Smoove & Turrell

Smoove & Turrell at Hagglers Corner on Bank Holiday Sunday, 26th May 2024, with support from Sheffield new wave, disco-not-disco trio Speed For Lovers

The story of Smoove & Turrell began in the post-millennium North East of Engladn with a group of working class lads and a shared passion for soul.

Smoove had met keyboardist Mike Porter through the local music scene in Newcastle and recruited him for his ‘Smoove Live’ project for the label Acid Jazz. Around Mike’s house one day they overheard a neighbour singing sublime melodies in his garage with friends which turned out to be none other than a young John Turrell practicing in a band called ‘The Stevies’. After a couple of further sessions ‘scouting’ him they finally knocked on the door and had a chat and hit it off straight away.

It was in fellow soul head Craig Charles that they found their first radio champion as he supported them heavily on ‘The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Show’ which was a kick-starter for their assault on national radio eventually landing Radio 2 record of the week twice and a playlist on 6 Music.

Sticking to their roots and keeping a close relationship with their fans was always a key driving ethos behind the crew. Their ‘get in the van and play the show’ willingness has built up one of the most loyal fan-bases in the industry today.

Often highlighting the divide between the rich and the poor and offering an insider’s look at what it’s like to grow up, live and raise a family in the North East. 50 days Of Winter in particular offers a bleak picture of the isolation that can strike when life on the road stops and real life kicks in. As always though with Smoove & Turrell the highs and the lows of life are represented and the hard times realism of some of the lyrics is tempered by the irrepressible dancefloor euphoria of others.