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TEG to launch North East England’s biggest festival

TEG Europe has announced plans to launch the biggest festival the North East of England has ever seen next summer.

The 45,000-capacity event will take place on Newcastle’s Town Moor under the name Come Together.

The 4–8 June 2025 festival is slated to feature a lineup of soon-to-be-revealed UK and global artists, as well as immersive art installations and food vendors, according to TEG.

Newcastle’s previous biggest festival, This Is Tomorrow (cap. 15,000), has not been organised since 2021. Its parent company SSD Concerts, which also promoted Hit the North, Bingley Weekender and Corbridge festival, ceased operations after allegations were made against managing director Steve Davis.

“We are absolutely thrilled to bring an event of this calibre to the North East,” says Toby Leighton-Pope, managing director of TEG Europe. “Newcastle can expect an unforgettable festival experience featuring some of the biggest and best names in global music. This festival is all about celebrating the region, its culture, and its love for music, and we can’t wait to share more details in the coming weeks. We’re gearing up for what will be a landmark event for the region.”

“Newcastle can expect an unforgettable festival experience featuring some of the biggest and best names in global music”

TEG Europe will collaborate with The Freemen of Newcastle, a conservation body protecting the Town Moors, and the City Council on Come Together.

A spokesperson for The Freemen of Newcastle comments: “We are delighted to be working alongside TEG to deliver this huge event for Newcastle and the wider region. We are very fortunate to have one of the largest and most iconic outdoor events spaces in the UK. We look forward to welcoming attendees from all parts of the UK. Together we have a long-term plan to make this a high-profile annual celebration on the Town Moor, and with the level of international artists already booked we are all excited to see the first shows announced.”

TEG Europe promotes over 2,000 concerts a year from intimate club shows to large-scale stadium tours. The firm’s roster of artists includes Noel Gallagher, Bryan Adams, Busted, Michael Bublé, Snoop Dogg, Girls Aloud, 50 Cent and McFly.

TEG Europe is part of TEG, the global live entertainment, ticketing, and digital company that spans 30 brands in 40 countries across six continents.

 


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ABBA Arena team unveils plans for new UK venue

The team behind ABBA Arena in London has unveiled plans for a new venue in Swindon, a town in the southwest of England.

Stufish Entertainment Architects has released initial designs for a 1,200-seat theatre and concert venue, under Swindon council’s vision for its Cultural Quarter masterplan.

The venue’s design will combine Swindon’s industrial heritage with contemporary design inspired by Stufish’s ABBA Arena, the 3,000-capacity purpose-built venue for ABBA Voyage.

The local council also said in a report that “The front of house (FOH) area could potentially embrace a similar strategy to the ABBA Arena…the majority of the FOH would be a weather-protected covered area.”

Outside the ABBA Arena auditorium is a sheltered, extended concourse area used to serve visitors.

“Our work surpasses the conventional ‘box’ or ‘shed’ aesthetic, creating thoughtfully crafted, purpose-built spaces that captivate and engage”

The cost of construction for the new Swindon venue is just under £35m although plans are still in the early stages.

The venue would built on what is now Swindon Bus Station and would replace the town’s existing theatre which is said to no longer meet modern demands.

“Drawing on extensive experience in show and venue design, we have refined a modular construction approach that embodies the elegance and depth of traditional architecture,” said chief executive and design director of Stufish Entertainment Architects Ray Winkler.

“Our work surpasses the conventional ‘box’ or ‘shed’ aesthetic, creating thoughtfully crafted, purpose-built spaces that captivate and engage. This adaptable modular approach lends itself seamlessly to a range of structures, from theatres to pavilions, ensuring both beauty and functionality in any setting.”

It was recently revealed that ABBA Voyage grossed more than £100 million (€120m) in 2023 after attracting in excess of one million visitors. Read more here.

 


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New Bristol venue sets sights on big touring acts

A new 3,000-capacity venue has opened in Bristol, in the southwest of England, with hopes of attracting big touring acts.

The Prospect Building in the suburb of St Phillips officially opened its doors on 28 September with an all-day event featuring LSDXOXO, Blawan, Peverelist and Overmono, in partnership with Team Love.

Formerly known as an events space called Propyard, the 25,000 sq. ft. warehouse has been taken over by A Man About A Dog (AMAAD), the London-based electronic promoter behind LWE, Junction 2, ION and Cogo Events.

AMAAD has pledged to work with local Bristol promoters such as Team Love, The Blast and Dance Corp, to bring a broader range of music events and festivals to the space.

