Evolution Festival was a music festival held annually across Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead, England, from 2002 until 2013.[1][2] The festival attracted tens of thousands of attendees every year and usually took place on the Quayside.[3] Evolution Festival was briefly titled Orange Evolution due to a sponsorship deal with the mobile phone company Orange.[4] It has been described as "the biggest festival Tyneside has ever staged".[5]
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.[2] A smaller event featuring local bands, Evolution Emerging, was held up until 2019, when it rebranded into Tipping Point live.[12]
Evolution Festival started in 2002.[1] In 2003 the event took place on the Quayside for the first time, with performances from Moloko, Biffy Clyro and Inspiral Carpets.[13] In 2004, due to funding restrictions, Evolution returned to its multi-venue format including a Shindig event headlined by Eric Morillo and Deep Dish.[14] 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.[15] Major Tyneside export Maxïmo Park headlined the 2007 event.[8] 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.[16]
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.[2] 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.[12]
^Barr, Gordon (20 February 2009). "Evolution Festival to be extended over two days". The Journal. Retrieved 10 July 2016. 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.
^"Tiny Amy has a huge talent". The Journal. 23 April 2004. Retrieved 10 July 2016. Amy Winehouse, the first act to kick off the Orange Evolution festival, played to a mesmerised audience at Northumbria University last night.
^Simpson, Dave (1 June 2010). "Review: Evolution Festival". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 July 2016. 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".
^"Preston Guild 2012 celebrations draw to close". BBC News. 9 September 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2016. 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.
