Fish Quay Festival - May (Newcastle)

...come to play on the Fish Quay and North Shields.

This is this year’s advertising spiel on the promotional website at:

http://www.orangewow.co.uk/

“Orange has developed a prize within the Festival for the best new and emerging band.
This year the prize was won by the Hot House Rock Band and as well as winning Orange phones it will also give the band a chance to play on a university circuit ...
...will be held on the Fish Quay in North Shields, Tyne and Wear on the late May Bank Holiday - that's Saturday 26, Sunday 27 and Monday 28 May.

Watch for more details!”

The festival is based around the Fish Quay and consists of live music, street theatre and fairground attractions close to the mouth of the Tyne. This means it can get quite cold, so make sure you wrap up warm.

It’s very close ... more

I have a problem this year, or rather I hope to have a problem. Hopefully on Monday 28th of May 2001 I will be at the Millennium Stadium Cardiff watching Preston North End (see previous op) win the play off finals and qualify to play in the Premiership next season. Well I can dream. However the same weekend sees one of the best free music festivals in Britain. For three days bands from all over the world come to play on the Fish Quay and North Shields.

This is this year’s advertising spiel on the promotional website at:

http://www.orangewow.co.uk/

“Orange has developed a prize within the Festival for the best new and emerging band.
This year the prize was won by the Hot House Rock Band and as well as winning Orange phones it will also give the band a chance to play on a university circuit in Autumn.

The Festival is delighted with the partnership. Orange is a perfect fit for an international class festival of world music, and their people are a delight to work with.

Obviously, the future of the Festival is bright; the future of the Festival is Orange.

Want a bit of what we've got?
Orange WOW is a huge opportunity, as Orange, British Gas, One North East, Galaxy 105 - 106, and the Tyneside Metro will testify.

You'll get great brand exposure, sales opportunities, and a perfect environment in which to market test products.
We're very flexible: every package is uniquely created to meet the needs of our partners. If you want a bit of it in 2001, then call Orange WOW's Marketing Director, John Sargent, on 0191 200 5423 or 0796 746 3013 (mobile).

When and what... Orange WOW 2001 will be held on the Fish Quay in North Shields, Tyne and Wear on the late May Bank Holiday - that's Saturday 26, Sunday 27 and Monday 28 May.

Watch for more details!”

The festival is based around the Fish Quay and consists of live music, street theatre and fairground attractions close to the mouth of the Tyne. This means it can get quite cold, so make sure you wrap up warm.

It’s very close to North Shields Metro, so it’s very easily accessible by public transport, although parking is at a premium, so try and avoid the use of your car is possible.

There are lots of street sellers , so food (i.e. fish and chips, North Shields Kippers, Burgers etc) are freely available so you wont go hungry.

The main thing you go for is the music, which tends towards folk /world music. This year there are five stages:

- The Jumpin' Hot Club (mainly jazz & real r'n'b)
- Urban Music Zone (Dance & Rave)
- GMB Stage (Local Bands)
- World Stage (Music from all over the world Africa, Central
and South America etc.)
- Roots Stage (Folk and Roots Music)

The only problem is usually that often, decent bands coincide with each other., but you can drift between stages to sample the different types of music.

Last years programme is available at:

http://www.wow-fest.com/docs/index.html

Highlights for me in previous years have been Dick Gaughan, The Wailers, Edward II & Red Hot Polkas as well as many local bands. This year headliners will include The Levellers and The Oysterband, as well as The Gangsters of Ska and a host of top world names.

There is a great community feeling and everyone is there to have a good time. Another great thing is that there are no queues for anything (Apart from the public toilets), and you just end up having a great weekend.

If you like world music , and can get to the area on the bank holiday weekend, you just need to pay for your accommodation and food. The entertainment is free and first class. As I say, I’ll be there on the Friday and Saturday this year, but hopefully not on the Monday. And if Preston go out then I get another day’s free music, so I win both ways.

The festival is a true Window on World music, and is a great musical experience. As of today you’ve got a month to sort out your transport.!!!!

*******************
This years highlights for me

Starday 26th May

Lunasa - A superb Irish band who never let up for one minute , so good I ordered the CD

Oysterband - Great driving folk rock , even if the lead singer wears aviator shades and a bit of a poseur, he's still got such a distinctive powerful voice. So good I ordered a CD off Amazon and bought a gorgeous "Celtic Angel" T-Shirt

The Fireworks - Absolutely jaw dropping. Car alarms going off everywhere. A friend of mine told be fireworks were so good now, because the bottom has dropped out the arms market. So firms are switching from weapons of aggression to this excellent (if very noisy) form of entertainment. Stunning.

Sunday 27th

Lo'Jo - A french with two great female singers (one large, one small, both excellent) led by some mad bloke who lyed keybords, supported by violin and double bass and whatever intruments the girls played. It was very french, and very good, but no CD's. I must track some down.

Jimmy Bosch - A great New York , ten piece salsa band who got a very big crowd going.

Celtus - started really well , then descended into Corr's territory. The first two songs were excellent so..

we went to the Roots stage to see

Arthur Brown

..who was an absolute revelation. 30 years on from Fire (he played) , backed by two lads who played acoustic guitars, bass pedals and fiddle, he whipped up the crowd and was thoroughly brillisant. His voice was a match for ANY soul / blues singer you care to mention (as my girlfriend technically pointed out one of the finest counter-tenor voices she has heard..whicjh I think is a compliment). He finished his set with a ten minute , country & western style version of U2's "I still haven't found waht I'm looking for". Marvellous.

Kipper in a Bun

Not a band, but it's North Shields isnt it? 1.50 GBP yummm

I'll update again after todays playoff final when we're off to see the Gangsters of Ska

Com on you Whites!!!!!!!!1

 

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