Happy 5th Birthday to The Sage, Gateshead!

Happy Birthday The Sage




At 5pm on 17th December, music began which signified 5 years to the minute since the Sage Gateshead first opened to the public. As those gathered joined with the choir to sing ‘Happy Birthday,’ the acoustics of the concourse seemed to carry our good wishes around the building, before the hundreds gathered toasted their favourite music venue with champagne, and special cakes bearing the Sage’s now famous logo and the number 5.



Alan Davy took the mic to point out that since the Sage opened those doors, on another snowy December night, it is incredible to see what it has come to represent to so many people, not to mention that it it is living proof of what can happen when you use arts money sensibly, as over the course of its 5 years The Sage has provided countless opportunities and engages ever more people.



The leader of Gateshead Council stepped up to talk about how in the beginning, many people believed that the ideas of Gateshead having a world renowned music venue was an impossible dream, so indeed, as he said, thanks is due to those people who believed in and held onto that dream to make it a reality for so many of us to enjoy. He feels that The Sage has led to a kind of cultural renaissance which has resulted in a big impact on local economy and a re-invigorated local pride, as their music programme continues to excite and stimulate everyone. He spoke of his pride at what this place has come to represent to locals, describing it as ‘the place to be.’ Whether for a coffee, to take in the view, or, indeed, for music; a world class venue, where local spirit dwells.



Lord David Puttnam stated that he is the proudest chairman in Britain, and possibly in Europe. Sharing just a few of The Sage’s successes, he told us:



- It has put £146 million back into local economy – three times the original investment

- It has created over 665 jobs

- It has hosted over 100 weddings

- It has welcomed over 80% of Gateshead schools and worked with 600 schools across the North east and Cumbria

- It has held numerous music festivals

- It has hosted over 2000 performances





All of this, he stated, is down to everyone. Arts Council England, donors and investors,partners, very enthusiastic staff, customers and indeed performers. He ended by pointing out that however great it is to look back, it is even more exciting to look forward. There are many things in the pipeline, including work with world class composers and Kathryn Tickell as Artistic Director of Folkworks, based at The Sage.



What was undeniably apparentis that many people hold a special place in their hearts for The Sage, for a variety of reasons. This was further evidenced by the quotes shown on the wall, during the course of the evening, from customers and performers alike. Laura Veirs remarked on how the venue lets her connect with her audience and Alison Moyet commented, ‘It’s always good to be here.’ The great Emmylou Harris stated that she’s be telling all her friends about it and Barbara Dickson perhaps sums it up in saying, quite simply, ‘The Sage Gateshead is the best venue in Britain.’



All of this got me to thinking – what does The Sage Gateshead mean to me? Well, on one hand, I can’t believe it has been five years; on the other hand, I can’t quite fathom that there was ever a time when it wasn’t a part of the Gateshead Quayside. I guess that is not unlike a good friend and in the same way the Sage has found a place in my heart and become an important part of my life.



Having always loved music and been brought up on country/ Americana music, it was a source of constant frustration in my teens and early twenties that we were the missed out no man’s land between Glasgow and Manchester, as a result of which I got to see very few gigs. Suddenly, since The Sage, I now have friends complaining that the tables have been turned and we are getting artists play here who are missing out the rest of the country.



In the case of some acts, for example, Cowboy Junkies and The Flatlanders, The Sage was the only date outside of London. So I guess, the Sage, above all, has meant a chance for me to see some amazing artists perform live, who I never would have before, and in many cases to speak to them after the show, such is The Sage’s ethos. Just some of those whom I have seen perform at The Sage (some more than once), are: Barbara Dickson, Paul Carrack, Alison Moyet, Thea Gilmore , Gretchen Peters, Wine, Women and Song, Kathy Mattea, Eddi Reader, Seth Lakeman, Emily Maguire, Eric Bibb, Roddy Frame, Eve Selis, Beth Nielsen Chapman, Nanci Griffith, Lucy Kaplansky, Chris de Burgh, Neil Sedaka, Devon Sproule, Lucinda Williams, The Flatlanders, Rodney Crowell, Beverley Craven, Daby Toure, Joan Baez, Diana Jones, Cowboy Junkies, Shawn Colvin, Lucy Wainright Roche, Erin McKeown and The Blind Boys of Alabama.



That is without listing the umpeen great namkes I have had the pleasure of seeing at the annual Americana Festival, just one of The Sage’s many music festivals. I look forward to seeing many of these return, and to seeing new names appear. There is increasingly becoming something very special about seeing an artist whose music I love play in this venue I have come to love, almost as if even without speaking to them, you are sharing something very special...I guess we are and most artsists recognise that too. Gretchen Peters has always loved the North East and cites the Sage as her favourite venue in the UK to come back to, Eve Selis loves the Sage; Thea Gilmore, the night of the 17th wished the venue a happy birthday, stating it is one of her favourite venues to come back to. These artists are not alone, and all seem very genuine in their love of ‘our’ venue. I say our because I feel we have all come to feel it belongs to us, the people who frequent it and have come to love what it represents. Even for those who aren’t into music, who can beat that view over the River Tyne, especially at night?



I guess, really, all that remains is for me to say Happy Birthday to The Sage Gateshead; I look forward to seeing what the next five years bring, and the five after that. Oh and a big heartfelt thankyou, to those who brought us The Sage, to those who make it what it is, to the artists who make us feel special time and time again by playing there, and if I may name someone by name, to Gaynor, who has given me the opportunity to see so many wonderful gigs and have the honour of reviewing them. Long may it all continue...



Helen Mitchell