Ear to the Ground gives industry the chance to meet Newcastle’s artists first-hand and build lasting relationships with the local music scene. It’s an opportunity for those artists to take the next step in their careers. Each artist will showcase their work to industry guests, playing back previous recordings and performing a couple of new songs live in the studio. They’ll also leave with recordings they can keep and use in the future.
Be among the first audiences to experience Sam Fender: Live at London Stadium on the big screen. Capturing Sam Fender’s landmark headline performance at London Stadium on 5 June 2025, the film documents one of the defining live music moments of recent years, featuring special guest appearances from Olivia Dean and the Easington Colliery Brass Band. The screening is accompanied by a panel exploring Fender’s artistic journey, the cultural impact of his music, and the creative process behind the film, including the connections between live performance, filmmaking and artist development.
Public House Hi-Fi welcomes Tom Caulker, founder of Newcastle’s World Headquarters, for a two-part event tracing a life spent sharing music through records and his impact on Newcastle’s music culture. The afternoon begins with a seated listening session on the Public House Hi-Fi sound system, with Tom sharing records that shaped his career and the stories behind them. Residents Diz and Vinny Vins then play records they first heard Tom play and which influenced their own musical paths. At 6pm, the deck chairs clear and Tom takes control for a five-hour, all-evening set. Lineup: Tom Caulker - Diz Jockey - Vinny Vins
Ancient Infinity Orchestra is a gathering of voices, traditions and energies converging into something timeless. Hailing from Leeds, the 16-member ensemble, led by double bassist and composer Ozzy Moysey, brings together double basses, harp, saxophones, clarinets, strings, woodwind, mandolin, piano and percussion, with bells and shakers ready for members to use whenever the spirit takes them. Their music is a journey inward and outward, always reaching toward the universal. Support comes from Cobalt resident Weston with a jazz-inspired DJ set. Lineup: Ancient Infinity Orchestra – Weston (DJ)
Byker Grave Presents Scott Hepple & The Sun Band, the Newcastle-based garage and psych-rock band channel the best of 60s and 70s rock through fuzz-soaked guitars, big riffs and catchy choruses. Support comes from Scottish psych/occult rockers Lucid Sins. Lineup: Scott Hepple & The Sun Band – Lucid Sins
