live music
Positive local stories, useful developments and people making a difference in live music.
Hopetown’s Haunted Night turns Darlington’s railway museum into an after-hours Halloween playground
Ghost trains, fire performers, a trick-or-treat trail, silent disco and live music are coming to Hopetown Darlington for a family Halloween evening on 30 October.
Explore related topics
28 Stories
Explore archive
Redcar’s Blam Blam Fever brings four days of ska to the town
Blam Blam Fever 8 is under way in Redcar, bringing a four-day line-up of ska bands and DJs from the UK, Europe and the USA to Coatham Hall and other town-centre venues.
Staithes turns into a village-wide gallery for free arts and heritage festival
More than 100 artists will fill cottages, studios and community spaces across Staithes when its Arts and Heritage Festival returns from 11 to 13 September.
Last Train Home fills Darlington venues with live music and comedy this Saturday
Darlington’s Last Train Home Festival returns on Saturday 5 September, spreading regional and national music and comedy across three town-centre venues.
Darlington’s free Rhythm & Tunes weekend celebrates 30 years of town-centre music
Darlington’s Rhythm & Tunes Festival returns across 11 to 13 September, with free live music in Market Square and performances in town-centre venues.
Rock anthems and power ballads take over Middlesbrough Town Hall this September
Love Hurts returns with a live band and a set built around some of rock's biggest anthems and power ballads at Middlesbrough Town Hall.
Whitney Houston tribute returns to Darlington with full live band
Queen of the Night celebrates three decades of Whitney Houston songs at Darlington Hippodrome on Wednesday 9 September.
Sensational 60s Experience brings a night of classic pop to Darlington
The touring Sensational 60s Experience reaches Darlington Hippodrome on Tuesday 8 September with a line-up of acts from the decade.
80s Live brings a two-dozen-song retro party to Darlington
A live band and cast will take Darlington Hippodrome through hits associated with Wham!, Madonna, Duran Duran, Rick Astley and more on Friday 4 September.
Carpenters tribute brings West End musicians to Darlington Hippodrome
The British Carpenters, starring Sally Creedon as Karen Carpenter, bring the duo’s best-known songs to Darlington on Thursday 3 September.
Joe McElderry brings live 2026 show to Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre
The North East singer heads to Hartlepool on Friday 25 September for an evening of chart hits, fan favourites and a few unexpected additions.
Celine Dion tribute brings four decades of hits to Darlington Hippodrome
My Heart Will Go On arrives at Darlington Hippodrome on Wednesday 2 September with a live band and a set built around Celine Dion’s best-known songs.
Seven-piece Fleetwood Mac tribute brings live show to Middlesbrough Theatre
Seven Wonders brings its live Fleetwood Mac tribute to Middlesbrough Theatre on 19 September, covering music from the Peter Green years through to the band's later catalogue.
Motown classics get a live-band celebration at Middlesbrough Theatre
Legends of Motown comes to Middlesbrough Theatre on 12 September with a live band and a set built around songs associated with the Motown era.
Wishbone Ash bring more than five decades of rock history to Middlesbrough Town Hall
Wishbone Ash's Time Was Tour reaches Middlesbrough Town Hall on 30 September, continuing a live career built around the band's distinctive twin-lead guitar sound.
Stockton singer Marina Josephina brings a 10-piece neo-soul show home to ARC
Stockton-born Marina Josephina returns to ARC on 18 September with a 10-piece live band, joined by North East artists Frannie Mac and Tamara Aliyaah.
John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett bring five decades of musical chaos to Stockton
Long-running duo John Otway and Wild Willy Barrett bring their Alive and Gigging tour to ARC Stockton on 11 September.
ABBA tribute brings a Bank Holiday terrace party to Walworth Castle today
Absolutely ABBA takes over Walworth Castle near Darlington this afternoon, with two hours of live music, a barbecue and terrace drinks for the August Bank Holiday weekend.
Tees Bay Swing Band brings a 1940s afternoon to Hartlepool Art Gallery
Hartlepool Art Gallery is turning the clock back on Saturday 5 September as Tees Bay Swing Band brings a two-hour 1940s performance to Church Square, with under-10s admitted free.
Orange Pip marks 10 years with a September street celebration in Middlesbrough
Orange Pip Market will celebrate its tenth anniversary on Baker and Bedford Streets on Saturday 26 September, with six hours of food, independent makers, music and artists.
Stockton’s Gathering Sounds returns with more than 50 acts across seven stages
The one-day independent music festival will take over venues across Stockton town centre on 26 September, with emerging artists spread across seven stages.
Squeeze and Billy Bragg’s Stockton show will send £1 from every ticket to grassroots venues
Squeeze and Billy Bragg play Stockton Globe on 17 November, with part of every ticket going to the Music Venue Trust.
Counterfest will turn five Stockton venues into one giant tribute festival
Fifteen tribute acts are set to play across five stages in Stockton town centre on 24 October.
Hartlepool Rising Stars competition offers local performers a route onto the FolkFest main stage
Headland FolkFest’s Rising Stars competition returns on 12 September, with solo, duo and group categories and a main-stage festival slot for the winner.
Four rising North East bands take over ARC for September Soundcheck
Teesside grunge-punk band Dossers headline a four-band Soundcheck bill at ARC Stockton with Northern Hospitality, Risco and Rose Malus.
Tees Folk returns to Stockton Globe with The Unthanks topping a North East-heavy bill
Tees Folk returns to Stockton Globe on 19 September with The Unthanks, Amelia Coburn, John Smith and East Cleveland's Glad Town Ghost.
Indie Rock Sensation The Rifles Set to Electrify Stockton’s KU in September
Iconic indie rockers, The Rifles, are making their long-awaited return to Teesside this September, performing at KU in Stockton. This marks their first appearance in the region in nearly two decades and is part of the tour supporting their latest album, Love Your Neighbour, released in April. The show continues…
Gruff Rhys to Perform at KU Stockton This August
Gruff Rhys brought his Sadness Sets Me Free tour to KU Stockton in August 2024, adding another major songwriter to the independent venue’s programme.