Hivemind

Hivemind and their Sunderland roots

Hivemind are a four-piece rock band from Sunderland, bringing together Georgia, Steve, James and Jack around a sound built on big riffs, sharp melodic hooks and an energetic live presence. The band sit in the space between alternative rock, emo and heavier guitar music, with clear reference points in acts such as Marmozets, Paramore and My Chemical Romance. Even so, their strongest material has its own character, balancing punchy choruses with enough weight to make the songs land in a live room.

The group’s official channels describe them as riff merchants based in the North East, and that phrase feels accurate. Hivemind are very much a working regional band, shaped by regular gigs, grassroots venues and the kind of steady audience-building that comes from playing often rather than appearing overnight. Their catalogue includes tracks such as Look At What I’ve Wasted, Domino, Big Deal, Left Side, A Lullaby High, Born To Thrive, Fire! Fire! Fire!, Medicine and Crying All The Time.

From local shows to wider support

Hivemind have taken that material beyond Sunderland, supporting bands including The LaFontaines, My Vitriol, Fangclub, Dead!, Airways, Shaun Ryder and Fearless Vampire Killers. Along the way, they have picked up backing from BBC Introducing, BBC Radio 6 Music and Amazing Radio. One of the band’s most notable early boosts came when BBC Introducing selected them for This Is Tomorrow festival in Newcastle and added Knees & Toes to a Best of BBC Introducing playlist.

That recognition has helped, but the band’s reputation in the North East has been built just as much through packed grassroots shows. They have sold out dates at Head of Steam in Newcastle and Independent in Sunderland, while later appearances at Cluny 2 and regional festivals have kept their local momentum moving.

Hivemind on the North East live circuit

Festival appearances have included A Stone’s Throw, NARC., Veritas and Afterlight, placing Hivemind alongside a broad cross-section of the region’s current alternative scene. SoundBite North East has also featured the band through local festival coverage, making them a natural fit for the site’s artist directory.

With Sunderland roots, a growing catalogue and years of live experience behind them, Hivemind are a strong example of a North East rock band developing through consistent graft. Their sound is accessible enough to reach beyond the heavy scene, but there is still enough grit and personality in the songs to keep them grounded in the venues and audiences that helped shape them.