Newcastle United fanzone music to be powered by GigPig

STACK, the much anticipated live entertainment hub in Newcastle which also plays host to Newcastle United’s fanzone, is set to uncover a phenomenal range of new music via GigPig.

The venue, next to the stadium at St James’s Park, has chosen the UK’s fastest-growing live music marketplace, GigPig, to source and book local artists several times a week. STACK, which opened in August, will host at least 24 gigs a week via GigPig - giving a range of new and emerging artists the chance to make a living doing what they love.

It is estimated that more than 1,000 artists will play at the venue every year - ranging from DJs and duos to bands and saxophonists - as GigPig remains on a mission to make every hospitality venue in the UK a stage for all artists.

The new partnership with STACK comes as Newcastle’s live music offering via GigPig hits several milestones since launching in the city two years ago. More than 1,000 artists have now signed up to perform in pubs, bars and restaurants in Newcastle with GigPig.  

GigPig has facilitated 2,321 gigs in Newcastle since January 2024. Data shows that Rock, Pop and Indie genres have been the most popular genres booked in the city this year so far. The top three styles of act most booked in the city are solo singers, DJs and bands.

The increase in artist sign-ups to GigPig comes as an industry-first report reveals the ‘seed’ music scene - musicians who gig at hospitality venues - is braced for dramatic growth in Newcastle. Nearly nine out of ten venues (87%) are planning to increase their live music offering this year, while 90% of artists expect to gig more often in hospitality venues during 2024.

Over the next few weeks, GigPig will be working directly with venues across Newcastle to showcase the variety of artists that operators can book through the platform and highlight the impact live music can have for their business.

Research shows that live music can boost sales by 33%, footfall by 36% and average spend per visit by 64%. By introducing live music, an individual pub could see their annual revenue increase by £90k, rising to £240k for bars and as much as £280k for nightclubs.

GigPig is the UK’s fastest-growing live music marketplace, offering artists a free platform to find, play and get paid for gigs; and hospitality venues a streamlined way to search, book and manage entertainment in-house. Newcastle venues utilising the GigPig platform currently include Katie O'Brien’s, Manahatta, Brewdog, NQ64, Hard Rock Cafe and Bierkeller.

Andrew Garner, Co-founder of GigPig, said: “We’re thrilled to be powering live music at STACK in Newcastle. This brilliant new venue, along with hundreds more across the city, are booking new music talent regularly - in turn delighting audiences and enabling local artists to make a career from music.

“With the hospitality sector facing unprecedented challenges, we believe our mission to help every pub and bar maximise their potential with live music is more important than ever. Our platform has already helped hundreds of venues improve customer satisfaction, drive footfall and increase sales while giving thousands of artists an easier way to earn money gigging.

“This is also a rallying call to all Newcastle venues who want to introduce new live music and take a look at booking live entertainment in a different way, as that’s the only way to discover new talent. With more than 1,000 local artists signed up to our platform in Newcastle, venues now have unprecedented access to some of the best upcoming DJs, bands and musicians in the city.”

Over the coming weeks, GigPig will be hosting an exclusive event at Tiger Hornsby for venue operators to see the music talent available through the GigPig platform. This will form GigPig's launch party, which will be an evening of live entertainment, food, drinks, and networking. Get in touch with the team to secure your free ticket to the event.

Kevin Walker, Entertainment Director for STACK, said: "We're thrilled to be using the GigPig platform at our new venue, St James’ STACK in Newcastle. We started using GigPig at our previous Pilgrim Street site, and we’ve continued to use the platform at our other venues in Seaburn and Lincoln.

"GigPig has been invaluable for managing our entertainment program and booking process. The platform makes it so easy to connect with and book artists across the country. The GigPig team also provides fantastic support every step of the way. It’s a brilliant partnership.”

Feature image accreditation: STACK