give up the day job Brian.
Billy Bradshaw blew the screamers on Maynard Ferguson’s arrangement of Birdland whilst Sam Armstrong had a blast late on.
When Conor Polley swapped his ‘bone for the mic the place erupted and, understandably so. He sang the last four numbers and the room was rockin’.
Needless to say, the rhythm section were solid throughout. Caleb Carver taking Caravan across the burning sands as if there wasn’t an oasis in sight plus good solos across the set from piano, guitar and Ifede Osiyemi on bass guitar – hey! when did he hang up his microphone?
It was what it was and none the less for that. This is a band that nods to the past but brings its audience along to the present. Bon voyage. Lance – Read the full review
Lineup
Vocals: Conor Polley
Saxes: Jacob Lightfoot, Max Storey, Crissi Booth, Lucy McCarttan, Brian Wicks
Trombones: Alex Utting, Bertie Marks, David Gray, Conor Polley
Trumpets: Billy Bradshaw, Thomas Howarth, Sam Armstrong, Andrew Marshall
Guitar: Ben Davies
Keys: Alex Ngeyu
Bass: Ifede Osiyemi
Drums: Caleb Carver
Pieces
Computer
All the Things You Are
Blue Rondo a la Turk
Birdland
Tank
Caravan
Limehouse Blues
Everybody Needs Somebody
Superstition
Crazy Little Thing Called Love
Wonderwall