With Glastonbury all done and dusted for another year and its highlight moments finally faded from the news, music lovers already will be missing the action.
Even those not there in person got to share in the atmosphere of one of the most famous festivals in the world, thanks to TV coverage way ino the night. Of course there's nothing like experiencing the atmosphere of a live event first hand but you don't have to travel miles to do that.
The North East always has a cracking programme of annual music festivals and already a variety of performers have headed north to kick off the season, creating a party mood that still lingers. And the good new is that there are plenty more to come.
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As a new music festival makes its debut in North Tyneside this weekend, we take a look ahead to the rest of the summer programme which spans the region from Northumberland down to County Durham. First, Coastella - which kicked off at Percy Park Rugby Club in North Shields on Friday with Judge Jools on the line-up - will be running until this Sunday, July 2 and acts will include local favourites The Futureheads and Liam Fender as well as Mystery Jets and Hector Gannet.
Find out more about it here and see below for our guide to those music festivals still to come.
Kubix Festival - July 15
The event, which made its debut in Sunderland in summer 2018, will be back at Herrington County Park with a pop-focused line-up headlined by Sugababes and co-starring Blue, Five, 9-11, Ultrabeat, Basshunter, A1, N-Trance and DJ Sash!l. See the full line-up and how to buy tickets on its website here.
Mouth of the Tyne - July 6-9
The annual coastal festival, which attracts around 100,000 visitors and has been running for more than 16 years, is here for four days this time, with Gabrielle set to perform on the dramatic Tynemouth Priory stage on the last day. In between will be The Proclaimers, Siouxsie and Paul Heaton: see here.. Besides outdoor concerts taking place at the Priory, the festival usually also plays out at a range of venues including The Playhouse Whitley Bay and the Surf Café in Tynemouth.
South Tyneside Festival - July to August
This summer blockbuster has announced a whopping line-up for a whopping run which includes the usual wide range of entertainment. Regulars know to expect the likes of a Summer Parade to kick off the whole party schedule with live music and Proms in the Park concerts in Bents Park.
The popular Sunday series of freebies will see The Vamps play on July 9; Jason Donovan on July 16; Bjorn Again on July 23 and Boyzlife on July 30. See the whole programme on its website here.
Durham Brass Festival - July 9-16
Brass will be back this summer and the popular Durham County Council-run event will brings Durham city streets alive with the sound of brass, in all its forms. Its summer date always has a hot summer hot line-up to match, sweeping from brass beats to salsa, swing, big band, choral performances and even rock 'n' roll, and among this year's performers will be Fat Freddy's Drop, The Fairey Band and Brighouse & Rastrick Brass Band.
There will be performances too in Gala Theatre and possibly Durham Cathedral as traditional and contemporary styles make their presence felt. The region's proud brass band heritage always gets a good look in too of course. See here.
Kubix - July 22
The Sunderland festival's rock and indie day will be bringing the likes of Squeeze, The Enemy, Marc Almond and Heaven 17 to Herrington Park for their turn in the sun, so to speak. For the full line-up and to buy tickets see here.
Gallagher Park Live - July 22
This free festival returned to Bedlington in Northumberland last July, having missed two years because of Covid and it is thanks to funding from East Bedlington Parish Council; parish and town council contributions plus private donations that it could make a comeback - with lots of live music and other family-friendly festival attractions including fairground rides, food outlets, street theatre and craft stalla.
This time East Bedlington Parish Council, which will be managing it internally from now on, has revealed online that the bands include tribute Rox, The Straits UK, Club 80 Live and The Andy Raynor Band plus a Youth Zone.
Scoop Music Festival - July 28-30
The family-friendly festival showcasing local rock, pop and tribute bands moved to new County Durham site last year and will be back there again in the summer: in the spectacular grounds of Burnhopeside Hall, former home of Puffing Billy engineer William Hedley, near Lanchester where camping options are also available.
This time around it says: "We are thinking bigger! Bigger stage, bigger sound, more stalls and also an additional stage for original and cover bands." It opened applications - at scoopapplication@events85.co.uk - from those wanting to play and promised an "amazing" event. On the main stage on the first night will be tribute act The Gerry Cinnamon Experience and expect plenty more plus family entertainment, street food and bar facilities. Tickets are on sale here.
Big Sound Festival - July 29
This family music festival will be taking place at Blaydon Rugby Club with five top tribute bands heading the line-up. Organisers are calling it a festival not to be missed and its family attractions will include a children’s Play Zone.
On the bill will be a timely Tina Turner act called Simply Tina, described as 'simply the best' tribute to the late star; Ezra Live, recreating George Ezra hits; Oasis 96 and Coldplay tribute Live In Technicolour, while the Manchester Anthems will be paying homage to the Madchester/Baggy/Hacienda era of the likes of Stone Roses, Oasis, Happy Mondays, The Smiths, Primal Scream, James, Inspiral Carpets and Charlatans.
The day's entertainment will run from noon until 9.30pm . Festival-goers can expect a range of food outlets and bars and for information about some 'super early bird' and 'early bird' tickets see here.
