NewcastleGateshead
The North East has created a wealth of musical talent; there’s Sting, Bryan Ferry of Roxy Music, The Animals, Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys, Dire Straits, Pete Doherty and new bands Maximo Park, Field Music and Yourcodenameis:Milo while Eurythmics main man Dave Stewart, who, like the Futureheads, hail from Sunderland.
Venues
The Sage Concert Hall (www.thesagegateshead.org)
This futuristic-looking £70 million music centre, designed by Lord Norman Foster on a landmark waterfront site with river views of the Tyne, encompasses a melting pot of musical style: acoustic, indie, country, world, folk, jazz, electronic, dance and classical.
Carling Academy (www.newcastle-academy.co.uk)
Newcastle’s newest venue opened in October 2005 with a sell-out live performance by local band the Futureheads. Once the legendary Majestic Ballroom, famous for a Beatles concert in 1963 when they supposedly wrote She Loves You after the show.
Find out more about attractions, festivals, gigs, shopping, nightlife and more at www.visitnewcastlegateshead.com