'Once in a lifetime' - South Tyneside band record first ever single at iconic Abbey Road studios
A South Tyneside band have spoken about the “once in a lifetime” opportunity to record in one of the world’s most famous studios.
A South Tyneside band have got their careers off to the best possible start by recording their debut single at the iconic Abbey Road Studios.
The Rivergate is made up of four South Tyneside College students who were able to head to London in June for the opportunity.
Best known for its time hosting The Beatles in the second half of their time as a group, Abbey Road has also hosted the likes of Pink Floyd and now, the up and coming South Tyneside group who started by performing in pubs across the borough.
The band were able to head to the site thanks to the college’s vocational music course.
“It’s once in a lifetime” said Tighe Shaw, one of the band’s members.
“It was weird. From my point of view, knowing how iconic the studio is” he adds.
“The level of talent in the building was surreal.”
The band and college staff travelled to London for a three day trip away from the North East, with the recording session taking place on Thursday, June 18.
Following the session the group will release the song they recorded, named ‘You Got Away (This Time)’, on Friday, August 9.
The track was also mixed and mastered at the studios to make sure it is ready for the full release.
“It had been our goal since we started the band to record original music” adds Tighe.
“We’ve done covers around most of the pubs and clubs around Shields. The goal was always to write something to be proud of.
“We’ve tried it in the past but college got in the way. We really knuckled down and wrote something we can all be proud of that we wanted to take to Abbey Road.
“We’re all really proud of it.
“It’s a culmination of all the hard work, to - through some miracle - having the opportunity to go down to Abbey Road.”
With the experience, the band are now able to look ahead to the future with fresh hopes.
“This isn’t the end goal, it’s the start of what we want to be doing” adds Tighe.