The Polite Room: 'urbane fusion'

By Toby Rogers
BBC Tyne contributor

Simpleswan performing at The Polite Room

Toby Rogers, editor of North East music blog Toonwaves, gives us an insight into The Polite Room.

Civility abounds at Newcastle's most refined acoustica night.

Taking place in the elegant art deco surroundings of the newly refurbished Tyneside Cinema bar, The Polite Room is an urbane fusion of acoustic folk, poetry and spoken word.

Hosted by affable singer-songwriter Ben Holland, it's an extraordinarily sophisticated evening.

Appealing to those with a taste for cultured live music, The Polite Room has already welcomed some of the region's finest leftfield performers onto its minimalist stage.

Long war films

Citing influences as diverse as the great British sitcom, really, really long war films, independent record shops, authors, lyricists and the finest wines known to humanity, The Polite Room has firmly positioned itself at the urbane end of Newcastle's live circuit.

Hunter entertain The Polite Room audience

A night where the audience are encouraged to sit back, relax and listen, it cleverly adapts some of the more appealing aspects of classical performance to an enthralling alt-folk setting.

Bringing together the very best in local alt-folk, trad-folk, storytelling, poetry and spoken word, each night features an eclectic mix of performers rotating short, fifteen minute sets.

From the gorgeous alternative acoustica of local duo Simpleswan, to the quirky folk of Tyneside legend Neville Clay, to the hilarious poetry of Newcastle-based writer and comedian Kate Fox, The Polite Room makes a wonderfully genial change to the more raucous live music nights in the city.

The next event is on 10 December 2009 in the Tyneside Bar at Tyneside Cinema.

Find out more on The Polite Room MySpace page.