Programme Design | Creative Direction | Delivery Management
The Mercury Prize Fringe was a week-long, region-wide celebration of music, creativity and community, delivered in partnership with Generator across the North East and running alongside the Mercury Prize – which, in 2025, moved outside of London for the first time, taking place at Utilita Arena Newcastle on 16th October. Under the banner ‘This City Sings’, the Fringe put Northern talent centre stage and gave local communities a genuine stake in this national cultural moment.
Spanning all seven North East local authorities – Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, Durham, Northumberland, North Tyneside and South Tyneside – the programme delivered 20+ events across 7 stages, including live showcases, artist collaborations, workshops, masterclasses, in-conversations and bold community-driven events. Highlights included the Generator Live Conference, a BBC Introducing special from The Glasshouse, a Tim Burgess Listening Party with Mercury-shortlisted Lanterns on the Lake, and a full Art of the Album Day. Emerging and established talent from across the region were platformed throughout, with a clear commitment to accessibility – all events were free and open to artists, managers and music lovers at every level.
Yaw was the Creative Lead of key elements of the programme including the Generator Live Conference, the Art of the Album Day and various partnerships – working to ensure the programme reflected the depth and diversity of the North East’s and the broader North’s music scenes – and that the arrival of the Mercury Prize in the region was felt far beyond the awards night itself.
