July 2024: 10 Unmissable Events in Newcastle

Steam to Green @ Discovery Museum

July sees the opening of a brilliant, large scale and exciting new exhibition at the Discovery Museum. Steam To Green: A North East Energy Revolution looks both at the history of industry in the North East and the green energy revolution taking place that is in part driven by regional innovation. Working closely with Newcastle University, the exhibition will feature state-of-the-art exhibits, art and models covering 150 years of technology with a North East perspective, covering everything from Victorian coal mining to the latest renewables. The exhibition is aimed to appeal to all ages and hopes to inspire young people to play their own part in the revolution.

30^th July 2024 – 6^th September 2026, free

NE1’s Summer in the City & Screen on the Green @ Quayside & Old Eldon Square

The NE1 team always go the extra mile to  make sure that every summer in the city is an exciting one, with a combination of leisure areas, activities and events, music and dancing and, of course, Screen On The Green at Old Eldon Square, which is showing more than 100 films and lots of exciting sport in its run. Check out the Screen on the Green schedule here and keep your eyes peeled for Summer in the City activities which are being announced soon.

Tyne to Stand Up 3 @ Tyne Theatre & Opera House

This is the third edition of spectacular comedy from the Tyne To Stand Up team, and once again it’s a packed bill of women comedians including such scene stalwarts as Lauren Pattinson, Zoe, Eppie Brilliant and Kelly Rickard. It’s bound to be an absolute riot, and all the money raised will be donated to important local charity Rape Crisis Tyneside & Northumberland.

2^nd July, from £8.50

Pride in the City @ Newcastle City Centre 

Moving into the heart of the city for this year’s big weekend, Pride In The City is making Times Square the Pride Arena for three days of celebration, community and commemoration. There’ll be performances from artists and DJs like Fat Tony, Whigfield, Angie Brown and Kelly Llorenna as well as takeovers from The Future Is Queer, Queerdo and Newcastle Mela. Elsewhere in the city, you’ll find theatre and performance, activism and art, shopping and sport, all collected under the banner of ‘unapologetically visible’. The centrepiece march starts at Barras Bridge at midday on Saturday and the closing candelight vigil is at the arena at 9pm on Sunday.

19^th – 21^st July, free except Times Square

This is not a magic show @ Live Theatre

This ground-breaking performance really does push the envelope of what a magic show can be: it examines the mechanics of how magic works as well as its tropes and cliches and traditions. Presented by acclaimed close-up magician Vincent Gambini, it’s a clever and fascinating look behind the curtain of magic.

5^th – 7^th July, £15

Lindisfarne @ Wylam Brewery

One of the best-loved and most successful acts to emerge from the North East, Lindisfarne have been at it for more than fifty years and are still pulling in crowds, especially at hometown gigs. This return to Wylam Brewery is bound to be a great night out full of folk-rock gems like Run For Home and Meet Me On The Corner.

14^th July, £33

Newcastle Fringe Festival @ Alphabetti Theatre

The flagship of Newcastle’s underground / fringe performance and arts scene, Newcastle Fringe Festival is cented on the marvellous Alphabetti Theatre and promises ten days of comedy, drama, spoken word, dance, live music and more aimed at all sorts of audiences. If you want to take the temperature of Newcastle's underground, this is the best way to do it as there are more than 40 events happening in various venues across its packed programme.

16^th – 27^th July, prices vary

Player Kings @ Theatre Royal

Penned by award-winning writer and director Robert Icke, this modern re-working of Shakespeare's Henry IV Part 1 & Part 2 is sure to be the theatrical event of the season. Set in a divided England with crumbling leadership and corruption in the air (sound familiar?!), this production is gritty, in-your-face and unflinchingly contemporary/

24^th – 27^th July, £34

Cloister Garden BBQs @ Blackfriars

These wonderful BBQ settings in the idyllic surroundings of the Blackfriars Cloister Garden now feel like a quintessential part of summer, like Wimbledon, Glastonbury and tropical rain storms. Taking place on most Fridays across the summer and with three sittings each night, it’s a chance to enjoy some excellent Blackfriars food – seasonal starters and a BBQ plus a dessert, and some fine drink options – in the historic garden.

Dates throughout July, £33

Liam Fender x Voices of Virtue Gospel Choir @ Boiler Shop

This looks set to be a unique and powerful event as local songwriter Liam Fender and his seven-piece band join forces for one night only with the Voices Of Virtue Gospel Choir in what will surely be a heady combination of rock and gospel music. No longer just Sam’s brother, Liam is starting to make a real headway in his own right and it’ll be amazing to hear his songs in this format.

14^th July, £19.25

July in Newcastle definitely has everything you need to make it an action-packed month of music, laughs, drama, science, magic and food - and if we’re lucky it’ll all take place on warm sunny days!