Stockton Calling all-day festival set to be the biggest so far

More than 70 bands are set to take to the stage on Easter Saturday as part of Stockton Calling, the North East's premiere all-day music event.
Marske band Cape Cub, who could be set to be the North East's next major musical export. Pic: Katy Blackwood.Marske band Cape Cub, who could be set to be the North East's next major musical export. Pic: Katy Blackwood.
Marske band Cape Cub, who could be set to be the North East's next major musical export. Pic: Katy Blackwood.

Nine venues around the town will welcome local talent from across the region on Saturday, March 26, plus headliners including Reverend and the Makers and the hotly-tipped Blossoms.

Hartlepool's The Jar Family and Newcastle's Warm Digits are set to headline stages, with exciting local acts including Cape Cub, Mouses and Coquin Migale also on the bill.

Local favourites Kingsley Chapman and the Murder will appear at the ARC Stockton Arts Centre. Pic: Katy Blackwood.Local favourites Kingsley Chapman and the Murder will appear at the ARC Stockton Arts Centre. Pic: Katy Blackwood.
Local favourites Kingsley Chapman and the Murder will appear at the ARC Stockton Arts Centre. Pic: Katy Blackwood.
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Stockton Calling allows fans to dip in and out of the various venues, with the main stage located at ARC Stockton Arts Centre.

Headlined by Reverend and the Makers, the venue will also welcome the well-hyped Vitamin, former Young Rebel Set frontman Matt Wilde, and the noir-pop of local favourites Kingsley Chapman and the Murder.

Ku Bar - a venue which regularly brings exciting new bands to the region - is headlined by Blossoms, who are expected to be one of 2016's breakthrough bands and will be appearing at major music festivals in the summer.

Hidden Charms and RedFaces also feature, with the region represented by Teesside bands Mouses and Serinette and County Durham six-piece Social Room.

A flyer for Stockton CallingA flyer for Stockton Calling
A flyer for Stockton Calling
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Dutch Uncles will be the marquee band at The Georgian Theatre, and London's INHEAVEN will also be sure to draw strong crowds for their appearance.

Next door at The Green Room will be curated by NARC. Magazine, welcoming an all-local line-up headed by the eclectic Warm Digits and supported by bands including Coquin Migale, Antlez and Drifts.

The Jar Family - whose own festival We Are Family was a triumph in September - will headline at Room 21, while The Vault is set to welcome The Hummingbirds.

Also appearing at The Vault is Marske-by-the-Sea's Cape Cub, who could be set to be the North East's next major musical export.

Teesside band Mouses will appear at Ku Bar. Pic: Katy Blackwood.Teesside band Mouses will appear at Ku Bar. Pic: Katy Blackwood.
Teesside band Mouses will appear at Ku Bar. Pic: Katy Blackwood.
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Musiclounge Stockton will be headlined by Leeds post-punks Post War Glamour Girls, with support from the fabulous Velvoir and local shoegazers Figmennt.

The venue list is completed by The Storytellers and The Sun Inn, who have booked bands including Dancing Years, Plastic Mermaids and Ming City Rockers.

Before the main event, Stockton High Street will host three stand-alone gigs each weekend, starting this Saturday at 2pm with Britpop trio Dodgy and Matt Wilde.

The concerts continue on March 12 with Neville Staple of The Specials fame, and North Tyneside's Lisbon and Bluetones frontman Mark Morriss the following Saturday.

* Advance tickets for Stockton Calling are £16.50 from ARC Stockton Arts Centre, The Storytellers and Green Dragon Studios.