The Glasshouse

• The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, The Fire Station, Tees Music Alliance, Middlesbrough Town Hall and Generator will partner with BBC Introducing to support North East artists

• Regular BBC Introducing From The Glasshouse gigs launching from April, with first date set for 16 April

• BBC Introducing Stage to feature at Stockton Calling festival

Music venues, festivals and agencies in the North East have announced a partnership with BBC Introducing that will create opportunities for new and independent artists launching careers in the region.

BBC Introducing has been offering new and unsigned artists a way to gain radio play and build audiences since 2007. Artists it has supported include Sam Fender, Ed Sheeren, The 1975, Little Simz and Arlo Parks. It offers a route to regional and national airplay and BBC Introducing stages at festivals like Glastonbury and Reading and Leeds.

Now the North East is home to the first region-wide partnership between BBC Introducing and multiple venues and organisations to showcase emerging and independent music.

This new regional partnership will create extra opportunities for artists to play local gigs, access artist development support across the region, and to create content for the BBC Music network.

The new partnership will link opportunities for bands to play live, record, rehearse and develop new ideas directly to the BBC Introducing platform. The national broadcaster will get better-than-ever access to one of the country’s most creative musical regions, with new artists finding simpler routes to new fans nationwide.

From April, The Glasshouse’s popular ‘From The Glasshouse’ gigs will relaunch as BBC Introducing From The Glasshouse; showcasing three regional artists at a Pay What You Decide gig that will continue to see a live track by each artist uploaded to YouTube, with opportunities for tracks to be shared across the BBC Introducing network.

The first gig in the series will take place on Wednesday 16 April, with Lizzie Esau. One of the most exciting emerging artists from the North East, Lizzie has already gained support from BBC Radio 1’s Greg James, Absolute Radio’s Danielle Perry, and BBC Introducing, as well as performing at Glastonbury, BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend, and Boardmasters.

One of the North East’s favourite festivals for emerging artists is Stockton Calling. Previously played by the likes of Self Esteem, Sam Fender, Blossoms and Circa Waves, a BBC Introducing Stage at the 2025 festival will once again provide another amazing platform for new acts.

Kelly Betts, Editor from BBC Introducing said: “The music scene in the North East is hugely exciting and this partnership is our commitment to the artists. We’re creating steps from grassroots to national stages together from initiatives like Generates’ First Notes, showcases at The Glasshouse & The Fire Station to festival performances at Stockton Calling and one day maybe even Glastonbury!”

Wendy Smith, Creative Director at The Glasshouse said “As we celebrate our 20th birthday, this partnership shows our dedication to nurturing artists and creating opportunities for them to thrive in the North East. It’s an exciting step forward as we look to our third decade of making music accessible to all. Linking with other brilliant North East independents to support the region’s musicians is the latest step to build on collaborations like Newcastle Gateshead Music City and Sonic Futures in the Tees Valley. We’re delighted that BBC Introducing are with us to platform artists on stage and through their broadcast channels.”

Alice Fuller, Deputy CEO at Generator said: “The BBC Music Network has the potential to infiltrate all levels of the industry, from supporting emerging artists on a regional level, all the way through to breaking and supporting music acts in both live and recorded environments at a global level. Uniting the collective forces of North East music behind BBC Introducing gives artists in this region even more confidence to follow their dreams. Getting them onto the BBC’s radar, and everything that could mean, is a hugely exciting development.”

Tamsin Austin, Venue Director at The Fire Station, said: “At The Fire Station we are 100% committed to supporting artists from the earliest stages of their career and love nothing more than seeing artists grow from playing small support slots and showcases to playing main stages and their own headline shows! There’s an amazing buzz around music in Sunderland right now and we’re delighted to play our part in that by bringing BBC Introducing to Wearside.”

Paul Burns, CEO of Tees Music Alliance said, “We’ve worked closely with BBC Introducing locally over the years, so it’s great to be part of a region wide partnership.   The partnership will pool the combined strengths of its members, which can only be a good thing for the artists that we’re all working with – allowing talent from all parts of the region to get onto the radar of key players in the music industry.”

Kesia Bruce, General Manager at Middlesbrough Town Hall, said: “Middlesbrough Town Hall has a long history of hosting new and emerging artists, and we’re thrilled to continue to champion the North East music scene through this partnership. Having worked with BBC Introducing at a local level, we’re excited to see the enhanced opportunities we can provide for local artists through the combined strengths of a region-wide effort.”

There will also be opportunities for young creatives from the BBC trainee programmes to have a role in the new partnership, as curators, content creators as hosts of BBC Introducing stages and content in the region.

The partnership follows the announcement of the Newcastle Gateshead Music City in October 2024 and Sonic Futures in the Tees Valley to help support the North East region’s vibrant independent music scene.

