Peter Mann talks to Middlesbrough’s Helen and Joe about the promising future for their band Cattle & Cane

IN a delightful coffee shop on the corner of Albert Road and Baker Street, in Middlesbrough, brother and sister, Helen and Joe Hammill, two-fifths of Cattle and Cane, sit down with a hot pot of tea to discuss their true love, music.

Helen, 23, and Joe, 26, plus brothers Vin, 30 and Fran, 35, as well as close family friend, Tom Chapman, 24, have enjoyed a remarkable time since they burst onto the music scene. Even before they released their debut single, Sold My Soul, they were being talked about on a national scale with Dermot O’Leary and Joe Lamacq providing early plaudits.

Since those heady, early days, culminating in the release of their critically-acclaimed debut album Home, in September last year, it’s been much the proverbial rollercoaster for Teesside’s famous five.

Immediately after that successful launch the quintet set about a UK tour where they surprised themselves in selling out seven dates around the country while taking in Newcastle, Manchester, Leeds, London, Glasgow and their beloved hometown of Middlesbrough, showing that, home, is certainly where their heart not only is, but always will be.

With family support, eventually, coming from their mother Lynette, and from their wannabe rock star dad, Jimmy, music has always run through the family veins.

“Mam was always very sceptical in the early days and it took her a good two years to come out to a gig,” says Joe. “Although it can be hard (as a family), it’s easier to get into than out of arguments. The music is all we’ve ever wanted to do and, hopefully, we’ll be able to carve out something from it; be unique and be what we want to be.”

“We eventually began singing together at a very young age,” says Helen who is the youngest member of a family that consists of nine brothers and sisters.

Alongside the siblings in the band their brother Matthew provides the artwork, and there’s two further sisters, Theresa and Jen, and brothers, James and Chris, in essence completing an incredible support network.

“It’s nice to be able to get away from the distractions of home though,” says Helen. “We love going out and doing festivals as they provide great vibes and experiences. My first festival was at 15 (some eight years ago) and it was nerve-wracking, but the way I look at it is that we aren’t that way now.

“The tour we’ve just done (earlier this year) included much bigger venues than last year but for us, playing the Empire, that’s the biggest. We love that place and can’t wait for out Christmas takeover; it’s also my favourite time of the year which adds that extra spice.”

With next year looking at being about breaking into the staunch European market, they’ve the small matter of promoting their latest single 7 Hours (already played by Dermot O'Leary) and an upcoming festive spectacular, on December 22, at Middlesbrough’s Empire Theatre.

“We’ve a new album, Mirrors, which is due for release early next year and includes the latest single as well as other, new material,” says Joe. “We’ve done lots of developing, co-writing with other acts out in Belgium and the Netherlands, that’s how we met the producer of that next album. Luke (Cox) has a good background in the industry so we just wrote, and he produced, what is a modern, contemporary sound.”

Alongside the band, and that extended family, the siblings are ably supported by Andy Carr and Harry Carden, who have both been around from the early days, the band benefitting from that experience brought forth by the duo. It all adds to the sounds which identifies what the Teessiders are all about, sound with meaning and relating to different parts of the siblings lives, reflective of what they’ve been through over those youthful years.

With Helen and Joe discussing their favourite track though, it was fun seeing the pair attempting to outguess each other amid that youthful laughter, both providing different responses.

“For me it has to be Fool for You off the new album,” decides Joe. “There’s a great vibe to it and something which I’m proud of.”

Surprisingly, Helen went back to one of their earlier tracks, stating with a smile that lit up her face: “It has to be Darling because I just love the lyrics and it really makes me want to cry (happy tears).”

  • Cattle & Cane play Middlesbrough Empire Theatre on December 22, supported by Cape Cub. Box Office: seetickets.com/event/cattle-cane/the-empire/966439 Tickets: £14 (fees applicable).
  • For more on the band visit cattleandcane.co.uk and follow them on facebook.com/cattleandcane or on Twitter @cattleandcane.