We Speak Music
Renowned visual artist Pete McKee to tour the UK with latest exhibition and his band The Everly Pregnant Brothers in support of Music Venue Trust.
This Spring, Pete McKee invites you to visit his latest exhibition, ‘The Boy With a Leg Named Brian’ as it tours some of the UK’s most beloved Grassroots Music Venues. This is a rare opportunity to see Pete’s exhibition in these amazing and unique spaces. After the show has closed, there will be a live performance in the evening from The Everly Pregnant Brothers, the northern tinged comedy ukulele band which Pete is also a member of. As well as a showcase of Pete’s artwork, the tour is also to raise awareness of the work Music Venue Trust do in helping to support our grassroots live music venues, the lifeblood of touring for new emerging artists. During its year-long run at Sheffield’s Weston Park Museum, Pete McKee’s biggest exhibition to date, A Boy with a Leg Named Brian, has taken over 130,000 visitors on an exploration of the events that shaped his life and influenced his art. Split into four sections, the exhibition spans Pete’s earliest memories, beginning with the loss of his mum, and finishing with his teenage years that were defined by the joy of finding his identity through fashion and music. Although this is the story of Pete’s life growing up on a council estate in 70s and 80s Sheffield, his memories and tales of everyday life and pop culture are relatable experiences shared by many across the UK.
Pete says: “Music is a huge part of my life, and features constantly in my work. In fact, it was the original dream of mine to play on Top of The Pops rather than become an artist. We have picked some of the most amazing venues for this tour which have played host to some of the biggest artists before they were famous. Grassroots music venues like this are vital for bands like mine to perform to new audiences, so I can’t wait to play on with my band in these venues too. I love showcasing my artwork in non-traditional spaces too, so this is going to be a real celebration of art and music.”
During the daytime the exhibition will be free for all to attend with interactive installations in each venue. As well as showcasing his work, Pete wants to show off the venues and let visitors see and experience them as they won’t have done before. The tour visits, Newcastle, Leeds, Manchester, Nottingham, Birmingham, Bristol, Brighton and London, across weekends in April and May. Pete has also created a special poster which is exclusive to each venue on the tour. Only 50 will be produced and signed by the artist, with all profits going to the Music Venue Trust and each venue in support of the UK’s independent music venues.
The other half of this celebration takes place at night, as each venue will host a ticketed live show from The Everly Pregnant Brothers; the comedic ukulele band who are well known for their parodies of popular songs. Pete was one of the founding members of the band and after a summer of playing festivals, including Tramlines and Rock N Roll Circus, they are excited to be bringing songs from their latest album ‘Never Mind The Ukes, Here’s The Brothers’. Pete concludes: “Independent music venues like these are really important to me, not only are they where our band plays but it is also where I have seen countless artists over the years hone their craft. Music venues are closing down at a frightening rate across the country and it is important that we work hard to keep them alive. I can’t wait to bring my exhibition to your city and show my work in these beautiful and very different spaces from a gallery.”
‘The Boy with the Leg Named Brian’ + The Everly Pregnant Brothers Live
Day time exhibition is free with no booking required* and opens each day between 12pm – 5pm. Evening band performance is ticketed with doors opening at 7:00pm.
25 April – Leeds– Brudenell Social Club
26 April – Manchester– Night & Day
02 May – Brighton– Green Door Store
03 May – Bristol– The Exchange
10 May – Birmingham– Hare & Hounds
17 May – Newcastle– Cluny
23 May – Nottingham– Metronome
24 May – London– 100 Club (*booking for London exhibition required, free tickets from https://www.petemckee.com/
Swiss artist Fanny Alexandra returns with “Black Pearl Summer”, a new single that finds her exploring a more open side of her alternative sound. Released via Now Listen, the track combines coastal imagery with a story about growing through grief, pressure and the experiences that can shape a person over time.
Alexandra notes that the song is relatively summery by her own standards. She has said that her music is usually darker and that she has never been particularly drawn to the typical idea of summer, preferring cold air, jackets and rugged coastlines. That gives the release a clear sense of personality from the outset.
The song centres on Alexandra’s reflections on being 19 and spending years focused on survival rather than fully living. Those experiences are presented through the image of a black pearl, which becomes a way of considering how something worthwhile can emerge from a challenging period.
What makes the track particularly effective is the balance between its subject matter and its musical approach. The production gives the song room to breathe, while Alexandra keeps the focus firmly on the story she is telling. It means the track can be enjoyed as a seasonal release while still offering more to discover in the lyrics.
There is also a clear sense of change in the way Alexandra approaches her younger self. The song is not about returning to that period or trying to erase it. Instead, it considers what can be learned from experiences that once felt overwhelming.
“Black Pearl Summer” therefore offers newcomers a useful introduction to Alexandra’s work. It shows an artist comfortable writing about serious subjects, while also demonstrating a lighter musical side that may not be as familiar to listeners who know her darker material.
It is an interesting glimpse of what Alexandra can do when she lets a little more light into the picture.
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