History of: The Mouth of Tyne Festival

FROM FISH QUAY TO FESTIVAL STAGE

If you're heading to the Mouth of the Tyne Festival this summer, you're taking part in a tradition that stretches back almost forty years.

Long before world-famous artists filled the grounds of Tynemouth Priory, North Shields had its very own festival. The North Shields Fish Quay Festival was first held in 1987, celebrating the town's fishing heritage with live music, street theatre, seafood, exhibitions and the famous Blessing of the Fleet. What started as a community celebration quickly grew into something much bigger.

In those days the Fish Quay looked very different. The old fish sheds were still standing, the fishing industry was at the heart of the town, and thousands of people flocked to the waterfront every May Bank Holiday. Local artists, musicians and schools were all involved, alongside fishermen decorating their boats before they sailed up the Tyne as part of the revived Blessing of the Fleet.

The festival exploded in popularity during the 1990s. By its peak it was attracting up to 600,000 visitors over the weekend, making it one of Europe's largest free festivals. Big-name sponsors came on board, national performers appeared on stage, and the Fish Quay became one huge celebration of North Shields' maritime culture.

As the Fish Quay itself changed and redevelopment gathered pace, so did the festival. It was renamed Window on the World (WOW) in 2001 before becoming the more family-focused Fish Bay Family Festival in 2003. Sadly, rising costs, redevelopment and safety concerns eventually brought the event to an end in 2006.

Thankfully, the story didn't end there. In 2005, North Tyneside Council launched what would become the Mouth of the Tyne Festival. Originally spread across both banks of the Tyne, it has since evolved into the spectacular event we know today, centred around the incredible backdrop of Tynemouth Priory and Castle.

Over the years the festival has welcomed an incredible line-up including Paul Weller, Bryan Ferry, Elbow, James Bay, Rick Astley, Billy Ocean, Paloma Faith, James Arthur, Siouxsie, Gabrielle, Self-Esteem and, fittingly for North Shields, Sam Fender, who performed in 2019 before becoming one of Britain's biggest artists.

Today, the Mouth of the Tyne Festival is about far more than the headline concerts. Street performers, family entertainment, food traders, parades and live music spill throughout Tynemouth, bringing thousands of people to the coast every July. It may have a new name and a new home, but its roots are firmly planted in the Fish Quay Festival that first brought the community together back in 1987. So, while you're singing along beneath the walls of the Priory this year, remember—it all started with a few fishermen who simply wanted to throw a party.

DID YOU KNOW?

• The Fish Quay Festival first took place in 1987.
• The original festival featured the traditional Blessing of the Fleet.
• At its peak, it attracted up to 600,000 visitors over one weekend.
• It included street theatre, live music, seafood demonstrations and local art.
• The modern Mouth of the Tyne Festival began in 2005 and has grown into one of the North East's biggest summer events.

Sources: North Tyneside Council Archives, North Shields Fish Quay Festival records, local newspaper archives, IloveNorthShields.com.