All News and Updates

Thank you – from Metro Radio Cash for Kids – and from Steve Willis, Festival Organiser!

Posted on by Liz Panton (Ukulele Allsorts)

 

2018-09-05 Metro Radio - Dan Steve Liz Cheque - website 800x400
Dan Moylan (Metro Radio), Steve Willis (Organiser, Crossing The Tyne Festival), Liz Panton (Festival Team Member)

https://www.cashforkidsgive.co.uk/campaign/metro-radio-general-fundraising/fundraisers/crossing-the-tyne-festival-2018/

Thank you – from Metro Radio Cash for Kids Charity!

5th September 2018

THANK YOU!

I wanted to write to you to say thank you for your recent donation of £1,044.50 to Cash for Kids from fundraising at the Crossing the Tyne Festival. The money will help make a difference to the lives of local disabled and disadvantaged children here in the North East.

1 in 4 children across the North East are living in poverty, in a home that is cold, damp or both and regularly go without hot meals. It is our mission each year to respond to the needs of children in our communities and give the most disadvantaged a better and brighter future. We aspire to enable all children to live life to the full and achieve their individual potential.

Cash for Kids guarantee that all the money raised in the North East stays here and at least 90p in every £1 donated goes to support the children direct.

Once again, thank you to you and all of the venues involved for your support – it is only through donations like yours that we can continue our work of alleviating child poverty, supporting disability and improving quality of life.

“Together we can make a difference”

Kind Regards,
Dan Slee
Charity Manager
Metro Radio’s Cash for Kids

5th September 2018 Dear Steve, Liz and everyone at the Crossing the Tyne Festival THANK YOU! I wanted to write to you to say thank you for your recent donation of £1,044.50 to Cash for Kids from fundraising at the Crossing the Tyne Festival. The money will help make a difference to the lives of local disabled and disadvantaged children here in the North East. 1 in 4 children across the North East are living in poverty, in a home that is cold, damp or both and regularly go without hot meals. It is our mission each year to respond to the needs of children in our communities and give the most disadvantaged a better and brighter future. We aspire to enable all children to live life to the full and achieve their individual potential. Cash for Kids guarantee that all the money raised in the North East stays here and at least 90p in every £1 donated goes to support the children direct. Once again, thank you to you and all of the venues involved for your support – it is only through donations like yours that we can continue our work of alleviating child poverty, supporting disability and improving quality of life. “Together we can make a difference” Kind Regards, Dan Slee Dan Slee Charity Manager Metro Radio’s Cash for Kids

Thank you – everyone!

On behalf of the Festival Team, I would like to thank everyone who donated to Metro Radio Cash for Kids at the Crossing The Tyne Festival 2018 on Saturday 25th August.

We aimed high in setting a fundraising target of £1,000 and you did us proud! We raised over £1,044!

Every penny donated at the Festival went direct to the Charity. There are no “Admin Costs” – the Festival is entirely voluntary and unfunded.

We could not have done this without the support of the 19 venues in North Shields, South Shields and on the Nexus Shields Ferry, who hosted the bands, singer songwriters, poets and choirs who all gave their time and talents for free in a good cause.

Thank you to all the venues who helped us to raise over £1,044 for Metro Radio Cash for Kinds:

1. Nexus Shields Ferry
2. Ferry Landing (South Side)
3. Alum Ale House (South Shields)
4. The Exchange (North Shields)
5. Magnesia Bank (North Shields)
6. Old Low Light Heritage Centre (North Shields)
7. Holborn Rose & Crown (South Shields)
8. Lovaine Community Garden (North Shields)
9. Cluny 2 (Newcastle)
10. The Word (South Shields)
11. Low Lights Tavern (North Shields)
12. St Hildas Pithead (South Shields)
13. Bell & Bucket (North Shields)
14. Pub & Kitchen (North Shields)
15. Oddfellows (North Shields)
16. Pie & Bottle Shop (North Shields)
17. Steamboat (South Shields)
18. Queen Vic (South Shields)
19. Juke Shed Bar (North Shields)

Thank you . . .

  • to the “hosts” and volunteers at each venue who organised the performances, provided sound gear and technical support, kept things running smoothly on the day, collected donations, organised raffles, etc. etc.
  • to all the photographers and video makers, who have created a stunningly vivid record of a wonderfully vibrant Festival.
  • to the musicians, poets and choirs who contributed more than 140 performances during the Festival!

