NEWCASTLE CLUNY

GANNIN’ ALANG THE SCOTSWOOD ROAD with singer & songwriter Alan Fish

/ Alikivi / 1 Comment

Newcastle band White Heat released three singles and recorded one album, signed for Virgin records in 1980, opened for Judas Priest and headlined London’s Marquee. People remark of a band that ‘shudda made it big’. They set alight to the Tyne but sadly not the Thames.

Previous interviews on this site with guitarist Alan and vocalist Bob Smeaton detail the journey of White Heat and The Loud Guitars who followed.

Bob went onto a successful career in TV & Film while Alan told me ‘The Attention Seekers were formed around 1999, our first album was released in 2002, we have released six albums and a seventh is in the final stages’.

For the past 10 years Alan has also toured as a session musician with American singer/songwriter Jesse Terry.

Alan and Jesse backstage Newcastle Cluny 2023.

‘However, to my surprise, at a number of gigs in the Netherlands audience members shouted out requests for White Heat songs. Nervous Breakdown and 21 and Wasted were hastily added to the set. Our songs had travelled far further than White Heat ever did.’

‘I look back on my time with White Heat and The Loud Guitars with great affection and have revisited and re-recorded a number of songs from those heady days. Promo videos are on You Tube for Chain Reaction, Is It Too Late?, A Long Way From Home, Do Me A Favour and Out Of Me.’

‘Recently I travelled even further back in time to the pre- White Heat days when we were playing under the name ‘Heartbreaker’. I always felt that the song Hard To Lose should have been recorded. My former band members were more than happy for me to reinvent this live favourite and Your Poster On My Wall is the result.

‘In 2017 I was approached by Newcastle Utd to develop a new version of anthemic song The Blaydon Races. My version The Fans – The Blaydon Races was accepted and I was informed they would be using it till the end of the season. It’s now 2026 and still being played at every home game. It’s now officially the most downloaded-streamed version in digital history. As a Newcastle supporter I am beyond proud.’

‘Pre 2017 Newcastle United were a club underperforming and floundering under a curse. A number of theories including ’The Gypsies Curse’, The Witches Curse’, ’The Burial Ground Curse’ were all to blame for this continuing pattern of failure. However, I think the problem lay closer to home.’

‘The version of The Blaydon Races the club were playing pre 2017 was recorded and performed by musician Alan Price (The Animals). I have it on good authority that Alan Price was an ardent Sunderland supporter. This was the problem hiding in plain sight.’

‘It’s no coincidence that since 2017 we have retained our Premier League status returned to the European Champions League and after 70 years in the wilderness have won silverware. Yes, indeed it’s all down to The Fans version of The Blaydon Races and not a Sunderland supporter within sight. That’s my theory and I’m sticking to it.’

‘The relative success of The Blaydon Races has allowed me to independently fund recording studios and top end musicians – who aren’t cheap. It gives my songs the best chance of having radio appeal. Iconic station Radio Caroline named The Attention Seekers track The Prudhoe Song, song of 2025. Many thanks to presenter Steve Anthony.’

The Prudhoe Song – The Attention Seekers 2025 remix

Multiple media outlets have used recordings from The Blaydon Races sessions including Amazon Prime, BBC, ITV, The Bauer Media Group and the 2024 SELA Quayside 3D light show event. An unofficial Saudi version is on YouTube.

Both The Blaydon Races and the Carry me home outro from The Attention Seekers song Seven Bridges were used creatively on the Carabao Cup ITV video as the soundtrack to the historic Victory Parade.

‘This has raised the profile of the song and recently Newcastle United have asked me to develop a bespoke mix of Seven Bridges to integrate into their half time playlist. It’s now being played. As a lifelong Newcastle United supporter I’m on cloud 9!’

‘One of the highlights of 2025 was performing Seven Bridges with City Of Newcastle Male Voice Choir, Some Voices Choir and St. Teresa’s Primary School Choir as part of their Christmas Charity Concert.’

‘I’m presently working with City Of Newcastle Male Voice Choir, developing a choral arrangement of Seven Bridges to be included in their repertoire and to be recorded and released. It’s quite a departure from the days of White Heat.’

