Bob Harris to host Country fundraiser in Newcastle
‘Whispering’ Bob Harris has been making a big noise about country music for decades. He tells Simon Rushworth why North East fans of the on-trend genre are in for a treat later this month
Bob Harris goes all the way back to the early 70s, and an era when glam rock ruled, as he recalls his first experience of a typically warm Geordie welcome.
“Newcastle's been a regular destination of mine since 1971 when I was touring with Marc Bolan,” explains the former host of The Old Grey Whistle Test. “T Rex played the City Hall just after Hot Love had taken off. I was compering the shows and that was a real hot spot moment for Marc. It was the first of many, many trips to Newcastle over the years. I love the place.”
Bob’s most recent performance in the city was alongside Danny Baker on the Harris and Baker’s Backstage Pass tour. “It was the day before my birthday and I was at a loose end for lunch,” he adds. “That’s when I reconnected with long-time friend Angie Jenkison. We had a lovely afternoon on the Quayside and I suppose that’s when the seeds were sown for Country Rock N Raise.”
Angie is the Geordie CEO of the Sir Graham Wylie Foundation and the driving force behind the Rock N Raise series of fundraising gigs.
Stars including Ella Henderson, Kaiser Chiefs, Sting, Duran Duran’s Andy Taylor, Lorraine Crosby and Hairy Biker Si King have helped to raise thousands of pounds for North East Charities during the last decade and this month sees some of country music’s leading lights join forces to perform under the Rock N Raise banner.
“I absolutely love Angie,” admits Bob. “She’s a really special person who’s so passionate about the causes she supports. When she was talking to me about putting together the latest Rock N Raise event - with country music as the central theme - she didn't even have to ask me. I would have been there for her anyway.”
That Bob, the honey-tongued host of BBC Radio Two’s Country Show, is hosting the September 30 event at Newcastle’s Wylam Brewery is a significant coup for the Rock N Raise crew.
Synonymous with country music on both sides of the Pond, he’s played a significant role in the UK’s country music boom and continues to champion new artists and established arena fillers alike.
One of those emerging stars is homegrown favourite Kezia Gill. Newly signed to Universal imprint Snakefarm Records and fresh from a co-headline show with Elles Bailey at Sunderland’s Fire Station, the powerhouse singer-songwriter headlines the inaugural Country Rock N Raise.
“Kezia backs up her fantastic talent with traditional hard work and an absolute commitment to her craft,” adds Bob. “She was an artist who benefited massively from the way music was consumed during the pandemic and she’s never looked back.
“Throughout lockdown she built up a loyal online fan base by playing gigs from her front room. Once she was able to get out and play live again that fan base turned out in numbers to support Kezia in person.
“It felt like her popularity soared overnight. We did a couple of shows together in London and the tickets sold out in 24 hours. I’d like to think that was down to me… but of course it was all down to Kezia!
“People have described her rise as meteoric but that’s not the case. She’s worked incredibly hard to get to this point and that work ethic will take her to the next level. The chance to catch Kezia at Wylam Brewery is a brilliant opportunity to witness a live performer in an intimate setting before she really takes off!”
Kezia’s joined by ‘Cowgirl Polly Pocket’ and TikTok sensation Chanel Yates, house band The Often Herd, Lorraine Crosby and hotly tipped North Riding — fresh from a Mouth Of The Tyne Festival main stage set alongside 2024 Ladies Rock N Raise alumna Katie Grace.
“Chanel’s another artist that is doing what Kezia does - getting herself out in front of people at every opportunity,” adds Bob. “She's a slightly younger generation and, as such, she uses Instagram and TikTok to make absolutely sure that people know what she’s about and what she’s doing.
“Chanel’s single Big Girl Boots is a fabulous song. That’s the track I play on my Country Show and I really feel that she’s an amazing discovery for UK country music. She’s very authentic in terms of the sound that we're hearing in country music right now. If she was from Nashville then the whole world would be raving about her!”
Only last week Bob playlisted The Often Herd’s Remember My Name and the Tyneside-based Bluegrass combo heads to Rock N Raise on the back of their biggest gig yet.
As recipients of the 2025 International Bluegrass Music Association (IBMA) international band grant, the group performs in Tennessee this weekend and will return to the US for a fully supported 2026 tour.
“With Bob as host and so many amazing homegrown musicians on the bill this really is going to take Rock N Raise to the next level,” adds Angie.
“One hundred per cent of all money raised at the event will go directly to The Sir Graham Wylie Foundation - which built and funds the Newcastle Music Therapy Centre run by Nordoff & Robbins - and Teenage Cancer Trust which has units at Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary and Freeman Hospital.
“Thanks to our supporters we’ve been able to establish The Sir Graham Wylie Educational Facility at NUCASTLE and enable CHUF to invest in vital new equipment. Country Rock N Raise is a celebration of the very best in new country music but it’s also a chance to make a difference to the lives of families across the North East.”
Visit the website to buy tickets for Country Rock N Raise. The Country Show with Bob Harris airs every Thursday from 9pm on BBC Radio Two and is available on demand via BBC Sounds.