The Wheels in Motion tour supporting grassroots music and independent venues has kicked off this month. The brains behind it is JP from Motion Soho. This tour is not to be sniffed at with 17 gigs in September alone across the length and breadth of the UK. Ghost Bird UK caught up with The Jacques, The Sukis and Pistol Daisys at their gig in Newcastle upon Tyne to hear how the tour is going and what new music they have planned.
There was a last minute venue change to Xerox on Newcastle’s quayside but that didn’t seem to dampen anyone’s spirits. In fact they were raring to go, and The Jacques were first on the bill.
Their first song was tender and gentle and was a good introduction to the night, before they dove straight into Never Want to Be Your Boyfriend, which has a great drum beat and melody.
The Jacques are fronted by Finn, the band’s main songwriter, alongside his brother Elliott on drums, with Harry on guitar/keys and Cameron on bass. Finn has a great-sounding voice; it’s distinctive and almost raspy, with a quality that reminded me of Pete Doherty.
The Jacques hail from the Bristol area and London, forming back in 2014. They’ve released several EPs and singles over the years, along with two albums, all of which have striking artwork, I might add. They’ve supported Public Image Ltd and previously shared the stage with The Libertines at Hyde Park, as well as appearing at various UK and European festivals over the years.
As part of their set, they played several tracks from their 2025 album Make Repetition! including Ramona, White Heat and You Only Want Me When I’m Gone, which are all so, so good. They’ve also got a new album coming in 2027, with the band taking their sound in a slightly different direction, exploring more pop, soul and R&B influences rather than their distinctive indie/grunge sound.
On stage Elliott is going for it big style - his enthusiasm and energy behind the drums are fantastic to see and hear. Finn holds his guitar high and dances along, completely immersed in the rhythm. Harry also brings amazing energy to the stage, with his guitar and keys having a real impact on the overall sound. Cameron is very cool on bass, with a more understated presence, keeping the rhythm firmly anchored.
They then slowed things down with their new song Bodies, which is slower in pace but still has excellent elements, with a good beat and long, sustained notes. White Heat has a great vibe too; it reminds me of Babyshambles and Supergrass. The backing vocals from Harry are great as well, adding another layer to the sound.
Next up are Glaswegian belters Pistol Daisys. The three-piece met earlier this year at the recording studio where Lewis works and have been entertaining audiences ever since. Following a change in lineup, the band have emerged from their chrysalis period with a refreshed sound and a growing fan base.
They have a great rock-alt-pop vibe, with lead vocalist Lorna’s cracking voice complemented by Lewis on drums and Logan on bass. There were a few little teething issues with Lorna’s guitar, but that didn’t detract from the music or the overall delivery.
Whisky And Wine had a kind of Texas feel but with a rock/country style, and featured a great guitar solo from Lorna. Again, The Wolves had a country-type sound to it, with a great drum intro. Don’t Say Sorry was described as ‘a song about bad exes’, much to the delight of the crowd, who responded with plenty of cheers and whoops. Speaking of relationships, Lorna gave us a solo rendition of the emotional track Goodbye, which was short and extremely sweet.
Jealous Babe gave us a treat, with Lewis and Logan starting the track before Lorna came in with great lyrics and strong vocals. I could definitely hear a Blondie or Sheena quality in her powerful vocals.
I enjoyed the wah-wah effect on Calling Your Name, particularly when Lorna announced that she was getting horny! It was also great to see the dynamic Logan on bass, bringing plenty of energy and movement to the stage. He really captivated the audience, especially when he came into the crowd and had a dance around.
Their final track was the fabulous single Crying in Marseille, which showcased Lorna’s amazing vocals. We were then spoilt as they ended the song with a very fine rendition of ABBA’s ‘Gimme! Gimme! Gimme!’, which got the crowd singing and dancing along.
Pistol Daisys have been supporting Callum Beattie and will be playing with him again at Glasgow Barrowland during November and December as part of his winter tour.
The Sukis burst into their set with gusto; they have a professionalism that is unmistakable. Their set list is indie/alternative rock and with a nod to old school favourites like Arctic Monkeys and similar indie bands of the late 90s/00s but with their own spin on it with a more melodic sound and superb song writing.
The polished set and clear strong vocals include Intimacy, Animo and Becca as standout robust tracks. To No One has a nice poppy sound to it, with changes in tempo throughout and Olivier is top-notch with the backing vocals echoing Tige’s lead vocals and the fab scream and movement around stage by Freddie on bass. I love how this track ends so abruptly too.
Based in Liverpool, a compact city with a remarkably dense musical heart, The Sukis have evolved from the tight-knit community of musicians who collaborate, inspire and influence one another. This environment has helped shaped the band into the offering we hear today. They have been on the music scene for a few years and following their set at the Isle Of Wight Festival in June this year, they have already amassed a strong following.
They are uber cool with their stylish shirts and tie combinations and ooze charm, interacting with the audience between tracks. There were a few new tracks scattered amongst their oldies, and they were enjoying every minute. New song Tarmac has a solid anthem quality with lots of changes and with James’ backing vocals along with his cool Rickenbacker guitar, just makes you fall in love with their songs.
With enough time for one more song, we were treated to an awesome cover of the Female Of The Species by Space.
It’s plain to see that all three bands have been thoroughly enjoying the tour so far, with new friendships and a real sense of camaraderie developing along the way. Taking them across the UK, with more venues still to come, the tour is all about celebrating independent bands and venues, meeting new people and, most importantly, getting their music out there while sharing plenty of laughs along the way.
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