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Chase Park Festival’s all-inclusive family festival is set to attract thousands of music revellers to the region. The line-up will feature its most eclectic line-up of established, emerging and disabled artists to date.
Irish rock legends Ash have been confirmed to perform at the fifth annual Chase Park Festival in Gateshead this summer along with some of the nation's finest established and emerging talent.
Our family-friendly, open-air festival will feature two stages of live music on Saturday 8th August and will also welcome appearances from London's chart-topping indie folk duo Turin Brakes, Sunderland's Field Music-backed outfit SLUG, Glasgow's post-pop assemble Monogram and Newcastle's soul singing sensation, Beth Macari.
Pop-punk rockers Ash - who's legendary album 1977 was named as one of the NME's 500 greatest albums of all time - can't wait to headline the event and will perform songs from their newly released album Kablammo! as well as classics from their illustrious career. Chief vocalist and guitarist, Tim Wheeler, said: “We're really excited to be playing in the North East again. We've never had the pleasure of playing a big festival up there unless you count the minimum wage gig we did in 1999 at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle. We should do one soon for a living wage! This event will be special. Bring on Chase Park 2015!”
Alhough Chase Park Festival was forced to postpone last year, it is back with a bang in 2015 having been awarded the esteemed Gold level of Attitude is Everything’s Charter of Best Practice, one of only three festivals nationwide to receive the accolade. The award recognises Chase Park's wide range of access facilities and inclusive initiatives that the festival has embraced in welcoming deaf and disabled audiences, artists and volunteers. The only two other festivals to hold the Gold accolades are Glastonbury and Liberty Festival.
Chase Park's Festival Organiser Alistair McDonald has said Chase Park Festival wants to build on the legacy of the region's strong festival offering and hopes to showcase the event this year as a genuine player in the national music calendar.
He said: “We have an amazing line-up and I think anyone who is a music fan will have a great time. The event will also to appeal to people with disability as we have a range of provisions in place.
“Chase Park has great music, food, beer, fantastic green surroundings and all of the ingredients that makes an amazing festival. It also has a unique atmosphere that you simply don’t get anywhere else. The feeling of community and togetherness that you get from an event that doesn’t have any barriers genuinely gives festival goers at Chase Park a totally uplifting and amazing experience.
“Achieving Gold Standard from Attitude is Everything is an amazing achievement and to be mentioned in the same breath as Glastonbury and Liberty Festival is something else. This should also give smaller festivals the confidence that they can achieve a fully-inclusive and superb event like ours.”
The festival will also feature a second stage to give disabled artists an opportunity to perform in front of a festival audience. Rob Ottaway, Project Officer in Soundscapes Music Studio, at the Percy Hedley Foundation, who partners the event, explains: “We're proud to support Chase Park Festival. It's the perfect festival for our service users to attend, in terms of disabled access and onsite facilities. It also gives them a platform to showcase their own talents onstage, alongside established acts. “The event boasts superb facilities and excellent disabled access on site and allows our acts to experience the sheer thrill of playing their music in front of a large passionate crowd.”
Keiro are delighted to re-establish a much loved North East musical gathering, following funding from the Arts Council. Jane Tarr, Director North, Arts Council England, believes Chase Park Festival has a bright future ahead. She said: “I am pleased that we have funded Gateshead’s Chase Park Festival through our National Lottery funded Grants for the Arts programme. As an accessible festival, it’s a great platform for developing new talent and emerging, disabled artists.“It contributes strongly to the Creative Case for Diversity and for people thinking of going along, there’s a fascinating range of work to see.”
Meanwhile partners Irwin Mitchell, a national leading law firm, believes Chase Park Festival 2015 will be one of the highlight events of the summer in the region. “It is great that the Chase Park Festival is on the doorstep here in the North East of England. For many disabled people, travelling long distances can be a problem and can also be expensive so this fantastic festival provides an opportunity to see live acts which many disabled people might not ordinarily have,” added solicitor John Davis.
Gates to Chase Park Festival 2015 will open at 11:30 am on Saturday 8th August 2015. The first acts will take to the stage at midday and the event will run until 10pm
Chase Park Festival are pleased to anounce a unique second stage to provide a platform for talented musicians with disabilities.
We have dedicated the new stage to former client Paul Belk who inspired the idea for the festival four years ago.
