A bar owner in North Tyneside is branching out in the entertainment business with the launch of a music festival due to make its debut in the summer.
John Peacock, who runs Alfie & Fin's gin bar and The Arches in Tynemouth's Land of Green Ginger, came up with the idea for a new event Coastella which is now taking shape with the help of sponsorship from local talent supporters Sunday for Sammy. It is set to run in North Shields over three days from June 30 until July 2 and The Futureheads and Judge Jules are already confirmed as headliners.
And there's the promise of lots more names to come, with the festival out to make an impact after being years in the planning. John said: “The team and I have been wanting to put on an outdoor music festival at the coast for some time.
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"We had originally planned this pre-pandemic and then, of course, it all went pear-shaped and we couldn’t get any funding or sponsors." He added: “It’s absolutely amazing to now be in a position to make this dream a reality and have some great sponsors onboard."
These include local companies as well as Sunday for Sammy, the registered charity that supports young local performers. And the festival is to have a dedicated stage to showcase up-and-coming talent.
Sunday for Sammy administrator Ray Laidlaw said: “When we first heard of a new outdoor festival happening at the coast, we knew that it was going to be special. We are sponsoring the second stage enabling emerging North East artists to perform at a major regional event."
Acts for this stage are yet to be announced but it will be on of three stages in place to host around 40 acts at the North Shields festival site which will be at Percy Park Rugby Club. Among other acts already confirmed for the day and evening line-ups will be Sam Fender's brother Liam Fender; musician and disability activist Ruth Lyon; Hartlepool singer-songwriter Michael Gallagher and North Shields favourites Hector Gannet.
Sunday's headliner is expected to be announced soon. John said: “We are delighted to announce that two headline acts have already been confirmed. Dance music legend Judge Jules will play his Ibiza Anthems set on Friday evening and indie rockers, The Futureheads, are playing the coveted Saturday slot."
Barry Hyde, frontman of Sunderland band The Futureheads, added: “It’s great to see a new music festival in the North East for 2023. We know from first-hand experience what it takes to organise a festival and North Tyneside has been crying out for something like this for a long time now."
He added: “There are loads of up-and-coming artists from around the region on the bill, which is great. We wish the organisers the best of luck with it all and we are glad to be part of it.”
The festival, which will also feature local food vendors and outdoor bars, aims to be as accessible as possible and the organisers are currently busy finding ways to ensure that people of all abilities can make the most of the occasion.
Tickets for the Coastella's Friday night, which is for over-18s only, cost £30 - see here to book - and a pass for the weekend, which will be suitable for those aged 14-plus, is £80: see here.
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