Evolution Festival a big hit for Newcastle

Jun 1 2010 by Ruth Lawson, The Journal

SWARMS of people took to the banks of the River Tyne yesterday to watch the final day of the Evolution Festival.

This year’s line-up saw Scottish singer Paolo Nutini, fellow Scot DJ Calvin Harris and the band of the moment Delphic, wow crowds over the bank holiday weekend.

The past two days have seen big named dance DJs and up-and-coming bands such as Everything Everything, Hadouken, and Sting’s daughter, Coco Sumner, make her North East debut with band I Blame Coco, take to the stages on both Newcastle and Gateshead’s Quaysides.

Also taking to the stage was Northumberland’s own the Unthanks with their unique folk sound.

The free festival attracted thousands of music fans from all over the region, and further afield, who turned out to watch the quality entertainment laid on.

Helen McMahon, a student from Fenham, in Newcastle, was appreciating the sunny weather that eventually broke through yesterday.

The 20-year-old said: “It’s been brilliant, much better than last year. Calvin Harris was amazing and definitely the best act this year.”

Fundraiser Jayne Crow, 25, spent her bank holiday checking out Everything Everything and Delphic.

Jayne, from Heaton, in Newcastle, said: “It’s great to have a festival in Newcastle with some really big bands playing. I’m pleased the sun came out.”

This year’s festival incorporated a new stage called Ballast Hills, which featured folk bands, but the crowds still favoured the big named acts on the two main stages.

There was also a series of other performances at venues around Newcastle and Gateshead from the best local talent in the run-up to the weekend. The closing line-up saw local acts Polarsets and Retriever warm up the crowds, before seasoned pros such as Ellie Goulding, Enter Shikari, Hadouken and Delphic, took to the stages. This year’s event was the fifth Evolution festival to have taken place in the region.