Independent music venues throughout Newcastle are struggling – not just financially, but emotionally too. After years of empty promises and a lack of support from the local council, the people of Newcastle’s live music community feel as though they only have each other to turn to.
Newcastle is a city that is renowned for its vibrant live music culture, with the community being at the heart of it. The Toon has been religiously praised for how welcoming and supportive everyone involved is. Eli Stephenson, 20, says “I’ve been to gigs all over the country, but the energy that Newcastle brings is like no other – the community is so friendly”.
However, Newcastle’s live music scene would have no leg to stand on if it was not for the independent venues and local artists who work restlessly to deliver an enjoyable experience for all. Without venues, there is nowhere for bands to play, and without bands there is no one for venues to host.
Since establishing itself as a worthy live music scene in the late 1950s, Newcastle has proudly been host to music icons such as The Beatles, Queen, Nirvana, and countless more. Newcastle has also nurtured its own fair share of notable acts such as Sting of The Police, The Animals, and more recently Sam Fender.
But there is a shared concern amongst Newcastle’s music-loving community: has the Toon lost its musical spark? The answer is, no. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of creatives based in Newcastle who are determined to break into the scene. Their only struggle is executing this, which is to no fault of their own.
Ask anyone involved in the Newcastle live music scene and you will quickly realise that the general consensus is that the local council is not providing the community with adequate support. Ross Lewis, production manager at the iconic Ouseburn venue, The Cluny, tells me, “we get so little from any council… for me, there will never be enough done [to support the live music scene]”.
The Cluny is one of the most reputable venues nestled in the creatively-rich land of Ouseburn. Celebrating its 25th birthday this year, The Cluny is the venue in Newcastle that will take a chance on smaller artists, regardless of making a profit or not.
However, this means The Cluny is no stranger to financial struggles. Ross Lewis describes grants from the council as “old-fashioned”. Grants take time and money to apply for, “that’s time we don’t have because we’re running a venue, and money we don’t have because the margins are so slim”. He explains, if councils want to support the live music scene, they should “drive round to local venues and say, ‘here’s a cheque for £5000′”.
Post-pandemic, the cost of living has skyrocketed which has in-hand made running an independent venue feel like nails on a chalkboard. Rent goes up, staff’s wages go up, equipment costs go up, artist fees go up – it is a vicious cycle. But looking towards the future, all Ross Lewis cares about is The Cluny continuing to “bring joy into people’s lives”.
Because of the obstacles that independent venues face, beloved spots such as Bobiks have had to shut their doors to the public. Bobiks, opened in 2019, offered an inviting space for bands to hit the ground running and it gained a loyal following from music enjoyers and creators alike. Sadly, the venue closed earlier this year, but that does not mean the impact it had on the Newcastle live music community will be forgotten.
Adam Tibke, drummer of local band, Porcelain, reflects on how Bobiks’ closure has made it much more difficult for bands and event promoters to “find their transition between small venues, to more established venues”. A lot of up-and-coming bands would “make most of their money from being able to perform [at Bobiks],” Tibke stresses.
The Riverside, opened in 2010, is another popular live music venue within the community that will shortly follow in Bobiks’ footsteps as they announce that once their doors close on January 1st, 2025, they will never reopen. This follows the tax raises in the government’s 2024 Autumn Budget – which will place more than 350 grassroots venues at immediate risk of closure.
Though these challenges faced by Newcastle’s live music scene are daunting, they are not impossible to overcome. Independent venues much like The Cluny, and the passionate artists and fans who help sustain them, are the backbone of a diligent community that refuses to give up.
Although closures such as Bobiks and The Riverside are upsetting, they highlight the urgent need for action. There is only so much that the community can do without greater support. If the local council refuse to reflect on the current state of the live music scene and adapt accordingly, Newcastle risks losing the essence of what makes its music scene special.
*Newcastle council was contacted for a statement but did not respond.*
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This topic was fascinating to research and I found out so much through interviewing Ross, Adam, and Eli. It is a topic I feel very passionate about so I had a lot of fun writing about it too! If you found this article interesting, you can read my other work here! You can also follow my TikTok, @TunesoftheTyne, for more music and Newcastle-related updates.
This is such an important topic that needs more discussion and this article does such a good job of highlighting the reality of the situation, the government needs to do more and they need to modernise the solutions if the arts industry is going to continue being such a historic and successful part of the economy within the UK. Great feature on a great website!
I had no idea that The Riverside is closing!! That’s such a shame 🙁 Thanks for reporting on this!
It’s such a great venue that will be missed! Thank you for taking the time to read.
I had no idea that Bobik’s was closing until I read your article, such a shame! Such a fantastic and informative read, more definitely needs to be done for our bands in the North East, I am very glad we have Ross and THe Cluny🎸
I know, it’s devastating! Bobiks will be missed dearly by the whole city :(. I agree action must be taken and fast! Thank you for reading!
So interesting to hear local voices on this topic!
Nobody is going to know it better than they do! They deserve to have someone bringing attention to their concert. Thank you for reading.
This is such an interesting read. I didn’t realise The Cluny did so much to help small artists!
Thank you for reading! They are an incredible venue full of lovely people!