As Newcastle prepares for a huge summer of live music, anticipation is mounting for one of the city’s own. Andrew Cushin will take to the stage alongside Robbie Williams at the Come Together Festival in June 2025, a landmark moment that arrives just weeks after the release of his second album on May 2nd and a UK-wide tour throughout May. It’s a homecoming charged with momentum, pride, and a sense that Cushin is entering a new chapter.
Still only in his early twenties, Cushin’s rise has been anything but accidental. His songwriting career gathered pace quickly, from signing a record deal at just 18 to a 2020 collaboration with Noel Gallagher. Since then, he’s carved out a reputation within the indie rock scene for his gritty, blues-tinged sound, emotional honesty and big, anthemic hooks.
I’m incredibly proud to be part of it, and proud to be part of my city
Speaking to The Courier, Cushin was quick to highlight what the Come Together Festival represents beyond its headline acts. Praising its commitment to “championing local talent,” he described the opportunity as deeply personal. “I’m incredibly proud to be part of it, and proud to be part of my city,” he said.
For Cushin, the festival addresses a longstanding gap in Newcastle’s cultural landscape. “There’s talent everywhere here. Incredible artists, writers, and musicians, they just need the platforms.”
That connection to Newcastle runs through everything Cushin does. He remains a vocal supporter of the city's grassroots venues. “They’re undoubtedly the backbone of my career and remain a vital training ground for other growing artists.” His success story is inseparable from the local scene that nurtured him, serving as a reminder that it is regional culture that feeds national stages.
That sense of growth is echoed in his upcoming album. Where his debut was shaped by introspection and personal struggle, this record marks a deliberate tonal shift.
“Those songs were more personal, and honestly, a bit of a downer,” Cushin admitted. “I’ve already carried that weight and put it down. This time, it felt like a release.” The new material leans into broader themes like love, heartbreak, and the messy highs and lows of relationships, with a sound he describes as “made for festival stages.”
If it wasn’t for Newcastle, I wouldn’t be doing this. This is a city that really champions its own.
Despite his achievements, including becoming the youngest Geordie ever to sell out Newcastle City Hall, performing at home still brings nerves. “It’s not more exciting,” he said. “If anything, it’s more terrifying.” But that pressure is rooted in gratitude. “If it wasn’t for Newcastle, I wouldn’t be doing this. This is a city that really champions its own.” He points to artists like Sam Fender as proof of a community that lifts its talent and demands the best from them. “The only way to say thank you is to put on the best show you can, and if you do that in Newcastle, there’s no feeling like it.”
Looking back, Cushin pinpoints a pair of sold-out shows at NX Newcastle as a turning point. “That’s when it clicked and I knew I had to do this forever, not just because I loved it, but because it meant something to other people too.”
With a new album on the horizon and a promising year ahead, Andrew Cushin’s star is undoubtedly on the rise, and Newcastle couldn’t be prouder to call him one of their own.