Artwork by Seth Tinsley
Beyond the Moor 2025
with Kathryn Tickell & the Darkening, Martin Simpson, Ross Couper & Tom Oakes, Ceitidh Mac, Nev Clay, Andy Watt, Eddie Doyle, and Newcastle University Folk Degree.
Saturday 11 October 2025. 2.30pm doors.
​
Tickets on sale Friday 13 June, 2025, 9am.
​
Early Bird ticket £35 available until 31 August 2025
Full price ticket £45.
Students/u18s £25.
​
Under 14s must be accompanied by an adult.
​
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.
​
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.
​
Previous iterations of the festival have seen
​
​
2025's Line up
We expect the event to run to the below timings but please note these may be subject to change:
2.30pm - Doors
3pm - Newcastle University Folk Degree
3.50pm - Nev Clay
4.50pm - Ceitidh Mac
5.35pm - Andy Watt (Studio)
6.20pm - Ross Couper & Tom Oakes
7.05pm - Eddie Doyle (Studio)
7.30pm - Martin Simpson
9pm - Kathryn Tickell & the Darkening
​
​
Why we wanted to add Beyond the Moor to the North East's music scene.
​
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.
​
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
Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening
“…tremendously energising, polished and thought-provoking”
Americana-UK.
“Dynamic and breathless jigs and spins… this is the energy we want!”
The List (Celtic Connections 2024).
​
Named after the old Northumbrian word for twilight, ‘The Darkening’ is made up of three North-East England-based members: Kathryn Tickell (Northumbrian smallpipes, fiddle, vocals), Amy Thatcher (accordion, synth, clogs, vocals) and Joe Truswell (drums, percussion); new to the band from across the way in Cumbria is Heather Cartwright (guitar, vocals), with Josie Duncan (vocals, clarsach) from the Isle of Lewis completing the line up.
Together these dazzling musicians create musical magic – dynamic and unique “Ancient Northumbrian Futurism”! Based in the shadow of Hadrian’s Wall yet reaching out to the wider world, Kathryn Tickell & The Darkening explore the connecting threads of music, landscape and people over a period of almost 2000 years. Songs range from themes of freedom, nature and venturing out into the world after times of darkness, to a Roman inscription with links to Libya and Syria magnetically pulled into the 21st century with glorious vocal harmonies and the wildest of piping.
Martin Simpson
“One of the virtuoso instrumentalists of the English music scene... sounds better than ever"
★★★★ The Guardian
One of England’s most revered folk performers, widely acknowledged as one of the finest acoustic and slide guitar players in the world, Martin's interpretations of traditional songs are masterpieces of storytelling. His remarkable solo shows are intense, eclectic, spellbinding and deeply moving. Always prolific, and never one to rest long without a guitar in his hands and a song in his head, Martin Simpson continues to travel the length and breadth of the UK and beyond giving rapt audiences passion, sorrow, love, beauty, tragedy and majesty through his remarkable intimate solo performances. Martin has been nominated an astounding 32 times in the 18 years of the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards - more than any other performer - and has won numerous awards.
A virtuoso player without question, but above all Martin Simpson conveys his diverse treasure trove of material from the heart, performing with rare subtlety, intensity and honesty. A true master of his art.
Ross Couper + Tom Oakes
​​'Gleaming with musicianship. Exquisite'
★★★★ The Guardian
Fiddle meets guitar. Foot-tappingly banging. Ear-pleasingly melodic. A beautifully rich combination of string on string that oozes with charisma. Shetland fiddle player Ross Couper (Peatbog Fairies) and 2019 Scots Trad Awards ‘Musican of the Year’ nominee Tom Oakes (OBT/The Auvo Quartet) keep their music simple – spine-tingling tunes with a sprinkle of banter.
Ceitidh Mac
'She has also developed a style that is, in essence, Indie-Folk but infused with the smoky style and lo-fi studio sound and a contemporary electronic edge, embellished by unusual instrumentation. This is an artist whose own roadmap is clearly marked out'
Fresh on the Net
With a progressive twist to her music, Ceitidh Mac is an alt.folk singing / cellist, tipped by Jude Rogers as a ‘Fascinating new Welsh-born, Tyneside-dwelling singer-songwriter and cellist, with an unusual, stunning voice.’ Absorbing in its originality, Ceitidh Mac creates songs that soar with contemporary arrangements / instrumentation playing with live and electronic elements, whilst having a prominent folk influence.
Growing up in the wilds of Pembrokeshire before heading North to Newcastle Upon Tyne, she’s been carving a name for herself across the UK and beyond. Ceitidh is pronounced Katie, spelt the Gaelic way. Think ceilidh with a T.
Working with producer/engineer Sam Grant [Richard Dawson, Pigsx7] Mac has released multiple EP’s Including ‘I Reach for the Pen’ and most recently ‘Seabird’, with previous releases supported by BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 6 Music, BBC Radio Wales and local and national support from BBC Introducing. The single ‘Birds’ was A-Listed by Amazing Radio as well as featuring on their Chart. She also garnered press coverage from Fresh on the Net, Velvet Sheep, Narc and NE Volume among others, as well as winning the Drake YolanDa Award 2022, and Artist in Residence at The Glasshouse (FKA Sage Gateshead) 2022/23.
Nev Clay
Photo: Amelia Reed
Nev grew up in Forest Hall, and has spent the last 39 years living in Longbenton. Until he smashed his wrist in 1994, he wanted to be a heavy metal guitarist. He was once kicked in the face (accidentally) by Nick Cave, and was introduced to DADGAD tuning by Talk Talk's Mark Hollis. FFO: Jake Thackwray, Ivor Cutler, Victoria Wood
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.
​
It has produced a lot of the regions extremely talented folk and roots musicians and it's legacy cannot be underestimated. Opening the event on our main stage will be a band from the class of 2025 led by tutor Cariona Macdonald, playing tradional tunes. It's your chance to see the next generation of talent.
Eddie Doyle
Soulful vocals and intricate reflections; stories from the heart.
Eddie Doyle is a singer/songwriter hailing from Wallsend. Her evocative music draws from the rich storytelling traditions of cross-European folk. Her unique blend of soulful vocals and intricate melodies finds a reflective depth.
Andy Watt
Andy Watt is a guitarist who is well known for performing and recording with folk music legend Tom McConville and has previously toured with an array of top folk musicians including Chris Newman, Shona Mooney and Alistair Anderson. He is also the main guitar tutor on Newcastle University’s folk music degree course. His latest solo project showcases his interest in the role of the guitar as a lead instrument across a wide spectrum of genres and this performance will include some of Andy’s own instrumental compositions as well as some exciting new solo arrangements on acoustic and electric guitar.
​
“Astonishing feel and dexterity”
Carolyn Paterson, Tolbooth Arts
​
“Wicked!”
Greg Koch
This is a seated event.
Seated shows
We have three main seated layouts for shows;
-
floor seating with or without cabaret tables on floor level only [up to 100 capacity], or
-
seating rake only [up to 119 capacity], or
-
both seating rake with floor seating in front (in rows, or with or without cabaret tables) [up to 200 capacity].​
​
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.
​
Carer’s go free, limited to one carer’s ticket per booking – order directly from the venue.
​
Ticket buyers can inform Gosforth Civic Theatre of any access requirements in the checkout for tickets or by emailing info@gosforthcivictheatre.co.uk.
​
​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.
​
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.