Promo shot of White Heat with Alan on the left and Bob Smeaton on right of picture.

‘The first release of 2026 for The Attention Seekers is Sweet Anna Brown. While unsuccessfully trying to track down an old friend and finding myself disappearing down numerous rabbit holes it occurred to me that this would make an interesting topic for a song.’

‘We step into the controversial world of social media and whether we like it or not it looks like it’s going to be with us for the foreseeable future. The character Anna Brown is one long mystery and doesn’t appear to have any social media presence.’

‘I’m rapidly closing in on a new album to be released later this year. Music continues to colour my life and long may it continue.’

Sweet Anna Brown is now available to stream-download via all usual platforms. The Attention Seekers –  Alan Fish – Vocals, Guitars, Bass, Trevor Brewis – Drums, Tony Davis – Piano, Organ, backing vocals. Produced by Alan Fish, engineered by Tony Davis. Recorded at Cluny Studios, Newcastle.

Alikivi   March 2026

ATLANTIC CROSSING  – with USA Indie Collaborative founder Grant Maloy Smith & Newcastle bluesman Trevor Sewell.

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The international debut of a unique musical variety show featuring a combination of award-winning artists from every genre of music will be held at The Cluny in Newcastle on 3rd July 2023.

The show is produced by Top 10 USA Billboard artist Grant Maloy Smith and Emmy winning producer, author and lyricist Eileen Bluestone Sherman.

Eileen Sherman

Although I grew up in the American south a few miles from Alabama, I now live in Rhode Island in the northeast of the USA. Eileen Sherman is based in New York City, she works in Broadway, so that’s the right place for her explained Grant.

We have about 20 artists performing in the show, most travelling to England from the USA. We’re coming in from Tennessee, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Connecticut, Texas, and North Carolina, with several from your area in North East UK including bluesman Trevor Sewell.

Grant Maloy Smith & Trevor Sewell

Trevor featured on this site back in June 2017.

STILL GOT THE BLUES – with guitarist Trevor Sewell | ALIKIVI : NORTH EAST UK (garyalikivi.com)

Trevor talked about the forthcoming show and how he got involved with the IC.

I’d become friends with Eileen and Grant through the Grammys, and was around when they set up the IC. I played at their first event at Kulaks Woodshed in North Hollywood. After playing numerous times in LA and New York at IC events, I asked them why don’t you have one closer to my house – I didn’t really expect them to do it, but now they have.

I just hope the event is a huge success as Grant and Eileen have worked very hard to build the IC into what it is today and there’s really not many places you can get to see so many different acts on the same bill and all for a mere tenner – should be a good night.

Grant Maloy Smith explained…

There will truly be something for everyone at the Cluny when the IC comes to town. The Indie Collaborative is made up of independent musicians and entertainment professionals located around the world. Many members are Grammy nominees and winners, Billboard charting recording artists, Emmy winners, and more.

On the night Grant will perform from his critically-acclaimed album, and award-winning artist Natalie Jean will perform a musical theatre work by Eileen Sherman and her sister Gail Bluestone.

Grant added…There’ll also be Mexican/American singer, songwriter and pianist, Leti Garza, who appeared at the IC’s most recent show at Carnegie Hall in New York.

Jazz Fusion guitarist and composer Noshir Mody will perform. He was originally from Mumbai but now based in New York City. We have Hip-hop/R&B group Levels with Keith ‘Wildchild’ Middleton playing, he rose to fame performing for 20 years in the hit show ‘Stomp’.

Grammy Award nominee Judy Pancoast will take the stage, also pianist Ed Bazel from Nashville who recorded his recent album at Abbey Road studios.

Keith ‘Wildchild’ Middleton

Other artists include Las Vegas Headliner Cecil Parker, Classical concert pianist Lynn Yew Evers, Detroit Gospel vocalist Lawrence Hancock and North Carolina’s Gospel powerhouse, Tanya Diaz.

I’m really looking forward to The Cluny as it means I’ll get to see a lot of my American friends and also showcase my new single ‘Yellow Dog’. An album will follow later in the year said Trevor.

