Evolution Festival#July 14
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox music festival |
| music_festival_name = Evolution Festival
| image =
| location = Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead, England
| years_active= 2002–2013
| dates = May Bank Holiday 2002–2011 and 2013; Diamond Jubilee Bank Holiday 2012
| genre = Rock, indie, electronic
| website = [http://www.evolutionfestival.co.uk www.evolutionfestival.co.uk]
}}
Evolution Festival was a music festival held annually across Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead, England, from 2002 until 2013. The festival attracted tens of thousands of attendees every year and usually took place on the Quayside.{{cite news|title=Evolution Festival postponed for one year|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-26142833|access-date=10 July 2016|work=BBC News|date=12 February 2014}} Evolution Festival was briefly titled Orange Evolution due to a sponsorship deal with the mobile phone company Orange.{{cite news|title=Don't miss Evolution 04 supplement!|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/dont-miss-evolution-04-supplement-1613933|access-date=10 July 2016|work=Evening Chronicle|date=15 April 2004}} It has been described as "the biggest festival Tyneside has ever staged".{{cite news|last1=Barr |first1=Gordon |title=Festival hits Dizzee heights |url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/music/festival-hits-dizzee-heights-1571989 |access-date=10 July 2016 |work=Evening Chronicle |date=7 April 2005 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914115216/http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/music/festival-hits-dizzee-heights-1571989 |archive-date=14 September 2016 }}
Headline performers at Evolution Festival included Dizzee Rascal, The Wombats, Paolo Nutini and Maxïmo Park.{{cite news|last1=Bychawski|first1=Adam|title=Dizzee Rascal, Wombats, White Lies for Newcastle Evolution festival|url=https://www.nme.com/news/dizzee-rascal/42896|access-date=10 July 2016|work=NME|date=19 February 2009}}{{cite news|title=Evolution festival 2010: Paolo Nutini to headline|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/tyne/hi/things_to_do/newsid_8521000/8521812.stm|access-date=10 July 2016|work=BBC Tyne|publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation|date=11 May 2010}}{{cite news|title=Heroes launch music festival|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/heroes-launch-music-festival-1489536|access-date=10 July 2016|work=Evening Chronicle|date=28 March 2007}} Florence + The Machine, Amy Winehouse and Ellie Goulding all appeared at Evolution before the height of their fame.{{cite news|last1=Barr|first1=Gordon|title=Evolution Festival to be extended over two days|url=http://www.thejournal.co.uk/news/north-east-news/evolution-festival-extended-over-two-4488320|access-date=10 July 2016|work=The Journal|date=20 February 2009|quote=Organisers of Evolution have spotted up and coming talent early with other acts confirmed including many of the music industry’s hotly tipped stars for 2009 ... Florence and the Machine.}}{{cite news|title=Tiny Amy has a huge talent|url=http://www.thejournal.co.uk/culture/music/tiny-amy-huge-talent-4652448|access-date=10 July 2016|work=The Journal|date=23 April 2004|quote=Amy Winehouse, the first act to kick off the Orange Evolution festival, played to a mesmerised audience at Northumbria University last night.}}{{cite news|last1=Simpson|first1=Dave|title=Review: Evolution Festival|url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2010/jun/01/evolution-festival-review|access-date=10 July 2016|work=The Guardian|date=1 June 2010|quote=But Evolution also provides a chance to chart the progress of this year's hot tips. Ellie Goulding's problems range from a faulty microphone to the sight of a crowdsurfing blow-up doll with an erection, but she soon starts a Mexican wave and recruits the crowd to sing an "Uh-oh, uh-oh".}}
