Review: 800 Years - Here We Are at The Exchange 1856
Simon Rushworth reports back from a special screening of a film firmly focused on North Shields as the town marks its eighth century
As taglines go, it’s truly compelling: 800 Years - Here We Are is described as ‘a documentary film celebrating community, heritage and the unifying power of song’.
In its own understated, authentic and reassuringly optimistic way, a timely salute to a proud town enjoying an unlikely renaissance does what it says on the tin.
Such was the buzz around the latest event shining a light on North Shields’ 800th birthday that the global premiere of Here We Are was delayed by 15 minutes or more.
Chattering queues snaked through the corridors of the quirky Exchange — a vibrant hub for creativity in a town awash with it right now — as local heroes (many of whom would go on to appear on the big screen) mixed with expectant punters.
Standing by the steps was Lindisfarne’s Ray Laidlaw, hanging around at the back of the bar was Hector Gannet’s Aaron Duff and, every so often, an international DJ would poke his head around the door: ManPower and Schak added the unique urban cool to a melting pot of cultural opposites.
All four — and more — made telling and entertaining contributions to the eye-catching Here We Are. The film, produced and directed by Northeast Fuse and XL Creative Media, and supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the North East Combined Authority, is anchored by local lad Liam Fender and looks at North Shields through a distinctly parochial lens.
That’s no criticism, by the way. Here We Are always manages to stay on the right side of good, old fashioned civic pride and never looks like straying into dangerously insular territory.
Sure, it seems strange that Liam’s little brother doesn’t feature. Would the town be enjoying its remarkable rebirth without the influence of Mercury Prize-winning Sam — the globally acclaimed singer songwriter who cut his teeth on the North Shields scene and still frequents the legendary Low Lights Tavern (often checking up on the region’s rising stars on buskers’ Monday) when he’s back in town? Probably not. Here We Are… but without the town’s most famous flag bearer. Who knows what happened there? But here we are.
Fender Snr, to his credit, does a fabulous job steering the narrative from past to present and back to the future. Those looking to fill their North Shields’ venues bingo card quickly crossed off The Engine Room, Three Tanners Bank, King Street Social Club and the Salt Market Social. It’s the places — as much as the people — that continue to drive the town’s ambition and without these welcoming spaces for emerging talent there would be no cultural reawakening.
Music promoters, managers and PR professionals told of a sea change in attitudes towards a thriving live scene. For touring artists seeking out alternative audiences, North Shields no longer shifts uncomfortably in the shadows of Newcastle’s long established music scene. Through it all, Here We Are celebrates what’s happening now without losing sight of the town’s storied history: Laidlaw and Byron Badoo, in particular, ensure due respect is paid to the pioneers and the trailblazers. Their cheery tales are some of Here We Are’s undeniable highlights.
Back, for a moment, to the DJs. Man Power — aka Geoff Kirkwood — was raised in Wallsend but only recently returned to the region. Putting down fresh roots in North Shields and reinventing the King Street Social Club as a home for house, techno, disco, and electronica, his story illustrates best of all the mindset and motivation of those determined to lead the town towards a brave new era.
And then there’s Schak. A pocket rocket disruptor out to prove that anything’s possible, his starring role within Here We Are is more than an amusing cameo — it’s a call to arms to anyone and everyone ready to channel the power of community and rewrite the creative rulebook. Sit through this inspiring documentary and you’ll leave dreaming of a generation-spanning Schak-Lindisfarne collab. Let’s make it happen.
If Fender emerged as the confident and grounded glue that holds Here We Are together, then his complementary live set — a suitably upbeat gig followed immediately after the film’s global premiere — embodied the spirit and sense of joy that runs right through a transformed town and its proud people.
Showcasing new tune Here We Are (the rooftop video clip looking out over the mouth of the Tyne is a memorable feature of the documentary), our host for the night’s work was done. It feels like North Shields is only just getting started.