Newcastle's Electronic Beats Boom but Clubs Fight to Stay Alive

Newcastle, a city in the North East of England, is making headlines for its rapidly growing electronic music scene. According to a recent report, Newcastle's electronic music events have increased by an impressive 72 percent in just one year, far outpacing London, which only saw an 8 percent rise. This growth has caught the attention of music fans and industry experts across the country, with many people sharing the news on social media. The report highlights Newcastle as a major player in the UK's electronic music scene, suggesting that the city is becoming a new hotspot for music lovers.

However, the reality for many local venues is more complicated. Kate Hodgkinson, director of Cobalt Studios in Ouseburn, has been working hard to create a welcoming and inclusive space for music fans. Cobalt Studios started as artist studios in 1998 and became a full-time venue in 2018. Kate says that in the past, Newcastle had a reputation for being behind the times, and it was hard to attract well-known DJs and musicians. But things have changed recently, and more artists are interested in playing in Newcastle. Kate believes this is partly because Cobalt Studios is known as a female-led venue that offers a safe and expressive environment for everyone.

Despite their growing reputation and regular sold-out events, Cobalt Studios still faces big challenges. The venue is small, with a maximum capacity of 220 people, and it operates as a Community Interest Company, which means it tries to keep prices low and accessible. Kate and her co-director Mark Collet work up to 80 hours a week without taking a salary, just to keep the venue running. They do this out of passion for music and their city, but it is not easy. Other venues, like the Lubber Fiend, share similar struggles. Sam Booth and Jon Cornbill, who run the Lubber Fiend, say that while there is a strong music scene in Newcastle, the cost of putting on events keeps rising, and most venues are not making much money.

The report that showed Newcastle's growth used data from Resident Advisor, a website that lists music events. This means the numbers reflect how many events are happening, but not whether the venues are financially healthy. Rufy Ghazi, who helped write the report, says that more events do not always mean more successful venues. In fact, many clubs are still struggling to cover their costs, even as the number of events increases.

Kate Hodgkinson believes that electronic music can help improve Newcastle by attracting visitors and making the city more vibrant. She hopes the city council and other organizations will recognize the cultural value of nightlife and provide more support for small venues. Some people suggest that a portion of ticket sales from large events should go to help grassroots clubs, similar to how some gig venues are supported. This could make a real difference for smaller clubs that are struggling to survive.

The Newcastle City Council says it is committed to supporting the music sector and has been working with partners to create new opportunities for artists and venues. They have introduced grants and business rates relief for smaller venues, which should help them stay open. The council says it will continue to work closely with the music community to make sure Newcastle remains a leading destination for music and nightlife.

Even though running a club is tough, people like Kate, Mark, Sam, and Jon are determined to keep going. They love music and believe in the power of nightlife to bring people together and make the city a better place. With more support, Newcastle's electronic music scene could become even stronger in the future.