In 2014 Evolution Festival did not take place, and although the organisers claimed it was only a "pause" the event has not been held since.{{cite news|last1=Jeffrey|first1=Sarah|title=Evolution Festival 2014 will not go ahead|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/evolution-festival-2014-not-go-6696605|access-date=10 July 2016|work=Evening Chronicle|date=11 February 2014}} A smaller event featuring local bands, Evolution Emerging, was held up until 2019, when it rebranded into Tipping Point live.{{cite news|last1=Jeffery|first1=Sarah|title=Evolution Emerging 2016: Organiser's reveal line-up for this year's festival|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/evolution-emerging-2016-organisers-reveal-10968203|access-date=10 July 2016|work=Evening Chronicle|date=29 February 2016|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160826191852/http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/music-nightlife-news/evolution-emerging-2016-organisers-reveal-10968203|archive-date=26 August 2016}}
History
Evolution Festival started in 2002.{{cite news|last1=Fletcher|first1=Richard|title=North East events: A guide to Evolution Festival 2012|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/whats-on/music/north-east-events-guide-evolution-1365489|access-date=10 July 2016|work=Evening Chronicle|date=25 February 2013|quote="Evolution Festival 2012 follows 10 successful years after Evolution Festival began in 2002."}} In 2003 the event took place on the Quayside for the first time, with performances from Moloko, Biffy Clyro and Inspiral Carpets.{{cite web|title=Evolution Festival 2003|url=http://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/evolution/2003|website=eFestivals|access-date=10 July 2016}} In 2004, due to funding restrictions, Evolution returned to its multi-venue format including a Shindig event headlined by Eric Morillo and Deep Dish.{{cite web|title=BBC Tyne - Music - Bank Holiday clubber's bonanza|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/tyne/evolution/2004/shindig_competition.shtml|website=BBC Tyne|access-date=10 July 2016}} Evolution returned to the Quayside in 2005, sponsored by the mobile phone network Orange and featuring a three-stage event headlined by Dizzee Rascal and The Futureheads.{{cite web|title=Orange Evolution Music Festival 2005|url=https://www.efestivals.co.uk/festivals/evolution/2005/|website=eFestivals|access-date=10 July 2016}} Major Tyneside export Maxïmo Park headlined the 2007 event. In 2008, the festival ended its sponsorship with Orange and became known as Evolution Festival, and introduced an entry charge - of £3 - for the first time.{{cite news|last1=Bychawski|first1=Adam|title=The Streets, Kate Nash, Reverend And The Makers for £3 festival|url=https://www.nme.com/news/the-streets/34567|access-date=10 July 2016|work=NME|date=21 February 2008}}
In 2009 the festival became a two-day event with performances from The Wombats, White Lies and Florence + The Machine. A folk stage was added in 2010. In 2012 the organisers of Evolution held a one-off edition of the festival at Avenham Park, Preston as part of the Preston Guild celebrations.{{cite news|title=Get ready to rock!|url=http://www.lep.co.uk/news/get-ready-to-rock-1-4289354|access-date=10 July 2016|work=Lancashire Evening Post|date=27 February 2012}} The one-day event, titled GFest, featured performances from Maverick Sabre, Labrinth and Stooshe and attracted thousands of festival-goers.{{cite news|title=Preston Guild 2012 celebrations draw to close|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lancashire-19529671|access-date=10 July 2016|work=BBC News|date=9 September 2012|quote=Thousands were also partying in Avenham Park at the day-long GFest music event. Soul star Maverick Sabre headlined the GFest along with urban performer Labrinth and R&B girl group Stooshe.}} The 2013 edition of the main Newcastle event featured The Vaccines, Ellie Goulding, Paloma Faith and Jake Bugg.{{cite news|last1=Barr|first1=Gordon|title=Evolution Festival 2013: Full line-up for May bank holiday music festival|url=http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/local-news/evolution-festival-2013-full-line-up-1353137|access-date=10 July 2016|work=Evening Chronicle|date=21 February 2013}}
In 2014 Evolution Festival did not take place, although promoters Jim Mawdsley and Dave Stone said that it was not the end of Evolution Festival. The festival has, however, not been held since 2013 and no news of a relaunch has been announced. The Evolution brand continues through Evolution Emerging, a multiple venue event that showcases new bands from the local region.
