Mouth of the Tyne Festival brings big names to a clifftop priory

There are concert settings, and then there is Tynemouth Priory and Castle. Perched on a steep-sided headland where the River Tyne meets the North Sea, the ruined priory becomes one of the most atmospheric open-air stages in the country each July, thanks to the Mouth of the Tyne Festival.

The festival was founded in 2005 as an annual July weekend of live music and street theatre. In its early years it ran on both sides of the Tyne before settling in Tynemouth, and it is organised by North Tyneside Council, with supporters including the Port of Tyne and English Heritage.

Over the years the line-ups have been impressive. Paul Weller and John Cooper Clarke played in 2014, The Specials and Paul Heaton and Jacqui Abbott in 2015, and Bryan Ferry in 2016. Elbow and Laura Marling came in 2017, and the 2019 bill included a certain Sam Fender alongside The Proclaimers and Rick Astley. Siouxsie appeared in 2023.

Part of the magic is the setting. English Heritage describes the headland as a "natural stronghold with all-round sea views", and visitors walk in through a 14th-century monastic gatehouse past the ruins of the great medieval church. Away from festival weekend, the site is open daily, with the 15th-century Percy Chantry and underground gun batteries from both World Wars to explore.

The Priory concerts are standing events, and a path leads to a raised viewing area to make the shows more accessible.

Planning is already under way for 2027. The festival runs from 8 to 11 July 2027, and Olly Murs has been announced as the headliner for Thursday 8 July, with special guests still to be revealed.

With the sea air, the sunset over the ruins and a crowd singing along, it is hard to think of a better way to spend a summer evening on the North East coast.

Line-up news and ticket information are on the Mouth of the Tyne Festival website, and day visits to the priory can be booked through English Heritage.