The Glasshouse announces its biggest Summer yet

Gary Numan on the Concourse. A Northern Soul all-dayer. A Summer Block Party with Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art. Free films, family raves and wellness weekends. This summer, The Glasshouse International Centre for Music is opening up its spaces and letting the music spill out.

The Glasshouse in Gateshead today announces Summer Mix Tape programme – a season of music-led events, activities and experiences running from July to the end of August. It’s the first time since before Covid that the building has been used in this way: not just for performances in the halls, but as a place to drop in, spend time and discover something unexpected.

Rather than a series of one-off events, Summer Mix Tape is designed as a running playlist – a mix of free and ticketed moments across the building’s public spaces. From live gigs and DJ sets to films, workshops and family events, it’s an open invitation to come and be part of the building in a different way.

At the centre of the programme are a handful of standout events. Gary Numan brings a rare, up-close performance to the Concourse on 18 July, turning one of the North East’s most recognisable spaces into an atmospheric live venue. Later in the summer, a Northern and Modern Soul all-dayer takes over the same space in partnership with Tyneside Soul Promotions – a full day built around the music and the people who love it. The season opens with a free Block Party on Saturday 4 July with DJs, food, makers and a relaxed, all-day atmosphere across the riverside as The Glasshouse celebrates summer with Quayside neighbours Baltic.

Alongside these moments, the building is filled with smaller, sociable experiences that run throughout the summer. Music on Film brings three landmark music documentaries to The Brasserie on Sunday afternoons, including Stop Making Sense, The Last Waltz and Summer of Soul. Saturday mornings are given over to Family Film Club, with Coco, Sing and Fantasia on the big screen.

Elsewhere, Tea and Tracks pairs classic albums with good food and a proper listen – from Pet Sounds to Folklore. Yoga in Harmony and a full Wellness Weekend bring live music into slower, more reflective sessions, while Little Groovers invites younger audiences onto the dancefloor for daytime parties filled with DJs, bubbles and energy.

There’s plenty more to discover across the programme, from a Family Fun Day with a live ceilidh and drop-in activities, to a high-energy Jumpin’ Jive night, and Game On – a day of arcade games, Lego and music. The season closes with a silent disco taking over the building late afternoon.

Throughout Summer Mix Tape, the focus is on creating a space that feels welcoming – whether you’re coming for a specific event or simply passing through.

Jared Bowers, Chief Operating Officer at The Glasshouse said: “This summer feels like an open invitation. Whether you’re here for a gig, a film, a dancefloor or just to spend time by the river, we want The Glasshouse to be somewhere people can drop in and discover something new. There’s a real mix of things happening and we’re excited to see the building used in different ways throughout the summer.”

More information theglasshouseicm.org/summermix