Roll up, roll up as The Smoove and Turrell Bros. Circus is coming to Newcastle on Saturday 17th December in what will be a Christmas party to remember.
Jonathan and John will be bringing their unique Northern Funk – a contemporary fusion of funk, soul, northern soul, hip-hop and electronic – back to their native North East.
The pair met by chance in 2007 when Smoove was working on his ‘Smoove Live’ project and overheard John singing in a neighbour’s garage. They hit it off straight away and after performing with various musicians, they decided to create their own sound.
Fast forward two years and their first album release caught the attention of BBC Radio 2 and 6 Music, with DJ Craig Charles becoming their biggest champion, supporting them heavily on his funk and soul show.
To date, the hardworking duo have released six studio albums, toured the UK and Europe extensively (the duo have also played festivals with their live band, including Glastonbury in 2010) and have had tracks featured on US TV shows, movies and video games. Not bad for two lads from the North East.
Their thought-provoking, socially-conscious lyrics are very much at the forefront of their work, coupled with stunning dancefloor sounds.
Support on the night comes from Kate Bond. I first became aware of Kate Bond when she supported rising star Keiran Bowe a year ago and I was immediately impressed with her quiet confidence, stunning vocals and rap skills. Little did I realise great things were already happening for Kate.
Hailing from Bradford, Kate received the warmest of welcomes from the Newcastle music scene when she relocated to study Spanish and politics. After stints in various bands and learning guitar during lockdown, it was her move north that inspired her to go solo.
Kate’s sound is neo-soul, with her lyrics conveying life from the perspective of a strong independent female. Drawing on the influences of her jazz musician dad and her mum’s feminist punk background, Kate’s music has a soulful, catchy and uplifting feel.
Following a very successful 2021, this year has seen Kate go from strength to strength, with three singles and her first headline gig alongside festival appearances.
And spinning some amazing tunes will be Sunderland-based DJs Deja Brew, bringing their fusion of jazz, funk, soul, Brazilian, afro Cuban and afrobeat.
Tickets, priced at £27.50 in advance, are available from boilershop.net.
