Idle Hands Leads a Newcastle Bill at The Grove

Idle Hands The Grove Newcastle puts local alternative rock at the centre of St Michael’s Road on Wednesday 28 October 2026. Doors open at 7pm, with fellow Newcastle band Central Arcade and Leeds group Stageminus completing a three-band bill presented by Sjlhistorian.

Idle Hands have been developing through the North East circuit since forming in 2022, building a sound around heavy alternative rock and shoegaze without losing the directness of a guitar band. Their own artist links identify them with Newcastle, while the current four-piece features Joe Currey on vocals and guitar, Jude Connor on guitar, Harrison Brown on bass and Evan Adamson on drums.

Idle Hands The Grove Newcastle keeps two local bands on the same bill

The local connection runs deeper than the headliner. Central Arcade are also Newcastle based and already have a SoundBite Artist profile, so the night gives two regional acts a meaningful Grove slot rather than using the local name only as an early opener. Stageminus then adds a Leeds connection, bringing a different scene into the room without diluting the North East focus.

Idle Hands have already picked up support through BBC 6 Music and BBC Newcastle, while tracks including Youth, Bled In Your Life, Faceless and Silent show how the band has pushed between heavier guitar textures and more atmospheric sections. That combination should fit The Grove well because the room keeps the quieter details close while still giving the louder passages enough impact.

For Central Arcade, the date adds another Newcastle appearance to a run that has steadily expanded their own local audience. Their presence makes this feel less like a single headline booking and more like a useful snapshot of guitar music currently moving through the city.

The bill is also a good example of how regional scenes connect. Bringing Stageminus up from Leeds gives all three bands access to a slightly different audience, which is exactly the kind of exchange grassroots venues are good at supporting.

Gigantic confirms Wednesday 28 October at The Grove with 7pm doors. Check Idle Hands, Central Arcade, Stageminus, Sjlhistorian and The Grove channels before travelling for any late changes to timings or running order.

More North East gigs are listed in SoundBite North East’s Upcoming Gigs, while the full venue programme is on our The Grove Newcastle page.