Page 28 - 366091 LP246228 NE Volume Magazine (170mm x 245mm 52pp) September 2022

THE GATHERING SOUNDS
The Gathering Sounds Festival will return for its fourth instalment on Saturday 24th September in Stockton-on-Tees, having rapidly carved its imprimatur into the in- creasingly stellar Stocktonian festive cal- endar over recent years. Sitting naturally alongside and in perfect complement to events such as Stockton International Riv- erside Festival and Stockton Calling, both of which returned in 2022, The Gather- ing Sounds contrastingly showcases raw and up-and-coming musical talent, while showing off the town’s sturdy and charac- terful cobweb of enduringly and lovingly well-kept-secret venues. The town’s cen- tral ecosystem of live music boltholes is as big a star as any of The Gathering Sounds. Incorporating haunts threaded throughout Stockton’s beautifully refurbished cultur- al nexus point such as KU, both stages of ARC, grassroots music staple The Story- tellers and The Georgian Theatre, winding
between the various venues tucked into the corners of the town centre is a crucial aspect of the enjoyment and intimacy the festival promises, centralising the act of discovery at an event focusing on emergent and fresh sonic talent. This experience isn’t replicable at the countless major name fes- tivals held in farms and fields, loaded with marquee acts though they may be. With a line-up of acts ranging all the way from the very raw right through to those on the cusp of a breakthrough, attendees are even more firmly guaranteed than at your average fes- tival to stumble across a gripping set or magnetic new performer, with spontaneity the order of the day. Indeed, The Gathering Sounds can boast as a USP that there is no need to be au fait with many or even any of its booked artists prior to arriving, which only amplifies the spirit and dynamism of the day. In a sign of the trajectory a band can be propelled upon by adding a date as
unique as this to their schedule, The K’s return to the festival as headliners after impressing in 2021. They are busily build- ing a glowing reputation for live shows, as are fellow headliners Lottery Winners. Welsh post-punks The Bug Club round off the top billing, but the rock-heavy card will be jam-packed with much, much more, en- compassing a diverse selection of treats. Although the appeal to punters is obvious, a chance to sharpen their on-stage chemis- try and performative aura while harnessing live pedigree will be priceless to many of the minor-key acts due this month, some of whom will be playing their biggest-ever gig, further solidifying the festival’s perpetually celebratory energy. MICHAEL JOHNSON
For further information and tickets, head to Facebook.com/thegatheringsounds and seetickets.com.
28 \\ NE VOLUME MAGAZINE \\ FEATURE
Paul Husband