28-year-old ex-music student Paul Belk, from South Shields, suffered a major brain injury whilst holidaying in Thailand in 2005 which led to doctors believing he only had a 2% chance of survival. After treatment in hospital and successful rehabilitation at Chase Park Neuro Centre operated by Keiro, he is now living independently and playing music again.
Paul Belk said: “I love this festival and I’m so pleased that it is still going strong four years on. The one thing that I really missed when I came around from my coma was music and especially live music and the festival environment.
“The success of the festival and the rehabilitation and support that Keiro provided has spurred me on to play the drums again and I am delighted to have been asked to play on the Keiro Stage for the first time.
“The dedication shown from everyone at Keiro has inspired me to fulfil my dream of playing with my band again. It’s an exciting time for me as I feel like I have got my life back.
“This year it’s the Keiro Stage, next year I’m aiming for the Main Stage!”
Business development director at Keiro, Alistair McDonald, said: “We started the festival to help people show how to make festivals accessible and we are running the Keiro stage to help disabled people to think ‘I can do that’. We are delighted that Paul has been inspired to play in this years’ line up.”
The healthcare group has developed successful partnerships with the UK’s leading music development agency Generator, and together have programmed a stellar line up of musicians of all abilities for the Keiro Stage including rapper Chris Blewitt, DJ Paul Hunby, Sound Beam, The Lawnmowers, The Neuro Partners, Tissue Culture, and Child. The festival has established a reputation for unearthing some of the best new artists in the region including The Lake Poets, Mausi and Amy Holford all playing previous events.
As well as the Keiro Stage the Main Stage will welcome BBC Introducing favourite’s Big Beat Bronson, Thumpers and Symphonic Pictures, Hip-hop upstart TERRA T along with a rare solo appearance from Shift-Static front woman, Laura Smith. Solo artists Natasha Haws and Sam Fender complete the lineup with The Futureheads headlining.
McDonald continued: “Generator has been a key player in making the event as successful as it is and we are delighted to be working with them further to provide music workshops which will allow artists with disabilities and other any emerging artist in the North East to learn about the industry with a number of high calibre guest speakers.
“As part of the festival, the Breaking Through The Noise and Marketing Your Music workshops will take place on July 29, 6-9pm at The Sage, Gateshead with a host of inspirational musicians including Blane Harrison from The Mystery Jets and Jazz musician Clarence Adoo who played at last years’ Paralympics with Chris Martin. We are delighted that Tom Cotton from Amazing Radio and digital marketing expert Darren Hemmings from Motive Unknown (ALT-J, Local Natives) will also be sharing their knowledge and advice.”
Chase Park Festival is accredited by national music charity Attitude is Everything for being one of the most accessible festivals in the UK and is the only music festival in the country to hold a silver level accreditation. It is aimed at including people of all ages and abilities helping to break down cultural barriers and stereotypes often faced with people with disabilities.
The festival has been supported by The MS Society, Newcastle United Foundation and Amazing Radio, and has secured significant funding from the Arts Council England as well as being sponsored by leading injury and disability solicitors Irwin Mitchell, Gateshead Council and Pulse Healthcare.
This year the performances will be enhanced with British Sign Language interpreters and assistive technology software.
The event will also include a holistic therapy tent, craft stalls, face painting and an array of local food and drink. In addition, there will be a games and an education centre where people can learn about disabilities and get an insight into the human brain.
McDonald added: “We aim to provide an event which is inclusive for everyone which gets bigger and better each year, but most importantly one which is accessible to music lovers regardless of ability. Not only is the festival for everyone but it also gives some of the best local artists of all abilities the chance to perform on an open-air stage in front of a wonderfully diverse crowd.”
The open-air festival will take place on Saturday, August 10th in Chase Park, Whickham and acts begin at 12pm.
Listen to Alistair McDonald discussing the Chase Park Festival 2013 with Nick Roberts on Radio Newcastle's BBC Introducing in the North! The show also includes performances from The Lake Poets and Big Beat Bronson at T in the Park and a session from Nadine Shar.
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Monday 29th July | 6-9pm | The Sage Gateshead (Barbour Room) Map / Accessibility
FREE ENTRY (Register Below)
Keiro have teamed up with Generator, the UK’s leading music development agency to offer a free evening of workshops to fast-track the careers of artists performing at the festival as well as emerging artists from the North East. In the spirit of the festival, an evening of workshops is designed to be accessible for everyone regardless of age or disability and we have very special guests, including disability music charity Attitude is Everything patron Blaine Harrison (and lead singer of Mystery Jets) and Clarence Adoo MBE, Darren Hemmings (Motive Unknown – Alt-J/Local Natives) and Tom Cotton (Head of Music, Amazing Radio). The event takes place at The Sage Gateshead, one of only two venues to have gold standard access.
