Nev Clay

About the show

Nev lives near Newcastle and until 2018 was a mental health nurse. He's been clarting around the local music scene for 30 years, and once supported Keith Emerson out of ELP.
Most of Nev’s songs grow from just playing, and the lyrics are mostly just observations and memories, Cuddy’s Cave notwithstanding. And he’s typically self-effacing about how his songs happen.

“Well, it all goes in, doesn’t it,.. the best songs come out of nowhere, I know it’s a cliche, but it is true. I do think the best ones are the ones where there’s not a lot of thought… mostly, I find a nice riff because I’m playing all the time during the adverts, the guitar is always there. And you get a nice riff and a nice melody. That’s mainly how it starts and then the words fit in with the melody.”

Nev has a reputation as genuinely lovely and particularly talkative performer, although he doesn’t feel compelled to be chatty at every gig. “Every audience is different, and you don’t know what it’s going to be like till you get there. So sometimes I have a plan and then I completely change my mind as soon as I arrive. The thing is, because I live alone, I can’t stop talking when I’m with someone. I spend my whole life in silence, and then I feel myself being over-garrulous.“

youtu.be/fm-96ndr2yE

Doors at 7.00pm and music starts at 8.00pm

There is seating for up to 60 people, and we'll be set up in a 'cabaret style', with seating and tables for all. The bar will be serving a wide range of drinks but w