Eight of the top Newcastle bands and artists we love listening to

From some of the top venues in the North East including The Cluny, the Utilita Arena and NX to the array of talent in the region, Tyneside is a hugely underrated musical hub. From acts which have made it big over the years to those just starting their path to stardom, there is enough local talent to fill any playlist.

These are some of the top local bands we can’t get enough of at the moment.

Club Paradise

Indie four piece Club Paradise are well known on the local scene thanks to their catchy and danceable run of singles in the build up to their fantastic Colette and Growing Up EPs. The group most recently released the single Gunshot in September 2022.

Lanterns On The Lake

Five Piece Lanterns On The Lake have an impressive CV with four studio albums under their belt, the most recent of which – Spook The Herd – was nominated for the 2020 Mercury Prize.

Lindisfarne

A band which has stood the test of time, folk rockers Lindisfarne were initially formed in 1968 and are still playing to this day. Their newest release, a live album named Real Live Live, was released in 2018.

Maximo Park

Alt rockers Maximo Park were the boys to beat in the 2000s when they found huge success. Their second full release, Our Earthly Pleasures reached the second spot in the UK album charts in 2007. Their most recent record, 2021’s Nature Always Wins also reached the second place spot although they will always be best known for hits Apply Some Pressure and Our Velocity.

Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs Pigs

No, that isn’t a typo! Newcastle noise rockers Pigs x7 are well known for their loud and wild shows. The act has seen comparisons with hugely successful Australian rockers Ging Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard and currently have two albums to their name, but are set to release their third, Land Of Sleeper, later in February 2023.

Sam Fender

No list of North East music talent would be complete in 2023 without Sam Fender. The North Shields local’s meteoric rise since his debut album Hypersonic Missiles was announced in 2019 has been incredible to witness and the star is set to headline Reading and Leeds as well as his own shows at St James Park this summer.

Wild Spelks

Another new name on the local circuit is power pop act Wild Spelks. The brainchild of Jonathon Sabiston has already established itself as a project to keep an eye on following a headline set at Bobiks in Jesmond and a series of superb singles including Nine By Sixteen, Turn It Around and newest release Black Spores.

The Wildhearts

Punk stalwarts The Wildhearts may have had a series of lineup changes over the years but their music and live shows has never faltered. Fronted by South Shields’ Ginger Wildheart, the group took a hiatus in 2022 although the lead singer is now on tour with his own group.