New indie band The Gods of Small Things are celebrating the release of their latest single, Analogue God. The Sunderland four-piece initially started life as a duo when Annabel and Josh came together at the beginning of the year, before deciding to expand so they could perform live. Bassist and backing vocalist Annabel Crowther explains: “Me and Jason launched as a duo in January this year, recording our first EP ourselves, but then decided to recruit a full band to gig, we were very lucky to find our drummer Will Shaw straight from the off and an old music comrade of Jason’s, Graham Mucker Mclauchlin, came in on lead guitar. We then recorded our current EP, Singing In The Dark – the first single off this, Analogue God, came out on November 20.”

Newcastle singer-songwriter Paige Temperley is looking forward to releasing her debut EP. The talented ‘folky-pop’ musician is releasing Let’s Start At The Very Beginning on November 11 and is excited about people finally being able to hear her music. She said: This is the first ever EP that I’ll have released, so I’m really excited about it. It’s a 4 track EP and I’d like to think it sort of takes you through a little journey of my life so far. Its full of stories which hopefully people will find relatable. I recorded it at Loft Studios in Newcastle City Centre, and some friends of mine, who also happen to be great musicians- Jamie Mackay, George Hutton, Matt Splevins and Niles Kreiger played on it; with that lot playing on it, the EP had to come out sounding good.”

Talented singer-songwriter Afnan Prince has already released material, but is most excited about his forthcoming EP, Wolves. Born in Pakistan, Afnan moved to the UK with his family when he was nine and by his mid teens had started playing the guitar and singing. The 28-year-old self-taught musician, who lives in North Shields, initially started playing in a band with his friends but gradually realised he preferred performing as a solo artist. Afnan, has always been creative, and as well as writing songs, he writes poetry as he feels the two go hand in hand, offering him the freedom to elaborate with words. His passion for the English language made him choose to study the subject at university, but things didn’t go according to plan.

A Newcastle-based musician is hoping to kickstart his new music project through his latest fundraising campaign. Paul ‘Pablo Melons’ Fairbairn is hoping to raise £3,000 through his latest Kickstarter campaign to fund the mastering of his new Four Play EP on vinyl. Paul, 30, is a huge Power Pop fan and has been writing, recording and producing for several years under the banner of Toxic Melons. When he’s not composing Power Pop songs he teaches songwriting and produces bespoke music tracks for a diverse range of clients. Influenced by acts including Power Pop magnates Jellyfish, as well as Electric Light Orchestra, Queen, Beck, The Zombies, The Move, The Divine Comedy, Elton John and David Bowie, the Toxic Melons sound is complex, wry, heartfelt and expertly-delivered Power Pop at its finest.

After a successful set at this year’s Evolution Emerging Behold A Pale Horse are now celebrating their release of their debut EP.

Folk inspired singer-songwriter, Oh Sister, is hoping to play more in her native North East after her recent Sofar Sounds gig. The 27-year-old musician, aka Sarah Berresford, loved performing a stripped back set alongside Sunderland band Lilliput at Newcastle’s Alphabetti Theatre in May for a secret Sofar show. But the talented singer-songwriter is no stranger to the Sofar Sounds community as Sarah has performed at Sofar London with Viola Beach, the Warrington band who were tragically killed in a car crash in Sweden, as well as touring with other acts to Sofar in Cambridge, Birmingham and Leeds.

Alternative hip-hop act Ceiling Demons are set to release a new EP ahead of their headline performance at this year’s Evolution Emerging.

Newcastle five-piece Baker Island released an EP cassette last month ahead of their headline slot at this year’s Evolution Emerging. The band, who describe their music as ‘ lo-fi noise pop’, are delighted to be topping the bill at The Cumberland Arms and are working hard on their set for the festival. The band have recently released a new EP cassette entitled Four Days In The Life Of The Auto-Icon, on American label Weiner Records. It features four new tracks full of quirky sounds and snatches of life in their native Newcastle and fans will be able to hear it alongside the band’s new material at Evolution Emerging.

Newcastle electro pop band Talk Like Tigers are releasing their brand new debut single, Animalistic on Valentine’s Day. The emerging trio, who hail from Newcastle, consists of twin sisters Charlotte and Stephanie Walker (vocals / synths) and Mark Thompson (drums / samples), and none of them are strangers to the music industry. Drummer Mark used to be in band Static Soul and Charlotte and Stephanie have toured the world as Duffy’s backing singers. Their travels have certainly influenced their writing and inspired the band to create something truly different as their unique sound is showered with the glittering harmonies that only siblings can produce.

Alt hip-hop act Jay Simian and The Midnight Society can’t wait to bring their unique sound to this year’s Evolution Emerging, The trio will be joining hip hop artists Ceiling Demons and Kay Greyson at The Tanners on May 28 to perform alongside gritty electro pop group Talk Like Tigers and barely rap group Outside Your House as part of this year’s music festival. Initially starting out as rap collective with other North East artists, Jay Simian and Baddz Beat decided to go it alone and form their own band to pursue their own distinctive hip hop music.