Grant added… Our goal is to spread the word about the IC beyond the USA. We have more than 2000 members, hundreds of whom are located outside of the USA all around the world. We would like to get new members from the UK and become more active internationally.

Tickets are available both on the IC and Cluny website:

https://www.indiecollaborative.com/tickets

https://www.ticketweb.uk/event/the-indie-collaborative-showcase-cluny-2-tickets/13224248

To purchase tickets visit: https://www.ticketweb.uk/event/the-indie-collaborative-showcase-cluny-2-tickets/13224248

To join the Indie Collaborative visit: https://www.indiecollaborative.com/join

For more information contact: Grant Maloy Smith grant@grant-maloy-smith.com or grant@indiecollaborative.com

Alikivi   May 2023

COME AGAIN in conversation with writer & actor, Alison Stanley part 1/2

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“After the first night Radio Newcastle were talking about the show with music from The Full Monty film in the background. The reporter said it’s so immersive even from when you go in to take your seat the playlist includes raunchy songs.

We also have a friend who is a burlesque dancer handing out sanitizer to the audience”.

The new play by Stanley is Sex is Hard Work based on real life sex workers and their stories. The show played over six nights in June at Newcastle Cluny. I asked the writer how she thought the show was received.

The show was everything I could of hoped for and more. We done the tests for covid everyday and were hoping everything would be ok and luckily it was.

The venue, which is a music venue really, had everything organised and it worked well for the stage, we sold out with standing ovations on two nights.

People were also really glad to get out and see a live performance. They were at the bars and restaurants before the show and sitting around the bars for a drink afterwards. It was really nice to see that.

The actors were great they knew each other’s parts so if anything happened like a positive test, they could easily do a bit of improvisation and keep the show running. We got plenty feedback and good reviews with four out of five stars.

The audiences were varied with a group of older ladies in their 70’s that loved it. One of them asked an actor if he got a physical reaction during the simulated sex scenes (laughs).

PUTTING ON A SHOW

In fact we’ve been asked back to do a for one night only on 19 August which will be great as there will be no social distancing then. That will set us up for a short UK tour next year, we are in talks with certain venues to take the show.

For now we are looking at two nights each in Newcastle, Manchester and London. Then see where else we can get scheduled with venues opening back up.

I will be slightly tweaking some scenes, I think you’ve got to have an end point but they make it better. Up to now it’s been a pilot really and a few additions will happen for the UK tour. If it enhances the performance why not?

Alison Stanley, pic. 2021.

YEAH, WE’VE DONE THAT

The first half of the show is a series of scenes and anecdotes where people can connect straightaway and laugh out loud saying yeah we’ve done that. But in the second half one of the sex workers is in trouble and it gets more serious, a bit of darkness edging in.

In feedback some people said they almost felt guilty for laughing at situations that turned out to be serious, but I like challenging the audience. There is some violence and the prostitutes end up hurt and broken.

When writing I don’t censor myself. For the opening I wrote a hook to grab the audience and set the tone for the whole show, it was a simulated sex scene – some people couldn’t look the actors in the eye (laughs).

The show is advertised with an age limit on it and with the word sex in the title I don’t think the more gentle people will come to see it. I use appropriate language and not gratuitous swearing.

THE SHOW GOES ON

For production of the show we always work on a three quarters full show so pricing of actors, ticket prices, stage set, venue hire, everything comes into that. A massive sold out stamp across the posters is great anybody would want that, but you’ve got to be realistic about it.

You want to make a profit, for another of our shows we sold merchandise at the end. There was cups with lines from the script on, one had ‘I baked a chocolate cake once, but I’m not Mary fuckin’ Berry’.

For Broadway I can see Sex playing there, yeah love to see that, why not ? These characters are too good to not be seen. I would rather fail than not try. I’m not afraid of failing, it’s a step on the way to success. I can’t live with regret, thinking ‘if only’. In life you have to be fearless.

‘Sex is Hard Work’ is on at Newcastle Cluny 19 August 2021.

The Cluny, 36 Lime St, Ouseburn. NE1 2PQ (tel: 0191 230 44 74)

Tickets:   https://www.ticketweb.uk/event/sex-is-hard-work-cluny-2-tickets/11214755

Interview by Alikivi  July 2021