The biggest names to have performed across North East music festivals in 2025
As we continue our look back at 2024, lets run our minds back to the summer and some of the biggest names who performed across the North East.
The cold days and early sunsets might make summer feel like a lifetime away, but it was only a matter of months back that we welcomed some of the UK’s biggest stars to our region as part of festival season.
While we’re all longing for the return of festivals in the region, lets take a look back at some amazing summer memories.
Mouth of the Tyne Festival
Kicking off the main festival season in the region, this North Tyneside event welcomed the likes of UB40, Elbow and Kenny Thomas to Tyneouth Priory, while Ministry Of Sound Classical also entertained music fans.
Organised by North Tyneside Council, the event always brings great crowds and fantastic nights, with Ministry Of Sound Classical already confirmed to return next year.
Hardwick Festival
Down in County Durham, this festival on the grounds of the mansion with the same namesaw three huge days of entertainment in August.
Organisers announced a pause on events for 2026, although the memories from this year will last into the summer.
Headline sets came from Scissor Sisters, Pet Shop Boys and Olly Murs while sets from The Lathums, Sam Ryder and Everything Everything dazzled fans.
Local names were also given a chance to shine, including Newcastle up and comer Andrew Cushin and South Tyneside’s Sonny Tennet.
South Tyneside Sunday Concerts
Speaking of South Tyneside, the local council’s SUnday Concerts returned again this year.
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Local names headlined the first weekend session with performances from the likes of Courtney Dixon, Patrick Gosling and Tennet again.
Other weekends through the summer saw sets from Shayne Ward, Nik Kershaw and Bjorn Again entertain audiences.
Come Together Festival
The last year was not only for recurring events, with the first iteration of Come Together Festival taking place on Newcastle’s Town Moor.
Taking place over two afternoons in August, the city centre event saw headline sets from Robbie Williams and Kings Of Leonl while support sets came from the likes of Kaiser Chiefs, Perrie, The Snuts and more.
Lost Minds Festival
Moving from pop to dance, Lost Minds festival welcomed ravers from across the region to Newcastle when Scooter, Ben Nicky and a host of other DJs performed at Exhibition Park across one afternoon
The site was used the following day to host a huge Fontaines DC show too.
Lindisfarne Festival
Traditionally rounding out the festival season in the North East is Lindisfarne, and 2025 was no different. This year’s Northumberland event saw Doves, The Waterboys, Jamie Webster and Armand Van Helden play the biggest sets of the weekend.
The full event was enormous with over 200 acts performing across 8 stages, with the festival already announcing part of its 2026 lineup ahead of the new year. The names already confirmed include The Proclaimers and Ferocious Dog.
What is new in 2026?
There is one key addition to the region’s festival lineup for 2026 thanks to BBC Radio 1. The station’s Big Weekend is returning to Sunderland for the first time since 2005.
Taking place at Herrington Country Park on Wearside, it will be the first Big Weekend in the region since Middlesbrough hosted the annual event in 2019. Back then headline sets came from Miley Cyrus, and The 1975.