{"id":76,"date":"2025-11-10T15:54:53","date_gmt":"2025-11-10T15:54:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/kole-cornish\/?p=76"},"modified":"2025-12-17T14:27:59","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T14:27:59","slug":"a-guinness-and-some-yearning-please-billie-marten-at-newcastle-university-student-union","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/journalists.org.uk\/kole-cornish\/2025\/11\/10\/a-guinness-and-some-yearning-please-billie-marten-at-newcastle-university-student-union\/","title":{"rendered":"A Guinness and Some Yearning, Please – Billie Marten at Newcastle University Student Union"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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On the third stop of the UK leg of the ‘Dog Eared’ Tour, Yorkshire-born Billie Marten dazzled the audience at Newcastle University Student Union, with her mesmerising lyricism and comforting stage presence.<\/h5>\n\n\n\n

Saturday 8th of November marked singer-songwriter Billie Marten’s return to the North East, as part of her 2025 Tour, following the critically acclaimed release of her 5th studio album ‘Dog Eared’. One of the UK’s most promising up and coming artists, Marten last played to a Newcastle Crowd in October 2024, supporting Ben Howard at the O2 City Hall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speaking of supporting, the night was opened by a charming and gentle display of folk music, courtesy of Canadian singer-songwriter Le Ren. The singer’s set ran as a narrative of a relationship falling apart, a unique use of the opening spot. ‘Love Can’t Be The Only Reason To Stay’ was the standout musing on heartbreak, with the Student Union audience stunned into silence whilst the singer performed the song, which featured on her 2020 EP ‘Morning & Melancholia’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before long, Billie Marten took to the stage to a passionate applause, and ‘Feeling’ kicked off a set of gripping emotions and introspective lyrics. Ever an eager crowd, Marten held the packed Student Union in the palm of her hands, whether it was through the gentle performance of ‘Toulouse’ or the excited laughter she drew from many a fan with her inter-song interactions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For me, the set displayed just how accomplished of a songwriter she has grown to be, with songs of her recent release ‘Dog Eared’ shining through with their more complex instrumentation and structures, most notably seen in the outstanding performance of ‘The Glass’. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Marten displayed not only is she a great writer, but her stage presence captures a crowd too. Through her mid-performance Guinness and her many jokes with the adoring fans, Marten encapsulated the honesty and relatability that her songs so effectively portray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are looking for any kind of new artist this autumn, you’d be silly not to jump on the Billie Marten hype train, as she is well on her way to becoming a household indie-folk name. Similarly, you can certainly count me as a new Le Ren fan.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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