New festival Coastella ia all set to make its debut in North Shields this weekend - with a little help from a friend.
The debut event, which will see local favourites such as The Futureheads on the bill with the likes of star DJ Judge Jules, will get under way on Friday at Percy Park Rugby Football Club with the start of a three-day programme guaranteed to entertain the crowds. And Sunday for Sammy will have a stage there dedicated to emerging talent.
Thanks to sponsorship from the charity, which supports young local performers, the extra stage will be a platform for emerging North East talents who have not appeared at a festival before. There will be two other stages and over the festival's June 30 until July 2 run, music fans can expect around 40 acts in total with other big names including indie rock band Mystery Jets.
Read more: Liam Fender takes over North Shields in video for new song
Coastella is the creation of bar owner John Peacock, who runs Alfie & Fin's gin bar and The Arches in Tynemouth's Land of Green Ginger, and has been years in the planning, with the initial idea having been scuppered by the pandemic. Now it is all set to make an impact in North Shields with an over-18s event on Friday - when dance music legend Judge Jules will be playing an Ibiza Anthems set - then opening up at the weekend to anyone aged 14-plus.
Barry Hyde, frontman of Sunderland band The Futureheads whose turn to headline will come on the Saturday, has said of the festival: "North Tyneside has been crying out for something like this for a long time now." Other locals on the line-up include Geordie five-piece Jango Flash; Sam Fender's brother Liam Fender; musician and disability activist Ruth Lyon; Hartlepool singer-songwriter Michael Gallagher and North Shields favourites Hector Gannet.
Names to look out for on the Sunday for Sammy stage will be Hayley McKay, Nadedja, Mat Hunsley, Chris Davison, Iris Brickfield, Eve Cole, Katie Grace and Charlotte Kennedy. Sunday for Sammy administrator Ray Laidlaw drew up the line-up with the help of artists previously supported by the Trust, including The Futureheads who shared their thoughts on those they thought were poised to make waves in the music scene.
Former Lindisfarne drummer Ray said it has been inspiring to see the pool of talent in our region and added: "The Sunday for Sammy Trust has nurtured many young musicians and performers in the past and those performing at Coastella Festival are destined for great things as they already have the necessary talent.
"I’d encourage festival-goers to keep an eye out for them and support them on their exciting journey, hopefully right to the top." Here's how the line-up breaks down, with more slots yet to be announced.
Coastella programme
Friday
Judge Jules; Dynamite Disco Club and Marty Evans
Saturday
The Futureheads; Liam Fender; Michael Gallagher; Lazy Rave; Jango Flash; Club Paradise and more.
Sunday
Mystery Jets; Hector Gannet; Ruth Lyon; Finn Forster and Chintzy Stetson. More acts are still to be added to the bill. For the full list of those advertised see here.
Tickets
There's still time to buy tickets for the festival - which will include a range of local food vendors and outdoor bars - see here. Friday tickets are £30; weekend day tickets are £42.50 and weekend passes cost £80, all plus booking fee. Wheelchair accessible tickets are also available.
Times and attractions
The festival will include a range of local food vendors and outdoor bars. Doors will open at 6pm on the Friday and noon at the weekend.
