There’s no better showcase of original music in Middlesbrough than Whirling Dervish at TSOne every Thursday. The success of the night is an absolute credit to Joel Clayton for managing to put on such a varied amount of acts on a regular basis.
Tonight, making his debut at Whirling Dervish, is Charlie Thomas in a warm-up for his new EP, ‘American Death Poems’, which is due to be launched on Friday 3rd November at the Green Room, Stockton.
Charlie effortlessly lifts local tales to the same mystical status that his beat poet influences also mustered, while also drawing from such great songwriters as Nick Cave and Tom Waits. Personal favourites of his set were ‘Dead Man’s Shades’ and ‘Head like a Dali’.
Next up is the introverted Dale Husband – his intricate finger-picked folkesque guitar is accompanied by Parissa Zarifi on violin for a transcendental performance.
Dale mixes his own introspective tales of lonely exasperation such as ‘Frozen Lake’ and ‘At Night’ with song writing classics such as ‘All Along the Watchtower’ and ‘House of the Rising Sun’. These covers feel like a natural extension of his own material rather than a pale imitation.
If you happen to frequent the local music venues in Teesside then no doubt you will get to witness Dale’s songwriting talent sooner or later, although he does only seem to come out at night.
The headlining act is The Broken Broadcast – a band I’ll admit that I haven’t seen play previously but I’m certainly glad I have now. This band is definitely one to watch for fans of Foals and ‘In Rainbows’ era Radiohead. They produce beautiful twin guitar melodies mixed with haunting vocals from both frontman JP Riggall and his fellow band members.
Overall, it’s another triumphant night for Whirling Dervish which continues to keep the Teesside music scene flame alive and bright.