All the Performers and Venue “Hosts” are listed on the Festival website and we will be adding photos and videos soon.

Special mentions to the following Festival Team Members:

  • Lesley Tan: for being everywhere on multiple social media platforms, providing information and promoting the Festival, plus contacting individual performers and bands to check that they knew where and when they were booked to play.
  • Liz Panton: Festival “web monkey” for collating and publishing Festival information, with an interactive map to help everyone to navigate on the day, plus hosting the second biggest venue, the “Strum on The Tyne” ukulele festival at The Magnesia Bank, with two stages and 12 acts that raised over £200 on the day
  • Ray Rowley: for hosting on the Shields Ferry – the busiest, most challenging venue with Performances on 24 crossings and the one that raised the most funds on the day – over £400 for Metro Radio Cash for Kids!

We have already started planning the next Crossing The Tyne Festival – we will keep you posted.  See you then!  And thank you all again!

Steve Willis
Crossing The Tyne Festival Organiser
https://crossingthetynefestival.uk

Inspired_by_Logo_RGB

Over £1,000 raised for Metro Radio “Cash for Kids” Charity!

Posted on by Liz Panton (Ukulele Allsorts)

2018 Crossing The Tyne Festival Google Map screenshot 800x436 NOTES v2 web

CROSSING THE TYNE FESTIVAL 2018

  • 19 Venues in North Shields, South Shields and on the Nexus Shields Ferry
  • Over 140 Performances by musicians, singers, choirs and poets
  • Over £1,000 raised for Metro Radio Cash for Kids!

Last year the Festival raised over £700 for Oxfam, in partnership with Oxjam Newcastle.

This year we went it alone and set ourselves a fund-raising target of £1,000 for Metro Radio Cash for Kids.

You cannot imagine how pleased and proud I am that the Festival raised over £1,000 !

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO TOOK PART, RAISING FUNDS AND GIVING MONEY TO THIS GOOD CAUSE!

Steve Willis
Festival Organiser

£1,034.50 added today to the “off-line donations” on the Metro Radio Cash for Kids Festival Fundraising Page 

Cash For Kids + metro radio

I guess this will stop showing “pending” Office Hours tomorrow because the cash has already been delivered!

Fantastic Fourth Free Festival yesterday! Thank you EVERYONE! ♫❤️♬

Posted on by Liz Panton (Ukulele Allsorts)

2018 Crossing The Tyne Festival Google Map screenshot 800x436 + NOTES

Phew! We all did it again – and no one fell in the river!

It is obvious from all the photos and videos posted on Social Media that everyone had a great time yesterday! We sort of had a hunch that you might!

Festival Organiser, Steve Willis, and his Admin Elves will be collecting and counting all the donations to the Festival Charity, Metro Radio Cash for Kids.  We will let you know how well we have done this year as soon as possible!

THANK YOU AGAIN EVERYONE! – YOU ROCK!!

Strum on The Tyne – Raffle for Cash for Kids!

Posted on by Liz Panton (Ukulele Allsorts)

 

Fantastic response from Ukulele Players taking part in the Crossing The Tyne Festival 2018 “Strum on The Tyne” “Uke Fest” tomorrow at

Venue 5 (N) The Magnesia Bank

2018 Website image - Venue 5 - Magnesia Bank 600x314

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raffle Prizes

Raffle Donations so far! More are welcome!

All proceeds to “Metro Radio Cash for Kids“!

  • Two Tickets to the North Tyneside Ukulele Festival !
    • donated by Bay Uke
  • Makala Waterman Ukulele, Slide Whistle, Stagg XLR Microphone Cable, Aquila Sugar Strings and Aquila Nylgut Strings
    • ALL donated by Darren Gray!
  • Wine, Spirits and BIG Box of Chocolates
    • donated by Co-Op, Spar & Morrison’s – Diane Robson 
  • Boulder Creek Hard-Foam Baritone Ukulele Case
    • donated by Liz Panton

Raffle 6:00 – when the music stops!

2018 Strum on The Tyne - Running Order

 

 

Buskers Venues at Crossing The Tyne Festival

Posted on by Liz Panton (Ukulele Allsorts)

The Crossing The Tyne Festival started out in 2015 as a “Buskers Festival” of Open Stages and “Sessions”. It has got more organised over the years, with acts and bands pre-booking slots – but these venues have set up for Wandering Troubadours to turn up on spec!