ENDS

For more information, images or interview requests please contact Susie Gray, susie.gray@premiercomms.com 07834 073795

About The Glasshouse International Centre for Music
The Glasshouse International Centre for Music is a home for live music lovers.
It’s a place where you can hear rock legends or pop icons on the same night as folk trios or string quartets. Where new musicians are nurtured and showcased on the same stages as platinum-selling performers. And where youth choirs and tambourine-shaking toddlers practise in the same spaces as its acclaimed orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia.
Because as an international centre for music they’re focused on creating and celebrating outstanding music – whether that’s unearthing or growing talent from the region or bringing the world’s best artists to their stages. And as a charity they’re focused on making sure all of that is available to anyone – no matter where you’re from, how old you are, how much money you have, or what challenges you face.

• Since opening in 2004, The Glasshouse has hosted over 10,000 performances, welcoming nearly 5 million audience members. It would take more than 27 years to see every show if you attended one every day.
• Over two decades, the charity has delivered around 230,000 music lessons, reaching young people and adults 2.7 million times across its education programmes.
• Celebrating 20 years – In December 2024, The Glasshouse marked its 20th birthday. Over the next year, the charity will reflect on two decades of achievements and look ahead to its third decade, with major initiatives like the Music Academy and Music Pass for newborns, making music accessible to all.

About BBC Introducing   
BBC Introducing supports musical talent across the UK. There’s over 1,000,000 tracks uploaded to the BBC Introducing uploader and over 300,000 artists registered.
BBC Introducing provides a platform to propel new acts onto the national stage through Radio 1, 1Xtra, Radio 2, 6 Music, The Asian Network and Radio 3.  It gives up-and-coming artists broadcast opportunities on BBC radio, television and online alongside the chance to perform at major festivals and showcases. Big name artists including Ed Sheeran, Florence + the Machine, Lewis Capaldi, Raye, Sam Fender, Aitch, Olivia Dean, Myles Smith, Nia Archives and Tom Grennan all received BBC Introducing support at the start of their careers.
BBC Introducing offers new musicians the chance to get played on national day-time radio, to record their own Maida Vale sessions and perform at the biggest festivals in the UK and internationally, including Glastonbury, Radio 1’s Big Weekend, Reading and Leeds, and The Great Escape.

About The Fire Station
The Fire Station is an exciting, new performance venue in Sunderland that incorporates an auditorium, bars, a restaurant and studios. It has been developed by Sunderland Music, Arts and Culture (MAC) Trust. The new, state-of-the-art auditorium, designed by award-winning architects Flanagan Lawrence, programmes music, theatre, comedy and dance. It can host up to 550 people seated or up to 800 people standing. The Fire Station is at the heart of a transformational £18m cultural redevelopment in the city centre that includes the Parade Ground, a 600-capacity outdoor performance space with an external stage and bar. The £7m first phase of The Fire Station, the redevelopment of an Edwardian building into a bar and restaurant, studios and heritage exhibition, was built thanks to financial support from National Lottery Heritage Fund, Sunderland City Council and the MAC Trust. The Fire Station Auditorium was developed as phase 2 thanks to a £6.25m award from Arts Council England‘s Capital: Large Grants programme, funded by the National Lottery, and a £1.38m grant from the government’s Cultural Capital Kickstart fund. Further generous support came from Sunderland City Council, the Garfield Weston Foundation, the Catherine Cookson Charitable Trust, the Foyle Foundation, the Wolfson Foundation, and Backstage Trust.

About Generator
Generator is dedicated to building a more inclusive, sustainable, and forward-thinking music industry in the North of England. We support emerging artists, industry professionals, and creative businesses through talent development, mentorship, and innovative opportunities that drive tangible impact. 
Our work is rooted in amplifying Northern voices, breaking down barriers, and championing the diverse music scene across the region – from curating live showcases to developing industry partnerships and promoting professional development. We’re focused on creating platforms that highlight the North’s creative excellence and cultural significance. 
By investing in talent and fostering a thriving, collaborative ecosystem, we’re shaping the future of our creative industries that reflect the innovation, diversity, and ambition of our communities.

About Middlesbrough Town Hall
Middlesbrough Town Hall hosts some of the biggest names in entertainment, from comedians and theatre to orchestras and touring bands. First opened in 1889, it is now a space where arts, culture and communities come together.

Middlesbrough Town Hall also offers weekly classes for young people, a community choir and various opportunities to get involved throughout the year.

About Tees Music Alliance
Established in 1986, TMA is a music charity working with local artists and developing audiences.  They run The Georgian Theatre and The Green Room music venues, and a recording studio in the Green Dragon area of Stockton town centre – all to support emerging artists on the Teesside music scene. Their buildings are provided to them by Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council, who also financially support their music development programme.
Known for their work in nurturing local talent, TMA run a range of music development projects aimed at giving artists the chance to kick on in their chosen part of the music industry.  Artists recently worked with include Komparrison, Wingz of The Monkey, Church Honey, Lockheed Lindsay, Sarah Johnsone, Celia Grace, Ryan Petitjean, Loren Heat.