Street-punk legends Cockney Rejects are heading back to Newcastle to headline North East Calling 2026.
The all-dayer has become a landmark event in the calendar for the region’s punk community, showcasing heritage acts as well as providing a stage for up and coming talent.
Next year’s event will be the 20th edition of what started out as Durham Punk Festival, before moving to Newcastle in 2013. It’s on Saturday 3 October at its usual home, Northumbria University.
Cockney Rejects will top the bill for the first time since 2023, with singer Jeff Turner bringing the band’s new line-up, which includes Olga of The Toy Dolls on guitar, JJ Pearce from The Last Resort on bass and Ray Bussey from The Business on drums.
Second headliners are returning favourites GBH, who also played in 2022 (reviewed here), and there’s more old favourites in Peter And The Test Tube Babies, who haven’t played NEC since 2018.
West Yorkshire ska-punks Random Hand will be back after winning lots of new fans on their first visit in 2024, while modern favourites Dirt Box Disco return after missing the last three years.
Essex duo The Meffs, one of the fastest-rising bands on the scene, will make their debut, and they’ll be joined by another two-piece, Voodoo Radio, who’ve played once before, in 2023.
Politically-outspoken Irish avant garde punk producer Meryl Streek will also make his debut, while Essex grime-punks Riskee & the Ridicule will be popular returnees after ripping NEC a new one on their first appearance last year (reviewed here).
Completing the bill – for now at least – are veteran Scottish punks Fire Exit, who’ve played three times, most recently in 2021 (reviewed here).
Early bird tickets for North East Calling 2026 are available online now from www.gigbox.co.uk, and in person from Reflex Records in Newcastle and Hot Rats in Sunderland.
They’re priced £30 until 31 May (then £35). Under-18s tickets are £12 when purchased with an adult ticket.
