Christmas is coming early to the iconic Boiler Shop in Newcastle as masters of the four-part harmony, The Futureheads, kick off the festivities in style on Saturday 9th December.
Emerging as part of the angular movement of post-punk UK bands in the early 2000s, The Futureheads soon stood out with their aforementioned harmonies, spiky guitars and unique, unconventional song structures. While their musical influences (Wire, XTC and Gang of Four) are unmistakable, their take on the genre is very distinctive.
The band’s founding members are vocalist/guitarist Barry Hyde, vocalist/bassist David ‘Jaff’ Craig and drummer, Peter Brewis. The trio met at the City of Sunderland College where they shared space with other area groups. The early line-up was completed with the addition of vocalist/guitarist Ross Millard and Hyde’s younger brother, Dave, who eventually took over drumming duties.
Despite playing their first show in December 2000, the band took their time to perfect their craft and released a self-titled debut album in 2004. Their cover of Kate Bush’s ‘The Hounds of Love’ hit number eight on the UK Singles Chart and was named as NME’s Single of the Year.
After touring with Foo Fighters, Oasis and Pixies, the band’s second release featured a more polished sound. Over the next few years, the band had some quiet time to allow Hyde to address his mental health issues which had worsened with success. They reunited in 2018 with renewed energy and new material.
The best way to appreciate this band is to see them live as their shows are energetic with something for everyone including post-punk bangers and a cappella interludes. ‘The Old Dun Cow’, a traditional song with some call and response, is always a crowd pleaser too. Onstage banter and ad-libbing are also part of The Futureheads experience.
The band may not have scaled the same dizzying heights of some of their indie peers, but throughout their career, this Sunderland quartet have more than earned their place as one of the best bands in the North East.
So start your festivities the right way and don’t miss this event. Sing, dance and enjoy.
Tickets, priced at £24.75 in advance, are available at ticketweb.uk.
