A sprawling 1000 acre grassland nestled at the heart of the city, it’s more than just an open space— it’s a living, breathing part of Newcastle’s identity. For 800 years, the Moor has played a central role in uniting communities, balancing preservation with built environment development, and hosting everything from grazing cattle to the annual Hoppings events. And in the first week of June, the Moor will become the platform of the North East’s biggest music festival— Come Together.
With a star-studded lineup featuring Robbie Williams, Perrie, and Courteeners, the record-breaking event will transform the Moor into an epicentre for art, entertainment, and cuisine, drawing thousands of music lovers from across the UK and global tourists. But behind the scenes, the festival is more than a spectacle— it’s a carefully managed balance between conservation and celebration.
At the heart of the efforts are The Freemen of Newcastle upon Tyne, the historic custodians of the Moor who are ensuring that Come Together is as much about sustainability as it is show-stopping performances.
Beyond the music, the festival carries a huge responsibility: protecting the Moor's sustainability...
The Freemen, who have safeguarded the Moor for 800 years, work closely with Newcastle City Council and local authorities to protect the land whilst still embracing its potential for hosting large-scale events.
Nick Atkinson, the Vice Chairman of the Freemen, sees Come Together as a huge milestone, not just for Newcastle’s music scene but for the Moor itself. “It could be huge for putting Newcastle on the map,” he says. “We’ve put on smaller level music events, like Loose Fest and This Is Tomorrow, but the space commands something much bigger. I’m jumping for joy, it’s been a long time coming. I hope it becomes an annual event and draws an international audience… this is only year one.”
Beyond the music, the festival carries a huge responsibility: protecting the Moor’s longevity, ensuring that the 45,000 per-day-attendance foot traffic impact on the land is temporary and the space is preserved. “It’s not fairies that pick the litter up, fix the gates, or maintain the footpaths—it’s us. And we’ve been doing it for 800 years. It has to be done right: for the city, for the Moor, for the ecology, for the biodiversity.”
“We’ve just done a huge biodiversity audit, we know exactly what lives on the Moor, we know exactly what grows on the Moor, we know all the different types of bees and birds and bugs and critters… and they’re there because we help them and we maintain them by strategic management of those green spaces.”
Strict environmental protections will be in place to ensure the Moor remains intact long after the last note is played. “We wouldn’t allow too many cars on the Moor, we wouldn’t allow camping because that could risk antisocial behaviour. We say no to a lot of things, we surround ourselves with the right people, and we become part of that management team.”
Beyond conservation, Come Together aims to salute Newcastle itself. Atkinson told us, “It’s important to be bringing a wide range of diverse things to the region as well, it’s not all music festivals. If we did a music festival every month, Jesmond residents would be quite angry! We bring them on the journey with us.”
As we get closer to showtime in June, the festival’s commitment to conservation and elevation of the Newcastle cultural sphere will bring world-class talent to the city without compromising the Moor’s ecological importance. The festival goes exceeds celebrating talent— it’s a commemoration of what the North East has to offer, and how stewardship is crucial in encouraging the evolution of the city whilst still honouring its natural heritage.
“Historically, we’ve been fishing in a small pond. Now we’re fishing in the Atlantic Ocean, and we’ve got Great White Sharks to land.”
Tickets for the Come Together Festival are on sale now: https://cometogetherfestival.co.uk