“Bristol has missed out on bigger touring acts in the past”

Initially, the venue will exclusively host electronic artists before expanding into live shows next year, according to the promoter. Renowned DJs such as Bonobo, Andy C, Joy Orbison, Floating Points, HAAI and Dax J are on the venue’s winter listings, while local acts will have the chance to play in the intimate Room 2 space.

“Bristol has missed out on bigger touring acts in the past,” Will Harold, director of AMAAD, told BBC. “This space is more versatile [than the former Propyard] and can host emerging artists as well as bigger acts.”

The opening of the new venue comes as the developers of the long-delayed Bristol Arena are yet to set a date for when building work will begin. A recent update revealed that the 19,000-cap YTL Arena Bristol, planned for Filton Airfield, will not open for concerts until 2027 at the earliest.

In addition to DJs and live music, Prospect will act as a “cultural hub” hosting family days, food festivals, vintage clothes sales and circus performances.

“Venues are closing, it’s a challenge,” adds Harold. “We are trying a new way to approach it by doing different things in one place.”

 


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Emerging Promoters Fund: Next deadline approaching

The next deadline for PRS Foundation’s Early Career Promoter Fund is fast approaching, with the third round of applications closing in two weeks.

The new fund for ‘early-career’ music promoters in England will make grants of up to £3,500 available to support activities including the booking and promotion of concerts and tours.

Launched in April with support from Arts Council England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the fund is intended to help bolster grassroots music ecosystems.

Nine rounds of applications will open between 2 May and 15 January 2025, with the latest round closing on 13 August.

Applicants can apply for support with activities including:

  • The booking, programming and promotion of gigs, concerts, club nights, showcases, tours and other performances
  • Costs associated with those activities (including venue hire, production, artist and/or DJ fees, crew fees, administration and other related costs)
  • Capacity building (including mentoring, coaching, shadowing, workshops, masterclasses, and other skill-building and networking opportunities)
  • Other expenditure which helps grantees to programme a diverse range of artists, develop new audiences and build their skills

Full eligibility criteria and funding guidance can be found here, and the list of deadlines for applicants is here.

 


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It’s coming home? Venues prepped for Euros final

A number of music venues in England are making special arrangements to show Sunday’s UEFA Euro 2024 Final.

The Three Lions, who are bidding to become the first England men’s side to win a major international tournament in 58 years, go up against Spain in Berlin from 8pm BST.

Organisers of Wireless Festival, which takes place this weekend in London’s Finsbury Park, are bringing forward Doja Cat’s closing headline set to allow the event to finish at 7pm and give fans “plenty of time to travel home” to watch the final.

“The change in running order and curfew is exclusively to accommodate people wanting to watch the football, no artists have been pulled or sets cut because of this,” a spokesperson for promoter Festival Republic tells the BBC.

Elsewhere, London mayor Sadiq Khan has confirmed The O2 will be hosting the capital’s “largest screening”, with a ballot closing earlier today (12 July) for the 15,000 free tickets.

In Manchester, the 23,000-cap AO Arena, which will feature “the UK’s biggest HD screen” is charging £7.25 to £20.25 for general admission and from £185.75 for VIP packages, including private suites for up to 14 people.

Bristol Ashton Gate stadium is also showing the match for £6 entry, while Bournemouth’s BIC and HMV Empire Coventry have already sold out their allocations.

England’s dramatic semi-final victory over the Netherlands in Wednesday’s semi-final sparked memorable scenes during The Killers gig at The O2, where the band broadcast the closing moments of the game on the big screen before launching into their biggest hit, Mr Brightside.

Fellow American band Kings of Leon also celebrated the triumph at their AO Arena Manchester show, leading a singalong of Neil Diamond’s Sweet Caroline, which has been adopted as an England football anthem.

England are vying for their first European Championship trophy, while Spain have won the tournament three times before – in 1964, 2008 and 2012.

 


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Final plans for Bristol Arena revealed

Final plans have been submitted for the long-awaited YTL Arena Bristol, in the southwest of England.

After a series of delays, the 19,000-capacity arena is set to be built at Fliton Airfield and could open by late 2026.

New artist impressions show the airfield’s Brabazon Hangars transformed into the UK’s fourth-largest indoor arena and flanked by new conference and exhibition halls.

An estimated 300,000 people are expected to attend events at YTL Arena Bristol each year, boosting the local economy by £60 million annually.

“The arena finds itself in an ideal position to evolve into a cultural hub”

The arena site is set to include restaurants and bars, an outdoor cinema, basketball and football courts, a pump track for cycling, a Christmas ice rink and huge public squares.

