The Glasshouse

See some of the North East’s most exciting up-and-coming artists in the intimate surroundings and flawless acoustics of Sage Two.

Martha Hill’s left-field pop has taken her from busking on Northumberland Street to selling out shows around Newcastle. Her latest single, ‘Spiders’, smartly covers themes of mental health and displacement set to strong beats and acoustic guitar. Martha Hill has supported artists such as Mahalia and Let’s Eat Grandma.

“Her distinctive husky vocal parading through the lyrics with an intriguing apathy.” The Line of Best Fit

Talk Like Tigers are a hypnotic electro-pop band from the North East of England. The band are twin sisters, Charlotte and Stephanie, whose vocals and seamless, velvet harmonies have been recorded by Sony and have taken them around the world as professional touring musicians. Their travels influence their music and inspire their songwriting. After being spotted by Tom Robinson they have enjoyed plays on 6music and their new single, ‘Move’, promises to cement their reputation as one of the North East’s most exciting alt-pop bands.

“Singing, songs and stage presence absolutely blew me away at Sage Gateshead.” Tom Robinson, BBC 6music

Newcastle and Glasgow based indie/folk singer-songwriter Zak Younger Banks combines emotionally raw vocals, poetic lyrics and intricate guitar arrangements to create original and distinctive songs. Zak presents a blend of raw, acoustic sounds and ambient electronics and electric guitar inspired by his involvement in both folk music (Zak is an established guitarist on the Glasgow folk scene and is studying at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow) and alternative and electronic music. His music and writing draws comparison to Leonard Cohen, Bon Iver, and John Smith.

Zak’s self-released debut EP, ‘Wrong Turns’, is a collection of original songs and instrumental music recorded in Port Appin in the Scottish Highlands and was received well on a mini-tour of venues in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle and London.

“Zak’s voice conjures the likes of expressive songwriters like Jeff Buckley and Elliot Smith…but it’s the arrangements that set them apart from standard singer-songwriter fare.”  NARC Magazine

Part of the Festival of Women, a programme of events celebrating women across Tyneside from March to June 2019