19/06/2026
Meet new Peterborough band Tensas Graveshift.
A new name is beginning to appear on gig posters across Peterborough, but don't mistake Tensas Graveshift for newcomers.
Featuring Jimmy Doherty (High Rollers), Daniel Collins (Point 7 Pistol), Rob Bull (Children Of The Revolution (UK)), and Julian Stone (Sturgeons), the four-piece brings together decades of experience from the local music scene with a shared ambition to create something fresh. The band will officially debut on Friday June 19 at The Yard Of Ale on Oundle Road.
First emerging under the working title The Collins Doherty Project, it was a temporary name that hinted something bigger was on the horizon. Following a handful of acoustic performances and live appearances with a changing line-up, Tensas Graveshift has now settled into its final form and is preparing for a busy run of shows throughout 2026.
Musically, audiences can expect an Americana-tinged set that comfortably spans everything from the heartland rock of Springsteen and CCR to deep cuts from The Killers and Jason Isbell, with a few unexpected turns along the way.
Even the name, pronounced 'Ten-Saw Graveshift,' has a story.
"Tensas Graveshift signifies community," the band explain. "Shared history, work, and music. We like the idea that rhythm isn't just something that happens in songs. It exists in work, conversations, travel, and the lives people build together. The name felt like somewhere those things meet – somewhere discovered."
That emphasis on storytelling runs through everything they do.
"Expect songs with stories in them," they say. "Songs about people, places, and movement. Songs that feel lived in, honest, and driven. We wouldn't want people expecting a tribute to any particular genre. The influences are there, but we're interested in what a song says now."
Although original material is already taking shape, the band's current live set offers a glimpse of where they're heading. Bruce Springsteen's Atlantic City perhaps best captures their identity, with its themes of hope, hardship and difficult choices mirroring the kind of stories they want to tell. There are also some unexpected highlights. Willie Nelson's On the Road Again has been reimagined for a guitar band.
When it comes to performing live, spectacle comes second to connection.
"We're entertainers, musicians, and storytellers," they say. "But it starts with the story. Whether it's a three-minute rock and roll song or something quieter, we're interested in taking people somewhere."
That philosophy extends beyond their own performances. Asked about the importance of Peterborough's music scene, the response is immediate.
"It's everything. The local scene is where bands grow, where audiences discover new music, and where communities are built around songs."
With four familiar faces, a fresh identity, and a clear vision rooted in honest songwriting and live connection, Tensas Graveshift look set to become a welcome addition to Peterborough's thriving live music community.
