Electronic Music Growth in Newcastle
The electronic music scene in Newcastle is reportedly experiencing significant growth, surpassing London with a 72% year-on-year increase, according to a recent report. However, local venues report ongoing challenges related to funding and the cost of living crisis, raising questions about the true state of the city's club scene.
The report on electronic music, commissioned by the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), sought to assess the economic and cultural impact of the genre on the UK economy, noting it generated £2.47bn in 2025.
Newcastle is highlighted as a key contributor to this growth, representing a shift away from London. The city reportedly experienced nine times London's 8% growth rate in 2025.
Despite widespread sharing of these statistics on social media, venue operators in Newcastle caution that these figures may not fully reflect the local scene's health.
Challenges Faced by Local Venues
Kate Hodgkinson, director of Cobalt Studios in Ouseburn, east of Newcastle city centre, shared her perspective. Cobalt began as artist studios around 1998 and transitioned into a full venue in 2018. Hodgkinson has focused on creating a diverse and inclusive space on the city's nightlife fringe.
"I think there was quite a bit of stigma attached to Newcastle,"Hodgkinson said.
"In the past I've looked after artists and musicians and honestly when they arrived you might think that we're still stuck down in coal mines and shipbuilding, they don't seem to know very much about the city.
It is only fairly recently that we've actually had agents getting in contact and we've become a venue that DJs of a certain status want to go and play, which is a real change for us."
Hodgkinson attributes part of this change to the venue's reputation as a female-led space.
"We've provided a home for people that have often felt that they've not got a comfortable or safe space to go to,"she said.
"That means it can become a very expressive space as well because if people feel safe to be who they are, then they can express themselves and people see that and that helps the space grow."
Despite Cobalt's cult success and regularly sold-out club nights, the venue continues to face financial difficulties. It has a capacity limit of 220 people and operates as a Community Interest Company (CIC), aiming to keep events affordable and accessible.
"Even though our reputation is growing and I think we are doing good things for Newcastle as a city in terms of representing how cool the city is, our economics haven't changed at all and it only works because I don't take a salary,"Hodgkinson explained.
"Two of us do about 80 hours a week and we don't get paid for that."
Hodgkinson also expressed skepticism about the scene's expansion, suggesting the increase in officially listed events may not indicate actual growth.
Similar views were expressed by Sam Booth and Jon Cornbill of the Lubber Fiend, a small DIY grassroots music venue opened in 2022 that also hosts club nights.
"I think there is a strong scene in Newcastle, there are lots of people doing lots of good things, but we're all existing in quite a difficult environment,"Booth said.
"We still have a lot of stuff going on in this city, but I think it paints a different picture when you start to say things like outpacing London, it makes us sound like we've got this thriving money scene.
But everyone's broke, the parties are really difficult to put on, the costs of putting on parties are rising."
Data Interpretation and Financial Realities
Rufy Ghazi, Head of Music Research and Audience Strategies at NTIA, clarified the 72% growth figure for Newcastle is based on analysis of Resident Advisor event listing data.
"They provide a consistent, like-for-like basis for comparing city-level activity over time,"Ghazi said, adding the data signals momentum and decentralisation from London.
"It doesn't measure financial health and the report is clear on that distinction.
So the venues struggling financially while listings grow isn't a contradiction in the data, it's actually one of the report's core tensions.
More events don't automatically mean more viable venues."
Booth acknowledged the presence of quality activity in Newcastle but noted that other cities benefit from decades of stronger funding, resulting in more robust scenes.
Both Booth and Cornbill observed a shift in music consumption, with more people attending large-scale events like The Warehouse Project in Manchester rather than smaller, local events.
"We're doggedly determined to keep doing it anyway.
And if those funding opportunities don't come, that's fine.
It sounds like I'm being pessimistic with that, but it's born from pure love and enthusiasm of doing it, and we're just going to keep doing it."
Both venues advocate for increased practical support for club venues. Booth and Cornbill referenced a new levy on arena and stadium shows that allocates £1 from each ticket to grassroots venues but noted this primarily benefits gig venues rather than clubs.
"That would definitely help, that would be tangible help to underground club culture,"Booth said, suggesting a similar scheme for larger electronic music events.
'Cultural Power of Nightlife'
Hodgkinson, who has dedicated nearly 30 years to Cobalt, reflected on the venue's longevity and future.
"For me, the worry is probably no-one else is stupid enough to do that, or driven enough,"she remarked.
She expressed hope that Newcastle City Council recognises the cultural significance of quality nightlife.
"When it's done right, it's a really important regeneration driver,"Hodgkinson said.
"It's a really important tourist attraction.
But you know, having a reputation as a city as being a really gnarly stag and hen do place where people are vomiting on the streets, that doesn't do the city any favours because it's so much more than that."
A spokesperson for Newcastle City Council stated the council's commitment to supporting the sector and collaboration with partners to create opportunities across multiple music genres.
"We also welcome recent support announced by the North East Combined Authority, including grants for music venues, and have been actively lobbying government on the challenges facing the sector,"the spokesperson said.
"We were pleased to see the introduction of business rates relief for smaller music venues, which will provide much-needed support.
We will continue to work closely with the sector to support its sustainability and ensure Newcastle remains a leading destination for music and nightlife."
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