It has never been easier to get your music out there. But first impressions count so it’s more important than ever to get it right and stand out from the crowd. Two ninety-minute sessions, ‘Breaking Through the Noise’ and ‘Marketing Your Music’ will take place to offer artists an insight into:
· The lost art of playing live - how to build your fanbase on the road
· Preparing and promoting key festival performances
· Securing more gigs
· How to attract radio, press and blogs
· Building a buzz and fans online
· Available digital marketing tools
· Communicating using Facebook and Twitter
· Making the most of video content
· Using mailing lists
· How does an artist with disabilities get treated on the UK gig circuit and by the industry?
Sessions will also look at the issues facing artists with disabilities with regards to the UK gig circuit and the music industry. Workshops will also look at how artists can make the most of live opportunities such as Chase Park Festival as a springboard to gain more buzz.
Register for your free space here
with Special Guests...
BLAINE HARRISON (MYSTERY JETS)
Best known as frontman of acclaimed indie band Mystery Jets, Blaine formed the band with his Dad and friend while still at school. Debut album ‘Making Den’ was released to great reviews in 2006, before extensive touring was followed by huge album ‘Twenty One’ in 2008 which featured hits such as ‘Young Love’ and ‘Two Doors Down’. A deal with Rough Trade for third album ‘Serotin’ followed before the band set up base in Texas to record 2012’s ‘Radlands’.
Blaine is also patron for Attitude is Everything, campaigning to make live events accessible for people with disabilities. He was born with spina bifida which has affected his leg muscles since he was a child. While not making a thing of his disability, Blaine believes the band should only play in venues which make an effort to address issues of accessibility.
CLARENCE ADOO MBE
One of the North East’s most inspiring musicians, Clarence Adoo was a trumpet player with the Northern Sinfonia before a traffic accident in 1995 left him paralysed. Despite severe challenges, Clarence’s positive attitude was undiminished. He still works for the Northern Sinfonia at The Sage and continues to make music with the aid of ‘headspace’, a synthesiser-like instrument he has pioneered.
Clarence received an MBE in 2012 for services to music.
DARREN HEMMINGS (MOTIVE UNKNOWN - Alt-J, Local Natives)
Motive Unknown is a strategic digital marketing consultancy, founded by Darren Hemmings, to bring creative, innovative marketing solutions to bands and brands with an expertise in combining practical, effective digital marketing with cutting-edge innovation and technology. Darren’s clients include Mercury Prize winners Alt-J, Villagers, Local Natives, Darwin Deez, Drenge, The Temper Trap and Eliza and the Bear. Darren also works with clothes brands like FLY53 and Ellesse and provides white label solutions for creative marketing agencies, covering anything from craft breweries to global brands in drinks and sportswear. Motive Unknown combine practical, effective digital marketing with cutting-edge innovation and technology.
TOM COTTON (Head of Music, Amazing Radio)
Based in Gateshead, Amazing Radio is the UK’s only station dedicated exclusively to playing new and emerging music from the independent sector. All the station’s music comes from artist-friendly amazingtunes.com and the station was the first to play artists such as Alt-J. As Head of Music, Tom Cotton steers the direction of the station, helping the team to decide what gets played and which artists will be broken by the station. He also runs independent club night Whip Your Hair and popular podcast Our Beat is Correct.
Chaired by KEITH HARRIS (PPL - MUSIC TANK)
Keith Harris began work in the record industry in 1974. The first record company for which he worked was a small independent UK label called Transatlantic records which distributed the Blue Note and Milestone Jazz labels. In 1976 he joined EMI Records where he worked with the imprint Rocket records on the Elton John album ‘Blue Moves’. He then joined Motown which was an EMI licensed label. He worked for Motown for two years ending up as General Manager for the label. During his period at the label he worked with artists such as Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Smokey Robinson, The Commodores, Rick James, The Supremes, Thelma Houston and Stevie Wonder.
Keith left Motown in 1978 and moved to Los Angeles to work with Stevie Wonder and became Operations Manager for Stevie’s companies.
Register
Register for your free space here
Listen to Sam Fender on Amazing Radio, discussing his appearance at the Chase Park Festival and performing live on the show!