Artwork by Seth Tinsley
Beyond the Moor 2026
with Breabach, The Breath, Will Pound & Jenn Butterworth, Jali Bakary Konteh, Hearken Quartet, Watersmeet, and Newcastle University Folk Degree platform.
Saturday 10 October 2026. 2.30pm doors.
Early Bird ticket £45 until 2 July 2026.
​​Full price ticket £55 from 3 July 2026
Students/u18s £28.
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Under 14s must be accompanied by an adult.
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Please check out our terms and conditions when buying tickets with us.
Beyond the Moor celebrates folk and roots music, where we platform artists spanning the genres of traditional music. Started in 2022, the live music event showcase's the best in local and national musicians playing contemporary, alternative and traditional folk and roots music, in the inclusive and accessible environment of Gosforth Civic Theatre.
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The music takes place across two stages at GCT, on our main stage in our 200 capacity Theatre and on the Sessions stage in our intimate studio space. Eight artists will play sets from 3pm to 10pm while you can settle in with food and drink available at the venue throughout the day.
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Previous iterations of the festival have seen​​ Kathryn Tickell and the Darkening, Nancy Kerr and James Fagan, Flook, Martin Simpson, Siobhan Miller, Benji Kirkpatrick, Holly and the Reivers, Lauren Housley and the Northern Cowboys, Frankie Archer, Me Lost Me, O'Hooley & Tidow, Leveret, Ross Couper & Tom Oakes, and Withered Hand among many others play our main stage.
2026 Line up
We expect the event to run to the timings below, but please note these may be subject to change:
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2.30pm - Doors
3pm - Watersmeet
4pm - Hearken Quartet
4.40pm - Folk Degree Artists (Studio)
5pm - Jali Bakary Konteh
5.45pm - Folk Degree Artists (Studio)
6.30pm - Will Pound & Jenn Butterworth
7.15pm - Folk Degree Artists (Studio)
7.40pm - The Breath
9.15pm - Breabach​​
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Why we wanted to add Beyond the Moor to the North East's music scene.
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Newcastle and the North East’s folk scene is strong and vibrant and Beyond the Moor seeks to harness this by pairing it with genuine world class touring bands. Gosforth Civic Theatre’s folk club gigs have seen an increase in popularity and there’s a tangible thirst for more platforms for contemporary folk and roots music in the region.
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Kari Macleod and Bernard Wright, who co-produce Beyond the Moor, said: “We were conscious that there’s a highly regarded folk and traditional music degree in Newcastle but there is currently no event of this kind happening in the city right now. We wanted to create an opportunity for people to see some of the best and most exciting artists, both regionally and nationally, under one roof as a celebration all forms of traditional and roots music; with the hope to inspire the next generation of musicians and audiences.”
The artists
Breabach
​“Matching fiery intensity with exquisite finesse, this was a magnificent set”
The Scotsman ★★★★★
“Exhilarating, energetic and accomplished”
Songlines ★★★★
Twenty years on from winning the Danny Kyle Open Stage Award at Celtic Connections, Breabach remain securely ranked amongst Scotland’s most skilled & imaginative contemporary-folk acts and at the forefront of the burgeoning traditional music scene. The band unite deep roots in Highland and Island Gaelic tradition alongside progressive musical influences and have cultivated a unique sound, anchoring double bagpipes, fiddle, whistle, step-dance and song with energetic double bass and guitar accompaniment.
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Versatility, love of experimentation and a willingness to push the boundaries of Scottish roots music have endured as the core values of the band over the past two decades. They have embraced and pioneered many cross-genre collaborations, linking up with artists including Quebec’s Le Vent du Nord, BAFTA award-winning animator Cat Bruce, indigenous Australasian artist Moana & the Tribe, video game composer Big Giant Circles, Cape Breton powerhouse Beòlach, the Scottish National Jazz Orchestra and most recently with county star Darius Rucker as part of the Grand Ole Opry: Live in London show at the Royal Albert Hall.
