A 'dawn till dusk' music festival will launch in the North East this spring with a weekend of non-stop live performances ranging from DJs to Royal Northern Sinfonia.
The After Dark Festival is being presented by BBC Radio 3 and will make its debut in Newcastle over the Spring Equinox weekend, playing out at two venues from March 18-20 with a line-up featuring established classical, electronic and jazz artists as well as poetry and conversation.
The through-the-night festival is set to feature some of the biggest names in altnernative music while also included on the bill will be the region's own Royal Northern Sinfonia which will strike up over the river at Sage Gateshead.
Read more: 2022 guide to North East festivals
This will be the location of a 6pm-6am continuous event which will start with a poetry cabaret, led by Ian McMillan.
The other host venue will be The Star & Shadow Cinema in Newcastle's Warwick Street, working in partnership with Tusk Music.
Among the festival's stand-out sets will be - in keeping with the festival's name - a dusk event to coincide with the setting of the sun.
Those with stamina can also join in all-night sessions featuring live electronic tracks by a mix of top producers, DJs and ensembles.
There will be a 7am dawn chorus set too, with live music from Indian raga act Jasdeep Singh Degun which promises a stunning start to the day.
Audiences will be able to immerse themselves in a range of performances showcasing talent from the region and beyond and including established electronic and jazz artists as well as poets, writers, and producers.
Among those to look out for will be Scottish duo Kinbrae; rapper and DJ Iceboy Violet and violinist Rakhi Singh.
The debut festival is part of of BBC Radio 3’s commitment to connecting listeners to music performed across the UK and its presenters will also conduct artist interviews.
The event will be broadcast in programmes on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds and will culminate in a through-the-night edition of Night Tracks as the clocks change to Summer Time.
Alan Davey, BBC Radio 3 controller, said the station has always championed alternative, adventurous music adding. "That’s why we’re thrilled to be working with Sage Gateshead and Tusk Music to bring After Dark Festival to the North East.
Tickets for the debut festival will go on sale online here this Friday, February 18.
For the latest What's On news, announcements and reviews direct to your inbox, go here to sign up to our free newsletter
