BBC Introducing Partners With North East Music Leaders To Boost Region’s Artists

Music venues, festivals and agencies in the North East have announced a partnership with BBC Introducing that will create opportunities for new and independent artists launching careers in the region.

BBC Introducing has been offering new and unsigned artists a way to gain radio play and build audiences since 2007. Artists it has supported include Sam Fender, Ed Sheeran, The 1975, Little Simz, and Arlo Parks. It offers a route to regional and national airplay and BBC Introducing stages at festivals like Glastonbury and Reading and Leeds.

Now the North East is home to the first region-wide partnership between BBC Introducing and multiple venues and organisations to showcase emerging and independent music.

This new regional partnership will create extra opportunities for artists to play local gigs, access artist development support across the region, and to create content for the BBC Music network.

The new partnership will link opportunities for bands to play live, record, rehearse and develop new ideas directly to the BBC Introducing platform. The national broadcaster will get better-than-ever access to one of the country’s most creative musical regions, with new artists finding simpler routes to new fans nationwide.

From 16th April, The Glasshouse’s popular ‘From The Glasshouse’ gigs will relaunch as BBC Introducing From The Glasshouse; showcasing three regional artists at a Pay What You Decide gig that will continue to see a live track by each artist uploaded to YouTube, with opportunities for tracks to be shared across the BBC Introducing network.

The first gig in the series will take place on Wednesday 16 April, with Lizzie Esau. One of the most exciting emerging artists from the North East, Lizzie has already gained support from BBC Radio 1’s Greg James, Absolute Radio’s Danielle Perry, and BBC Introducing, as well as performing at Glastonbury, BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend, and Boardmasters.

One of the North East’s favourite festivals for emerging artists is Stockton Calling. Previously played by the likes of Self Esteem, Sam Fender, Blossoms and Circa Waves, a BBC Introducing Stage at the 2025 festival will once again provide another amazing platform for new acts.

Kelly Betts, Editor from BBC Introducing said: “The music scene in the North East is hugely exciting and this partnership is our commitment to the artists. We’re creating steps from grassroots to national stages together from initiatives like Generator’s First Notes, showcases at The Glasshouse & The Fire Station to festival performances at Stockton Calling and one day maybe even Glastonbury!”

Wendy Smith, Creative Director at The Glasshouse said “As we celebrate our 20th birthday, this partnership shows our dedication to nurturing artists and creating opportunities for them to thrive in the North East. It’s an exciting step forward as we look to our third decade of making music accessible to all. Linking with other brilliant North East independents to support the region’s musicians is the latest step to build on collaborations like Newcastle Gateshead Music City and Sonic Futures in the Tees Valley. We’re delighted that BBC Introducing are with us to platform artists on stage and through their broadcast channels.”

Alice Fuller, Deputy CEO at Generator said: “The BBC Music Network has the potential to infiltrate all levels of the industry, from supporting emerging artists on a regional level, all the way through to breaking and supporting music acts in both live and recorded environments at a global level. Uniting the collective forces of North East music behind BBC Introducing gives artists in this region even more confidence to follow their dreams. Getting them onto the BBC’s radar, and everything that could mean, is a hugely exciting development.”

Tamsin Austin, Venue Director at The Fire Station said: “At The Fire Station we are 100% committed to supporting artists from the earliest stages of their career and love nothing more than seeing artists grow from playing small support slots and showcases to playing main stages and their own headline shows! There’s an amazing buzz around music in Sunderland right now and we’re delighted to play our part in that by bringing BBC Introducing to Wearside.”

Paul Burns, CEO of Tees Music Alliance said: “We’ve worked closely with BBC Introducing locally over the years, so it’s great to be part of a region wide partnership.   The partnership will pool the combined strengths of its members, which can only be a good thing for the artists that we’re all working with – allowing talent from all parts of the region to get onto the radar of key players in the music industry.”

Kesia Bruce, General Manager at Middlesbrough Town Hall said: “Middlesbrough Town Hall has a long history of hosting new and emerging artists, and we’re thrilled to continue to champion the North East music scene through this partnership. Having worked with BBC Introducing at a local level, we’re excited to see the enhanced opportunities we can provide for local artists through the combined strengths of a region-wide effort.”

There will also be opportunities for young creatives from the BBC trainee programmes to have a role in the new partnership, as curators, content creators as hosts of BBC Introducing stages and content in the region.

The partnership follows the announcement of the Newcastle Gateshead Music City in October 2024 and Sonic Futures in the Tees Valley to help support the North East region’s vibrant independent music scene.

Featured Image: Dirty Freud – Victoria Wai