Local musicians are coming together to perform a series of special gigs across the North East as part of a new nationwide campaign to tackle homelessness.

Musicians Against Homelessness (MAH) is hoping to raise money and awareness for the homeless charity Crisis and over 600 bands, artists and DJ’s will perform over the next three weeks.

The brainchild of Emma Rule, a Cambridgeshire-based PR, Musicians Against Homelessness initially started as a single music event but thanks to the power of social media the campaign has grown and 115 festivals and gigs will take place throughout the UK between September 18 and October 9.

Emma came up with the idea after volunteering for Crisis, she said: “When I volunteered for Crisis at Christmas I saw people at their lowest ebb, people who had lost everything, people whose lives were shattered. At the same time I witnessed the compassion, generosity and the sheer hard work of people trying to change those shattered lives for the better.

“It’s a hugely exciting collaboration with musicians performing up and down the UK but would not have been made possible without the support of countless MAH volunteers who have worked so hard.

“The response from the North East has been fantastic, we’re thrilled to see so many excellent bands performing for the project, and superb local venues offering a place to play” “

“I’d like to thank our regional manger Mark Elliott for overseeing all the gigs, our event managers and bands for making MAH North East such a success.”

Oasis guru Alan McGee is backing the Musicians Against Homelessness campaign in aid of Crisis
Oasis guru Alan McGee is backing the Musicians Against Homelessness campaign in aid of Crisis

Emma launched the campaign in March along with MAH Ambassador, Alan McGee, who was keen to get involved as homelessness is a cause close to his heart. The former Creation Records boss actually slept rough for a period before he became a rock and roll manager and discovered Oasis.

He said: “I’ve known Emma for a while as we have worked together with Happy Mondays and Black Grape and she told me about her experience of volunteering with Crisis, which really impressed me. Then when she came up with the idea of Musicians Against Homelessness she asked me to be ambassador of the campaign to help it gain momentum. She has done all the hard work arranging the campaign and recruiting the regional managers across the UK, whereas I’ve just had to do a few interviews. Emma definitely deserves all the recognition for the project and I would love to see her get an OBE.

“It’s a fantastic campaign and one that means a lot to me as no-one in this day and age should be homeless but due to sanctions imposed by the government more and more people are experiencing financial difficulties and really struggling to keep roofs over their heads. There is too much generalisation about homelessness we need to end austerity and to put money back into the economy.

“Being homeless is tough, I was kicked out of home at 16 and lived with friends in Glasgow before going to live in London in the late 1970s. I never felt homeless but I was and ended up living in a squat which was quite exciting but definitely not glamorous. Nothing like the life style I’ve had since then.”

John Power and Jay from Cast will officially launch Musicians Against Homelessness tonight along with some great support bands and artists at Alan McGee’s venue the Tabernacle in Talgarth, Wales.

Everyone involved in the campaign is donating their time for free and all the proceeds raised will be going to Crisis in time to help the charity support people through winter and over the Christmas period.

During the campaign, seven North East venues will host special fundraising gigs which will see acts such as The Lake Poets, Lilliput, The Middens, Velvoir. Shinobi Fantobi and Tom Mouse Smith perform to help those living on the streets.

Alan said: “The support in the North East of England has been tremendous and inspiring and it’s fantastic to see so many come forward to take part. Although our primary concern is to combat the scourge of homelessness it is vital that the MAH gigs also give up-and-coming combos a chance to play to larger audiences.

“It’s great to see so many young bands with a social conscience who want to get involved and we were determined to give them a chance to perform as we had no intention of trying to be another Band Aid with this project. We wanted to encourage young artists be a part of the campaign as it is really difficult to be a part of something in music.”

To find out more about the campaign go to www.facebook.com/mahgigs or Twitter @MAH_Gigs.

Ticket are on sale now for the seven North East gigs below:

* Velvoir, Almighty Uprisers, The Middens and Indigo Skyfold – The Tavern in Blyth on Friday, September 23. Doors 7pm. Tickets £3 on the door.

* The Middens, Lilliput, The Lake Poets and Tom Smith – Tynemouth Surf Cafe on Saturday, September 24. Doors 6.30pm. Tickets sold out.

* Phil Caffrey, Olivia Devine, Aaron Duff (The Middens), Jenny Lascelles and Rivers & Satellites – Porters Coffee House in Tynemouth Metro Station on Friday, September 30. Doors 7.30pm. Tickets £7.

* The Fabulous Mouses (house band), The Middens, Fleckt Pets and Idle Violets – TSOne in Middlesbrough on Sunday, October 2. Doors 7pm and donations welcome on arrival and throughout the night.

* The Juggernaut Love band, 70’s Cop Show, Shinobi Fantobi - The Exchange in North Shields on Friday, October 7. Doors 7pm and this is pay what you can gig.

* The Endeavours, Able Raise The Cain, The Sunlit Shakers, Under the Influence and Danny Devon – The Studio in Hartlepool on Saturday, October 8. Doors 12pm. Tickets £5.

* Velvoir, Smoking Coconuts, Heavy Jets , Garage Flowers (London band) plus special guests. There will also be an acoustic afternoon from 1pm with Soham De / Dox Docherty / Nearly Dennis / Nic Wood / Hassle - Alphabetti Theatre in Newcastle on Sunday, October 9. Tickets cost £8.