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Mercury fringe shows to spotlight upcoming artists

Pamela TickellNorth East and Cumbria
News imageSupplied Members of the band Polyvinyl performing on stage. The front-woman is singing into a microphone and wearing rainbow-coloured top. The drummer behind her is also singing into a microphone and is wearing a blue shirt.Supplied
North East band Polyvinyl are playing at the Grainger Market

Dozens of fringe events in the run-up to the Mercury Prize's second year in Newcastle will showcase upcoming musicians, organisers say.

The city will see live performances, listening parties, screenings, workshops and talks from 15 to 22 October, featuring artists from across north-east England.

A live edition of BBC Introducing will come from The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, headlined by Sunderland's Tom A. Smith.

Presenter Neave Farry, from Ferryhill, is curating and hosting a free acoustic event at the Grainger Market and said the "rest of England is waking up to the beautiful scene that we've got in the North East".

The prestigious music industry awards will return to Newcastle's Utilita Arena on 22 October, having never previously been held outside of London before 2025.

Sam Fender won the accolade and £25,000 prize last year in front of his home crowd.

Olivia Dean and Sir Paul McCartney's albums are among those nominated this year, in recognition of artistic achievement.

News imageSupplied Grainger Market, which is a tall space topped by green arches, has a standalone staircase on one side. There are speakers places at the bottom of the steps and a large crowd in front of that. There is someone looking on at the scene in the foreground but they are out-of-focus.Supplied
Grainger Market was recently renovated to include a performance space

Grainger Market unplugged on 17 October will see acoustic sets from emerging artists throughout the day.

Farry said a recent refurbishment of the market to add a performance space "looks and sounds fantastic".

Polyvinyl are one of the bands performing and drummer Jamie Round said a "North East crowd is the best crowd you're going to get".

"You'll play the gig and everyone will be so supportive but then at the end you'll have people coming and talking to you, having a proper conversation," he said.

"It's different, you don't get that anywhere else."

News imageSupplied Neave Farry is sitting on a leather seat and smiling slightly at the camera. She has long black hair and tattoos. There are various pictures and signs on the wooden wall behind her, including a Guinness logo and a yellowed image of Kurt Cobain.Supplied
Neave Farry said she was bringing artists from across the region to perform at the Grainger Market fringe event

Round said: "Not only is it a free event but it's also showcasing local art.

"And it's so valuable, especially right now when it's such a struggle for local arts to even be supported."

The fringe events are funded by Newcastle City Council and the BPI, which organises the Mercury Prize, and organised by Generator.

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