The North East music scene has blossomed impressively in recent years, with Newcastle and the surrounding areas boasting a greater array of venues than ever before. From the intimate surroundings of The Cluny or The Lubber Fiend to the classic venue of The Riverside, the impeccable acoustics of The Glasshouse, or the vast Utilita Arena, there’s something to cater to all tastes and bands of all sizes.
For regular gig-goers, or those just setting foot onto the live music scene, the summer months invariably provide a stellar selection of gigs and events, and things are no different in 2024. With Euro 2024 hogging the attention of football fans and punters assessing the best casino bonuses in June/July, August represents the ideal time to get back on the live music bandwagon. So what’s on in August? Quite a lot as it happens…
TrickFest Newcastle 2024
Date: Saturday 3rd August
Venue: Newcastle Town Moor
Hot on the heels of the Hoppings, Newcastle’s biggest gathering place plays host to the inaugural TrickFestNewcastle. Early names on the list include Patrick Topping, Hannah Laing, Dom Dolla, John Summit, Billy Gillies, and Paul Woolford.
Novum Festival 2024
Date: Thursday 8th August – Sunday 11th August
Venue: Newcastle City Council Civic Centre
Music plays a major role in Newcastle’s newest multi-arts festival, with sets from Hector Gannet, Amelia Coburn, India Arkin, Flamingods, DJ Yoda, and more.
Explosions in the Sky
Date: Wednesday 14th August
Venue: Boiler Shop
Texas Post-Rock outfit Explosions in the Sky bring their wall of sound to one of the North East’s most popular venues. Combining guitars, synths, and drums, their live shows are renowned for their stunning emotional impact.
Screensaver
Date: Friday 16th August
Venue: The Lubber Fiend
One of the North East’s best new music venues plays host to Australian synth stars Screensaver. With a capacity of around 150, this compact venue provides an appealing mix of an intimate gig experience and a cracking selection of beers!
Get Heavy Fest
Date: Saturday 17th August
Venue: Downcast Studios
As the name suggests, this one’s for those who like their live music to come laced with pulverising beats and crushing riffs. Kilonova, Catalysis, Swarms UK, Dystopian Sun, and I Am The Wreckage are among the 2024 headliners.
The Obsessed
Date: Friday 23rd August
Venue: Newcastle University Students Union
Another for those who like to feel the guitar resonating through their guts, US Doom Metal legends The Obsessed head to Newcastle Uni in support of “Gilded Sorrow” – the band’s first studio release in 23 years.
Party In The Park 2024
Date: Friday 23rd August – Sunday 25th August
Venue: Morpeth Town AFC Craik Park Stadium
One of the most impressive Tribute Act Festivals in the UK takes place at the home of Morpeth Town AFC. Tributes to Take That, The Killers, The Stone Roses, The Eagles, Blur, Pulp, and many more feature on the 2024 menu.
Milburn
Date: Saturday 24th August
Venue: Riverside
Indie darlings Milburn – the band behind hits such as “Send in the Boys”, Cheshire Cat Smile” and “What You Could’ve Won” – make a long-awaited return to the North East to play the wonderful Riverside venue.
Lindisfarne Festival 2024
Date: Thursday 29th August – Sunday 1st September
Venue: Beal Farm
Head to Holy Island for the North East’s closest equivalent to Glastonbury. Boasting 100s of acts across eight stages, highlights amongst the 2024 artists include art-rockers par excellence Everything Everything, mystical Indie icons Kula Shaker, The Vaccines, Tom Walker, and Orbital.
Niall Horan
Date: Friday 30th August
Venue: Utilita Arena
Best known as one-fifth of a certain One Direction, the Irish member of the global phenomenon now has three solo albums to his name and travels to the Utilita Arena in support of his acclaimed 2023 release “The Show”.