BBC Proms returns to The Glasshouse this July (24–27) with four days of live music, family shows and free performances – and with less than two weeks to go, there’s still time to book for some of the biggest and boldest moments.
This year’s BBC Proms in the North East reflects a region on the rise musically and culturally. It’s a festival that platforms North East talent alongside world-class orchestras and artists and offers more ways than ever for audiences to get involved. Many performances will also be broadcast nationally on BBC TV, radio and iPlayer.
From a 200-strong classical epic to a joyful family jamboree and folk storytelling, here’s what not to miss:
Bach and Mendelssohn with Royal Northern Sinfonia
Saturday 26 July 2025 – Sage One, The Glasshouse
Presented by Linton Stephens
A large-scale choral spectacular, led by Royal Northern Sinfonia and acclaimed Music Director Dinis Sousa, this concert brings together over 200 performers to celebrate two giants of classical music. The massed voices of the Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia, Voices of the River’s Edge and Huddersfield Choral Society join the orchestra, Sousa and pianist David Fray and singers soprano Hera Hyesang Park, mezzo-soprano Adèle Charvet and tenor Benjamin Hulett for this performance, broadcast live on BBC Radio 3 and recorded for BBC TV.
They perform Bach’s dark and dramatic Keyboard Concerto in D minor followed by Mendelssohn’s Second Symphony, better known as Lobgesang (Hymn of Praise).
Broadcast live on BBC Radio 3, with a TV broadcast to follow.
Dinis Sousa, Music Director says:
“Our programme with Royal Northern Sinfonia is with two composers who are very close to me – Bach and Mendelssohn. I love [Mendelssohn’s Second Symphony] because it’s monumental. It’s a little bit like a cathedral – super imposing and grand, but also very joyful and festive, and has this sort of epic proportions which I think is a really wonderful piece. We’re doing a big choral programme and also it’s being televised, so we’re very excited about that – the first televised Proms here from Gateshead.”
CBeebies Wildlife Jamboree
Sunday 27 July 2025 – Sage One, The Glasshouse
The CBeebies Proms returns with a brand-new musical adventure. Two performances of the CBeebies Prom: Wildlife Jamboree welcome younger families to join Duggee, the Squirrels, and CBeebies presenters Chantelle Lindsay and Puja Panchkoty as they go on an epic wildlife adventure. All backed by the mighty Royal Northern Sinfonia. This is a chance to sing, dance, wiggle and giggle along to favourite theme tunes and animal-themed classics – from Lovely Day to The Four Seasons.
Alongside the shows, families can enjoy a full day of free wildlife-themed activities on the concourse. From 11am to 6pm, kids can get creative at craft tables, making musical instruments and colourful creations inspired by the natural world.
There are hands-on music workshops (11am–11.45am and 12.15pm–1pm), packed with animal beats and silly sounds. Then from 2.30pm–3.30pm, face painting and balloon magic from Sparkle and Twist will bring the animal kingdom to life – think stripes, spots, whiskers and wings.
Angeline Morrison: The Sorrow Songs
Friday 26 July, 7.30pm, The Glasshouse
Singer-songwriter Angeline Morrison brings her beautiful arrangements of folk songs of the Black British experience in The Sorrow Songs joined by The Sorrow Songs Band. Special guests include English folk legend Eliza Carthy and percussionist Alex Neilson. Broadcast live on BBC Radio 3.
Angeline Morrison says:
“It’s a massive honour to perform at The Glasshouse and BBC Proms for the first time. I’m very excited but quite nervous. Many thematic threads run through the album, but the key themes are resilience, tenderness, love and loss. All of these are deeply, universally human feelings that have the power to unite us as we can all relate to them in some way.”
BBC Introducing Stage – free music all afternoon
Saturday 27 July, 12–5.15pm, Concourse, free
Free and un-ticketed, this live stage brings together BBC Introducing acts and Radio 3 New Generation Artists, with a mix of folk, jazz and future-classical. It’s all part of a commitment to give local and emerging artists national visibility and audiences something new to discover.
Line-up includes:
Smith & Liddle (BBC Introducing act and Summer Studio at The Glasshouse alumni)
Frankie Archer (BBC Introducing act and former Artist in Residence at The Glasshouse)
Amelia Coburn (Tees Valley Artist of the Year 2024 and BBC Introducing act)
Fergus McCreadie (Mercury Prize nominee, Radio 3 New Generation Artist, past performer at Gateshead International Jazz Festival)
Astatine Trio (Radio 3 New Generation Artist, making their debut at The Glasshouse)
They join other BBC Introducing-supported artists across the Proms weekend – including Finn Forster, who supports JADE in Sage One at The Glasshouse on Friday night, and Rivkala, performing as part of Round Midnight at The Fire Station on Thursday night.
JADE & Royal Northern Sinfonia with support from Finn Forster
Friday 25 July 2025 – Sage One, The Glasshouse
Presented by Greg James, Sian Eleri and Elizabeth Alker.
Fresh from supporting Stereophonics across Europe, Finn Forster returns to The Glasshouse to open for South Shields star JADE in one of the most anticipated events of the weekend. broadcast on BBC TV, live on BBC Radio 3, and on Sunday 27 July at 8pm on Radio 1.
Finn Forster says:
“I want younger generations to follow a similar route and know that your background doesn’t matter and shouldn’t limit you. If you believe you can do it, you can.”
Also happening across the weekend…
Sean Shibe brings genre-defying classical guitar to The Glasshouse on Friday night. Celebrating the centenary of Pierre Boulez’s birth, the programme features a performance of his acclaimed surrealist work, Le marteau sans maître, Cassandra Miller’s Bel canto and a BBC co-commission from Tyshawn Sorey. This concert will be broadcast live on BBC Radio 3.
Jazz saxophonist, hip-hop artist, curator and presenter Soweto Kinch hosts a special edition of his nightly BBC Radio 3 show ‘Round Midnight in Sunderland at The Fire Station, Sunderland
Standing promming tickets remain at £8. Last year, over 5,000 people attended the Proms in Gateshead, with hundreds more enjoying the free performances on the concourse. Among them, 3,500 experienced the BBC Proms for the very first time. Thousands more tuned in to national broadcasts on BBC Radio 3 through the weekend which featured 250 musicians, with over half of them from the North East. National broadcasts across BBC Radio 3 ensured that performances from Gateshead reached audiences far beyond the region.
This year’s BBC Proms weekend in the North East is a major cultural moment for Newcastle, Gateshead and Sunderland – reflecting the strength of local talent and collaboration. The festival also comes as the North East’s music scene gains momentum nationally, building on recent milestones including Sunderland named a Music City, the MOBO Awards coming to the region for the first time this year, Newcastle becoming home to the Mercury Prize, and the continued national success of North East artists like JADE and Sam Fender.
According to UK Music’s 2023 report, music tourism to the North East rose by 29%, and events like the BBC Proms continue to raise the region’s profile as a vibrant cultural destination. In 2023/24, The Glasshouse generated £14.1 million in social value, returning nearly £11 to the economy for every £1 of public funding. Every year, it contributes £38.6 million in economic value, help to create jobs, attract visitors and grow the region’s reputation as a must-visit location for music lovers.
Tickets for all events at The Glasshouse are on sale now at: https://theglasshouseicm.org/seasons/bbc-proms-in-the-north-east/
Tickets for ‘Round Midnight with Soweto Kinch at The Fire Station are on sale now at: