Run, Rock n Raise featuring The Kaiser Chiefs coming soon

“Music has been the most important part of my life, ever since I was a young boy growing up on Tyneside. I truly believe that access to music, in its many forms, can benefit and support everyone, giving them the chance to discover a life-long love. It's great to see a new annual music event coming to the North East that will support the important work of Teenage Cancer Trust, Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy and the Graham Wylie Foundation.” - Sting

Kaiser Chiefs lead Ricky Wilson recently visited the North East to launch 'Rock n Raise', the North East’s newest and biggest charity concert to raise money for three causes – the Graham Wylie Foundation, the Teenage Cancer Trust and Nordoff Robbins.

The Concert will happen on the day of this year’s Great North Run, which Ricky will be one of the top celebrities taking part in, and features Kodaline and Lisbon performing at the Metro Radio Arena

Further big name acts are set to be confirmed and announced in coming months.

Ricky will be running in the Great North Run on Sunday 11th September before performing as the Rock n Raise headline act in the evening of the same day. 

This stems from the year 2000 when Roger Daltrey organised the first benefit show for Teenage Cancer Trust, ‘The Who and Friends’.

These shows have now developed into an annual major highlight in the British Music Calendar. 15 years later and over 20 million pounds have been raised and 29 Teenage Cancer Units have sprung up all over the UK including two in Newcastle which cover the North East and Cumbria.

Nordoff Robbins announced at 2015 Silver Clef Awards they were planning to do more in the regions and local entrepreneur Graham Wylie, a miner’s son from Newcastle, and founder of The Sage Group’s Charitable Foundation, has been set up to Help, Educate and Inspire underprivileged children and young people of the North East. 

Graham has raised over £2 million for the Children's Heart Unit at the Newcastle Freeman and donated £1 million to the Newcastle General Hospital Clinical Trials Dept post his successful cancer treatment. 100% of all monies raised via the Foundation is granted to local charities, no overheads are taken.

After a meeting with NR Chairman David Munns who explained the importance of Music Therapy, not only has the Graham Wylie Foundation committed to funding the first Therapist in the region, he has also donated a building in Newcastle to be converted into the first Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy Centre outside of London.

This centre will employ and train local therapists so not only helping the community but creating jobs too. All sessions in this centre will be free. The money raised from Rock n Raise will pay for the refurb and acoustic treatment for this school.

The money from Rock n Raise will be split 3 ways, Nordoff Robbins, Teenage Cancer Trust and Graham Wylie Foundation and will stay in the North East.

Messages of support for this event:

“Without teenagers and their energy and passion for music, we wouldn't have Rock 'n Roll as we know it. These gigs are my small way of giving something back. There is no doubt in my mind that we're really making a difference.”– Roger Daltrey CBE

"To see an annual music event established  in our home town of Newcastle with the purpose of helping our local young people can only be a great thing. The generosity of the people of the North East makes us very proud to be Geordies. We will, without doubt, be supporting this event."  - Ant and Dec  

 “To have a Music Event in the North East raising funds for such excellent charities as Teenage Cancer Trust, Nordoff Robbins and Graham Wylie Foundation will help the lives of many vulnerable children and young people in our area. I would be proud to support and be associated with such a worthwhile initiative”. – Alan Shearer

Our partners the Great North Run will be supporting this event and market the tickets directly to their 57,000 runners and 2 million database ‘Run, Rock and Raise’.

Bauer Media, Metro Radio is our Media Partner as well as NCJ Media on print and online.