It’s Friday evening in Jesmond, a leafy suburb on the outskirts of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. Depending on who you speak to, this is the ‘posh-bit’ or ‘the bit where the students live’. In reality, it’s the enclave of the posh students. Five minutes' walk away, there's a road lined with high-end bars catering almost exclusively to this clientele. We're a stone's throw from a sprawling park with its own waterfall, and within spitting distance (if one did that in these parts) of at least two Michelin-recommended restaurants. My point is, it’s quite nice round here. What it’s short of, however, are gig venues. That’s where Bobiks comes in, and why it is so vitally important. It’s also why it’s such a tragedy that the incoming tenants of the pub, of which it is the upstairs room, are reportedly keen on turning it into yet another fancy restaurant.

Bobiks came into being when the soon-to-be-former tenants of The Punchbowl discovered a disused ballroom above their pub (yes, really!). In true DIY style, they built a small stage, installed AV equipment, and suddenly Jesmond had a venue for poets, comedians, theatre makers, and musicians who didn’t quite fit elsewhere. It’s a cozy space, holding around 60 people, perfect for the type of acts it attracts. I’ve witnessed friends take their first tentative steps into performance in this room, and I’ve seen magic happen. Last Friday was no exception when Shelf Lives made a stop on the third date of their UK tour before heading off to the USA in pursuit of fame, fortune, and breakfast tacos at SXSW.

The venue buzzes from the start. The support act YinYang's fiercely danceable hip-hop/electronica crossover is as deafening as it is fantastic, achieving the rare feat of getting the audience moving for the opener. It speaks volumes about the headliners when I see the duo dancing down the front with everyone else. If only more bands could show this kind of support for their openers, then the live music scene would be a much less toxic place. But I digress. YinYang was awesome and the perfect warm-up for what was to come.

Shelf Lives is one of the best bands you've probably never heard of, and every show feels like they're trying to prove that point. Tonight is no exception. For about an hour, we’re treated to a furious tear through most of their debut album, ‘Yes, Offence’, as well as the entirety of their recent EP ‘You OK?’. I mentioned earlier that the stage is small, but in reality, it occupies the entire room as it's rare for both members of the band to be on it simultaneously. Shelf Lives get in their audience's faces and make damned sure they're listened to.

Spaces like this and gigs like this don’t really make money, and that’s a problem. But if our small, independent venues continue to be let go of so easily, then where do the bands of tomorrow cut their teeth and find their audience? If we let them go, then getting them back becomes nigh on impossible, and I don’t know about you, but a future filled with tribute acts and cookie-cutter TV talent show pop terrifies me. 

Words and photos: Thomas Jackson