Gigs Gigs Gigs - bigfatbig

Gigs Gigs Gigs is a brand new feature where we catch up with the bands and talk about the one thing we're all missing most: Gigs! Check out what some of our favourite artists have to tell us about their three favourite venues which they can't wait to play again after lockdown!

This week we spoke to North East pop, indie, punk band bigfatbig. Hyped by pretty much everyone across the scene, bigfatbig are fresh from being tipped by BBC Introducing as one's to watch this year, which helped surge them on their way to playing Radio 1's online Big Weekend. Already being back to gigs after a long down spell we heard from the band about their favourite venues:

Pop Recs, Sunderland

A venue we want to play but haven’t yet is Pop Recs because it’s aesthetically such a cool place, and loads of our favourite bands have played there in the past. Intimate venues are our favourite for gigging because we love being able to get up close and personal (and sweaty) with a crowd. It’s absolutely one of the most exciting places in Sunderland, and they’re always at the centre of positive change for the area - whether that’s giving new bands their first show, raising funds/resources for other places that need it or hosting mint events/workshops for the community.

Bobiks, Newcastle

Somewhere we’ve played (and loved) earlier in the year was Bobiks in Jesmond, just above the Punch Bowl Hotel. Speaking of intimate venues, this has to be one of the best and as far as quirky venues go, Bobiks is 100% up there. The staff are all lovely, they serve great food AND it’s dog friendly - a literal dream. We played here with Swine Tax in January and had the best time, and we also saw our first live music of 2020 here (Mt. Misery and The Artisans) which feels a million years ago now, but is something we feel even fonder about because of the situation.

Base Camp, Middlesbrough

We had the absolute pleasure of playing the re-opening of Base Camp last weekend for their “Not Leeds Fest” and, after not playing in front of people for half a year, there’s nowhere we’d rather have chucked ourselves back in at. Are Teessiders like, the nicest collective region of people in the country or what? For our first time in Middlesbrough to be such a packed out room was absolutely mint, and the team at Base Camp/Sad for Life are definitely some of the hardest grafters in the scene. They’ve already turned their premises into a dreamy venue, bar and rehearsal studios, and some of their future plans sound super exciting.

The band release their third and most in-demand single to date on Thursday 3rd September. Filled with groovy and almost dark verses the song builds up to massive choruses laced with top vocal melodies and immersive synth lines. It has to be said, the best and most catchy part of this track is the main vocal hook, the pattern melody is not really a word, more just a 'bup' repeated but it really, really works and trust me, it will be ringing round your head for days after you listen to this song. You can pre-save the track before its release tomorrow, this will really help the band and it only takes a few seconds. Click here to pre-save now.