Musicians Launch Fundraising Campaign to Create a Fair Music Scene in Newcastle By Andrew Clifford

Two Newcastle musicians, David McGovern and Paul Fairburn, have launched a new fundraising campaign aimed at helping local kids get involved in music. Their project, Beyond Music CIC, is all about creating a new kind of community-led music scene—one that puts people first.

At the heart of the project is the Beyond Music Academy, a non-profit program for young people in areas like the West End who don’t have many opportunities. This isn’t just about learning guitar chords. It’s about giving them hands-on experience with everything from writing songs to running live shows, from sound engineering to stage lighting.

“We’re not trying to turn everyone into a professional musician,” the David explained.

“This is about giving them a safe, supportive place to have fun and see where music could take them.”

The academy will be based out of the John Marley Centre, a well-known creative hub in the West End. The old Art Deco school has been transformed and already houses a number of businesses, including David McGovern’s record store, Beyond Vinyl. The plan is to use three of the centre’s venue spaces to host professional gigs. What’s smart is that all the money from those shows will go right back into the academy to fund workshops, buy gear, and offer free spots for kids who need them.

David McGovern, a familiar face in the city’s music community, owns Beyond Vinyl and has a history of launching charity music projects.

The fundraising campaign has a starting goal of £3,000 for basic equipment, with a long-term target of £80,000 to £100,000. They’ve already been able to get a lot of gear at a discount, thanks to support from the industry. While they’re in talks with the council about getting a dedicated space, their main focus right now is just getting the academy off the ground and making a real difference in the community.

The founders say they want to challenge an industry that often puts profits ahead of people.

“We’re building something genuinely inclusive and sustainable, led by the community itself,” David said.

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