Nev Clay + Mathias Kom

An evening at The Victoria in Dalston, presented by Folklore and Folkroom, pairing Canadian songwriter Mathias Kom with Newcastle songwriter Nev Clay, who each perform together and apart.

Mathias Kom is a Canadian songwriter who fronts the indie rock band The Burning Hell alongside Ariel Sharratt. Holding a PhD in ethnomusicology from Memorial University of Newfoundland, Kom writes literate, DIY-minded songs and performs with a dynamic live energy.

On this bill, Kom plays a full solo set, then introduces the audience to Nev Clay, one of Kom's favourite acts. Clay has been active in Newcastle for more than 25 years. Having released two albums around 2000, Clay spent two decades building a following through appearances at the city's well-known venues, and returned in 2024 with So Little Happened For So Long, the first album in over 20 years.

Clay's writing is attentive to lyrical detail, drawing comparisons with John Cooper Clarke and Jarvis Cocker, while a lo-fi approach brings Richard Dawson to mind. The two have played the same live circuits and remain close friends; Dawson sings backing vocals on the 2024 record. The night is built around discovery, and the performers are linked by the music of each.