A new music festival to launch on Tyneside in 2021

A new music festival will launch on North Tyneside next Easter weekend in a bid to shine a light on the region's musicians and to raise much-needed funds for the homeless in the region.

Situated at a soon to be disclosed location in Tynemouth, Go Live! Festival will take place on Saturday 3rd April and Sunday 4th April 2021.

With heavyweight, household names soon to be announced, the event organisers have launched an online donation page and is encouraging the public to spare what they can to help support the event and to provide a platform for the charity, North East Homeless (NEH).

Hot on the heels of their recent number one charting album, Stratos Bleu, Gateshead's funk and soul outfit Smoove & Turrell will perform at Go Live! 2021, alongside the hotly tipped North Shields indie band Jango Flash as well as folk-rockers, Hector Gannet.

Speaking ahead of today's announcement, co-organiser John Peacock - who is joined by fellow 'Our Little Indie Night' promoters Neil McBride and Richie Harrison as part of the team - said: “North Tyneside needs a boost after a very difficult time responding to Coronavirus.

“Musicians in the region and tradespeople involved in the events economy have been largely unable to work or forced to diversify to make a living. We urge everyone to donate what they can to make this event truly special. We know we can rely on the people of the North East!

“Local bands have been starved of places to play, many venues have been forced to cancel gigs and in some cases close down altogether.

“The festival to help regenerate this local music economy. Go Live! will be the first accessible, affordable family-friendly event of this type in North Tyneside.

“We will work exclusively with a range of local suppliers to ensure revenue comes back into the area and they have a platform to sell their goods. We have secured an extremely popular local site which is perfect for an event of this nature.”

Over the 2021 Easter Weekend, the event hopes to celebrate the return of live music to North Tyneside after what has been a very difficult period for the public, particularly those working in the arts.

The organisers have said they are aware that there is a need for an affordable, high quality, family-friendly event in North Tyneside.

They will give local artists a chance to perform alongside established national acts and the opportunity to earn a fair wage.

“We’re just desperate to get back out there and play in front of people,” continues, Smoove, of Smoove & Turrell.

“There’s only so many online gigs you can do before you actually feel like you’re inside the telly.

“We’ve pushed all of our dates back. So far, we’ve lost at least 100 gigs.

“We did do one Festival this year, which was the Virgin Money Unity Arena. I was initially quite sceptical about it, but it was amazing. I think people need to put something in their diary to have something to look forward to and get outside to hear some live music.

“These kinds of live events are going to be few and far between because a lot of people don’t dare to put them on anymore; it's so risky.

“This event will do amazing things for a wonderful charity, put the smiles back on people's faces and will support musicians and be good news for everyone’s wellbeing.”

Jack Golighty, frontman and chief songsmith of Jango Flash, added: "The domino effect of Covid-19 has devastated the live music industry in 2020, so it would be beautiful to hit back in April and play a grassroots festival in our home town. I’m currently trying to raise funds for the homeless myself, so to see that ‘Go Live’ is doing the same on a much larger scale through ‘NEH’ is heartwarming."

Neil McBride, John Peacock and Richie Harrison from North Shields have 20 years experience of putting on live music events, most recently through their events company 'Our Little Indie Night' which have had special live DJ sets from artists such as Bez (Happy Mondays), Tim Burgess (The Charlatans), Rick Witter (Shed Seven), Blossoms, Thomas Turgoose (This Is England/Game Of Thrones) and many more.

Over the years they have put on live shows with bands such as The Cribs, Thee Unstrung, 5 O'Clock Heroes, Kubichek, The Longblondes and hundreds of local artists.

Donations for Go Live! Festival can now be made via this link: https://bit.ly/36bfN7r

Ticket information for the event, as well as the full line-up and location details, will be announced soon.

For more information and to keep up to date visit: https://www.facebook.com/golivefestival