Summer 2024: 18 Big Music Moments in Newcastle

June

Perhaps the biggest pop news of the summer in Newcastle is the return of Girls Aloud (31st May-2nd June), including our very own Cheryl. Huge stars in the noughties, the world-conquering girl group have reformed after a decade to play a run of shows as a tribute to member Sarah Harding, who died in 2021, and they’re bringing all their hits to Utilita Arena in June. 

Another, even more vintage act hitting Utilita in June are Mancunian indie-rock outfit James (5th June) who are more than forty years and 25 million album sales into their stellar career. Huge R&B / rap star Doja Cat (15th June) is another Utilita visitor this month, guaranteeing a night of cutting-edge sounds from her recent Scarlet album.

If your taste is for contemporary classical music, Royal Northern Sinfonia have lined up a tremendous bill of New York Minimalism (30th June) at Wylam Brewery, with works from Julius Eastman and Philip Glass, while highly regarded nu-soul artist Jalen Ngonda (7th June) hits Newcastle University Students' Union (rescheduled from April) and exciting upcoming indie outfit Goat Girl (24th June) bring their eclectic, melodic post-punk to Boiler Shop on a tour to promote their new Below The Waste album.

July

These days, Liam Fender (14th July) is much more than Sam’s brother, and with his seven-piece band and powerful songs he’s making plenty of waves in his own right. For this very special gig (rescheduled from May), Fender is joined by local gospel choir Voices Of Virtue for a night of uplifting melodies at Boiler Shop. 

Another acclaimed artist hitting the venue in July is Kevin Morby (3rd July), the eclectic, prolific former Woods member who’s releasing great new albums at a dizzying rate, while fellow American indie outfit arriving in NE1 this July are Future Islands (31st July), the Baltimore synth-pop band who hit big with Seasons a decade ago and play O2 City Hall. Meanwhile, keeping it electronic, LA synthwave duo The Midnight (25th July) bring their evocative, retro style to NX promoting recent album Heroes.

At the other end of the musical spectrum, revered local folk rock legends Lindisfarne (14th July) are back at Wylam Brewery for one of their hometown gigs where they’ll surely please the crowd with hits like Meet Me On The Corner and Run For Home. And finally, July marks Northern Pride and the main event takes place at the Northern Pride Arena in Time Square across the weekend of 19th-21st July. Expect pop sensations like Whigfield and Angie Brown and so much more in this annual celebration of LGBQT+ culture.

August 

August is full of festival fun, with the biggest probably being TrickFest (3rd August) on Town Moor, a one-day celebration of all things house and techno, headlined by local hero Patrick Topping with other acts including Hannah Laing and Dom Dolla. If nostalgia is more your bag, the next day on the same site, 90s Baby Festival (4th August) promises retro-pop delights from the likes of Ronan Keating, Eternal and Atomic Kitten and many more, with a Clubland stage featuring DJ Sash, Ultrabeat and more. 

In a similar vein, Noughty Nineties Festival (24th August) has stars like B*Witched, Gareth Gates, Basshunter and Phats & Small across three stages in Leazes Park. A very different kind of festival – Newcastle Jazz Festival (14tth-16th August) – boasts two days of the very best jazz at multiple venues across Newcastle including The Globe, The Bridge Hotel and Newcastle Arts Centre with acts including Strictly Smokin' Big Band and the Ali Watson Quartet.

If your heyday was the eighties – or you wish it was – then Martin Kemp’s Ultimate 80s DJ Set (25th August) is a must-see. The actor / writer / Spandau Ballet founder brings a sterling selection of eighties hits to Wylam Brewery for a night of pure nostalgia. Finally, the latest in the ‘By Candelight’ series of events at Newcastle Cathedral is Fleetwood Mac by Candelight (29th-31st August), which sees high class singers and musicians bring Mac classics to life in remarkable surroundings.

That looks like one helluva summer for music fans in Newcastle with something to scratch your itch whether you’re looking for high brow minimalism, banging house, underground indie rock or some quality jazz. What are you waiting for? Get those tickets booked!

Main image: Goat Girl