Local talent given a slice of the spotlight at Coast Fest
North Shields’ music festival Coast Fest returns for its third year this weekend (June 27-29), promising a packed weekend of top drawer music, community spirit, family fun and the chance to catch rising local stars.
In a continued partnership with the Sunday for Sammy Trust, the festival will once again spotlight emerging North East talent on the dedicated Sammy Stage. The Trust, named in memory of actor Sammy Johnson, exists to nurture and support young performers across music, comedy, and theatre.
“Supporting home-grown talent is at the heart of everything we do at Sunday for Sammy,” said Ray Laidlaw, administrator of the Trust and founding member of Lindisfarne.
“Coast Fest provides an incredible platform for young artists to shine in front of new audiences, and we’re proud to be part of a celebration that champions local creativity and ambition.
“We hope that some of the performers from the Sammy Stage might even go on to appear in our next Sunday for Sammy show at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on February 15. That’s what this is all about - creating opportunity and spotlighting talent from the grassroots up.”
The Sammy Stage will feature a curated lineup of up-and-coming acts across the weekend, while the Tyne Idols double-decker bus returns as a mobile stage for intimate sets from local buskers. In total, around 150 performers will appear across various stages throughout the weekend.
Festival organiser John Milton Peacock said: “The young performers on that stage often steal the show. We’re incredibly proud of our partnership with the Sunday for Sammy Trust.”
The festival kicks off tomorrow (Friday) with high-energy sets from international DJ Laidback Luke and rap artist Window Kid. Saturday’s highlights include North East singer-songwriter Liam Fender and Glasvegas, while Sunday brings performances from the Lindisfarne Story Band and Inspiral Carpets’ Tom Hingley.
As well as all the main stage shenanigans, proceedings also include family attractions, a budding DJ competition, and a nostalgic edge with performances from Nigel Clark of Dodgy.
Tickets are available now, with 50% discounts for NHS and charity workers via the Tickets for Good app. Visit wegottickets.com/coastfest for bookings and details.