NOVUM: Melanie Baker + Staithe: Newcastle Contemporary Art

Melanie Baker + Staithe – live at #NOVUM26

Friday 7th August, 7.30pm

Newcastle Contemporary Art, Highbridge Works Ticket link: https://fatso.ma/f6r6f

Step inside A Room in Bloom and experience one of the North East's most exciting live artists in a setting unlike any other.

Surrounded by towering flowers, delicate paper blooms and an immersive floral wonderland, Melanie Baker brings her powerful, emotionally charged music to #NOVUM26 for an intimate and unique gig.

Writing songs that sit somewhere between noisy catharsis and quiet confession, Melanie blends fuzzy guitars, pounding drums and razor-sharp lyrics with warmth, wit and unapologetic honesty. Inspired by the spirit of '90s alt-rock but unmistakably her own, her music explores love, anxiety, joy, anger and everything in between.

Raw, funny and fiercely human, Melanie's live shows have earned her a devoted following, turning personal stories into moments of shared connection. Whether you're discovering her for the first time or already know every word, this is a rare chance to experience one of the region's standout musicians in one of #NOVUM26 beautiful installations.

Her work has been championed across BBC Radio 1, 2, and 6 Music, and her song “Double Decker Death Machine” featured on BBC TV’s Waterloo Road. But acclaim has never been the point. Baker’s art thrives in the messy, glorious space between pain and play, finding humour in heartbreak and hope in absurdity.

Melanie Baker doesn’t hide from the chaos of feeling; she invites it in, hands it a microphone, and makes it sing.

Opening the night is Staithe - a duo creating beautifully immersive soundscapes that blur the lines between folk, classical and electronic music. Layering haunting vocals with classical guitar, viola, piano and shimmering electronic textures, Staithe build songs that feel cinematic, intimate and quietly spellbinding. Led by acclaimed songwriter Bridie Jackson alongside multi-instrumentalist Nick, their music invites you to slow down, lean in and get lost in the atmosphere.

Take a moment before the music begins to explore A Room in Bloom, a larger-than-life floral installation where fresh, locally grown flowers intertwine with handcrafted paper blooms. Starting at your feet and stretching high above your head, it's a joyful world where nature and imagination blur together.

£15

Doors: 7.30pm

Staithe: 8pm - 8.45pm

Melanie Baker: 9.15pm - 10.15pm

Pay bar available on the night.

Ticket link: https://fatso.ma/f6r6f