#northsyde

Ladies of the Blues, Lorna & Elles in the Upton Blues Big Top July 16th 2022

2020 and Upton Blues Festival, like Live music throughout the UK, is put in quarantine, 2021, Elles Bailey is “with child” and has to release her headline booking, but fate decreed that a further shut down threatened the festival, so was cancelled. Here we were, 2022, and Elles is back on top, a new album critically acclaimed has been toured, support slots for some major tours, and now headlining Saturday evening in the Big Top arena. Fortunately, I arrived early enough to catch a big chunk of Northsyde giving everything to the canvas cloaked crowd, inset into an ocean of sun worshipping music lovers munching their burgers, dogs, and chips, to wash them down with beer or wine, party time in this huge free to all Blues Festival. Maybe not so free, as you probably have to park somewhere, or settle in the camping area for the duration, a temporary township that exceeds the numbers of town residents.

First Northsyde, led by that incredible queen of female rock vocalists, Lorna Fothergill, few could match the energy that Lorna generates on stage, and stages don’t get any better for whipping up a storm of applause, but more of that shortly. Lets give a moments thought to her late partner and gifted guitarist, Jules Fothergill, a genuine, lovely man, who played his guitar with a unique style and level of improvisation. Three years on and his protege Marcus Praestgaard-Stevens, has literally grown into that lead roll. I didn’t catch the full set, but there was definitely, ‘Something In The Air’, this balmy evening, the crowd out front were full on with the band, Lorna, as slinky and cat like as ever, used the stage, pouring every erg of energy into her vocal barrage (old school boy fact, an erg being a 10 millionth of a joule, which aint’ very much wasted energy) Everything seems projected through her, but the band have their moments too, Marcus of course, has his Gibson ES335 talking to us, Hayden Doyle, is  relentless on drums, as Ian Mauricio, pulls the heavy strings of his 5 string bass. Lorna has been described as Robert Plant meets Aretha Franklin, I feel more inclined toward Janis Joplin, nothing is held back, full passionate, soul searching lyrics interlace with the bands free wheeling rock groove. Nothing says more than Northsyde’s expressive reading of Allman Brothers, ‘Whipping Post’, stretched and twisted like plasticine as the band jam out, with solo leads, Hayden working hard weaving in with Ian’s big bass notes, Marcus taking us off piste with the 335, but its all encapsulated in the powerful lyrics as Lorna brings it together for the tremendous closure. Memorable as ever.

Its true to say Elles has a different vibe to her music, certainly more melodic, beautifully crafted and road tested on her extensive tours, her recent release, Shining In The Half Light, has been, rightly, critically acclaimed, having been recorded in the UK with the band shut away in a remote studio until the job was done.

Tonight the band was more a scratch band, that’s not to decry their quality, with Stevie Watts on Hammond, and Gary Kroll on drums, joining Matt Waer on bass, and Joe Wilkins on Guitar, we even had a backing vocalist in the form of talented Demi Marriner. Elles as ever, likes to connect with her audience, not difficult this evening, following Lorna and Northsyde who had left the audience buzzing, ready for more.

On with, ‘The Game’, with its insistent rhythm, the Hammond whirls around, Elles makes her moves before Joe takes it out. If the crowded tent had chilled and chatted as the bands changed sets, they were swiftly switched back in tune with new vibe. Stevie worked his magic on the keys as Elles introduced us to a ‘Perfect Storm’, though its hard to imagine anything more synonymous than the worlds current woes! Lets just get down to dealing with the ‘Cheats and Liars’, the pulse is slow, solid, Joe’s guitar cuts through cleanly as Elles uncovers the deceit, watching the world keep turning on round. Another very fitting message for our current condition, revolution is on the way! We’re all, ‘Riding Out The Storm’, so I’ll lift the spirit a little through Ms Bailey’s glorious, ‘Sunshine City’ a wonderful slide driven gallop across the spectrum of life on the road, puts a bit of zip in your step. Maybe Upton Blues, baking under the sun after being 2 years on hold, feels just like sunshine city this weekend, Time to Howl like a Wolf, as I make my way home, music still buzzing in my ears.

 http://www.northsyde.co.uk/#!/splash

https://www.ellesbailey.com/

Northsyde Reborn at The Harlington, Fleet, Jan 4th 2020

2019, brought the sad news of the loss of Jules Fothergill, who, with Lorna, were the heart and soul of rock blues band Northsyde, Joules was a truly beautiful person, and is greatly missed by many,  its impossible to imagine the huge loss to Lorna, they were soulmates. Jules had been mentoring the upcoming young guitarist Marcus Praestgaard Stevens, and in late August at the Old Bush Blues, Lorna announced that Northsyde would go forward, as Jules would wish, with Marcus stepping up to the stage.