Benfest - July 29-30
This new festival is being launched at Newcastle Benfield Football Club to help both the club and local community, it says, and it is promising the best tribute bands in one weekend - plus a Bongo's Bingo-style event on both days. It is out to make its debut in style with a Saturday line-up kicking off with Whodlums at 2.30pm to be followed by Bryan Adams Experience, Rio - showcasing hits of Duran Duran - and then The Smiths Ltd before the Guns 'n' Roses Experience wraps up from 9pm.
Sunday's programme is set to start around 12.30pm with Fleetwood Mac tribute Fleety Hack followed by hour-long sets from Harry Stylish, Oasism, Absolutely Abba and - from 7pm-8pm - Queen tribute band We Are Champion. Times are approximate,
Tickets are £15 (£10 for early bird) for a day or £30 for the weekend (£18 early bird): see here to book - and see the event's website here.
Shaker Fest - August 5
A nineties dance music festival is set to bring international DJs to Cramlington in Northumberland and promising to 'shake' up the scene this summer. The festival, featuring dance music stars Sash! and Kelly Llorenna, is a first, organised by Three Horse Shoes pub owner Kathie Turnbull and set tol take place in a disused field, a greenfield site, next to Northumberlandia. Promising a nostalgic celebration on the nineties, it us out to transport festival-goers back to that era with the help of a line-up which also includes the likes of Andy Whitby, QFX, Dream Frequency and Ultrasonic.
It hopes to bring a boost to Cramlington's economy too and there are hopes to evolve and expand it in the future. For tickets see here.
LooseFest - August 5-6
If you thought last year's event was a cracker - which had Tinchy Stryder bigging up the festival on its new Newcastle Town Moor home - then expect even bigger and better this year when LooseFest makes its return. Following up on that chart-topping rapper will be global star Sean Paul and grime star Tinie Tempah alongside big names such as Chase & Status, Patrick Topping and Craig David.
There will be five music arenas and a huge range of extras - read more about those here - and for extra information and tickets, some of which are already sold out, see here.
Noughty 90s Festival - August 26-27
Bring the party on. As its name suggests, this glut of music celebrates the sounds of the 1990s and noughties and last year that meant an August Bank Holiday weekender in Newcastle with a pop-fest including S Club, N-Trance, 911, Liberty X, Gareth Gates and a whole load more tearing up Leazes Park in the best possible way.
Anyone who missed out last time can join the Noughty 90s party in Leazes Park, Newcastle, over two days this year. It says: "Ok Newcastle... You know the drill. We're back! August Bank Holiday weekend." Tickets are on sale here: keep an eye out online for line-up news.
Hardwick Festival - August 18-20
Often billed as the biggest music festival in the North East, the County Durham music showcase also has sites for tents, campervans and glamping within a short distance of the Festival Field. And luckily the Sedgefield site has plenty room for dancing as a cracking line-up has been announced for this year.
Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds are on the programme, as the last day's headliners - when local Andrew Cushin and Liam Fender also will be taking to the stage - and prior to that Hacienda Classical and The Kooks will be topping the bill. Expect lots more - including more local favourites Smoove & Turrell plus Scouting For Girls - as well as big DJ names, bars, a food village and fairground rides too. For tickets and camping and glamping pass options see here.
Lindisfarne Festival – August 31-September 3
Since this independent music and creative arts festival made its debut on the Northumberland coast, it has stood out; not least thanks to having Holy Island as its impressive backdrop. Initially, 2,000 people descended on Beal Farm to enjoy a line-up of top DJs and musicians, street food outlets and alternative therapists and now it has grown hugely with around 200 acts performing across 10 stages.
Born of a desire to create something special for the North East, it continues to please with a diverse line-up for what's billed as 'the ultimate end-of-summer party' and this year - which will be its eighth edition - has Primal Scream topping the bill. The Scottish rockers will take to the stage on the Friday night, followed by Pendulum on Saturday, while other names on the line-up include folk music favourite Kathryn Tickell and the Darkening; Bootleg Beatles; Gentleman’s Dub Club; The Cuban Brothers; Dutty Moonshine Big Band; Altern-8; The Lancashire Hotpots, The Undercover Hippy and The Bar-Steward Sons of Val Doonican.
Festival founder, Conleth Maenpaa said: “We always want to make sure we’re offering something brilliant for every one of the 7,000-plus people who come to Lindisfarne every year and the bill of acts for 2023 is coming together beautifully.” A three-day festival pass costs £115, including camping and monthly payment plans are available. For ticket details see here and for more about Lindisfarne Festival see here.
Druridge Bay Campout - September 15-17
In its picturesque Northumberland setting, this small family-friendly festival will be back for two evenings of live local music and camping followed by a beach clean on the third day - which is entirely optional say organisers but makes for a great hangover cure. Read more here about the event in Druridge Bay Country Park, near Morpeth, whose line-up will include the likes of The Ska45's Band; The Marley Experience, About The Humans and The mOObs.
Organisers add: "For those that opt to camp, you can enjoy the beautiful surroundings, arrive there early and have a lakeside view for the weekend." Other attractions on the site will include a range of food vendors and a bar. For tickets, including options for both day visitors and camping, see here.
