Underground hero Scott Lavene will appeal to fans of Ian Dury et al, and he’s coming to North Shields this October at the wonderful Engine Room.

There’s a strong story-telling element to Scott Lavene’s stuff as he draws upon real-life experiences and observations with brutal honesty. But that honesty is underpinned with humour and a cynical wit that helps it slip down easily. Indeed, his ability to turn deeply personal or even dark situations into relatable, often hilarious narratives, make light of his struggles without being judgemental. His musical style is nicely eclectic, ranging from post-punk to electronic folk-punk-poetry, and he also has the knack of shifting easily between genres, often within the same song. His deadpan style has drawn comparisons with the likes of Ian Dury (and Baxter Dury) and those comparisons are certainly not wide of the mark. And his gig in the region this October should be extra special as supporting is our very own Nev Clay, another fella who knows a thing or two about the power of storytelling using wit and no little insight. GM

Scott Lavene + Nev Clay, Monday 20 October, The Engine Room, North Shields, 8pm, £12, terns.co.uk