Play Hard

5 local events you don’t want to miss this Summer

Fashion, festivals and global superstars right here in the North East? Sign us up!

Written by Becky Hardy
Published 27.06.2021

LADIES DAY FT. JESS GLYNNE LIVE AFTER RACING

When? 24th July

Where? Newcastle Racecourse

Firmly established as a highlight in the North East’s social calendar, Ladies Day at Newcastle Racecourse is always a top day out. The most glamorous race day of the season combines fashion, fillies and, of course, plenty of fizz. And with the return of the Best Dressed Lady competition, it may just be time to start planning your outfits.

Oh yeah, we almost forgot to mention the live music in this year’s After Racing slot that comes courtesy of Grammy Award-winning superstar, Jess Glynne. We already know there’s no place we’d Rather Be than dancing to her chart-toppers in the last of the day’s sunshine with all our girls, glass of fizz in hand and maybe even a bit of extra cash in our purses. So Don’t Be So Hard On Yourself and get amongst it!

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NORTHERN PRIDE

When? 24th July

Where? Online

This time last year, we should’ve been enjoying the ultimate revelry that comes with being chosen to host UK Pride. And while the national event was initially postponed to this Summer, organisers have made the difficult decision to postpone it again to 2022, to make sure it can be the most fun, fabulous and fantastic festival for as many people as possible.

But that doesn’t mean we just twiddle our thumbs and wait. Oh, no. This year’s Northern Pride festival may well be online, but there’s still plenty to keep us entertained. All hosted by Newcastle comedy queen Miss Rory alongside award-winning presenter Gok Wan, you can catch super-special performances from the likes of club scene icon Jodie Harsh, emo-glamour rocker MXYM and local MC legend Kay Greyson, among many, many others.

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LAMPLIGHT FESTIVAL

When? 7th–8th August

Where? Mowbray Park, Sunderland

We’re super-stoked for the inaugural Lamplight Festival at Sunderland’s Mowbray Park. Why? Well, it’s not every day global superstars Kaiser Chiefs descend on the North East now, is it? And the fact that they’ll be supported by local lads Frankie & The Heartstrings (you should really check them out if you haven’t already), golden oldies Deacon Blue, Idlewild frontman Roddy Woomble and one-to-watch Zuzu, is even better.

All that musical energy in one weekend? We Predict A Riot.

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HARDWICK FESTIVAL

When? 21st–22nd August

Where? Hardwick Hall, Sedgefield

Rag‘n’Bone Man is the man of the moment right now. After the torrent of critical acclaim that greeted his first release, Human, Rag‘n’Bone Man’s second studio album, Life By Misadventure, topped the charts earlier this year, culminating in his show-stealing performance with P!nk to close the 2021 Brit Awards. And he’s bringing all of that musical mastery to the North East this Summer, having bagged the headline slot at Hardwick Festival.

The musical maestro we think would better suit the title Blues’n’Soul Man will be joined by pop legend Nile Rogers (with his trusty band CHIC in tow), as well as Maximo Park, Razorlight, Imelda May and Rebecca Ferguson. See you there?

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KUBIX FESTIVAL

When? 2nd and 8th October

Where? Herrington Country Park, Sunderland

Love yourself a bit of cheese-fest when it comes to music? Or are you more of a classic indie-rock kinda gal? It doesn’t really matter either way, because you can have a bit of everything at Kubix Festival.

Set over the first two weekends in October, head down to Herrington Country Park on Friday 2nd and indulge in your favourite guilty-pleasures of pop from the likes of the Vengaboys, B*Witched, East 17 and N-Trance. Or pop down on Saturday 8th and be greeted by top rock from Levellers, Peter Hook and the Light and The Futureheads. Cracking.

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