MARRPALOOZA 4 - The North East’s long running multi-venue festival of eclectic grassroots music returns in 2026 larger than ever, headlined by Los Campesinos! and spanning 3 days.

“They say it’s a pet. It int a pet, sir. People come up to me and say “int it tame?” It int tame, sir. They can’t be tamed. They’re manned. They’re wild and fierce and not bothered about anybody. Not bothered about me. That’s what makes it great.”
Billy Casper, Kes

Started in 2023 by two DIY promoters in Newcastle , Marrapalooza is an independent festival showcasing the UK’s best grassroots music, held across a plethora of 100 - 350 capacity venues in the beautiful Ouseburn Valley of Newcastle and at Northumbria University. In four years, the festival has grown to encompass six venues and brought onboard a wide range of other North East grassroots music initiatives: Tyne and Queer, Sista Shack, Autism Able and developed a longstanding system of sliding-scale ticketing to make the most inclusive event possible for Newcastle. Marrapalooza likes to pretend its a Hollywood affair. Each year is given a slogan, Marrapalooza 4: Wild and Fierce and Not Bothered takes its cue from a scene in the Ken Loach film ‘Kes’ where protagonist Billy Casper is recounting his fascination with the bird of prey he befriended in his last year of school.

For the past three years the festival has brought a wide range of hotly tipped artists to the North East that span a huge range of genres ( MOBO nominated Nu Metallers, Native James, Alt-country Brown Horse, Transgressive Records’ University, Black Country rock duo Gans) It hosted indie legends like Gruff Rhys and given a mainstage platform to the North East scene’s largest local bands like Martha, Benefits, Pit Pony, The Safest Place but has always stayed loyal to the British grassroots music scene, building its line-up from a 20 year network of DIY promoters from around the Uk and Europe.

Marrapalooza also stays true to the working class musical traditions of the North East by hosting community Brass Bands each year.

Marrapalooza 4: Wild and Fierce and Not Bothered will continue to build on the cult festival’s mission to be the most ambitious, varied and affordable event in the North.

“a near-perfect weekend. That might sound a bit corny, but it’s true.” Narc Magazine
“A truly special event” NE Volume
”Marrapalooza and events like these are incredibly important, with a packed bill of DIY bands powering a DIY festival, which is run for a love of music, rather than a love of profit.” Humbug North East