The Futureheads’ frontman Barry Hyde, brings his deeply personal and evocative new solo album, Miners’ Ballads, to life in a special live performance. The album, commissioned by Sunderland City Council and Paul Emerson, is inspired by the rich coal mining heritage of the North East, with a particular focus on Sunderland and Washington.
At the heart of the album is The Miner’s Life, a stirring lead single that Hyde describes as “a traditional collier’s song about the dangers, hardships, and bravery of those who worked underground.” Drawing inspiration from JS Bach’s Cello Suite in G, Hyde weaves classical influences into the raw, storytelling tradition of folk music.
This project took on even greater significance when Hyde uncovered a personal connection to its themes. While researching his family history, historian and musician Keith Gregson revealed that Hyde’s own ancestors – Thomas (13) and Joseph (14) – tragically lost their lives in the Trimdon Grange mining disaster of 1882. The album’s final track, Trimdon Grange 1882, pays tribute to them, inspired by The Trimdon Grange Explosion, a poem by the renowned Pitman’s Poet, Tommy Armstrong.
Rooted in history yet deeply personal, Miners’ Ballads is an unforgettable musical journey through the stories, struggles, and resilience of the North East’s mining communities. The performance itself takes on an even deeper connection being performed together with the Durham Miners Association Brass Band and taking place in the incredible setting of Redhills Miners’ Hall – also known as The Pitmen’s Parliament.