Line-ups
{{Incomplete list|date=July 2016}}
=Orange Evolution 05=
| class="wikitable" width="95%" cellpadding="5" |
| style="width="25%" | Spiller's Wharf
! style="width="25%" | Baltic Square ! style="width="25%" | Quayside East |
|---|
valign="top" |
| valign="top" |
| valign="top" |
|
=Orange Evolution 06=
| class="wikitable" width="95%" cellpadding="5" |
| style="width="25%" | Spiller's Wharf
! style="width="25%" | Baltic Square ! style="width="25%" | Quayside East |
|---|
valign="top" |
| valign="top" |
| valign="top" |
|
=Orange Evolution 07=
| class="wikitable" width="95%" cellpadding="5" |
| style="width="25%" | Spiller's Wharf
! style="width="25%" | Baltic Square |
|---|
valign="top" |
| valign="top" |
|
=Evolution Festival 08=
| class="wikitable" width="95%" cellpadding="5" |
| style="width="25%" | Spiller's Wharf
! style="width="25%" | Baltic Square |
|---|
valign="top" |
| valign="top" |
|
=Evolution Festival 09=
| class="wikitable" width="95%" cellpadding="5" |
| style="width="25%" | Spiller's Wharf Sunday
! style="width="25%" | Spiller's Wharf Monday |
|---|
valign="top" |
| valign="top" |
|
| style="width="25%" | Baltic Square Sunday
! style="width="25%" | Baltic Square Monday |
valign="top" |
| valign="top" |
|
=Evolution Festival 2010=
| class="wikitable" width="95%" cellpadding="5" |
| style="width="25%" | Spiller's Wharf Sunday
! style="width="25%" | Spiller's Wharf Monday |
|---|
valign="top" |
| valign="top" |
|
| style="width="25%" | Baltic Square Sunday
! style="width="25%" | Baltic Square Monday |
valign="top" |
| valign="top" |
|
| style="width="25%" | Ballast Hills Sunday
! style="width="25%" | Ballast Hills Sunday |
valign="top" |
| valign="top" |
|
=Evolution Festival 2011=
| class="wikitable" width="95%" cellpadding="5" |
| style="width="25%" | Spiller's Wharf Saturday
! style="width="25%" | Spiller's Wharf Sunday |
|---|
valign="top" |
| valign="top" |
|
| style="width="25%" | Baltic Square Saturday
! style="width="25%" | Baltic Square Sunday |
valign="top" |
| valign="top" | |
| style="width="25%" | Ballast Hills Saturday
! style="width="25%" | Ballast Hills Sunday |
| valign="top" |
| valign="top" | |
- Note: Clare Maguire replaced Fenech Soler who were playing the Baltic Stage due to illness within the band.
- Note: Toyger replaced Clare Maguire who was playing the Baltic Stage due to a last minute cancellation.
=Evolution Festival 2012=
| class="wikitable" width="95%" cellpadding="5" |
| style="width="25%" | Spiller's Wharf Sunday
! style="width="25%" | Spiller's Wharf Monday |
|---|
valign="top" |
| valign="top" |
|
| style="width="25%" | Ballast Hills Sunday
! style="width="25%" | Ballast Hills Monday |
valign="top" |
| valign="top" |
|
=Evolution Festival 2013=
| class="wikitable" width="95%" cellpadding="5" |
| style="width="25%" | Spiller's Wharf Sunday
! style="width="25%" | Spiller's Wharf Monday |
|---|
valign="top" |
| valign="top" |
|
| style="width="25%" | Ballast Hills Sunday
! style="width="25%" | Ballast Hills Monday |
valign="top" |
| valign="top" | |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|http://www.evolutionfestival.co.uk}}
- [http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/all-about/evolution-festival Evolution Festival on Chronicle Live]
{{Music venues and festivals of Tyne and Wear|state=autocollapse}}
Category:Rock festivals in England
Category:Culture in Newcastle upon Tyne