They say you can have too much of a good thing. But when it comes to one day music festivals in Teesside and surrounding areas I, for one, say you can’t. This Is Middlesbrough, Twisterella, Gathering Sounds, Last Train Home and others all bring well established acts to the area as well as provide a platform for the vast array of local talent that the area has. For many though it is Stockton Calling that is the jewel in an already rather brilliant crown. This multi venue, one day festival, brought to us by ARC (Stockton Arts Centre), KU Promotions and Tees Music Alliance has been doing it’s thing since 2010 and has brought bands/artists such as Self Esteem, The Reytons, Sam Fender, Blossoms, CVC, The Pale White, The Lottery Winners and many, many more to one of this Teesside town’s many independent venues. Bands that in 2025 anyone into popular music will have heard of. Some of these artists are now playing stadiums. Others will be soon. In 2014 Sam Fender played an early evening slot at Stockton Calling in a 200 capacity venue. Which brings me on to possibly the most important point of this review – independent events, such as Stockton Calling, and the often small independent venues they use provide a platform for bands and solo artists who, one day, everyone will have heard of. If we don’t support these events/venues then there’s little hope for the future of live music.
Arriving early in town there’s already a noticeable buzz about the place 90 minutes before the first band is even due on stage. And little wonder considering the quality of acts about to play. Spread across nine venues ranging in capacity from 550 down to just over 100 there was an almost unbelievable seventy two (yep, you read that correctly) bands/solo artist you could choose to see. Want some noisy punk? Some dance? Some electronic indie funk? A bit of mod revival? Pure pop? Rock? Riot Grrrl? Acoustic? Full on electric onslaught? Sublime, chilled out, ethereal tunes. Stockton Calling has it. In fact it’s probably fair to say that if you can’t find at least four or five acts you’ll love then you probably don’t like live music. And the brilliant thing about festivals such as this is that it’s a guarantee there’ll be at least one band you’ve never heard of that turn out to be an absolute standout of the day and that will immediately be on your future ‘must see’ lists. And the cost for all this? Just £40 a ticket. See eight bands – £5/band. It’s rare you can see a headline act at an O2 Academy nowadays for less than £40. And let’s not get into those arena prices.
Brilliantly organised with helpful, friendly staff on the doors, behind the bars or just wandering making sure everyone is OK. No overcrowding of venues – once capacity is reached it’s a strict one in – one out for everyone, including ‘press’ meaning if you particularly want to see someone you have to get there early. Add in decent bar prices, a massive choice of places to eat around the surrounding streets and there really is nothing negative to say about this day. Finally lets not forget the people who turn up. To be surrounded by music lovers is special. Regardless of your age or preferred genre having a few thousand people in an area all because they love live music creates a great atmosphere.
Turning my gig mantra “ALWAYS get there for the support bands” means not missing those early afternoon slots at festivals. It’s when you witness artists that one day might just be packing out massive venues. Or those artists who will always be a bit niche but with a dedicated following. It’s also more likely to be the time when, in a few years from now, you get to say “I was there when they played…”
I chose carefully. The hard hitting rock n roll punk from Rare Breed in the Green Room blasted away any lethargy that might have been lingering from previous late nights as did the brilliant riot girrl tinges of guitar driven power trio Dinky Bossetti and their brutal honesty about the experiences of being LGBTQIA+ in a country that seems to be getting less, not more tolerant. Particularly poignant following the awful Supreme Court ruling earlier in the week.
And that band I’d never heard of that blew me away? Sister Madds and their blend of mischievous, rocky, punky-pop songs. Powerful, animated and a delight for the ears from a band who oozed confidence and a real sense of togetherness. One of those bands where no matter what is going on in your life for the 30 minutes they’re playing nothing else matters apart from losing yourself in what’s pumping out from the stage.
I had my ‘must sees’ and they certainly did not disappoint. GANS were off the scale in ARC2. Fast paced, throbbing, noisy post-punk with an irresistable background dance beat. The energy created by this duo is relentless, the sound is brilliant. Raw and cathartic. GANS really are a band that need to be experienced now. Don’t wait until they’re headlining much bigger places.
Adult DVD packed out The Social Room with their superb blend of electronic, hypnotic, quirky, raucous dance tunes. The crowd love them and within seconds the place is bouncing. Massive credit to the festival organisers who did some last minute rearranging to make sure Adult DVD didnt clash with GANS.
Zela bring a real party atmosphere to KU Bar. Huge riffs, hints of disco, electro noise, massive beats and, in vocalist Liv Griff, someone who dominates the stage with an infectious energy as she leaps and dances around every spare inch of floor space. The crowd are bouncing, the band are bouncing – a brilliant “we’re all in this together” set.
Brighton’s Currls smashed out 30 minutes of hard hitting, powerful garage rock. Mix in a real punk-pop vibe this is a band who hook you in from the word go and don’t let go until they walk off stage. Anyone who loves bands like The Bellrays or LIINES or 60’s influenced grimy pop will appreciate this band.
The queue to see ARC headliners Maximo Park stretches down the road. Not sure even if those waiting 20 minutes before they’re due on stage got in. Not a problem for me as another of my ‘must sees’ are headlining the Georgian Theatre. Big Special never disappoint and tonight is no different. The place is rammed and those lucky enough to be here really do witness something ‘special’. Lyrics that are often dark and morose dealing with the frustrations of social injustice and it’s effects. But those underlying beats are uplifting, addictive, often fun, sometimes thunderous, sometimes mellow but never drowning out the vocals that a crowd clearly full of dedicated fans hollers back. Clever, witty between song banter simply adds another great element to a Big Special gig. There’s plenty of bands who really don’t deserve the hype surrounding them. Big Special aren’t one of them. Their rise continues. Hopefully it stays that way for a long time.
The Paddingtons are the perfect end to a glorious day of music surrounded by fantastic people. Pumping out a faultless, fast paced, leap around sound that seamlessly blends the better indie noises from the early 2000’s with the frenetic energy and noise of punk. And whilst singer Tom Atkins bounces all over and encourages the crowd to join in it’s the whole band that grip you in a musical vice. The pace is relentless from start to finish. If you’d never seen this band before you’d still be jumping around within a few minutes of their opening notes. A brilliant end to a brilliant day.
Of course there were bands I wish I could have seen. Avalanche Party, Bitchfinder General, Home Counties to name just three but with so much quality on offer clashes are inevitable and you can’t please all of the people all of the time.
What a glorious day. It’s obvious where my musical tastes lie. Others will have witnessed something special from 8, 9, 10 bands I never got to see. And that’s the beauty of a festival such as this. A few thousand people from all walks of life, spanning a huge age range with a massive range of musical tastes all brought together, having fun and all for an absolute bargain ticket price.
Roll on SC 2026.
Words/photos: steve white
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