This summer, Sir Tom Jones led a big night out on the green, green grass of Bitts Park, while there was no doubt that it must’ve been love as Madness were winners at Carlisle Racecourse.

The big gigs don’t stop there though and things are already hotting up for next summer with global music icon Rod Stewart revealing he’s taking to the pitch at Brunton Park, which is bound to attract thousands of his fans.

On top of that, promoters of Sir Tom’s hit concert have made no secret of the fact they’d like to return to the park with another major name, while bosses at Carlisle Racecourse are already in talks with a top act to headline their next big racing-and-music fixture next July.

Those headline-grabbers add to the mix of a generally bustling music scene in the city, with a calendar of events to suit all tastes, featuring the latest up-and-coming indie bands, house music DJs, veteran chart stars and television talent show champions.

Every one of them brings something different to the city and their importance can’t be underestimated.

Music lovers obviously have more to choose from on their doorstep, which is no bad thing.

On top of that though, every one of these events plays its part in the area’s economy – with the major outdoor gigs in particular drawing in strong crowds from far and wide, with each visitor spending while they’re here.

Carlisle United chiefs are hoping that international superstar Stewart, with a back catalogue of hits stretching back over five decades, will prove a big draw to the city.

“This is fantastic news for the football club, the whole of Carlisle and surrounding area. Rod takes a superb following wherever he goes,” says Phil King, United’s sales and marketing director.

That was certainly the experience from Sir Tom’s show in July, when more than 7,000 people came from far and wide, bringing benefits for bars, restaurants and hotels.

And it’s in line with what bosses at Carlisle Racecourse have found as they’ve welcomed acts such as the Kaiser Chiefs and Jessie J in the past couple of years.

There were in excess of 7,500 people at the Durdar track when pop legends Madness played there on July 4 – with many of the audience sporting special Madness fezes.

Geraldine McKay, the racecourse’s general manager, described that night as “fantastic”, revealing: “Right now, we are working very hard to bring another big-name act to Carlisle Racecourse for our major live music fixture next summer on, Saturday, July 2.

“The formula of live music by a top artiste straight after an evening’s racing goes down really well with our spectators,” she added.

“I think a lot of the big bands and singers are going back out on the road more and more nowadays because of the way the music industry has evolved, with the emphasis increasingly on tours and live, often open-air performances rather than simply sales of music.”

Many of the crowd who saw Madness at the races were ferried back into Carlisle city centre after the concert with a free ride on a fleet of buses provided by Wigton-based Reays, courtesy of the racecourse. It’s an example of how big music events can create additional business for other companies, with people starting and ending the day in the city centre.

Reays had also brought five coachloads of spectators from west Cumbria to see Madness at the racecourse, picking up at places including Whitehaven, Egremont, Workington and Dearham.

Michelle Stacey, Reays’ sales and customer service manager, says: “We do a lot of business throughout the year, running coach trips to take thousands of people from all over Cumbria to see really big-name acts like Olly Murs, Take That and Kylie Minogue in other parts of the country.

"We ran coaches to the T In The Park festival and we’ve got several coaches going to Manchester for One Direction’s farewell tour in October.

“But as a Cumbrian company, we think it is great that Carlisle is gaining a reputation as a place for the best-known and biggest names to come and perform. It really seems to have put itself back on the map in that respect.”

And then there’s The Sands Centre to take into account too.

It has long attracted some major names to suit varying tastes. Paul Weller, famously surprisingly supported by Noel Gallagher at the height of Oasis’ fame in the late 1990s, has been a regular over the years.

At the other end of the spectrum, Britain’s Got Talent champions Collabro – including Carlisle’s Matt Pagan – kicked off their first tour there in January. Collabro will return next year, as will Pagan in a solo show for Carlisle’s Eden Valley Hospice.

Venues such as The Brickyard have provided a springboard for bands heading to the top.

Festival headliners Kasabian and Arctic Monkeys – who opened Radio 1’s Big Weekend at Carlisle Airport in 2011, the biggest concert ever in Cumbria and proof that the county can be a success on the global music stage – both appeared at the city centre venue on their way up.

And an increasing number of similar venues, such as the Old Fire Station arts centre and a number of bars, are also opening opportunities for new acts and circuit favourites.

As well as leading work at the Carlisle City Council-run Old Fire Station, Stephen Dunn is one of the best-known faces on the city’s music scene, currently playing with The Postcard Band.


Stephen Dunn He’s upbeat to say the least about where the city is on the music front.

“It’s better than I’ve ever known it,” he says. “There’s a real buzz about the city at the moment – and it’s not just me saying it. It’s great. There are a lot more things coming to the city and the quality is fantastic.

“The Old Fire Station is helping that and The Brickyard has always been brilliant. We’re looking to try and get our programmes to work together. The regeneration of Devonshire Street and open mic night at bars there is really exciting too.

“There is so much appetite right now to make things happen.”

Carlisle Music City has played a high-profile role in championing many up-and-coming acts and venues in recent years.

The team behind it is also upbeat about the health of the city’s music scene, as with that across the rest of Cumbria, with a string of festivals – ranging from the massive Kendal Calling, to Maryport Blues Festival and new events including Northbound, held near Cockermouth this summer.

Claire Armstrong, one of Music City’s organisers, says: “The music scene in Cumbria is as healthy as its always been. July’s event proved how much local talent is actually out there. The weekend showcased a variety of independent music, a real celebration of sounds from ‘kick the door down’ rock n roll, indie, pop, and psychedelic rock to mesmerizing soul performances.

“Music triggers emotion, at its happiest its about bringing people together, creating atmosphere, and having a good time. We are working on ideas for the next event. We know how cosy it can be in your favourite arm chair so we really need to tune into the needs and feelings of what people really want,” says Claire.

Carlisle has also not lagged behind in the world of house music.

Uber, dubbed Cumbria’s biggest occasional party, turns nine at the end of this month and will welcome Grammy Award-winning house legend David Morales to perform to a 300-capacity crowd at The Brickyard. He will take to the decks for a four-hour set on November 20, joined by Uber resident Ki Creighton.