Preparations are well under way for the annual Paddy Fest in Newcastle which this year will involve a move to a new indoor location.
The festival, which celebrates St Patrick's Day and normally takes place in a giant marquee in Times Square, is this time being hosted at the NX Newcastle club where highlights are set to be a "stadium-size" Kroud Karaoke singalong and big screen live rugby. Organisers say the change of venue is to avoid the cost of constructing the temporary festival site in tough economic times which would mean having to pass on some rising costs in ticket prices.
Instead the NX music venue, which opened last autumn in the former 02 Academy on Westgate Road, will host the big March 17-18 weekend party with 'more decor, more bands and louder DJs', say the Paddy Fest team. The festival, now in its fifth year, has previously attracted more than 10,000 to Times Square for lots of Irish-theme entertainment and several pints of Guinness and it is now promising mammoth party sessions in its new home, with early bird tickets currently available.
