More about: Stockton Calling

Somehow banishing the clouds for yet another sunny bank holiday weekend, Stockton-on-Tees welcomes hoards of punters in for the 2023 edition of its annual celebration, Stockton Calling Festival. Having triumphantly returned the year prior, tickets sold out in advance for this flurry of rapid-fire sets from artists representing the North division of England’s top-tier music scene.

With the floodgates opened and wristbands acquired, the audience flows into KU for the first set of the night; with no clashes, WhiteNoise. receive the full brunt of the afternoon crowds. Rammed from the get-go, the psych-rock four-piece lean into their heavier elements in an appropriately heated warm-up - tracks like ‘Conversation’ even provoke a few screams, not bad for a 1pm kick-off.

Over at the Georgian Theatre, Finn Forster calms things down a little with his acoustic guitar lead, although he smoothly transitions between those gentler moments and some proper roaring tones that fit right in with the country-esque tinge he’s adopted over the last couple of years. A known name in the North East, and one that’s been on the Stockton Calling line-up more than once under multiple guises, this new live outfit gives a solid foundation for Finn to shine. His lead guitarist thrives on ‘Circles’, an older cut, with the whole crew flashing their own glints of brilliance too.

Ten Eighty Trees get back to thrashing soon enough, with a rhythm driven performance going down well with an older audience. Serving the local metalheads well in their matching teal shirts, guitar and bass tones are mountainous but not particularly honed; that might be why they’ve failed to break new ground and generate mass appeal to the newer generations. Nevertheless, they embrace the sunshine that seems to grace this town on a once annual basis.

Local starlet and HMV’s debut signee under new label 1921 Records, India Arkin’s delicate tones have already raised a lot of eyebrows across the region and five backing members help to bring her clear ambitions to reality over in Green Room. A shy personality forced to front and centre, her noodling style is accompanied by an overwhelming amount of strings plodding in tow. About to enter her “villain era” with upcoming release ‘Senseless’ (“I’m here to break hearts,” she smirks), the moody turn twists the fast momentum she’s carried to date. Despite a whirlwind of achievements, it seems India’s gaze is very much forward facing.

"Stockton Calling is not just a much needed showcase but a passionate tool for the North East music scene"

Established indie-poppers Blondes generate a melodic and appealing vibe back at KU, providing an oddly energising act considering the static movements of the quartet. It’s initially surprising but quietly focused and the room falls silent to listen to standout track ‘Coming of Age’. Remaining calm despite the excited storm around them, it’s a stately spirit to maintain. With the revival of bands like Peace who mine from the same vein, these lads are primed to grasp onto that same trajectory; a dose of nostalgia with striped shirts, low hanging fringes, and few complaints.

Cosial offers up bedroom-pop sounds in a new addition to the scene, and the more of those we get the better. Their newbie spark is apparent with a raw and hazy sound; it’s a genre that’s hard to translate to stage and even veterans in that arena such as beabadoobee took a lot of practice to carve out a successful standard there, but for a first-time frontwoman and guitarist, there’s a heap load of potential in the mass of new material. The 19-year-old is clearly pumping all her energy into her immediate future, saying “please enjoy the fruits of my labour”.

Experienced and natural bopper Mollie Coddled brightens up The Link with a colourful and fun time amongst the chaos of small venue soundcheck issues - they probably bother the band more than anyone else as the trio sound vibrant and catchy throughout. Coming off relaxed despite admittedly being a hyperactive queen, sounds about being stuck in Mollie’s head help others to seek respite from their own. The group are a very young looking collective with room to grow, but Coddled is damn good at owning a stage and radiates a good range of tunes too - all on a similar ‘wavelength’ but silky and pop-fuelled.

A highly-anticipated showing from Nottingham grungers Divorce is unknowingly pulled and replaced by the undeniable pop-rock energy of ZELA who perform for the second time today. It’s hardly what was expected as the frontwoman rocks the stage, throwing her mic stand around in a sonic ambush that trades in squirming strings for blasting beats. Grabbing onto an unexpected spotlight with both hands, the natural performer makes a spectacle of herself and the front rows swiftly join her in swinging their hips.

With a huge queue lining the streets surrounding Stockton’s ARC, it is obvious who the real headliners are today - Circa Waves may not be known to the bouncers shepherding the crowds in but fans are pining for glimpse into the underequipped venue, the walls of which cannot contain the enthusiasm for these acclaimed indie rockers. Their show gets off to a messy start with three failed intros, but cuts from across five hefty records hit hard and get the mini amphitheatre bouncing with no issues from there on.

A band with obvious mass appeal, especially as a live force, Circa Waves have continued to capture new fans while pleasing old ones with their recent LP, ‘Never Going Under’. ‘Carry You Home’ is a highlight amongst a horde of new additions and serves as a prime example of the Liverpudlians’ ethos; finding light in the darkness and just keeping on going. It’s a first chance for many to witness this new era following a headline tour postponed due to illness, but an explosive execution makes the wait worthwhile.

For those with the drive to keep going, and it seems there are many, Geordie trio The Pale White take to the dancefloor of The Social Room for a big tease at the new material currently being cooked up in the studio. They have a tough act to follow, but round off the evening with a satisfying conclusion. The extremely catchy ‘Validate Me’ shines amongst a setlist of melodic bangers, demonstrating the ability of chief songwriter Adam Hope to ground his pop-like songwriting hooks in a gritty new sonic style. New band member Davey Barrow takes Tom Booth’s place on bass duties and with ferocious drummer Jack Hope not far behind, this is a rhythm section that’s far from overlooked. Unquestionably evolving the musings of their debut album, The Pale White have a packed chamber of fans clamouring for more and they seemingly won’t have long to wait.

With each of today’s bands easily spotted deep in the crowd supporting another, Stockton Calling is not just a much needed showcase but a passionate tool for the North East music scene to express gratitude inwards, supporting itself in the process.

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More about: Stockton Calling