Ahead of a very special 15th anniversary show at Gosforth Civic Theatre, Liza-Lou Campy sat down with Rob Heron of Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra to talk fan favourites, resurrected songs, horn sections, and the joys (and dangers) of recording a live album. The celebratory gig takes place on Saturday 28th March and will double as the band’s first-ever live recording.
You’re marking 15 years of the Tea Pad Orchestra with a big anniversary gig at Gosforth Civic Theatre – and it’s also being recorded live. What’s going through your head as you prepare?
Mainly: what songs do we play? And also, am I actually going to remember how to play all the old ones we’re reviving? I’m very excited about bringing back songs we haven’t touched in years. The idea is a kind of ‘greatest hits’ or fan-favourites set, so the recording will be both a live album and, in a way, a greatest hits record too. We’ve got loads of guest musicians and past band members joining us, so I’ve been working out who’s playing on what. My good friend Neil Hopper from House of the Black Gardenia has also been helping arrange four-part horn sections for some of the songs, which is really exciting.
How does it feel looking back from those early gigs to now headlining a 15th anniversary celebration?
One of our first gigs as the Tea Pad Orchestra was at the Brandling Villa, and for some reason I wore a green fur coat on stage. I’m proud of the journey we’ve made since then, and of the identity we’ve built, which is thankfully a long way from green fur coats. We’ve recorded six albums and two EPs, which adds up to something like 70-plus songs I’ve written. I don’t think I started the band with the intention of achieving as much as we have, so looking back on it all feels pretty good.
Your music pulls together all sorts of genres into what you’ve dubbed ‘North Eastern Swing’. How did that sound come together?
I was studying folk music at Newcastle University when the band started, and I began listening obsessively to older music – 1920s country yodelling, 1930s vocal groups, 1940s jump jive, 1950s rock ‘n’ roll. They’re all different, but they belong in the same category of ‘good music’. These styles are often thought of as American, but I’ve always written with a British voice and tone. That’s where the idea of renaming Western Swing as ‘North Eastern Swing’ came from. We also briefly considered calling it RAGTYNE. When people ask what kind of music we play, I never really know how to answer. I just play the music I like.
When you revisit early songs now, do they feel different with the band you are today?
Definitely. The band itself was different back then – only myself and Tom Cronin remain from the original line-up. In the early days it was lighter, more folky, maybe even a bit twee. I like to think that with age we’ve become grittier, louder, and more rock ’n’ roll. Some people might still think it’s twee, though.
Why was Gosforth Civic Theatre the right place for this milestone show?
I wanted a venue with a theatre feel but without seating. We also needed lots of space backstage and in the wings because of the number of people involved. I played a solo set there for the Jumpin’ Hot Club 40-year anniversary and loved how the stage felt. The Cluny is probably my favourite venue to play, and we’d usually go there, but for this show I wanted to step outside my comfort zone and try something a bit different.
Looking back over 15 years, what strange idea ended up becoming part of the band’s identity?
Drinking entire bottles of neat spirits on stage. Not proud of it, but it works.
What’s next after the anniversary?
I’m planning a solo record this year, exploring a more organic country sound, and I’ll tour that in the autumn. Then in 2027, the full band will probably head back into the studio for more of the saxophone-heavy R&B we’ve been making recently. As for collaborations – hit me up!
Tickets for Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra’s Gosforth Civic Theatre show, priced from £22.00 in advance, are available at gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk.