On the 1st of January, I took a call from Matt Williams, from the Old Bush and long supporter of Northsyde, he had a coach booked to take fans, his regulars, down to Fleet to see the first gig with Marcus on board. He had a seat if I wanted to come along, and though I did not relish the long return journey, I did want to see the rebirth of this great rock band. Grateful for the opportunity, I ‘signed up’.

Supporting Northsyde, at Lorna’s request, was the Paddy Maguire band, now rechristened the Hooson Maguire Band, in respect of partner and vocalist Jenna, what more could you want, it was destined to be a hell of a ride. Jenna is not known for holding back, and she was in fine form, alongside Paddy. We witnessed dual drums with Northsyde’s Hayden taking a seat, under a ‘Winter Sun’. Paddy went walkabout, as he handed his guitar to the gaggle of gathered guitarists on the floor, starting with Matt Long from Catfish, all gathered for this auspicious evening. A wonderful nod to Etta with ‘I’d, Rather Go Blind’, slipping through to a mash of Muddy Water Blues, and tribute to Joplin with Jenna powering out, “Oh Lord won’t you buy me a Mercedes Benz”, but she’ll need to go electric, and drop the turbo diesel. Hooson Maguire, closed off with a ‘Little Help From My Friends’, quite literally, as the stage filled with ‘extras’.

To say the air was charged with electric expectancy, is not an exaggeration.

The significance of being at the Harlington, cannot be overlooked, a year ago, this was Jules last live appearance, all raised their glass in his memory as Northsyde stepped up, with Marcus taking lead for a wonderful instrumental intro, Ian’ bass punching out, Hayden driving the rhythm, also the addition of some really nice organic keys, bringing a new dimension to the sound.  Lorna joined them, replete with woollie hat and unusually, boots, they were not destined to stay on her feet throughout, as she kicked them off to gain the added grace and feline mobility we are so used to. I’d love to be able to work through what they played, but it flowed over me like a tsunami, a spirit ever present.

The band quickly settled into their funked jazz, rock blues mode, Marcus playing fluidly, the Gibson’s sweet honeyed sound cutting through nicely, Lorna  turned the clock back for an early song, ‘Tuesday’s Good’. The gritty blues of ‘Northside’, seeped across the night, breaking out splashes of funk, as Lorna worked the stage, fingers, active as a short hand typist. Jules was present, ‘Walking In The Air Tonight’, the reverb dial turned to its stop, as Lorna’s voice filled the hall, at one with her soulmates presence.

Marcus playing with maturity that defies his years, but still, ‘Hard Shoes’ to step into, Ian’s bass thundered underneath, punctuated by Haydens strikes, as Lorna shredded the lyrics, dark and menacing in its colour.

She announced forthcoming albums, to be released in two halves, this year, split between songs featuring Joules and Marcus, and again next year, something to look forward to and a fitting memorial milestone, to set for the band. The call came for ‘Chicken Shit’, as Matt stalked the stage apron, but no, we were introduced to the tenor sax of Terry Marshall, as he joined the band for a funk jam, with some lovely key solos slotting in. Lorna gave, ‘The Story Tellers Daughter’ to Matt to appease him, rock on. Cutting a hard furrow into the driving rock, it was not long before, we were given the stupendous, ‘Whipping Post’, Hayden striking hard to a staggering closure.

It was time for a rolling mix of guests joining in, as the jam kettle was stirred, Terry was back on stage, Lorna signed out with gospel driven ‘Shine’, mashing  up, ‘Smoke Stack Lightning’ and sweetened with a taste of ‘Spoonful’. A blistering ‘Stormy Monday’ followed, before Lorna stepped aside. The night would see the stage fill with Paddy’s band joining the melee, following on from Alice Armstrong, but the return coach awaited, I levered myself away from the Harlington, rejoining the gang from The Old Bush to make our way home, My thanks go to Matt, host of Old Bush Blues, for enabling my attendance to see the rebirth of the mighty, Northsyde.

Marcus had performed beyond his years, he will grow in stature, spending more time working with the band, but he has been well mentored by Jules, and the band still rocks, big time, Lorna’s hard driving vocals are as strong as ever, the spirit is with her. All our thoughts are with Jules, greatly missed, but his soul Shines through in the band.

Vinny Northsyde – The Difference | @VinnyNorthsyde

https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/bUmO7kEzoyI?rel=0&controls=0&showinfo=0 (click image above to download) One of the best projects you will stumble across this year! Independent lyricist from Chicago, Vinny Northsyde delivers once again with a unique yet familiar sound for the HipHopHeads. Download “The Return of the Northsyde” free. New album coming soon “The Mind of a Poet” Stay tuned. For…

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