Tommy Caulker: DJ, Promoter and Founder of the legendary World Headquarters

For Tommy, music began in childhood. His parents’ New Year’s Eve parties were his first stage. From then on, records became his peace, his language, and the thing he would dedicate his life to.

Growing up in the North East, he witnessed both the region’s warmth and its prejudice. Clubs were alive with energy but also scarred by racism and violence. Those experiences shaped him. Rather than walk away, he decided to build something better, a place where people could come together on their own terms.

That place became World Headquarters. What started as a vision has, over four decades, grown into one of Newcastle’s most important cultural institutions. Tommy describes it as “almost as close as you can get to being owned by the people” a club built on donations, favours, and the collective will of a city. For him, WHQ has always been more than a nightclub, it’s a home for music, art, and opportunity, a space for young people to grow, create, and belong.

The spark that ignited WHQ came from “the Trent jukebox” nights spent burning records, absorbing everything from John Coltrane to Frank Zappa, Bobby Womack to Studio One. That eclectic mix became the DNA of WHQ’s culture a place where different sounds and different people could sit side by side.

Tommy has always believed music has the power to change attitudes and bring people together. His work has been about more than running a club; it’s been about setting an example, showing that Newcastle can be vibrant, inclusive, and outward-looking. Visitors from across the world are struck by the energy of the North East crowds an enthusiasm that, in his words, “they can’t believe.”

That spirit is now being recognised on a national stage. With the MOBO Awards arriving last year and the Mercury Prize coming this October, Tommy sees a shift. A decade ago, events of this scale would never have considered Newcastle. Now, the city is on the map.

For him, the Mercury is about more than one night. It’s about what comes after the future it sparks for young people, the opportunities it creates and the hope it inspires.

Get inspired. Get involved. Take your place.

Film credits:
Funded by: Destination North East England
Produced by: Generator
Production team: Will Creswick, Krishna Muthurangu, Matty Ride-Smith
Music: Nectax