PØRTERS

PØRTERS

PØRTERS and their Newcastle alt-rock sound PØRTERS are a six-piece alt-rock band from Newcastle upon Tyne, bringing together heavy guitars, layered vocals and a melodic approach that gives their...

September 10, 2026

PØRTERS and their Newcastle alt-rock sound

PØRTERS are a six-piece alt-rock band from Newcastle upon Tyne, bringing together heavy guitars, layered vocals and a melodic approach that gives their music more shape than a straight-ahead rock setup. The band feature Maria Winter on vocals, Kieran Taylor on guitar and vocals, James Hughes on bass and vocals, Nick Gladdish on keys and vocals, Tom Furniss on drums and Oliver Steel on guitar.

That line-up gives PØRTERS plenty of room to build a bigger sound. Four-part harmonies sit alongside heavier guitar sections, while the keys add atmosphere and colour that help the songs move beyond standard indie-rock structures. Their official channels describe the band around heavy riffs and an honest sound, which fits the way their material balances weight with melody rather than leaning entirely into one side.

From Motion Without Direction to Burning Soul

The band’s recent catalogue includes the Motion Without Direction EP, alongside singles such as Recover, The Thrill, Timewaster and Burning Soul. Those releases show a group becoming increasingly comfortable with dynamics, using vocal harmonies and contrasting textures to give each track its own identity.

Burning Soul is a strong example of the band’s current direction. The track pushes the heavier side of PØRTERS without losing the melodic instincts that make the group accessible, while earlier material shows a willingness to open the arrangements up and let the harmonies carry more of the emotional weight.

PØRTERS on the North East live circuit

Newcastle remains central to the band’s story. Their official Linktree identifies them as a Newcastle alt-rock band, and their recent live activity has included Aelius Alternative Festival, Veritas Festival and a BBC Introducing appearance at The Glasshouse. Those shows place PØRTERS firmly within the current North East grassroots circuit while also giving the band opportunities to reach audiences outside the usual small-venue network.

What makes PØRTERS stand out is the scale of the sound. Six members could easily make the music feel crowded, but the strongest arrangements use that size well, letting guitars, keys and stacked vocals work together rather than competing for space. For SoundBite North East, they are a strong example of a Newcastle band taking familiar alt-rock ingredients and pushing them into something fuller, more melodic and increasingly confident.