Slamrat, the up-and-coming rock band hoping to conquer Newcastle

What a wonderful way to start a music tale: four young talented musicians are on their way to Newcastle's most prestigious stages. Among these individuals is drummer Joel Gooder, already a veteran of two rock groups back at home,has accumulated much experience, especially in his last band “Wazygoose” where he met 2 future members of Slamrat: lead guitarist Spencer Clemenson and bassist Elliot Williams. Vocalist and guitarist Lily Bennett is the bands most recent addition, a long-time Newcastle resident who has been a part of many indie bands and after a short break she is back in business with Slamrat for new adventures. 

The group formed officially in September 2025, Joel, Spencer and Elliot already knew each other for quite a while after they met in Newcastles "Indie society" and then played in “Wazygoose”. They met Lily on a website named JOIN MY BAND after discovering that they all shared similar interests. Despite the fact that combined they represent some very solid experience on the musical scene, they are not desperate to seek professional status or notoriety; their way of thinking is seen on stage, they are there to have fun.

They also explained that, in the early stages, they plan to remain self-produced, focusing exclusively on gigs and special events in Newcastle. In a more optimistic future, they may extend to Leeds, but only time will tell. Finally, they revealed that NUSU Sessions marks their first true gig as a band: great publicity and a perfect way to inaugurate their collaboration.

And off they go. These four musicians are beginning a new chapter in their artistic journey under the name Slamrat. Joel, Elliot, Spencer and Lily are far from beginners - whether it’s about crafting high-quality music or simply having fun with rock. NUSU Sessions may symbolize different things to different people, but above all, for this promising group, it feels like the beginning of a beautiful story.