This season the Riverside has been rocked before kick off by a series of top notch bands playing in the West Stand car park. Organised jointly by Teesside music promoters northeastlive.net and MFC Supporter services from a fmttm idea the pre match gigs have been a great success.

Last weekend The Purnells played in the driving snow before the Manchester City Cup game. It was a case of third time “lucky” for the plucky Teessiders as they had seen their first gig rained off and their second abandoned due to high winds. Bizarrely enough The Purnells are the only band to have been postponed due to weather and it has happened to them twice. I’ll avoid saying anything about lightning because I don’t want to tempt fate.

The Purnells feature singer/songwriter Stu Blackburn on vocals and acoustic guitar. They create a punchy alternative guitar pop that cuts across the decades just as the snow cut across their stage last week. They’re clever song writers. Something about them reminds me of Cream from the 60s. But it is definitely The Purnells own sound, and a sound I really like.

Tomorrow would have seen The Halt playing but their rockier approach will now be put on hold until the rearranged Swansea date.

Anyway, in case you missed them a watch/listen to the you tube clip filmed by northeatlive.net The song is Uncle Nasty.

Oh look out for a fancy bit of footwork by the umbrella man towards the end of the clip.

You can catch The Purnells live this at the Mixtape @ The Keys on Tuesday 12th and the Arena next Sat 16^th both Middlesbrough and both definitely in doors.

Check out all northeastlive.net’s live gigs and everything they are up to. Always a lot at their website http://northeastlive.net

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