All News and Updates

Crossing The Tyne Festival 2021

Posted on by Liz Panton (Ukulele Allsorts)

Saturday 28th, Sunday 29th and Monday 30th August!

Check out everything we have in store for North and South of The Tyne in 2021 in the Festival Programme !

  • Fantastic local musicians – spot the Saturday Main Stage secret theme!
  • Visiting performers from as far afield as Texas
  • A wonderful Choir from Co Durham
  • “Uke on The Tyne” showcasing top groups and solo acts from Tyne & Wear
  • The Stanza poets strutting their stuff
  • The young musicians of “Own Your Stage”
  • “Into The Spotlight” at the Customs House Amphitheatre

We are enormously grateful to everyone who has given freely of their time and talent to make this the most exciting Crossing The Tyne Festival yet!

All performers for good causes, tireless venue hosts, patient sound and stage managers and enthusiastic volunteer helpers!

Venues

The big venue this year is outdoors with a Main Stage and an Acoustic Stage in Northumberland Square, North Shields NE30 1QD

Indoors, there will be a more intimate Acoustic Stage in the bar at The Exchange, Howard St, North Shields NE30 1SE

On Saturday only, an innovative outdoor stage at the Customs House Amphitheatre, Mill Dam, South Shields NE33 1ES

Refreshments

Festival Lager and Ciders, Shipyard IPA, Stella Artois and soft drinks will be available at the pop-up bar in Northumberland Square.

Festival Charities

Covid-19 put paid to a full Festival in 2020 and we only had a small event at the Amphitheatre outside the Customs House, South Shields with no fundraising.

In 2019, our last proper Festival, we raised over £4,000 for RNLI Lifeboat Tynemouth.

This year we are supporting three local charities:

Saturday: North East Homeless

Sunday: RNLI Lifeboat Tynemouth

Monday: Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade

Find out about the important work these charities do by visiting their stalls in Northumberland Square – and please give generously at all Festival venues!

Partnership with North Tyneside Council

We are delighted that North Tyneside Council has recognised the cultural contribution of the Festival. Without its generous support, practical and financial, we could not have managed to put on such an ambitious event in Northumberland Square. Particular thanks to Tom Wilson, Senior Events Officer, for his advice and patience.

Official Sponsors

Many thanks to RayTel Security Systems for financial support and to NY Timber North Shields for valuable donations of timber to build the Acoustic Stage and Bar in Northumberland Square.

Kind Supporters

A special thank you to Stephenson Steam Railway for the loan of portable barriers and to The Beacon Centre for providing a rehearsal space for Darlington SING Community Choir.

Most of all – come along, bring the family and enjoy the fun!

Steve Willis
Festival Organiser

Bank Holiday Monday Festival Stage @Old_LowLight

Posted on by Liz Panton (Ukulele Allsorts)

26th August 2019 – Bank Holiday Monday

Third Day of the Crossing The Tyne Festival Stage at the Old Low Light Heritage Centre coming up!

Venue 6c [N] Old Low Light Heritage Centre

AS BELOW – OTHERS TBC

12.00 – Veneer
13.00 – Riverbeat
13.30 – Kitchy Retro
14.00 – A Whisper of Moths
14.45 – 16.00 Open Mic

For updates to the running order,  please see:

Festival Programme 2019 Bank Holiday Monday

Facebook Event: https://www.facebook.com/events/942849579411811/

Crossing The Tyne Festival 2019

FREE festival

Fundraising for RNLI Lifeboats

Metro off Wallsend – Tynemouth Sat 24th August

Posted on by Liz Panton (Ukulele Allsorts)

Saturday, 24 August 2019 – No trains Wallsend – Tynemouth

Nexus info correct at time of posting:

“All day on Saturday 24 August no trains will run between Wallsend and Tynemouth to allow for overhead line renewal work.  During the work a replacement bus service, number 900 will be calling at or close to all stations in the affected area. Replacement bus stop locations and bus timetable are available below.  Your journey will take longer so please leave extra time for travel.”

For help planning your journey call 0191 20 20 747 (open Monday – Friday 8.00am – 6.00pm) or use the Live Travel Map.

Nexus Page for further updates:

https://www.nexus.org.uk/metro/updates

Ferry

Travelling from South Shields, you can park for free near the Customs House, then get the ferry from South Shields to North Shields.

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.

Travelling from North Shields, there is also a multi-storey carpark at The Beacon Shopping Centre North Shields town centre.

Map and Directions. How to get to North Shields Ferry landing.The ferry landing is about a 10 minute walk from North Shields Metro station. The route is quite steep, however bus Service 333 provides a free shuttle service to passengers with a valid ferry ticket. This service also goes to North Shields Fish Quay. Bus Service 19 connects North Shields ferry landing with Royal Quays, Silverlink Shopping Park, Cobalt Business Park and the Metro system.

Bus, Ferry,  Metro and Rail

https://crossingthetynefestival.uk/maps-travel-and-transport/

Tyne Tunnels – TT2

Tyne Tunnel Approach

Helping you prepare for your first visit to the Tyne Tunnels

North Tyneside Parking

https://my.northtyneside.gov.uk/category/698/parking

Beacon Centre

The Beacon Shopping Centre
Bedford Street
North Shields
NE29 6QF

For Sat Nav purposes the postcode of the Car park is NE29 6QN

By car

From the South head up the A19, through the newly improved Tyne Tunnel (toll fee due) and follow the signs for North Shields town centre.

