Robyn Banks Headline Gig at The Cumberland Arms Q&A

Robyn Banks is a Gateshead-based singer-songwriter making waves across the North East with her fearless lyricism, distinctive vocals and alternative indie sound and Aaron Whittington of Soundbite North East caught up with Robyn to ask a few questions at the last minute about her Headline gig at The Cumberland Arms on 17th July.

You’re headlining The Cumberland Arms on 17 July. How excited are you for the show, and what does it mean to be headlining such a well-respected North East venue?

I’m so bloody excited! I won’t lie, it has been a stressful couple of months trying to build a real community of people (outside my friends and family aha) that are willing to take a bet and just come and see what I’m about, as I don’t have any music out so people are just having to take my word for it at the moment! But what started out with a lot of insecurity and apprehension has turned into something so pivotal for me, because the people of the North East have really pulled through and I couldn’t be more grateful for their support. But the whole purpose of this gig was to really try and draw attention to the incredible music, musicians and culture in a venue so amazing like The Cumberland Arms, that we have seeping out of every corner here and I really think this gig will be another showcase of that.

2. What made this feel like the right time to put on a headline show?

It’s been just over a year now of my solo career, and I’ve been hard-core grafting behind the scenes to get myself and my music to the place which I know I’m capable of. Then once that was there it was just gigging as much as possible wherever I could to try and connect with people in what I think is the best way possible- through live music.  But I’m still a musician at the end of the day so I’m a bit greedy and want to play a long set so naturally it was time for a headline. It’s also my birthday so I knew I could guilt trip people into coming with the double whammy of birthday sympathy and first headline ahaha. 

3. How have you been preparing for the night, and what goes into getting ready for a headline performance?

I’ve been rewatching Merlin… no I’m joking (no I’m not) but in all seriousness I’ve put countless hours into curating a set that is incredibly personal, raw and what I hope is impactful, because what I want more than anything is to influence my audiences the way I’m influenced watching my favourite artists. It’s something that never goes away and really does stay with people. I’ve also been whipping my band into shape, but honestly they’ve been amazing, supportive and unbelievably reliable and I’m incredibly lucky to have such amazing musicians and friends share the stage with me and play my music. Personally, I’ve been trying to embody the aura of Sebastion Murphy and merge that with Madonna and I’ve started speaking about myself in third person- I’m only half joking. 

4. Without giving too much away, what can people expect if they come along on 17 July?

People can expect to see some pretty good dad t-shirts, some questionable dance moves and a lot of emotion on both ends of the scale. A lot of my music highlights my politics and I really try to get across my views, and experiences through my songs. In the same breath you can expect a fair bit of campness and maybe a reference to gay icon Natasha Lyonne. The supports for the night are Charlie Floyd who is an unbelievably talented and exciting musician who I’ve looked up to since I was 14 years old (still a bit mad that we are even playing together!) and Sarah Johnsone who is an absolutely incredible musician, voice and songwriter and has been impacting the North East with her music for years.

5. How do you go about putting together a headline setlist? Are there any songs you’re especially looking forward to performing?

With it being my first one, it was a little tricky to be honest. Obviously I would love to play all my songs because they all hold a piece of me, but no one wants to stand and listen to someone for four hours (no offence Dave Grohl). So I spent quite a bit of time choosing the songs that are the most important to me, and most important to shaping a real show and sort of experience for the audience that people will want to watch and also be part of. I will be playing a song that I haven’t played live at all called “The Battery in the Cat is Dead” which is one of my most personal and most important songs that I’ve written which was written purely as a way to deal with loss. I’m also really looking forward to playing a couple of old ones that got booted out for a little while and of course a lesbian crowd favourite “But I’m a Cheerleader”. 

6. Will fans get to hear any new music or anything they might not have heard live before?

Yeah I’ve got two completely new ones, one I’ve already mentioned which is a more “man this is deep” type song and another one called “Rachel” which is sort of a satire, punky and dancy one which is super fun to perform. Both songs I’m super excited to play and see people’s reactions to- so yeah the audience are hopefully in for a treat!

7. Looking back over the last year, what’s been your biggest highlight as an artist?

There’ve been so many highlights in the past year which have been absolutely amazing and sort of pinch me moments, but the main one that springs to mind is our mini tour that we did a couple of weeks ago. It was the first time I’d done the whole one show after another and dabbled in the meal deal and quick shower lifestyle, but I loved every second of it and me and my band all got so close and tight over the course of the three days and it just felt pretty perfect. It also gave me a proper itch and made me so hungry to get on a support tour and do it again but for longer, so wolf alice if you’re reading- hit me up. 

8. Once The Cumberland Arms show is over, what’s next for you?

The week after we’ve got a double day show which will be the first for us! So on the 25th July we are playing the Euphony Festival in Sunderland then driving straight to York to support Sunderland’s pride and joy Tom A Smith. Throughout my career, I’ve never been able to play a show with Tom, who my partner plays bass for, so I’m unbelievably excited for that. For the rest of the year,  the biggest thing that I’ve got coming is recorded music in the pipeline- I’m just edging everyone for a little bit longer. 

9. The North East has a fantastic grassroots music scene. Are there any local artists you think deserve a bigger spotlight?

It absolutely does and we don’t get anywhere near enough credit or attention here for the crazy talent that we have been producing for years. Artists I love are of course the two musicians who will be playing alongside me- Charlie Floyd and Sarah Johnsone, but I’m also a big fan of a band called Nadine Hurley who’s music and performance is incredibly exciting, a band called Perfect Chicken who I played with in Leeds with another project but they’re just unbelievable to watch, Hannah Robinson who is an absolutely phenomenal artist and songwriter and Risco who are taking the North East and Middlesbrough by storm. There’s so many more but yeah some crazy talent coming out from up here. 

10. Finally, if someone is still deciding whether to come along on 17 July, what’s your message to them?

It’s a Friday. In July. At the goated Cumberland Arms. What’s wrong with you?!! In all seriousness, give it a chance. I promise I’ve done everything in my power to make it worth your time and money- also it’s my birthday so if I’m not getting a present then there’s only one other option… COME!!!

Grab a remaining ticket now at

https://www.fatsoma.com/e/uwg8jh3h/robyn-banks-the-cumberland-arms-17th-july-2026