Sage Gateshead presents
An Afternoon with Paul Smith plus special guests
support from Hayden Thorpe & Me Lost Me
Maximo Park frontman Paul Smith takes over Sage One for a one-off afternoon of solo songs and surprises with some special guests and hand-picked support acts: ex-Wild Beasts frontman Hayden Thorpe and Me Lost Me
Teesside-born Paul Smith is one of British guitar music’s most energetic, recognisable and relatable performers. Across seven albums with Maximo Park and four as a solo artist, Smith has blended an ear for perfect pop hooks with a sense for storytelling that blends the personal with the universal.
Always sung with warmth and humour, Paul’s songs and voice are rooted in the North of England.
Joining Paul on stage will be friends and collaborators including Mercury prize-nominated “songwriter’s songwriter” Kathryn Williams and composer and founder of acclaimed Sunderland art-pop mavericks Field Music, Peter Brewis.
This solo show, at the start of Sage Gateshead’s Christmas season, brings together a brilliant collection of unique voices and storytellers.
ℹ️ Useful Information
Tickets: £22 / £11 for under 21s. All under 14s must be accompanied by an adult.
Timings:
2pm – 2.30pm: VOTRE Choir Concourse Performance
2.30pm: Doors to Sage One
3pm – 3.30pm: Me Lost Me
3.45pm – 4.30pm: Hayden Thorpe
4.45pm – 5:45pm: Paul Smith plus special guests
6pm – 6.30pm Folkestra Concourse Performance
Timings are subject to change
Hayden Thorpe
Hayden Thorpe
Former Wild Beasts frontman Hayden Thorpe’s solo career as singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist sees his distinct, operatic vocal style at the fore. His influences, as diverse as Leonard Cohen, Kate Bush, The Smiths and, lyrically, Arthur Rimbaud were highlighted on beautiful second solo album Moondust For My Diamond.
What Paul Smith said:
I played with Hayden’s old band, Wild Beasts, back in 2005 and was instantly gripped by his distinctive voice. His solo work is equally beguiling and I feel very lucky to have him on the bill!
Me Lost Me
Me Lost Me
Me Lost Me delights in experimenting with songwriting and storytelling, creating a beguiling mix of soaring vocals and atmospheric electronics that playfully push the boundaries of genre. As Me Lost Me, Newcastle-based artist Jayne Dent has notably performed live for BBC Radio 3’s After Dark Festival and as part of the 2022 BBC Proms alongside Spell Songs, Royal Northern Sinfonia and the Voices of the Rivers Edge Choir. She recently received the prestigious Paul Hamlyn Foundation Award for Composers and was 2020-2021 Artist in Residence at Sage Gateshead.
What Paul Smith said:
Jayne is a great Newcastle-based artist who I first saw supporting Martin Carthy at The Cumberland Arms in Byker. Her music takes lots of unexpected textural turns but is rooted in songcraft, making it perfect for this show.
Make a day of it with more live music before and after the show...
Free performances and a ticket offer if attending Eliza Carthy in Sage Two
From 2pm Voices Of The Rivers’ Edge, the Sage Gateshead-based choir who made their debut performance at the BBC Proms here in July 2022, perform a free concert on the venue concourse. The choir have been working with directors Simon Lee and Charlie Gower-Smith to explore folk influences in the choral world, finding music originating from Sweden, America and the North East.
At 6pm catch Folkestra in another free concourse performance. Folkestra is a vibrant group of young folk musicians, based at Sage Gateshead, playing original music and new arrangements. Founded by Kathryn Tickell, they have learned and performed with a huge number of prominent folk musicians both from the North East and further afield. Recently they have been enjoying working with prolific Northumbrian Piper and composer Andy May.
Eliza Carthy plays Sage Two on Saturday evening. Get £10 off per ticket for An Afternoon with Paul Smith if also booking for the evening gig. The offer will update automatically at checkout. Existing ticket holders for Eliza Carthy please access this offer by calling our Box Office on 0191 443 4661, opening times are here.
? Construction works near Sage Gateshead
Site preparation works have now commenced on the NewcastleGateshead Quays development, to the east of Sage Gateshead. This means changes to the South Shore Road Car Park, pedestrian and car routes. Find out more.