With 8 critically acclaimed studio releases to date, an extensive global touring schedule which has seen them perform from the Sydney Opera House to Central Park NY and having received recognition with 6 BBC ALBA Traditional Music Awards, a 2023 German Record Critic’s Award and as European Folk Group of the year finalists in the prestigious Songlines Awards, Breabach’s journey shows no sign of slowing.
The Breath
"An affecting blend... McCallum provides the grandeur and artifice and Connolly the intimacy and purity."
Uncut
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"The Breath rolls across the senses like clouds caress low hills – always moving, changing, evolving; and utterly fascinating."
Folk Radio.com
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"Folk roots but different horizons... the jaw-droppingly stunning, woozy voice of Ríoghnach Connolly."
The Guardian
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The Breath is Stuart McCallum, acclaimed guitar whiz and ex-member of The Cinematic Orchestra, and Ríoghnach Connolly, multi award-winning folk singer. Softly-spoken Stuart and larger-than-life Ríoghnach met on Manchester’s gig circuit in the late noughties and their connection was immediate. They formed The Breath in 2016, a singer-songwriter duo to present their contemporary take on alt-folk.
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For them, it’s all about the song. Connolly is a storyteller and their exquisitely crafted, honest, personal, heartfelt songs are as likely to touch on childhood summers and first love as cultural dislocation, post- colonial injustices and grief. But it’s Ríoghnach’s impassioned delivery and extraordinary stop-you-in- your-tracks voice, coupled with Stuart’s understated brilliance that is so engaging.
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The Breath have released three albums on Peter Gabriel’s Real World label. Their breakthrough album, ‘Carry Your Kin’ (2016) delved deeply into the spaces between rock, ambient and Irish folk, where layered vocals, mesmerising guitar riffs and expansive folk arrangements created a big sound. ‘Let the Cards Fall’ followed in 2018, and, like the first, was recorded with a full band granting a multi-textured kaleidoscope of sound with a cinematic sensibility. References to Celtic history and cultural loss are woven into a bewitching collection of songs that span beguiling ballads and punch-the-air anthems. In support of the release, Stuart and Ríoghnach performed a series of shows – just the two of them. Stripped bare, they found a new depth and beauty in their songs allowing their extraordinary connection to shine through.
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The Breath in Autumn 2023 build to their new album, ‘Land Of My Other’. Ten original tracks of raw, gorgeous, acoustic-minded music. Songs that tell stories in ways that soothe, stir, exalt, and touch emotional chords that will bring tears of lamenting joy, to your eyes.​
Will Pound & Jenn Butterworth
This virtuosic duo formed as the result of a chance meeting at a folk session in 2018, and led to Will and Jenn’s music travelling around the world as a viral internet sensation. In their live shows, they play a game of ‘musical cat and mouse’; improvising and responding to each other, weaving virtuosic performances that are unique and in-the-moment as only two musicians highly accomplished in their craft can produce.
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Will and Jenn are both well known and respected artists, and have won or been nominated for awards from the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards, FATEA, Songlines and the Scots Trad Music Awards. They are excellent collaborators, and have worked with many of the UK’s top trad acts.
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“We adore live performance, and have been carefully crafting a live set that takes the listener on an emotional journey. Recently, an audience member remarked on the joy
that we brought to them during our show, and that we need to find as much joy we can in the world these days. This really stuck with me as it’s very much part of our ethos.
Although we have a plan for our concert sets, a lot of our work is improvised, we’re flexible and enjoy responding to what we throw at each other in the moment. This is
exhilarating for the audience and a huge amount of fun for both of us.”
Jenn Butterworth
Jali Bakary Konteh
"An exceptional purveyor of the Gambian tradition'"
Afropop Worldwide
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Jali Bakary Konteh is the grandson and son, respectively, of the legendary Gambian kora players Alhaji Bai Konte (who helped to bring kora music to the wider world with his iconic album Kora Melodies From the Republic of the Gambia, West Africa in 1973) and Dembo Konte. As Banning Eyre has put it, “it is difficult to overstate the regal, nearly divine, stature” of the Konte family in the echelons of West African music.
