Few bands capture the soul of the North East quite like Smoove & Turrell. With nearly two decades under their belts, the Gateshead collective have built a reputation for infectious grooves, sharp storytelling, and proper Geordie charm. As they prepare to headline The Glasshouse Christmas Bash in Gateshead (Dec 12), ring in the new year at The Fire Station in Sunderland (Dec 31), and kick off 2025 with a DJ PA set at RED in North Shields (Jan 1), Liza-Lou Campy caught up with Smoove to talk loyal fans, late nights, and keeping the soul alive after 18 years on the road.
You’ve always proudly flown the flag for the North East and now you’re wrapping up the year with three big local shows. Do home crowds differ to everywhere else?
Home gigs are always very special and well attended, full of familiar faces. It’s also amazing to see people who’ve travelled from far and wide – from LA to the Netherlands and even Australia – which always blows our minds.
The Glasshouse Xmas Bash sounds like a belter. Are we talking sparkly jumpers, brass sections, and a full-on festive funk-up?
We’re currently performing The Singles Tour, so we revisit some old classics and throw in new tunes for good measure. Expect a few surprises on the night.
Crazily, you’re doing Sunderland on NYE and North Shields on New Year’s Day. What keeps the energy going?
It’s been a long time since we played a NYE live gig, so we’re excited to return to Sunderland’s Fire Station to bring in the New Year. The New Year’s Day show is slightly different as it’s an intimate DJ PA set, more like a house party for friends and family, but hopefully we’ll still have some petrol left in the tank.
You’ve been at it for a while now. Looking back, how has the band changed? Do you still write songs in the same way?
We’ve had a fantastic time over 18 years. Many musicians have joined us along the way and helped shape the sound we love. We’ve matured but never strayed from our roots, thanks to our loyal fan base. We still write music in the same way, but collaborate collectively, which brings fresh ideas to the table.
Your lyrics often paint a picture – funny, real, and sometimes a bit heartbreaking. Are there any songs that still hit you in the gut when you perform them live?
We recently added some old songs back to our live set, and one of them, ‘Without You’, really hits home. When John sings it, the performance is stripped back and very emotional.
The North East music scene’s always been a bit of a hidden gem with loads of talent, loads of graft. What’s the vibe like out there at the moment? Any new local artists or venues you think deserve a shoutout?
It’s a tough time for venues with so many financial pressures, but hopefully we can get through it. Big shout out to Zerox, who consistently deliver great live music and DJs for a younger audience. Also, hats off to The Cluny for remaining one of the strongest independent venues in the North East, and to Jumpin’ Hot Club, which recently celebrated 40 years of booking bands.
You’ve played everywhere from sweaty clubs to European festivals. What’s the one thing you always take on tour?
Our banner is battered from all the venues it’s been to, and it’s always posted back to us – it holds a lot of memories. We also take merch, as fans love to buy something at gigs, which is always a lovely thing.
Once the festive period is out of the way, what’s next for Smoove & Turrell?
The Singles Tour continues into 2026 across the UK and the Netherlands. We’re also in the midst of writing our eighth studio album, which is sounding great so far, and we hope to release it in 2026.
You can find out more about Smoove & Turrell and their upcoming North East gigs at smooveandturrell.com.