YTL, the Malaysian developer behind the arena, is also building a new neighbourhood on the airfield with thousands of homes, a park, community facilities, leisure and employment, with a new train station due to open there in mid-2026.

“The arena finds itself in an ideal position to evolve into a cultural hub,” said architects McGregor Coxall.

The venue has experienced a number of delays related to Covid and the construction industry, with site preparation finally beginning in March.

Decontamination work is underway and will be followed by the demolition of non-essential structures ahead of the main construction programme, which is said to take around two-and-a-half years once builders move in.

rival arena, operated by Live Nation and Oak View Group (OVG), is set to open in Cardiff, Wales, in spring 2025.

 


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PRS Foundation launches fund for emerging promoters

PRS Foundation has launched a new fund for ‘early-career’ music promoters in England, in a bid to bolster grassroots music ecosystems.

Through the Early Career Promoter Fund, grants of up to £3,500 will be available to support activities, including:

  • The booking, programming and promotion of gigs, concerts, club nights, showcases, tours and other performances
  • Costs associated with those activities (including venue hire, production, artist and/or DJ fees, crew fees, administration and other related costs)
  • Capacity building (including mentoring, coaching, shadowing, workshops, masterclasses, and other skill-building and networking opportunities)
  • Other expenditure which helps grantees to programme a diverse range of artists, develop new audiences and build their skills

The fund – supported by Arts Council England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) – will also help to address underrepresentation, according to a release, ensuring support reaches a diverse range of promoters.

The initiative comes as the UK live industry rallies around the ongoing crisis in the grassroots music sector. Last month, artists and managers backed the Music Venue Trust’s (MVT) calls for a compulsory £1 levy on tickets sold for UK live music events above 5,000-cap.

“Independent promoters play a vital role in identifying and platforming talent”

Joe Frankland, CEO of PRS Foundation says: “The grassroots music sector plays a crucial role in bolstering scenes and developing talent while driving the economic, cultural and social success of music nationally. We’re delighted to manage the Early Career Promoter Fund in partnership with Arts Council England and DCMS to offer funding and capacity-building support to hundreds of independent promoters who – alongside venues, festivals, artists and crews – will help to build a more robust and diverse live music sector. We’re looking forward to see who applies and to supporting exciting music events across England.”

Claire Mera-Nelson, director, Music at Arts Council England, adds “We’re delighted to be supporting PRS Foundation to develop and deliver the Early Career Promoter Fund. Independent promoters play a vital role in identifying and platforming talent and helping build audiences through partnership with venues and festivals. Helping develop the skills and insight of promoters at the early stages of their career and backing their energy and enthusiasm will play an important role in securing the future of the grassroots music sector. Today’s Supporting Grassroots Music investment from both Arts Council England and the UK Government reaffirms our commitment to supporting this vital element of the music industry and is an ideal complement to the Arts Council’s own Supporting Grassroots Music fund which is open to more established independent promoters.”

DCMS Culture Secretary, Lucy Frazer, comments: “The UK’s grassroots music sector is vital to helping the next generation of best-selling artists launch their careers and build fanbases. Promoters are a key part of this story, from booking and promoting shows, to hiring production crews and supporting musicians to reach new audiences.

“These government-funded grants will give promoters targeted support so they can provide platforms for a more diverse range of artists, access mentoring and coaching, and build sustainable careers in the creative industries.”

Promoters can apply for Early Career Promoter Fund support from PRS Foundation’s website. Full eligibility criteria and funding guidance will be available soon and the application portal will open on Thursday 2nd May 2024.

 


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DHP Family’s charity festival raises £81k for unhoused

DHP Family’s charity festival Beat The Streets has announced its January event raised £81,600 for the unhoused population across the East Midlands region of England.

All proceeds raised by the one-day festival go to Framework, a Nottingham-based charity that provides a network of support for at-risk and homeless individuals in the region. Since its inception in 2018, the multi-venue event has raised £490,600 for the charity.

This year, funds will be dedicated to supporting the charity’s Street Outreach team, which engages with the local homeless community daily. Money raised during Beat The Streets will “cover a large part of the cost” to help secure a quarter of the team, which came under risk after Nottingham City Council reduced funding to the charity, said Framework’ CEO Andrew Redfern.

“The level of rough sleeping continues to rise relentlessly,” Redfern says. “Funds raised at the 2024 festival back in January will help us maintain the outreach team who work with people on the streets of Nottingham every day of the year.”

“We’ve been able to make another significant contribution to the hard work that Framework do, at a particularly vital time”

Nottingham’s rough sleeper population is growing nearly 20% every year, per Framework, as the housing association works to provide housing, health, employment support, and care services to 18,500 people per year.

