Hels Pattison

Hels Pattison plays the Grainger Market arcade this Saturday, 17 October, as part of a day of live music that runs from 11am until 4pm. She takes the 1pm slot, with each artist playing for about half an hour. Pattison is a Newcastle artist who blends contemporary indie rock with country soul, so her set sits somewhere between the two.

She's one of six acts on the bill. FAWNS open at 11am, followed by Sam Bennett at noon, Pattison at 1pm, Josh Webb at 2pm, Polyvinyl at 3pm, and Bear Park at 4pm. It's a stripped-back acoustic day, with the sets spread across the market from brunch through to lunchtime, and a pop-up bar run by Firebrick Brewery on site. There's no booking required, so you can just turn up and stay for as many as you like.

The whole thing is called Grainger Market Unplugged, and it's part of the 2026 Mercury Prize Fringe, a week-long celebration of the North East's emerging musical talent that runs from 15 to 22 October. The fringe takes over several of Newcastle's most iconic venues with live showcases, lyric and album-producing masterclasses with music legends, workshops, listening parties, and in-conversations. It's powered by Generator, the region's leading music development organisation, and this particular day is curated and hosted by Neave Farry of The Support Act, a local music platform, in partnership with Generator and organised by Creative Central NCL on behalf of Newcastle City Council.

The week builds up to the Mercury Prize itself, which returns to Utilita Arena Newcastle on Thursday 22 October. Until then, the fringe keeps the focus on the local scene, with Grainger Market Unplugged working as an alternative to the usual evening gig: acoustic sets by emerging North East artists, one after another, in the middle of the market. It's free and unticketed, so you can just drift in and out throughout the day.