There is a Google Map of all the venues to help find your way around:

  • Short url for Festival Venues on Google Maps:  http://bit.ly/CrossingTyneFestMap
  • Many thanks to Steve Pledger for letting us know that the Alum Ale House had levitated onto the Shields Ferry, according to our map! The Festival Web Monkey has now wrestled it back onto dry land!

BUSKERS VENUES

Venue 2 (S) FERRY LANDING TERMINAL South Shields

  • 12:00 – 6:00 Mix of Open Stage and Pre-booked Acts

2018 Website image - Venue 2 - Ferry Landing 600x314

Jam Along / Open Stage

Map and Directions. How to get to South Shields Ferry landing.The ferry landing is about a 5 minute walk from South Shields Metro station. Most local buses serve Market Place and Keppel Street.
nexus.org.uk

Venue 7 (S) HOLBORN ROSE & CROWN, South Shields

  • Two acts then Open Stage from 4:30 – 6:30

2018 Website image - Venue 7 - Holborn Rose & Crown 600x314

Bands & Buskers

  • 3:30 – 6:30
    • 3:30 The Claptouts
    • 4:00 Kitchy Retro
    • More to follow – then Jam Along / Open Stage until 6:30
  • Host: Jenn Cherene
  • Facebook Event
  • Location:
    The Holborn Rose & Crown
    101-103 Hill Street
    South Shields
    NE33 1RN
  • Access: contact venue

Venue 17 (S) STEAM BOAT PUB, South Shields

  • 12:00 – 6:00 free playing acoustic venue

2018 Website image - Venue 17 - Steamboat 600x314

Unplugged Acoustic Session

  • 12:00 – 6:00-ish!
  • Host: Ethan Bruce
  • Facebook Event
  • Location:
    Steamboat Pub
    27 Mill Dam
    South Shields
    NE33 1EQ
  • Access: contact venue

Venue 19 (N) JUKE SHED BAR, North Shields

  • 12:00 – 6:00 Acoustic Session: Mix of Open Stage and Pre-booked Acts

2018 Website image - Venue 19 - Juke Shed Bar 600x314

Acoustic Session

  • 12:00 – 6:00 TBC
  • Host: TBC
  • Facebook Event
  • Location:
    16 Union Quay
    North Shields
    NE30 1HJ
  • Access: contact venue

 

Venue 5. Strum on The Tyne “Uke Fest” @MagnesiaBank !

Posted on by Liz Panton (Ukulele Allsorts)

Many Thanks to The Magnesia Bank !

– for welcoming us at very short notice and hosting “Strum on The Tyne” 2018 !

2018-08-22 Magnesia Bank 01 + access notes 800x523

Venue 5. Crossing the Tyne Festival

The Magnesia Bank
1 Camden St
North Shields
NE30 1NH

Directions: Google Map

Food

  • There are only “Bar snacks” (crisps, etc.).
  • The pub is just off North Shields High Street, close to cafe’s and shops.
  • 3:05 – 3:30 BREAK for food!

Public Transport

  • 5 minutes walk from North Shields metro and many bus stops
  • 9 minutes walk from North Shields Ferry Terminal.

Parking

  • On-street: Camden St and surrounding streets, 50p per hour (no time restrictions) (Camden St is one-way, running down from the High St.)
  • Beacon Centre Multi-Storey: 2 mins walk
    Adjacent to the shopping centre is a multi-storey car park with more than 400 parking bays, 13 disabled bays and 7 parent & toddler bays.
    Parking charges:
    Up to 2 hours £1.20
    2-4 hours £1.50
    4+ hours £2.50
    For Sat Nav purposes the postcode of the Car park is NE29 6QN
    The car park is open from 7am – 7pm
  • North Shields Fish Quay: Free parking
  • North Tyneside – All Parking Info

Accessibility

  • Level access from Camden Street into The Conservatory.
  • Level access from Camden Street to back entrance of main bar. (One step maybe, there were three doors and I was not sure which one was the back entrance!)
  • Several steep steps between The Conservatory and Main Bar
  • Toilets are level access from the Main Bar.
  • NOT fully wheelchair accessible.
    • There is no designated wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • Staff say that customers in wheelchairs do use the toilets.

Stages

Stage 1: Main Bar
Stage 2: Conservatory

Programme

PLEASE SEE THE “STRUM ON THE TYNE” PAGE

Please bear with us while we update Venue 5. Strum on The Tyne details across social media!

