Review by Aaron Whittington – SoundBite North East
There’s something different about seeing a local band sell out Think Tank. It’s one of those venues that tells you exactly where a band is at — and before Park View had even walked on stage, you could feel it in the room. People were already pressed forward, conversations cutting short the moment the lights dipped.
The Newcastle indie outfit stepped out to a reaction that didn’t feel polite — it felt earned. There’s been a steady buzz around them for a while now, built on strong releases and gigging across the city, but this was different. This felt like a band stepping into the next version of themselves.
Opening with Last One Left, they didn’t rush it. The intro settled the room immediately, letting the atmosphere build naturally. You could see people watching on properly, not talking, not drifting — just locked in. Young and Smile followed and lifted things another level, with the crowd already singing back lines that clearly meant something to them.
Southbound and Pacemaker brought a sharper edge, the guitars cutting through more directly as the set found its stride. There’s a tension in their sound that really works live — controlled, but always feeling like it could open up further. By My Side and Sleeping On Your Feet pulled things back slightly, but the attention never dropped. If anything, it drew people in more.
By the time Bare Hands, Lights, and Pavement arrived, the confidence on stage was obvious. These songs felt bigger, more assured, and built for rooms like this. She Doesn’t Know landed as one of the night’s defining moments, the kind of song where the whole room seems to move together without thinking about it.
They closed on Only, leaving the stage to a reaction that lingered — not just loud, but genuine. No hesitation, no uncertainty. Just a band and a crowd fully on the same page.
The only personal disappointment was not hearing House on Fire, simply because it’s a song I personally loved and had hoped to hear live.
Still, selling out Think Tank says everything. This wasn’t just another hometown gig. It felt like a shift — and one that confirms Park View are becoming one of the standout indie bands coming out of Newcastle right now.
Josh Webb opened the night with a stripped-back set that immediately settled the early crowd. His performance felt honest and direct, built around strong songwriting rather than trying to force a reaction. It gave people something to focus on early, and slowly but surely, the room filled around him.
Polyvinyl brought one of the most distinctive sets of the night, led by frontwoman Annabelle and backed by a five-piece lineup tonight (minus the keys) that delivered a sound far bigger than the Think Tank stage might suggest. From the start, their presence felt deliberate — every movement and transition part of something more immersive than just a standard support set.
Their sound blends atmospheric indie with post-punk edge and cinematic ambition, balancing shimmering guitars with darker emotional weight. Hannah’s vocal sat right at the centre of it all, pulling attention naturally without needing to force it. There’s a theatrical quality to their performance, but it never feels overdone — just intentional.
With a refreshed lineup in 2026, the band feel like they’re stepping into their most ambitious phase yet. Their sound has grown bigger and more cinematic, and with their upcoming concept EP and short film Where This Ends arriving in May, followed by a busy festival season, this set felt like a band building real momentum.
Split The Ticket injected a surge of energy into the room with a tight, confident set that immediately connected. Their guitar-driven sound felt direct and purposeful, and by the end of their set, the room had fully shifted into headline mode. It was exactly the lift the night needed before Park View stepped on stage.
Words by Aaron Whittington — Founder, SoundBite North East
Championing grassroots music across Newcastle and the wider North East.