Newcastle-based genre-hopping roots quintet Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra, who Uncut described as “evoking the spirit of Bob Wills and Django Reinhardt” will be setting off on a UK tour next week which runs from October 9th-25th, in support of their new EP ‘Eta Carinae’. The EP transcends the band’s roots of old-time jazz and blues to encompass the ‘modern’ influences of 60’s country and Beatles-esque psychedelia.
The title track is lyrically inspired by a Brian Cox documentary about a star in the southern hemisphere of the same name, and features a string quartet backing up an extended chorus of mad group vocals. The remaining three tracks on the release are more in keeping with the Tea Pad’s previous releases, but still venture into new areas of sound, with the use of 60s organ tones, heavy garage rock guitar solos, and space echo on the vocals. This will not scare off any current fans of Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra, as the signature sound and virtuoso playing is still very much in the foreground, but the sonic capabilities of the band are being sent into the future, or at least into a 60s sci-fi B-movie. And how can you resist that?
Here are the dates:
Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra 2019 UK Tour
Wed 9 Oct – Manchester, Retro
Thu 10 Oct – Stoke-on-Trent, The Artisan Tap
Fri 11 Oct – Paignton, The Lucky 7 Club
Sat 12 Oct – Maidenhead, Norden Farm Centre for the Arts
Sun 13 Oct – London, The Lexington
Wed 16 Oct – Hull, The New Adelphi Club
Thu 17 Oct – Stockton-on-Tees, The Georgian Theatre
Fri 18 Oct – Glasgow, Stereo Cafe Bar
Sat 19 Oct – Aberdeen, The Blue Lamp
Fri 25 Oct – Newcastle upon Tyne, Old Coal Yard