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Born into this remarkable musical lineage and steeped in Gambia’s griot tradition, Jali Bakary is the latest torchbearer for his family’s kora legacy on the world stage. He has performed extensively throughout West and North Africa, as well as in the UK, US, Middle East and Europe.
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In the way of Mande tradition, Jali Bakary Konteh brings his own personal touch and innovations to traditional songs, with unique virtuosic melodic and rhythmic arrangements. A hugely versatile musician, he regularly performs solo, as well as with his own band, Minyanta.
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Jali Bakary has built up a following across the UK with solo performances at many of the best-known folk festivals such as Sidmouth and Cambridge as well as multi-arts festivals like Llangollen Fringe and Rye, and at venues from London’s King’s Place to Liverpool’s Tung Auditorium. Jali has also performed live on BBC Radio 3 In Tune.
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His performances combine dazzling musicianship and an engaging stage presence, giving him a platform to share his beloved griot culture, the kora and The Gambia on stages around the country. The most common response from audience members is ‘mesmerising.’
Hearken Quartet
Inspired by the lively traditional dance music of Europe, Hearken Quartet are an energetic ensemble of clarinet, uilleann pipes, guitar, piano and diatonic accordion. Bringing fresh flavours to Euro-bal music, whether it’s the chain dances of Brittany, Scandinavian couple dances, or the bourree of the French Auvergne, Hearken Quartet delivers delicious arrangements of tunes new and old that will whet the appetites of traditional and contemporary music fans alike.
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The project began as a collaboration between Bruce Lambelle-Rudd and Bob Downham in 2017, forming a duo of melodeon and uilleann pipes / low whistle to explore the traditional dance music of continental Europe. In 2022, the band expanded to include music techhead Alex Walters and clarinet powerhouse Em Lomas, who brought stomping accompaniment and wistful harmonies, resulting in a rousing atmosphere powered by a wall of sound.
Watersmeet
Watersmeet is Anna Hughes and Jessie Howard. Partners in life and in music, they came together in 2022, to share slow-burning, heartfelt songs with lofty melodies. Interweaving guitar arrangements meet spacious harmonium drones creating a dreamlike yet grounded sound carried by close-knit harmonies. Their music explores ideas of rest and restlessness, nature and wildness, guiding listeners into a space of reflection and reverie.
Having quickly gained a loyal following through extensive gigging in the North East, Watersmeet have made waves with performances at local venues and festivals. Highlights include playing The Glasshouse ICM as part of their BBC Introducing From the Glasshouse programme, a sold-out show at Wylam Brewery supporting The Early Purple, opening for Grammy-nominated Manu Delago and a successful sold-out EP launch in Newcastle alongside their extended studio band featuring Bertie Armstrong (Holly and the Reivers), Calum Howard (Grey Tapes, Ruth Lyon), Francesca Knowles (Grace Petrie, Amy Thatcher and Francesca Knowles) and Ted Harbot (Rob Heron and the Teapad Orchestra). They have also gathered momentum in the UK folk scene, playing various national folk festivals and supporting folk legends Martin Simpson and Kathryn Tickell. Their live shows are known for their intimacy and warmth, capturing the magic of their studio recordings.
Watersmeet’s debut EP, carried away, was released in November 2024, following a highly successful Kickstarter campaign. Supported by Generator's Create:Release programme, the EP has already garnered critical praise and radio play, with tracks featured on BBC Radio Newcastle and BBC Radio 6 Music. The duo has also been lauded for their musical potential, earning recognition in the press, with Music Republic Magazine naming carried away EP of the year, as well as naming watersmeet as “best acoustic artist/band”, and selecting them as “hot contenders” for “best new band”.
