NORTH Eastern swing is coming to Staindrop this weekend, courtesy of Rob Heron and The Tea Pad Orchestra.
Featuring their own brand of western swing, blues, gypsy jazz and country, the group is influenced by early 20th century American music, incorporating solos, arrangements and original songs.
Based on Tyneside but with members hailing from Orkney to Warwickshire, the Tea Pad Orchestra draws on eclectic influences – from Bob Wills to Django Reinhardt, George Jones to Cab Calloway – yet sound like nobody else.
The original material is penned by vinyl fan, Rob Heron and his songs are full of character, satire, and “good old fashion hollerin” .
The Tea Pad are Rob Heron (vocals and guitar), Ben Fitzgerald (guitar), Tom Cronin (mandolin and harmonica), Colin Nicholson (accordion) and Ted Harbot (double bass). Most of the group met while studying folk and traditional music at Newcastle University.
They now have a reputation as one of the hardest working bands who have toured endlessly to clubs, dance halls and festivals cross the UK, mainland Europe and beyond – including appearances at Glastonbury, Bestival and Towersey Folk Festival.
Now, with a drumless line up, the band is appearing at Staindrop as part of a ten-date rural tour in partnership with the county’s Rural Touring Scheme, Highlights.
The show will feature music from their albums Money Isn’t Everything, Talk About The Weather and their latest release, Something Blue.
It takes place at the Scarth Hall, Staindrop, on Saturday, March 24. Doors and bar open at 7pm, show starts at 8pm.
Tickets are £9 for adults, £5 for U16s available from Staindrop Post Office or highlightsnorth.co.uk
