Holy Moly & The Crackers are the innovative and fiery folk-rockers, who put on a raucous and feel-good party, where everyone is invited, and have become renowned for their blazing live shows.
Holy Moly & The Crackers are the innovative and fiery folk-rockers from Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, who bombastically mash together unique flavours of soul, rock, indie and Balkan folk. However you describe them, one thing is sure – Holy Moly & The Crackers put on a raucous and feel good party, where everyone is invited, and have become renowned for their blazing live shows:
“these six young talented musicians are writing and performing exciting, innovative music reflecting their individual influences while forging a collective band sound – one that is unique and appeals to a wide age range from 7 to 70 years and their diverse music preferences. For a couple of hours, the turbulence, hatred and divisions in society are forgotten and music has become the healer” (American Blues Scene, Live at Sage Gateshead 2019)
The band was formed almost by mistake, when Conrad Bird, Ruth Patterson and Rosie Bristow met at a house party in Leamington Spa of all places. They were in their late teens. Enamoured by Rosie’s party-prop accordion, the three decided to start playing music together – mainly stomping folk and drinking songs as an alternative to “SMACK” – Leamington’s main student club, that was the only other option for a night out.
Moving North, and nearly 10 years on, the band has grown into a rocking 6 piece: with Tommy Evans on drums, Nick Tyler on guitars and Jamie Shields on bass to provide the grunt and diesel. They have released 3 albums and launched their own record label, Pink Lane.
Slowly building a loyal and enthusiastic fanbase over the years, the six-piece first tasted success with the release of their 2nd album Salem, when lead single Cold Comfort Lane was picked up by Hollywood and used in the vibrant, stick-it-to-the-man blockbuster Oceans8 in 2018. Since then they have sold out shows across the UK and Europe and graced the stages of innumerable festivals (Glastonbury, Bestival, Colours Of Ostrava (CZ) to name 3 of many).
Working again with Salem producer, Matt Terry, they recorded and released their 3rd album Take A Bite in 2019, to raptured acclaim. Championed by Spotify, Radio X and singer-songwriter Frank Turner, it has been described as a “swaggering album that showcases a riotous blend of styles” (Louder Than War). Once again Holy Moly hit the road in full throttle, joining ‘shanty punks’ Skinny Lister on tour around Europe, before appearing at over 30 festivals, before finally undertaking a victorious headline lap of the UK, culminating in selling out their
biggest show to date at Sage Gateshead on the banks of the Tyne. Ruth and Conrad also got married. It was a busy year!
2020 saw the band blasting out of the blocks with their new single Road To You, described as “a shot of espresso, that comes loaded and ready to work in a short, sharp shock” The band were set to play 27 dates across 10 countries on their biggest European tour to date, as well as support Frank Turner across France and Germany, and return to Glastonbury for its 50th anniversary. But, well, you know what happened next. Many of their dates have been postponed and rescheduled for 2021. In the mean-time, no doubt they will retreat into their crazy chocolate factory to conjure up a whole load of magical, insane musical treats.
SUPPORT – Rob Heron (SOLO)
Newcastle based Rob Heron has spent the past decade touring and recording with the six-piece rag-time, honky-tonk, swing band Rob Heron & The Tea Pad Orchestra. With four albums of original material under his belt, and an international following, his solo show consists of Tea Pad classics, new material, and the odd country and blues standards. Rob takes inspiration from artists of the golden age such as Cab Calloway, Merle Tarvis, George Jones and Hank Williams, and delivers his performances with wit, humour and panache. This is no dressing-up box, no lazy pastiche; Rob Heron lives and breathes this music.
Book a table for pre-concert dining
Acapela Studio provides pre-concert dining between 6.00pm and 7.30pm from our pizza oven. To view the current menu visit here.
Please purchase your concert tickets first before booking a table. We will not accept any table bookings that do not have a corresponding ticket purchase.
Then return to the event page to book your table, by selecting the date of your event, number of diners and time you require table. The times shown are the only vacancies left. Please complete your email and phone number as this is required to ensure your table is allocated. You will receive confirmation of your booking by email and text.
If on the date you have chosen no tables are available - no times will be shown and the booking system will revert you back to todays date - PLEASE ENSURE YOU BOOK THE CORRECT DATE!
PLEASE NOTE THE VENUE RELIES ON THE INCOME FROM DINING TO ENSURE WE CAN BOOK ALL THE GREAT ACTS PERFORMING.
Income from the provision of pizzas is very important to the venue and if you have booked a table it is a requirement that all people sat at tables order food - a salad alternative is available to pizzas. Please do ensure that all individuals will be ordering on your table - if this is not the case please cancel your table so others who are looking to dine can do so. Our apologies to raise this but recently we have had many tables (some very large) where less than 50% of those sat at tables have ordered food. Financially this is a real problem to the sustainability of the venue.
- All seating at tables must purchase a pizza - so please do not book a table if everyone is not eating.
- Please ensure that you arrive 10 minutes before the time slot allocated to order your pizzas prior to your booking time.
- Tables not seated within 15 minutes of the allocated time may be lost and allocated to other audience members wishing to order pizzas.
- If you wish to book a table for 6 or more please email info@acapela.co.uk
Please note that all of our pizzas are made fresh to order and cooked in an authentic wood-fired oven. It may take up to 45 minutes to be served during busy periods.
IF YOU ARE UNABLE TO BOOK A TABLE YOU CAN STILL ORDER PIZZAS ON THE NIGHT (USUALLY ON BUSY NIGHTS NO LATER THAN 7.15PM) AND WE WILL SERVE THEM TO YOU WHEREVER YOU ARE SAT IN THE VENUE - IN A PIZZA BOX.