Newcastle University Folk Degree
Newcastle University's Folk and Traditional Music degree was the first of its kind in England. The programme focuses on the traditional music and song of England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland. National and international artists teach as regular and guest tutors on this degree.
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It has produced a lot of the regions extremely talented folk and roots musicians and it's legacy cannot be underestimated. For the first time our Studio stage will be a dedicated platform for the class of 2026 to perform and showcase their talent. It's your chance to see the next generation!
This is a seated event.
Seated shows
We have three main seated layouts for shows;
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floor seating with or without cabaret tables on floor level only [up to 100 capacity], or
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seating rake only [up to 119 capacity], or
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both seating rake with floor seating in front (in rows, or with or without cabaret tables) [up to 200 capacity].​
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Every seat on floor level and the first row on our seating rake is accessible to those who require a wheelchair space, an ambulant seat, or those who don’t have any access requirements. Thus, they will be bookable under the same ticket type and unreserved. When buying your tickets, we ask you to declare if you have any access requirements at the checkout so we can reserve any seats or space for those who need them.
Seating rake-only events
These events tend to be theatre or dance performances performed on floor level or film screenings. The front row of our seating rake can be made into wheelchair spaces (up to 2) or ambulant seats (up to 4).
Companion tickets
Carer/PA/Essential companion tickets
These are available for all events. They are limited to one per ticket order and can be booked by emailing info@gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk and quoting the event name, booking reference on your ticket order and information you’re comfortable sharing on why a companion ticket is required.
Visiting us.
​​​Accessibility
We are a fully accessible venue; all entrances are wheelchair accessible and automatic, there is an accessible toilet on the premises and each area of the building is on one level. Please let us know if you have any questions about access and find out how we can assist.
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Carer’s go free, limited to one carer’s ticket per booking – order directly from the venue.
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Ticket buyers can inform Gosforth Civic Theatre of any access requirements in the checkout for tickets or by emailing info@gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk.
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​Your journey and parking
Gosforth Civic Theatre is right next to (literally 2 minutes walk from) Regent Centre Metro Station and Bus Interchange, which means we're on a host of major transport links including Tyne & Wear Metro, Arriva, Stagecoach and Go North East bus services and via car from Great North Road. Please visit our YOUR VISIT section of our website to find directions and the best way to arrive at GCT.
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We have a small, free car park but this will be very busy and part reserved for artists and staff, so it's best to avoid planning on parking directly at the venue. Please keep this in mind if you're driving over; we detail alternative parking on our YOUR VISIT page so check it out!
Ticketing.
Buying tickets
You can buy tickets for advertised shows, events or activities by visiting our website. While all GCT promoted events and some selected third party promoted events will be available to purchase in person at the Theatre, some third party promoted events will only be available to buy online.
Fees
A booking fee applies per ticket when booking online through our ticketing platform; booking fees may vary when booking through other third party sites.
Concessions and carers
Concession tickets are available to people with disabilities, OAPs, under 18s and Asylum Seekers. We will endeavour to provide free tickets to carers where possible. Please contact us directly if you require carer's ticket.
Child and family tickets
A child is classed as anyone under the age of 14, and Family Tickets, where advertised, apply to a family of four where there is at least one adult and one child in the group. Babes in Arms, up to the age of 12 months, go free at all of our family shows.
Refunds
Refunds are only available up to 7 days before the date of GCT promoted events, otherwise refunds are at the discretion of the promoter. If an event must be postponed, rescheduled or cancelled, tickets purchased for the event will be valid for any new date agreed with the artist/promoter, and the ticket buyer entitled to a full refund if they are unable to attend the new date.
Receiving your tickets
We do not print physical tickets in house and instead email you a copy of your tickets. You can show us your tickets on a mobile device or simply give us the name of the lead booker when you arrive at the Theatre for the event. If receiving tickets from third party sites ran by external promoters (Seetickets/Wegottickets/ Ticket Source/ DICE etc you may need to provide your ticket for scanning.