Chantel McGregor plays Ripley and Newcastle

GUITARIST and singer-songwriter Chantel McGregor is back in the region in December soon after will releasing her album, Lose Control, on her independent boutique label Tis Rock Music. The release follows up her critically-acclaimed 2011 debut solo album, Like No Other.

After four years of touring and festival appearances, Chantel created ten new songs that not only salute contemporary rock, but shows her gradual transition from conventional Blues to a harder, bigger and bolder rock sound with progressive influences.

“I’ve always been interested in the dark side of Southern Gothic literature, artwork and media,” says Chantel. “I wanted to create an album that reflected the imagery and themes of that genre. I drew inspiration from the TV shows True Detective and True Blood and studied the literary works of Tennessee Williams, Carson Mullers and Mark Twain.”

“I also surrounded myself with imagery from artists and photographers such as Walker Evans and Clarence John Laughlin, all to immerse myself in the sinister, dark world of depravation, magic and voodoo, writing most of the songs from the perspective of the disturbed flawed characters.”

The album was recorded, mixed and mastered at Livingstone Brown’s studio in Brixton over the space of six months. Livingstone Brown played the majority of the bass with Chantel playing small parts, plus her touring drummer Keith McPartling.

* Tour venues: Ripley Town Hall, Saturday, December 12. Tickets: £15. http://ripleylive.com

Ripley Town Hall, Ripley, Harrogate, North Yorkshire HG3 3AX

Newcastle, The Cluny. Sunday, December 13. Box Office: 0191-230-4474. Tickets: £13. thecluny.com

36 Lime Street, Ouseburn, Newcastle, NE1 2PQ

Viv Hardwick