North Carolina based band, A Different Thread, Bring Award-Winning Americana Show to Newcastle with support from local act Driven Serious. 

Newcastle-upon-Tyne — October 4th 2026 — A Different Thread are coming to Cluny 2 as part of their 20-date UK “Over Again” album release tour. 

Doors open at 7:30; tickets are £10 and available at https://thecluny.com/listing/a-different-thread/

North Carolina based band, A Different Thread, works with Northeast based “Down By The River Productions” to Bring Award-Winning Americana Show back to Newcastle. Support comes from Driven Serious, performing a special hometown duo set.

Alicia Best, from Durham, North Carolina, and Robert Jackson, from the midlands UK, met while busking on the cobbled streets of Ireland and discovered both a musical and personal harmony that was serendipitous. Joined by Mike Seal on double bass, their distinctive sound garnered the attention of various BBC radio stations, Rolling Stone (DE), and music mag Americana UK who praised the duo’s “charming, exquisite songwriting” and “delightful harmonies”.

The band recently won the folk category at the International Acoustic Music Awards, with the title track from their third record: Over Again. The new album follows a breakout year for the duo. Highlights include a 5-star review in RnR mag, placements on Apple Music editorial playlists, and rising recognition on the intercontinental circuit.

Across their live set, A Different Thread tells their charming story in rich, harmony-led arrangements. With acoustic guitar, fiddle, harmonica, and a suitcase drum kit, the pair blends British folk-rock and North Carolina alt-country into a transatlantic sound that moves seamlessly between intimate quiet moments, lively foot-stomping energy, and audience singalongs. Their songs explore themes of wanderlust, resilience, and social justice topics, with an underlying feeling of hope.

“We write songs to bring people together, to inspire hope, kindness, and to work towards a brighter future for all,” – A Different Thread

Support for the show comes from local Newcastle/Durham based Driven Serious in a rare duo performance. Frontman Rob Jones and fiddle player Sol Sayal take to the stage with a stripped back version of their energetic folk-punk. Driven Serious is undoubtedly one of the most engaging, energetic, original live folk-rock bands in the UK today. 

More About the artists:

A Different Thread is a transatlantic folk/alt-country duo based in North Carolina, formed by songwriters Alicia Best from Durham, NC, and UK-born Robert Jackson. The pair first met busking on the streets of Ireland and spent the next decade touring internationally while navigating visas and long stretches living on separate continents. Their harmony-driven songwriting blends Old World folk traditions with contemporary Americana storytelling. The duo has landed support slots with The Milk Carton Kids and Jody Stephens of Big Star and received praise from BBC 6 Music, NPR, The Bluegrass Situation, and No Depression. Their song “Over Again” recently won the folk/Americana category at the International Acoustic Music Awards. For more information, visit adifferentthread.com or follow @adifferentthread.

North-East punk-folk outfit Driven Serious has been gigging in the region and beyond since 2011. This special duo hometown show combines frontman and songwriter Rob Jones and the creative fiddle accents of Sol Sayal.  Whether you’re looking for an upbeat mood-boosting jam to rock out to, or you feel like you need something a little more soothing, Driver Serious is an energetic balm for the soul. Find them on Facebook and Instagram @DrivenSerious

^{Photo Credit for A Different Thread: Alex Goodfred}