About Us

Nick Jennison - lead vocals and guitar

Charisma coming out of every pore, a voice that growls deep or jumps into unbelievable falsetto, an amazing ability to reach out to his audience ,use every inch of the stage - and play a pretty mean guitar to boot - meet Nick Jennison!

Nick's musical history is as long as your arm. The newest and youngest member of the Gatecrashers, he's a session musician and producer, a guitar and vocal tutor for Yamaha Music Schools and he was crowned North East guitarist of the year in 2006.

Diverse as well as talented, Nick can sing like a canary, roar like a lion and hit the high notes like an eagle. He can command an audience as well as Freddie Mercury and mesmerise a crowd like soul man, James Brown.

And just like any great performer, Nick keeps fit, dresses in the height of fashion and likes to gaze into the mirror. He likes to relax with incense and essential oils - preferably around shiny things with lots of light that make a whole lot of noise. And he loves meat. Grrr...of course he does!

Nick's heroes are Aerosmith, Richie Kotzen, Black Crowes, Glen Hughes, Jimi Hendrix, Lenny Kravitz, Alter Bridge and the Rolling Stones.

When he's not 'doing his thing' with the Gatecrashers, he's lead vocalist and guitarist for UK rock band and recording artists, Saints of Arcadia. He's also guitarist for international recording star, Bentley Jones.

Ant Wright - Lead guitar and vocals

With the energy of a ten year old, streaming flaxen curls of an angel, flair and flamboyance of Jimmy Paige-esque guitar solos and stylish rhythm and magic in his soul, you just know he loves his music. He's versatile, he's talented, he's a great performer. And just like Carlsberg, he's the best...probably - meet Ant Wright!

Ant has played the guitar since he was knee high to a grasshopper and comes from a musical family, his dad playing the organ around North East clubs for many years. Ant has played guitar in bands since he was a teenager, sharing stages large and small with both famous - and not so famous - musicians.

A co-founder of the Gatecrashers with Dave Hildreth, he has taken his guitar and vocal abilities to the heights. His energy shines brighter and more vividly with every performance he gives. And he makes his guitar sing.

Ant lives in the beautiful countryside around Kielder Water: a country bumpkin when at home, a city slicker when on stage! And he makes the best coffee in the North East.

When the Gatecrashers schedule allows, Ant 'does his thing' with party pop and rock band, Tommy and the Oddballs around the pubs and clubs of the North East. Put enthusiasm, pure talent and star quality into the melting pot - and you've got Ant Wright.

Dave Hildreth - bass guitar

A dead-pan expression and a dead-pan sense of humour: an amazing ability on the bass guitar to play (in his own inimitable style) any type of music, with a great feel for his instrument - meet Dave Hildreth!

Dave started playing bass guitar at a very young age. He was eleven years old when his dad, a well-known professional bass guitarist himself - and a guitar maker to boot - taught him how to play and read music.

With a lifelong interest in rock, pop, soul, r & b, blues and jazz, he started his gigging career when he was 16, playing heavy rock and new wave with 'Falcon', 'Mirah' and 'Ice Man'. He continued his gigging career in blues, rock and roll and soul, with 'The Blues Cat Scoundrels', 'Counterpoint' and many more. He's the co-founder of the Gatecrashers with lead guitarist, Ant Wright.

His biggest bass influences are: Jaco Pastorius, James Jamerson and Paul McCartney. He won't sing - never sings! That's Dave - not Paul McCartney!

Dave loves hot summer days and holidays with a difference. He's very particular to an ice-cream cornet with juicy red monkey's blood on top! Oh, and he loves fine Spanish wines...mmm.

When he's not playing in the sensational 'Gatecrashers', he can be found in some pub or other in the North East, playing heart-wrenching soulful bass with the amazing Boneshakers, true legends of the blues/rock scene.

Doug Hayes - Drums

Doug has been playing drums since the mid 1980's when he was 14. He was lucky enough to get a second hand Rogers kit when he was 16, that he still owns to this day - which is partly why his drums always sounded so good!

His major influences include Clive Burr, John Bonham, John Densmore and Jimmy Chamberlin.

His favourite bands are, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath, Pink Floyd and more recently Rival Sons - basically anything from the 70's or anything that sounds like it's from the 70's!!

Over the years, he's played in bands that include Greedsville, Kelly, the ... er ... "Morpeth Pantomime Society" (!!) and he currently plays with the band, Rockerfella as well as the Gatecrashers.

When not playing drums, Doug likes to get out with his dog, or away in his static caravan or even out on his mountain bike. No, he'd like to get out on his mountain bike but he's too lazy to get it out of the garage. It's got a puncture anyway....