Member Article

New permanent base for ¡Vamos! Festival

¡Vamos! Festival - marking its 10th year as the festival of all that’s great about Portugese and Spanish-speaking culture - has announced it is transforming a former nightclub in Newcastle into a permanent multi-cultural venue providing event, cultural and work opportunities.

¡Vamos! Social, in Bamburgh House, Market Street, Newcastle, will play host to some of the festival events this June, including the Mardi Gras after-party on Saturday 6 June, when Uruguay’s Selectorchico will bring his Club Subtropical sound of global bass-heavy remixes, mash-ups and original Latino productions to the venue.

¡Vamos! founder Nik Barrera said: “Creating a permanent base for ¡Vamos! means we can go on growing our activities throughout the year, building on the amazing response the festival always receives.

“The cultural landscape of Newcastle and the North East is developing every year, and we’re confident this infusion of Portugese and Spanish-influenced art, dance and music will make a massive contribution to the region.”

As well as hosting ¡Vamos! events, the revamped venue - in partnership with Breeze Creatives - will provide space for pop-up shops and a designer maker, art and vintage trader market. It will also provide film screenings, workshops, talks, creative space and facilities for yoga, rehearsal and fitness workshops, plus food and coffee and a crèche.

“We’re currently transforming the space, and our international artists will be giving us a helping hand by providing artworks for it,” said Nik.

“We’re going to have students from Newcastle and Northumbria universities at the heart of the project.

“The festival gives us the ideal opportunity to get ¡Vamos! Social off to a truly vibrant start and see how the space works – and then we’ll start designing a programme of events to carry us forward.”

¡Vamos! will see a lively array of art, dance, music, film and food events from June 4-14 in Newcastle and North Tyneside, with UK street art premieres and even Mexican wrestling.

You can find out more about ¡Vamos! Festival, artists and events at www.vamosfestival.com and book tickets at www.seetickets.com/go/kidcreolevamos

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Adrienne Hunter .