From the North head down the A19 turning off when you see the signs for Wallsend, Royal Quays. Follow signs for North Shields town centre.

When you arrive by car, there are over 400 spaces in The Beacon car park, adjacent to the shopping centre.

By metro

North Shields metro station is immediately opposite the shopping centre, with trains stopping every 10-15 minutes.

By bus

Various buses regularly stop outside the shopping centre. These include services #1, 1A, 17, 17A, 53, 57, 80, and 333, giving you a chance to travel from as far as Newcastle and Cramlington.

Specific details about these services can be found at the following links:

www.nexus.org.uk/bus/timetables
www.nexus.org.uk/metro/timetables-stations/north-shields
www.nexus.org.uk/ferry
www.tt2.co.uk

Parking at The Beacon Centre

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 are as follows:

Up to 2 hours £1.20
2-4 hours £1.50
4+ hours £2.50
Sundays – FREE

For Sat Nav purposes the postcode of the Car park is NE29 6QN

Special Offer

Our overnight parking is just £5 per night. T&C’s apply. To find our more contact the Centre on 0191 2583909

Car Park Opening Times:

The car park is open from 7am – 7pm Monday to Saturday, 10am – 4pm Sundays.

South Tyneside Parking

https://www.southtyneside.gov.uk/article/38102/Parking

Crossing The Tyne Festival 2019 – RNLI Lifeboats

Posted on by Liz Panton (Ukulele Allsorts)

The Festival Programme for Saturday 24 August will be getting filled in on the website very soon!

We are delighted to be fundraising this year for RNLI Lifeboats

RNLI Fundraising

There are going to be some special new treats on the river this year! And even more venues than last year! And a Festival Beer! And . . . and . . . just wait and see!

Thank you to all the performers and venues for continuing to support the biggest free festival in the UK – possibly the biggest free festival in the Western Spiral Arm of the Galaxy!

And a big welcome to the boat owners and brewers who are joining in with us for the first time!

 

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

 

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!!

Festival FAQs

Posted on by Liz Panton (Ukulele Allsorts)

FAQs

Is this really a FREE Festival?

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

  • There aren’t any tickets, wrist-bands – whatever.
  • Everything else, 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 the Venue Host.

Who is paying for this Free Festival?

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

We are delighted that, for the first time, the 2021 Festival has sponsorship to help us to cover costs!

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 say that they want to be involved again and new people ask 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
  • Please contact the Venue if you need more information

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:

£712.43 raised for Oxfam by Crossing the Tyne Festival 2017!

Posted on by Liz Panton (Ukulele Allsorts)

2017 Crossing The Tyne Festival Poster - money raised 600x845

Thank you!

Crossing The Tyne Festival 2017 was a great success! Many thanks to EVERYONE who contributed – on both sides of The Tyne and on The Tyne. In North and South Shields, in Gateshead and Newcastle and on the Nexus Ferry!

Many thanks to the Performers, Festival Admin, the Venues, the Event Organisers and Hosts – to everyone who came along and made this such wonderful day and helped to raise funds for a good cause! The sun shone down and smiled on us too!

  • Great events!
  • Great performances!
  • Great community participation!
  • Best of all – over £700 raised for Oxfam with Oxjam Newcastle!

Many thanks also to everyone who has shared their photos and videos so that we can share them with you!

We will be posting highlights from 2017 but in the meantime you can see photos and videos on our Facebook Festival Page, Group and Facebook Events – and on the “Top Tourist” blog here! Crossing The Tyne Festival 2017

Next Crossing The Tyne Festival – 25 August 2018!

We have already started planning for next year!

Our new charity for 2018 will be “Cash for Kids ” as supported by Metro Radio

Come along, join in, have a great time and help raise funds for another very good cause!

Steve Willis
Festival Organiser

Festival Links:

Facebook: Festival Page

Facebook: Festival Group

Facebook: Festival Events Links

Twitter: @crossingthetyne

 

 

Crossing The Tyne Festival website launch!

Posted on by Liz Panton (Ukulele Allsorts)

Making connections!

We are pleased to announce the launch of the Crossing The Tyne Festival website, in time for the Third Crossing The Tyne Festival, on August 26th 2017!

We know that not everyone is on Facebook or Twitter and we need to connect with that wider audience.

Scroll down to the bottom of the page and you will that, as well as Twitter and Facebook,  you can sign up for email updates,  follow from your own WordPress.com blog or grab our RSS feeds.

There are other ways you can get in touch with us too, just check out our Contact Page

Crossing The Tyne Festival 2017

Our third Festival is this weekend, Saturday 26th August 2017. There are events on both sides of The Tyne – and on The Tyne!

We hope you can make it along to enjoy some good music, poetry and companionship, to meet old friends and make new ones.

We are fundraising for Oxfam this year and with the help of Newcastle Oxjam, this year’s Festival is bigger than ever!

You can find this year’s Festival Programme here:

Then, Now and Next!

Many thanks to everyone who has supported us for the last three years!  So many people have given their time, energy, talents and performance spaces for free, to entertain and help raise funds for charitable causes!

Past Festivals might be gone but they are not forgotten!  We will be featuring stories, photos and videos from all the Festivals on the website in future.

We will be developing our website to support and promote The Crossing The Tyne Festival in 2018 and beyond!

We are sure that everyone will enjoy the 2017 Festival and we have some even bigger plans for our next Festival in 2018!

Thank you again to everyone who has made this possible.

Steve Willis
Organiser, Crossing The Tyne Festival