Some of you will have heard me rave about fellow Mackem Sunderland song-smith and a multi-instrumentalist Marty Longstaff, who plays under the pseudonym of The Lake Poets, for a long time.

Marty has been Inspired by artists such as Elvis Perkins, Carole King, Villagers, Feist, Van Morrison, Fionn Regan, John Martyn, Wilco, Damien Rice, Bright Eyes, and Neil Young and this comes out in his song writing. Marty’s output as The Lake Poets is as haunting as it is beautiful and, as a ‘Son of the North’ sings about Collieries and Shipyards and the River Wear!  He has been described as ‘Quietly Devastating’, ‘Accomplished and Intelligent’ and ‘Spellbinding and Heart-breaking’. His single ‘Your Face’ has received over 4 million Spotify plays as well steady daytime airplay on BBC Radio 2, Radio X, and BBC 6 Music.

The Lake Poets’ self-titled debut album was recorded at Blackbird Studio, Nashville, produced by another Sunderland lad, Dave Stewart (formerly of the Eurythmics) a review of this can be found on the Folk Radio UK website here.  There is also a special edition which includes a bonus live recording of the album recorded over two sold out launch nights in Sunderland’s medieval Minster and mixed at Peter Gabriel’s Real World Studio.

I’ve been in contact with Marty for quite some time and he has agreed to play a ‘House Gig’ here at the Rectory on Tuesday 1 November 2016. Doors will open at 7.00 pm and Marty will play two sets from 7.30 pm and we’ll provide some hot food during the interval all for £15, which is much less that a gig up town (cash payable on the night).  There will also be a reasonably priced bar available too.

This is a wonderful ‘one off’ opportunity to enjoy a fantastic up and coming artist, who Bob Harris rates so much he gave him a slot at his Under The Apple Tree Festival at Cadogan Hall in September.

You may be interested to know that Marty has been working in collaboration with Stewart and the Churches Conservation Trust in a project called Church Keys The aim is to combine old pop favourites with new music from emerging talent at the heart of some of the nation’s neo-Gothic and Gothic architecture and: “… The soaring elegance of countless Grade One listed churches.”

If you enjoyed Robert Vincent in May, you’ll definitely enjoy The Lake Poets – in fact, they shared a gig together in the summer and Rob gave the hospitality and appreciation of a Billericay audience a great plug.

Be sure to book your place, ASAP, before this intimate House Gig is sold out!!

As of 20 October this House Gig is SOLD OUT. Sorry!

About House Gigs

A House Gig is a private invitation only gig to the Rectory from Paula and myself. You can contact me on revpacman@btinternet.com if you’d like to be considered for a place and I’ll get back to you to confirm your attendance. Maximum two tickets per person – spaces are limited! I usually receive more applicants than places but I do set up a reserve list.

Doors will open at 7.00 pm (or 6.45 pm if you’re so excited you can’t wait or you simply want more drinking time from our reasonably priced honesty bar!). Marty will play two sets from 7.30 pm (ish!). We’ll provide some hot food during the interval (with a veggie option) all for the amazing price of £15 (payable in advance, please – I’ll give you details about how to pay when your invitation is confirmed).

A House Gig is a cosy (!?) event and, whilst we provide seating for most people, some of you will be required to sit on the floor – we’ll provide a comfy cushion for you (we have plenty of these) – so you might want to dress accordingly! Just so you know, we always encourage folk to swap around for the second set!