Meet the Man Behind The Great Market Caper
After the roaring success of its first outing, the second edition of The Great Market Caper is set to take place at the Grainger Market on Saturday 1st October.
We caught up with the mastermind behind Newcastle’s newest night out, Sean Bullick, to find out how he came up with The Great Market Caper and what we can expect from the next one.
Tell us a little about The Great Market Caper, what is it all about?
Put simply, it’s a fantastic night out with four main elements – food, drinks, music and entertainment. We’ve got great street food from resident Grainger Market traders and special guests like Saltwater Fish Company alongside several bars serving up cocktails, fizz, beer and wine.
There are live performances from some of the North East’s most talented musicians and DJs spinning tracks in between sets, plus even more entertainment in the form of stand-up comedy acts and dancing masterclasses. No two Great Market Caper line-ups are the same either, so there’s something different every time.
How did you come up with the idea?
You could say that the inspiration behind The Great Market Caper was threefold. I’ve worked in Newcastle for years and always thought that the Grainger Market is one of the city’s best assets. I’m also conscious the North East is home to so much talent – from chefs to performers – that we should be showcasing and shouting about. This, combined with the fact that people are open to socializing in different and more casual ways post-COVID, planted the seeds that became The Great Market Caper.
How long did it take to turn The Great Market Caper into a reality?
It took around 12 months in total, from coming up with the idea to the launch of the first Great Market Caper. Luckily, Newcastle City Council – who run the Grainger Market – were really excited and supportive throughout the process.
What do you think an event like The Great Market Caper brings to the Grainger Market and the city?
It helps raise the profile of not just the market and its traders, but the wider city too. Times have been hard for businesses and anything that draws people into Newcastle and shows off the city centre – especially after the pandemic – is a benefit. Plus, the Capers end at midnight so we’re hopeful that people will go onto other venues afterwards which means more trade for city centre businesses.
How did the inaugural Great Market Caper go down?
It was a big success! Over 1000 people came along, including Si King of The Hairy Bikers fame, and our salsa dancing class went down a storm. The atmosphere was fantastic too – very friendly and relaxed – and it felt very much like the kind of night out that could only happen in Newcastle. Feedback has been really positive, so now we’re focusing on making future Capers even bigger and even better.
What can people expect from the second Great Market Caper?
An amazing night out and great value for money! Tickets are £10 and that includes entrance, stand-up comedy from top North East comedians including Alfie Joey, three musical acts – up-and-coming rapper Kema Kay, R&B band The King Bees and guitar maestro Martin Stephenson – plus belly and line dancing demonstrations for those daring enough to strut their stuff.
Our guest food traders include Mexican street food specialists Cantina who’ll be dishing out delicious vegan tacos and come personally recommended by Si King, and talented DJs from Multiminded Music will provide the beats in between all the other entertainment acts.
As you can see, it’s a great showcase of local talent and an event with a truly multigenerational appeal that offers something for everybody – young and not so young!
Do you have any exciting things in the pipeline for future Great Market Capers? Will there be a Christmas edition? Are there any festive treats in store?
It’s all very hush-hush at the moment, but we’ve got some interesting plans in the works for the third Great Market Caper which is taking place close to Halloween.
We’ll also be holding not one, but two Great Market Capers in December on the 3rd and 17th that will have a very festive feel – like a giant Christmas party in the Grainger Market.
There you have it from the man himself: the Great Market Caper is the place to be if amazing street food, music, comedy, dancing and drinks are your jam. Catch us there front and centre at the line dancing class this Saturday night!
Tickets for the next Great Market Caper cost just £10 and are available to buy via www.thecaper.co.uk.