The festival’s seventh annual, which took place on 28 January, featured special guests Beats on Toast, Fat Digester, Lois, George Gadd + The Aftermath, along with more than 50 local artists. All proceeds from tickets, bar purchases and merchandise went directly to Framework.

“The funds raised each year at our event make a tangible difference to the lives of homeless people in the area, and thanks to everyone who attended, performed at, and worked on our 2024 event, we’ve been able to make another significant contribution to the hard work that Framework do, at a particularly vital time,” says DHP Family’s MD George Akins.

Beat The Streets is delivered by DHP Family in collaboration with local organisations and music groups, including I’m Not from London; Farmyard Records; Hockley Hustle, and Rough Trade.

DHP Family also owns and operates the 25,000-capacity Splendour Festival — which has been cancelled for 2024 — and multiple venues across the UK. The organisation also promotes concerts and tours while also operating independent ticketing platform alt. tickets.

 


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Preparation work begins on long-awaited Bristol arena

Site preparation has finally begun on the long-awaited YTL Arena Bristol, in the southwest of England.

The 19,000-capacity arena, which was delayed due to Covid- and construction industry-related delays, could now open by late 2026.

The project will see the Brabazon Hangars – once a vital part of England’s aviation past – transformed into the UK’s fourth-largest indoor arena.

The initial phase of the YTL Arena began with the decontamination of the site carried out by Omega Environmental Services. That will be followed by the demolition of non-essential structures and then, the main construction programme.

YTL Construction UK, a new company that will be part of the international YTL Group, will be responsible for the construction of the venue.

The company previously operated in Malaysia, China, Japan, Singapore, and Australia across a range of sectors including energy, water, rail and property development.

“Once main construction has started, we estimate it being a two-and-a-half-year build programme”

“We’re pleased with the progress and are pushing forward, albeit slower than originally planned,” says Andrew Billingham, CEO of YTL Arena Bristol.

“Handing over the Hangars to Omega represents a pivotal milestone. We have tackled challenges head-on making crucial decisions to expedite the opening while ensuring we deliver one of the premier arenas in Europe. Once main construction has started, we estimate it being a two-and-a-half-year build programme.”

“It is well documented that construction companies are facing difficulties, and with the international experience the YTL Group has in construction and project management, it is a logical step for us to control the whole process through to operation.”

The arena will be 100% electric, making it one of the first venues in the UK to operate without the use of fossil fuels.

YTL Arena will be operated predominantly as a music venue, with approximately 70–75% of programming being concerts.

rival arena, operated by Live Nation and Oak View Group (OVG), is set to open in Cardiff, Wales, in spring 2025.

 


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MOBO Awards plans three-day festival in Sheffield

The MOBO Awards, the annual British awards show honouring music of Black origin, is launching a new three-day festival.

In anticipation of the awards’ first ceremony in Sheffield on 7 February, the city will host a range of festivities under the banner MOBO Awards Sheffield – The Fringe.

The fringe event, supported by Sheffield City Council, will include workshops, a customised market, panel discussions and a talent showcase at the Crucible Theatre celebrating the Black, African and Caribbean culture of Yorkshire.

The 5 February showcase will feature performances from Ashanti Morgan, Aziza Jaye, Dizz Deejay, DJ Law, Franz Von, JxK, Keyz TenTen, L Dizz, Maasai, MYNA, Ra’Siah, Roy Cropper, W4nnjiro and The Sheff Allstars Riddem.

“It will see the city embrace both the beats and flavours of Africa and the Caribbean”

Speaking about the Fringe event, Sheffield city councillor Martin Smith said: “It will see the city embrace both the beats and flavours of Africa and the Caribbean and is a testament to the power of the music and culture on offer in our city. MOBO Awards Sheffield – The Fringe is going to be an unforgettable experience for Sheffield and our communities, and I hope everyone is able to get involved and enjoy what’s on offer.”

The 26th edition of the MOBO Awards will take place at Utilita Arena on 7 February with live performances from acts including DJ Spoony, Byron Messia and Soul II Soul.

Nominees for the 2024 ceremony were announced in December, with Little Mix and Stormzy leading the way with four nominations apiece. Central Cee, PinkPantheress, J Hus and Raye have received three nominations each.

It was announced yesterday (22 January) that comedian Babatúndé Aléshé and presenter Indiyah Polack will host the awards.

Little Simz, Knucks, Central Cee, PinkPantheress and the late Jamal Edwards were among the winners at last year’s event, staged at London’s OVO Arena Wembley.

 


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