 

 

 

Venue 19 added today! Juke Shed Bar, North Shields

Posted on by Liz Panton (Ukulele Allsorts)

Delighted to add another “Acoustic Session” venue to the Crossing The Tyne Festival Programme today – at Juke Shed Bar, North Shields: Venue 19!

Venue 19 (N) Juke Shed Bar

2018 Website image - Venue 19 - Juke Shed Bar 600x314

Acoustic Session

  • 12:00 – 6:00 TBC
  • Host: TBC
  • Facebook Event
  • Location:
    16 Union Quay
    North Shields
    NE30 1HJ
  • Access: contact venue
  • Map: Festival Venues on Google Maps bit.ly/CrossingTyneFestMap

Get Festival Updates by email! Sign up here!

 

 

Festival FAQs

Posted on by Liz Panton (Ukulele Allsorts)

FAQs

Is this really a FREE Festival?

  • If you are travelling on the Nexus Shields Ferry you still need a ticket or travel pass (Nexus has provided free “Pop Cards” for Festival Performers)
  • All the venues in North & South Shields are Free Entry
  • There is an extra event in the evening at Cluny2 in Newcastle that is NOT free entry
  • Please see the Festival Programme

Where do I get Tickets, wrist-bands – whatever?

  • There aren’t any – well for all but one event
  • If you want to go to the Extra Event (Circle of Five) on Saturday Evening at Cluny2 in Newcastle, there is information about tickets on the Cluny Website
  • If you are travelling on the Nexus Shields Ferry you still need a ticket or travel pass (Nexus has provided free “Pop Cards” for Festival Performers)
  • Everything else, you just turn up.
  • The whole idea of the Festival is that people are free wander from event to event and use the Shields Ferry to explore venues on both sides of Tyne

How do I get there and find my way around?

If I just turn up, will I get a spot to perform?

  • It depends on the type of event
  • Check the Festival Programme for venues with “Open Stage” times or “Sessions”
  • Whether you get a “spot” depends on how busy the Programme is at that Venue and is at the discretion of the Venue Host
  • If you want to go on the “Reserve List” in case a set time becomes free at a particular Venue, please contact Steve Willis, Festival Organiser (there is a Contact Form further down)

Who is paying for this Free Festival?

– Is it the Council?
– Or have you got charitable funding or business sponsorship?

None of the above!

Aren’t you just exploiting professional musicians?

– Performers deserve to be paid and need to earn a living.

  • We are aware of and support the Musicians Union campaign #WorkNotPlay
  • The Festival does not have any money to pay anyone – it is all entirely voluntary
  • Every year, musicians and other performers come back for more and new people want to join in – so we must be doing something right
  • What we offer is the chance to see other performances for free, to meet and jam with other musicians, visit and play in new venues, wow new audiences, raise funds for a good cause and have a great day out.

Are there ID or minimum age requirements?

  • Some Festival venues are inside or in the grounds of Public Houses.
  • Normal Licencing Laws apply.
  • Please contact individual venues if you need further information.

What about transport and parking?

Please see the Festival Programme section: Maps, Travel and Transport

How accessible are venues for people with disabilities?

  • It varies and we do not have accessibility information for all venues.
  • If  a venue has Accessibility information on its website, it is linked on the Festival Programme Page
  • You can find the same information on the Festival Accessibility Page
  • Venues that are “accessible”  have a wheelchair symbol on the Festival Map (short url: bit.ly/CrossingTyneFestMap)
    • you can filter the Festival Map so that you see only Accessible Venues
    • some are not fully accessible: please check details and contact the venue if you need further details

How can I contact the Festival Organiser?

There are lots of ways to contact Steve Willis, Festival Organiser – please see the Festival Contact Page – or use this Contact Form:

 

Festival Google Map short-url

Posted on by Liz Panton (Ukulele Allsorts)

Correct short url for Festival Map

This is the correct short url: bit.ly/CrossingTyneFestMap 

2018-08-05 Crossing The Tyne Festival Map Screenshot 800x509

Map update – Accessibility Info

  • There are now “wheelchair symbols” on the markers for Accessible Venues
  • There are also map “layers” for just the accessible venues.
  • De-selecting the “All Venues” layers will show only accessible venues.

Confessions of Festival Web Monkey:

“I accidentally linked to my private, editing view of the Festival Google Map instead of the Public View!”

This has now been corrected in Festival website Pages and Posts (please reinstate my supply of bananas, Steve Willis!)