In the lead-up to the highly anticipated MOBO Awards on Tuesday 18 February, Newcastle will come alive with The MOBO Fringe – a five-day festival of culture, community, and creativity. For the first time, the MOBO Awards, the UK’s premier celebration of Black music and culture, will take place in Newcastle, marking a historic moment for the city and the wider North East region.
Full details have now been unveiled for the MOBO Fringe Festival, with a dynamic and inclusive programme that will showcase the richness of Black music and culture in the North East while creating meaningful opportunities for local talent and communities.
The MOBO Fringe will take place from Thursday 13 February until Monday 17 February in the run-up to the iconic MOBO Awards taking place in Newcastle on Tuesday 18 February. It is a collaboration between Newcastle City Council, MOBO and partners Generator, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Northern Roots, Nrthrn Baby, World Headquarters and Sister Shack, with the support of over 50 community and industry representatives across the city which aims to inspire young creatives and highlight the exceptional talent in the North East.
The Fringe will combine live performances, workshops, industry summits, and community-led initiatives to leave a lasting legacy for the region.
- MOBO Fringe Launch @ The Glasshouse – Thursday 13 February
Celebrating local businesses and live performances including Azula Bandit, Hannabiell & Midnight Blue, Kay Greyson & EK, Malik Abdul, Nadedja, Reali-T, Sisi and Voices of Virtue
- Live @ The Grove – Friday 14 February
R&B Karaoke and performances from Georgia May, Hunni, Jamilah, MannytheMANN, Mcxxne, Sengi, Simba Shore and The97RENN.
- WHQ and Friends @ World Headquarters – Saturday 15 February
DJ sets, live performances and special guests including Azula Bandit, Dairo Events & Friends, WESTY and Yemz.
- BBC Introducing NE X MOBO Showcase @ The Glasshouse – Sunday 16 February
Curated by BBC Introducing NE with live performances featuring unforgettable collaborations.
- MOBO Music Summit @ The Glasshouse – Monday 17 February
Full day of industry led panels and cultural conversations, workshops, demo listening sessions.
- MOBO Unsung Class of 2025 Showcase @ Pilgrim (formerly Hoochie Coochie) – Monday 17 February
MOBO’s Class of Unsung for 2025 performing live.
More artists will be announced next week, so keep an eye on the MOBO Fringe social channels for details.
MOBO Fringe Workshops
- Writing Camp with Nrthrn Baby
- Open Decks with World Head Quarters
- Afro Mix Dance Class with Dance City
- Decolonising Music, Identity, spaces and beyond with Sister Shack at The Coal Yard
- The Journey of a Major Label Campaign with Interval Records
- Beyond the Screen with Tyneside Cinema
Keep an eye on the MOBO Fringe social channels for more details.
Schools and young people’s programme – workshops and performances
- MOBO Fringe will also be holding a series of workshops with local schools from across Newcastle and Gateshead, run by the local Music Education Hubs. These will offer young people the amazing opportunity to learn and perform God Gave Me Feet for Dancing by MOBO Award winning Ezra Collective. A video collaboration of performances will be screened at the MOBO Awards as well as live performances at the MOBO Fringe opening night at The Glasshouse on Thursday 13 February.
- Tyneside Cinema has teamed up with local artists and partners to run a creative bootcamp in five schools across Newcastle and Gateshead over a five-week period, providing young people with the opportunity to create a series of music videos and a behind the scenes ‘making of’ documentary celebrating the essence of the MOBOs and its time in the North East. This will culminate in a unique event at The Tyneside on Saturday 15 February premiering the work of the young people with a very special Q&A and live performance.
Kanya King CBE, Founder and CEO, MOBO Awards, said: “We’re thrilled to bring the MOBO Awards to Newcastle next month, a city celebrated for its creativity and strong sense of community. Alongside the awards, we’re proud to unveil The Fringe – our inspiring programme developed in close partnership with Newcastle City Council, Generator, Glasshouse, Northern Roots, and Nrthrn Baby. The Fringe is all about celebrating Black music and culture while creating opportunities for young and local talent to shine. Following its huge success in Sheffield last year, we’re eager to build on that momentum. This is a chance to bring people together, spark fresh ideas, and leave a lasting legacy of inspiration. Newcastle, the countdown has begun!”
Councillor Karen Kilgour, Leader of Newcastle City Council said: “I am thrilled that we can now announce details of the MOBO Fringe. I truly believe that our plans will leave a lasting and fitting legacy for the city. Since it was announced that Newcastle would be the host city for the 2025 awards, we have been working with communities and partners to create a meaningful and sustainable fringe programme, to celebrate Black music and culture and provide inspiration and opportunities for young people and other emerging creatives who are interested in all aspects of Black music. I truly believe we have created something special and inclusive, and a platform to further develop the already burgeoning music scene in Newcastle.”
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness said: “The North East is a hotbed of creativity, and the MOBO Fringe provides an opportunity to unleash the talent of people in our region. Choosing Newcastle to host the MOBO Awards underlines this, and as Mayor, I’m determined to support our culture and creative industries so the North East stands tall on the national and international stage. This is an exciting time for our region, and the MOBO Fringe is a fantastic start to 2025. I know so many people will embrace the Fringe gigs and be part of the unique event.”
Wendy Smith, Creative Director at The Glasshouse said: “The Glasshouse can’t wait to present these three days of music, collaboration and important conversation as part of the MOBO Fringe. The North East music scene is vibrant, diverse and creatively vital and the MOBO Fringe is a brilliant opportunity to showcase this to music fans across the country and beyond. Welcoming fans and music creators to these free events is an inspiring way to kick-off a hugely important year as The Glasshouse enters its third decade.”
The MOBO Awards have long been a driving force for change, advocating for diversity and inclusion in the music industry and beyond. Through initiatives like The Fringe, The MOBO Organisation continues to champion creativity, amplify underrepresented voices, and provide platforms for emerging talent.
All MOBO Fringe events are free-of-charge, apart from the WHQ & Friends at World Headquarters where usual admission costs apply. All places MUST be booked in advance. For the full programme and to book a place on events visit: mobo.com/fringe
The MOBO Awards takes place at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on Tuesday 18 February. Tickets are on sale now.