Preview: BBC Radio 6 Music Festival, Tyneside 2015

This month marks the second annual BBC 6 Music Festival, taking place this year on Tyneside.

The inaugural event at Victoria Warehouse in Manchester was a sell-out and featured an all-star line-up, including Bombay Bicycle Club, Kelis and Franz Ferdinand. There’s an equally appealing programme for 2015, taking place at various venues such as the 02 Academy Newcastle and The Sage Gateshead.

With more than 40 artists and DJs across six stages over three nights, the BBC Radio 6 Music Festival is bringing together established acts and emerging artists who represent some of the best alternative music of the moment. Alongside local bands there will some big names such as Royal Blood, The Maccabees, Maximo Park, British Sea Power and The War On Drugs.

DJ Lauren Laverne is looking forward to the event: “I’m so excited that this year’s 6 Music Festival is taking us back to my home in the North East. It’s going to be an incredible weekend of music, not to be missed. The festival is a celebration of the music and culture we and our listeners love so much.”

There’s also the 6 Music Festival By Day taking place in venues in the Ouseburn and Stephenson Quarter, which means that music lovers can experience alternative cultural events to the night-time gigs. Aside from daytime music sessions, visitors can see big names from the music industry in conversation with the BBC 6 Music presenters, films and documentaries, comedy, spoken word and much more.

Highlights will include Lauren Laverne in conversation with Tyne and Wear-born Bryan Ferry, and interviews with artists performing in the night-time line-up including Royal Blood, Hot Chip, and Tim Burgess. There’s also a selection of music films and documentaries curated by Don Letts, and spoken word events from Murray Lachlan Young and Dr John Cooper Clarke.

As last year’s record fair proved so popular with visitors it’s back again, bringing together independent record shops from across the region and beyond, encompassing the range of music broadcast on BBC Radio 6 Music.

By Stephanie Alderson

BBC 6 Music Festival takes place from February 20 to February 22. The night-time events have now sold out, but registration is open to apply for the free tickets to the 6 Music Festival By Day events. More info here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/events/e8qbj5

To read Northern Soul’s review of last year’s BBC 6 Music Festival, click here