Ernie

About this event

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ERNIE’ is the brainchild and solo project of singer-songwriter Joe Ernest Allan.  Hailing from a sleepy suburban town just outside of Newcastle Upon Tyne, ERNIE’s lyrics read like diary entries, looking back nostalgically and humorously on his misspent youth, as well as touching on themes of love, loss, the regional identity of his beloved North-East England, the inner workings of the anxious mind, and tales of eccentric characters encountered in the kitchen over the years at his day job as a professional chef.  Sonically, ERNIE takes influence from a blend of the folksy, old-timey music of small-town America and the lo-fi indie rock music of present day. At their core, his songs are folk songs driven by brooding, heartfelt vocals and finger-picked acoustic guitar. However, the ERNIE live show is so much more, still centred around gentle vocals and acoustic, but with fuzzy guitars, warbly synths and glitchy drums in tow. ERNIE and his band have supported the likes of Wunderhorse, English Teacher, and Sam Fender at his monumental St. James’ Park stadium shows in 2023 and again in 2025. In 2023, ERNIE released his debut EP ‘Cold Cuts’ via EMI-imprint Gravity Records (produced by Josh Ingledew and Thom Lewis and mixed by Grammy Award winner Catherine Marks), receiving critical acclaim from the likes of The Sunday Times, The Independent, NME, DIY and more. His follow up EP ‘SUNSOAKED’, released September 2025, is a hazy collection of easy going songs that are all centred around growth; sharing details of ERNIE and his attempts to ditch his apathetic mindset, to hop over the hurdles that adult life throws in front of you, and to come out the other end in a better, more hopeful place. The EP has received widespread acclaim and radio play from the likes of Elton John, Jo Whiley and more, and it’s release was celebrated with a sold-out performance at The Glasshouse in Gateshead in collaboration with BBC Introducing and The Mercury Prize. February 2026 will see ERNIE and the band heading out on their first ever UK headline tour, stopping off in Glasgow, Leeds, London, Manchester, and culminating in a hometown headliner at the iconic King Street Social Club in North Shields.