Wintersleep | 10.04.2026 | Think Tank Newcastle | Review and Photo Gallery
I just can't write the words to show how grateful I am that Wintersleep came back to the UK. Not only that, they kicked off their tour in my hometown! This was one of those shows I had to instantly block-book a weekend off for. It's canny rare I'm not working weekends these days, and sorry but I was not missing this gig for anything!!
Wintersleep became one of my favourite bands, back in late 2008 when I came across their Welcome to the Nighy Sky album. I don't recall where. I have a strong feeling it was on Myspace. Like many other music nerds back then, it was a great place to find music. I was heavily into the first Tokyo Police Club EP, and I reckon that took me down a rabbit hole. Archaeologists was the song that grabbed my attention.
I was in my late twenties, pre-midlife crisis, my life was meaningless, let's quit the day job and f**k off around the world as I'd found myself a bit lost in life and crippled with self-doubt, anxiety and a feeling of I don't know who I am or what I want to be anymore, I just needed out.
Queue my life-changing (and somewhat boring journey sorry!) I travelled to Australia in late 2008, iPod loaded with all of the Wintersleep albums (at least at that date), plus a few thousand other albums, it was an iPod Classic 160gb and I loaded it to the max! The sound felt at home in the infinite abyss of the outback.
I got a Greyhound year-long bus-pass, and off I went. I drove around the full country, iPod in hand. Smiling and staring out of the window. I listened to so much music that trip, all i wanted in life was to listen to music and take photos. It really changed me. I grew up not feeling like I belonged in life, I had no career goals or idea what I wanted to do when I grew up but I deeply connected with this music.
Back to the music...
Back in Newcastle, life was rather dull, i was broke so I'd keep myself entertained by taking photos and going to gigs. During this time, Wintersleep would pass through my hometown twice. First time was with the Hold Steady in 2011 and the second was with a band I didn't get at first, but fell in love with at that gig, that was Frightened Rabbit at the Sage in 2013. I lost my mind to Wintersleep but thought I'd be respectful enough to stay for the headliner. I was fairly nonplussed until Scott came out to play Poke, solo, no mics, just him and an acoustic guitar, in that room. The hairs on my neck were up. An experience I'd never forget. I shall remain in his awe forever.
I'd spend endless hours staring out of the bus windows. I had my iPod and my imagination. That trip, I clocked hundreds of plays on Wintersleep, Interpol, Radiohead's In Rainbows, Sonic Youth's Rather Ripped and Death Cab For Cutie's Plans were solid repeats. My insomnia and the fascinating Australian landscape are forever burned into my brain. For the better i'd say. I never felt more at home than on those long bus rides.
Sorry, that was a very long preamble to say. I really, really like this band.
Out of the bat, they dive into the new material. Which is such a welcome and familiar sound. The new material still holds that drive and essence that all of their albums contain. Magic in a bottle. They have been relentless since releasing their first LP in 2003. A solid and inspiring back catalogue, each album just building and completing the previous release. Things have gone a bit wonky in the world since 2020. It’s been canny weird, thankfully Wintersleep ejected that period with a stupendously solid return. Wishing Moon, I’m struggling to describe, it’s like that familiar olfactory friend you love that miss and didn’t realise you missed. In layman’s terms it’s very good.
The new songs absolutely enthralled me tonight. I wanted to hear more of them. The setlist is a masterpiece of composition. I danced and cried and adored Wintersleep. Just so happy and eternally grateful that they came back to Newcastle 💜
It’s a fair injustice that they aren’t the biggest band in the world. Those who know them, know they are the best. 🇨🇦
