SO, how do you finish off a year that has seen trips to Glasgow, Lindos, and a headline show at Stockton’s Georgian Theatre – you headline Hall Two at the Sage in Gateshead that’s what, Peter Mann catches up with singer Stevie Stoker.

It’ll be a maiden appearance for local rockers Twister at the iconic venue, and one they, and their legion of followers, are looking forward to with the quartet set to be joined on staged by The Escapades (Tyneside) and Nephilim (Teesside).

Over eighteen months have passed since the band, fronted by Stevie Stoker, released their State of Mind Collection, a combination of two EP’s – Refined, and Designed State of Mind, launches coming at Newcastle’s O2 Academy.

On top of that, over the past twelve months, the band, which also consists of Jake Grimes, Joe Major and Ryan Lee, have also added appearances at the Georgia Theatre for the releases of singles 64 White Lies (2017) and Trading Hearts (2018).

“We’ve been flat out this year, really busy not only with UK shows and festivals but across Europe as well,” began Stevie.

“Releasing Trading Hearts was the last single from the State of Mind Collection before we look at, and begin releasing, new music. It’s now close to two years since the album was released and, although the traction from it has been really good, it’s time for the next chapter in the Twister story.”

That traction has seen the band add a much-welcome trip to Greece this past summer where they appeared at the Lindos Festival in Rhodes, three shows during the week-long trip was followed up by appearances at Woodhorn Lane Festival, Bute Fest, EGH Radio Rock Festival, and a cheeky trip north o’ the border to player The Garage, Glasgow.

“Greece was insane,” beamed Stevie. “I’d been to the festival the previous two years and I did a few numbers with a band whilst out there last year. Off the back of those trips we were booked into this year’s festival and ended up doing a twelve day stint over there.”

Performing Sage Gateshead is the perfect way to begin a new chapter in the Twister story and will no doubt, doing things the Twister way, finish this year in some style, more if previous outings are to go by at other venues across the region.

“It’s an amazing feeling when a venue as prestigious as the Sage Gateshead ask you to do a show there,” added Stevie. “Every time we plan a show we try and add more to it. We want people to come and have a great experience, not just to see a gig. I’ve been to a few shows there but this is the first time that Twister will have performed the Sage. This is going to be a very much raising the bar kind of show though, and with us, you never know quite what’ll happen.”

To experience a Twister show, there’s actually no superlatives that can combine the complete feeling their shows offer. Spectacular, loud and full of energy are among the expectations, and a will to satisfy the wants, and needs, from their ever-growing fan-base.

In attending the Sage show though, the lads are preparing to usher in a new era, you may have to just see it to believe, after all, Stevie and the lads are workaholics….

“We are in the studio at the moment working on more, new music, some of which we’ll be performing at the Sage. We can’t wait to show people what we’ve been working on and get a sneak preview of what 2019 will have in store.”

Twister, plus The Escapades and Nephilim, perform at Sage Gateshead on Saturday December 29; a VIP performance is available from 6:30pm with tickets priced at £15 whilst the main show begins at 7:30pm – you can purchase tickets from http://www.sagegateshead.com/event/twister-plus-the-escapades/