Sounds of an Eccentric

Kicking off Thursday night at the O2 (2) was the larger than life pop diva Cortney Dixon - a woman armed with big hair and an even bigger voice.  Her music channels the iconic sound of 80's pop, whilst drawing parallels with the likes of Marina and the Diamonds , Paloma Faith and Florence Welch. The strongest part of her set was her original song 'Freddie'. Dixon captivated the audience with her enchanting vocals, creating a blissful ambience. This was intensified by the profound sentiment and apparent emotion that fuelled the ballad. It's obvious that this woman is incredibly talented and knows how to belt out a tune. However I feel as though she'd really come into her element if she fronted a band. She has the charisma, style and technical flair to bring something really special to a rock group. Next up was Tom Conway , a band fronted by (no prizes for guessing) -  Tom Conway. Despite the disappointing name, these lads produce a great sound. The only way I can t...

Starting the night off was vocalist Catherine Dalzell, who performed   'Botanic Journey' by Agustin Fernadez . Her surreal voice quickly captivated the room, showcasing her impressive control and range through the various songs within the musical theatre piece. Catherine possesses a beautiful voice and was an undeniably impressive start to the night. Following the ethereal tone of Miss Dalzell was 'Duet, for Piano and Violin' , composed and performed by Caroline Bordignon and a violinist who I didn't catch the name of. The native Canadian student composed the piece during her year's study in Newcastle in her third year of her undergraduate degree, majoring in music and fine art. Both the piano and violin part were executed very well, with some stunning harmonies between the two parts. My only criticism of it is that it was somewhat brief. The piece was truly beauteous and I would have loved to hear more from Caroline. The third performance of the night was And...

Meet Tom, Andrew, Phil and Brad - a.k.a.: local rock group Motion. The lads and I took advantage of the sunny weather and caught up - discussing everything from Ben Howard to B.B.King to Justin Timberlake. Describe your music with one word. T: Shit, that's pretty genuine. Next question. One word? Ummm, music. Where does the name Motion come from? A: We did think of lots and lots of things. P:  We thought about our music and wrote down words that came to mind on a bit of paper that we passed about. Then came a process of elimination and we got down to a few words and just saw which ones sounded nice enough until we got Motion. Who are your musical heroes and influences? F: Flea, Michael Balzary, the bassist in the Red Hot Chili Peppers. A: John Brush, yeah yeah I got in there quick! Go on then. P: Ben Howard, Simon Neil, the late B.B.King. A: Pfff, not the current B.B. King Phil? Or the previous B.B. King? B: Lads we can't be making a fucking jok...

I caught up with local R'n'B group SoShe - A.K.A.: Jamie, Dayna  and Alex before their gig with HeartRock Live at Newcastle's Dog and Parrot. Describe your music with one word. A: Pop D: After-party - does that count as one? Well it's a phrase anyway! J: Chilled. Where does the name SoShe come from? J: We wanted something that was two words but sounded like one and something that kinda sounded Japanese. Like Japanese sounding and just a little different. And also a word that you would say in a sentence -  so like "SoShe said this". Who are your musical heroes and influences? D: Beyoncé, The Weekend. I think all of our music is based off that really. J: Yeah all those sorts of music definitely influence us but original old music that got me into music was people like Nirvana, The Police and The Lemonheads. Stuff like that. We also really like dance music, like electronic, Black Eyed Peas - that sorta stuff. A: I like a lot of...

Kicking off at the Dog and Parrot  on Friday night was Benn2n and BobbyH, a two-piece composed of a singer/guitarist/decks and a rapper. Their sound was characterised by their loud beats and raw     (and often expectedly Geordie) lyrics. It's obvious that these lads are very passionate about their music and have a lot to say for themselves. If the duo tighten up their lyrics, (maybe switching some of their more crass lines for something a little more sophisticated) they could deliver their message in a more effective manner and really fulfil their potential. Second up was the uber-cool sound of SoShe, a mellow blend of R'n'b with pop influences . The suave trio combined smooth vocals, aggressive drums and rich guitar to create a sexy chilled vibe. Their vocalist Dayna captivated the room with her gorgeous tone that is powerful yet soothing. Their music as a whole possesses so many strong elements - from bold drum beats to mellifluous vocals to catchy guitar riffs (which ...

First up at Lola Jean's was the soulful voice of Sam Thomas. Initially my party and I nicknamed him 'The Twat in the hat', however we quickly ate our own words, after being wooed by his liquid chocolate voice. His enchanting voice resonated beautifully, evoking a chilled ambience. This was then heightened by his melodic guitar and suave presence. The highlight of his first set was his gorgeous rendition of Nirvana's 'Heart Shaped Box', as he brought a delicate sincerity to the angsty anthem. Sam's second set was somewhat more upbeat, opening with a cheery cover of Paolo Nutini's 'New Shoes', which got the whole room bopping along in between sips of their various beverages. The power behind his voice was best displayed when he sang  Led Zeppelin's  rock classic 'Give you my love'. I recall the neighbouring table murmuring: "Dayum, boy got some pipes on him". My  personal favourite moment of his set however was when he privi...