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Newcastle Music Fest Shelved for BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend
24 Jan
Summary
- Newcastle festival plans were cancelled to avoid clashing with Big Weekend.
- BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend is expected to attract 80,000 music lovers.
- Nearly £1m will be invested in Sunderland's Big Weekend event.
A planned music festival on Newcastle's Town Moor has been postponed. Custodians initially earmarked the weekend of May 22 for the event, possibly a return of LooseFest, but have now shelved these plans. The decision was made to avoid a direct conflict with BBC Radio 1's Big Weekend, scheduled to take place in Sunderland's Herrington Park during the same period.
This major BBC event is expected to attract around 80,000 music enthusiasts to Wearside for a free, three-day festival. Custodians of Newcastle's Town Moor announced that a festival event there will now be planned for 2027, citing that it is not economically viable to proceed in competition with the Big Weekend. LooseFest was last held in August 2024, featuring artists like Ronan Keating.
Significant investment is being made to support the Big Weekend in Sunderland. North East mayor Kim McGuinness and Sunderland City Council are allocating almost £1 million towards the event. This funding will enhance transport links and accessibility around Herrington Park. A week-long fringe festival across the North East region is also planned, featuring local talent and promotional activities for creative industries.
