Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ

It's nearly midnight and people are pouring out of the doors of the Linnet and Lark pub on Princes Avenue. Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ to The Sesh (run by one-name enigma, Mak), it's a weekly gig night that never fails to pull in a crowd. That said, there's something different about tonight. Regular Sesh-goer, Lorna, described it as "the biggest crowd I've ever seen at the Linnet and Lark".

So why are there so many people here? They've all turned out to show support for two local bands. The Paddingtons have been a fixture on the national scene for a while now, with single Stand Down released as a download ahead of their forthcoming album. The Talks are also doing really well at the moment, releasing their debut effort Picture This just days later.

The Talks

The fact that both singles are being released within the same week is apparently a happy coincidence. The Talks' frontman Pat Pretorius told us, "We needed to do a single launch night ourselves so we decided to do that, and then they [The Paddingtons] decided to do their release as well and said it would be nice and convenient to put it all together. Obviously, working with Mak for all these years and supporting something like this, The Sesh, we decided to do it all together. We’ve been friends for a long, long time."

Grant Dobbs, drummer with The Paddingtons, added, "We’ve toured together before and we’ve known each other for a long time, I think it just makes sense. We wanted to do it at a small venue where it’s free to get in and really ram it home that there are good bands in Hull. We do work together in Hull."

And ram it home they do. By the time they start the second song of their set, you can barely get through the door. The support for the two bands is immense, with some Paddingtons fans having been there since 4pm in order to beat the crowds and even one man we spoke to having come over from Australia on the recommendation of a relative from Hull.

At the end of the gig, two girls come tumbling outside, their feet covered in mud. One tells us, "I think I've broken my toe," but quickly adds, "it was definitely worth it."

The crowd crammed in for The Paddingtons

The crowd's reaction is unanimously positive, with everyone we speak to telling us that they'd definitely buy the singles, and tell other people to do so too. Matt, a fan of The Talks, said, "If they can’t get support around here then they’re not going to make it and I really think they should. So go out and buy their single." Behind him, his friend Danny shouts, "Put Hull on the musical map!"

The idea of Hull solidarity is one that resonates throughout the whole night, and it's not just in support for the two bands. Halfway through their set, lead singer Tom Atkin of The Paddingtons declares, "That one's for Hull City making the premiership. Well done lads," ahead of Hull City's premiership debut.

For tonight, it seems, the crowd are immensely proud of what Hull's got to offer and want the world to know it.