The Kane Gang

One of the North East’s most loved and acclaimed 1980s pop bands, The Kane Gang, are reforming after almost 40 years.

The band – lead vocalists Martin Brammer and Paul Woods and multi-instrumentalist David Brewis – have announced a hometown comeback show at top Sunderland’s music venue The Fire Station. The gig, on Saturday, November 2, will see the trio revisit their mid-80s hits and will also launch an exciting collaboration with fellow Wearside artists Field Music.

The Kane Gang landed in the upper reaches of both the US and UK charts from 1984 onwards, with songs such as Closest Thing To Heaven, Respect Yourself, Smalltown Creed, Motortown and Don’t Look Any Further and had two successful albums The Bad and Lowdown World of The Kane Gang and Miracle.

Critically-acclaimed Sunderland duo Field Music – brothers Peter and David Brewis (yes, another one) – will release their ninth album in October. Their previous album, Flat White Moon, reached the UK top 40 in 2021 and 2012’s Plumb was nominated for the prestigious Mercury Prize.

Fittingly, The Fire Station venue played a key role in forming this intriguing partnership between the two bands who had never met before.

Martin said: “I think for me, coming up to Sunderland to sing Closest Thing To Heaven at the opening night of The Fire Station reconnected me to the joy of performing and also the warmth of the local music community.

“Performing with Field Music felt like such a natural fit and this sowed the seed about working on something with all of us together. It’s been a joy to do some rehearsals and start to create some new things. Rule one of The Kane Gang Club is don’t get excited. And yet, I’m excited.”

Field Music’s David Brewis said: “It’s been so interesting trying to fit in around this friendship which has existed for over 40 years, but in a way, it’s also felt very familiar. From the very start, we’ve been on a very similar wavelength, musically and personally. And, of course, it’s just exciting to hear those Kane Gang songs come to life again.”

The concert and forthcoming national shows are part of a celebration of the 40th anniversary of the Gang’s one and only tour which started in November 1984.

The Kane Gang’s David Brewis said: “Our 1984 tour was great for us, we had an ace band, and amazing audiences throughout the UK; our live album – a Saturday night in Glasgow – come on! It doesn’t get much better.”

Paul Woods added: “We have Field Music with us for the show and I can’t think of a better band to do this with. We hope it’s going to be a special Saturday night in Sunderland this time around.”