Ruby Rae’s XL Country Music Festival Launching Newcastle 2026

Key Points

• New Event Launch: Newcastle’s best country music bar, Ruby Rae’s, has officially unveiled its new music festival, named ‘Ruby Rae’s XL’.
• Date & Location of the Event: The six-hour-long festival will be held on 23 October 2026 at a 1,500-seater arena situated in Times Square, Newcastle.
• Entertainment & Performances: The event will have six performances by six artists within six hours, offering a full band performance by UK’s top tribute country music artists.
• Festival Environment and Features: Guests will be treated to full Nashville-style interior decoration, country music merchandise stands, line dancing sessions, and country barbecue.
• Status of Ticket Sales: Pre-sale ticket registration has officially started after the initial teaser launch of the event on the brand’s official social media channels.
• Background of Brand Growth: Launched in May 2025 as Newcastle’s first-ever country music venue occupying the former Empress pub, Ruby Rae’s is run by co-owners Dean Saunders and Dan Cooke, who have recently launched their brand at York in summer 2026.

Newcastle (Newcastle Times) 17 September 2026 – A massive six-hour country music festival is set to take over Newcastle city centre this autumn as popular local venue Ruby Rae’s expands its brand footprint into a major arena-style event. Billed as ‘Ruby Rae’s XL’, the inaugural festival will take place on 23 October 2026, hosting up to 1,500 country music enthusiasts at a venue in Times Square. The announcement marks the latest milestone for the brand, which launched in May 2025 as Newcastle’s first dedicated country music bar before expanding across the region.

The upcoming event promises a comprehensive Nashville-themed experience, featuring six live tribute acts, authentic barbecue catering, custom merchandise, and interactive line dancing. Organisers have officially launched the pre-sale ticket sign-up process, inviting fans across the North East to secure early access for what is slated to be one of the region’s largest country music gatherings of the year.

What Is Ruby Rae’s XL And When Is It Taking Place?

As reported by Simon Duke of Chronicle Live, Ruby Rae’s has officially unveiled its plans to host a major indoor arena festival titled ‘Ruby Rae’s XL’ in the heart of Newcastle on 23 October 2026. The event represents a significant scale-up for the brand, transitioning from its intimate venue setting into a large-format festival environment capable of accommodating 1,500 attendees.

According to details shared by Simon Duke of Chronicle Live, the event will run for six continuous hours in Times Square, Newcastle city centre. The festival has been designed to deliver a full-scale concert experience that mirrors the energetic atmosphere of Nashville’s famous music strip, catering to the growing regional appetite for live country music and themed entertainment.

Who Is Performing At The Newcastle Festival?

As reported by Simon Duke of Chronicle Live, the festival line-up will showcase six separate acts over the six-hour duration, focusing on top-tier UK tribute artists celebrating country music legends. Rather than scaled-back acoustic sets, the festival will present full-band live performances to recreate authentic stadium-level country shows.

In an official promotional statement published on Instagram and highlighted by Simon Duke of Chronicle Live, representatives for Ruby Rae’s stated:

“Grab your boots, gather your friends, get your tickets. The line up is stacked with some of the UK’s greatest country tributes, with a full band experience in a 1,500 person indoor arena. Six incredible performers over the course of six hours in the centre of Newcastle.”

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What Additional Attractions Can Attendees Expect?

Beyond the central musical stage, the festival will incorporate a variety of themed lifestyle and entertainment options designed to transform the venue into an immersive country experience. As reported by Simon Duke of Chronicle Live, the festival site will feature full Nashville-themed decorative staging, specialized country music merchandise booths, and dedicated food stations serving American-style barbecue cuisine.

Additionally, the event will carry forward the signature features that established the original venue’s popularity, including live instruction for line-dancing. Organisers are encouraging attendees to embrace traditional country western attire, inviting festivalgoers to wear cowboy boots, denim wear, plaid shirts, and Stetson hats.

How Have The Organisers Reacted To The Festival Launch?

As reported by Simon Duke of Chronicle Live, the management team at Ruby Rae’s expressed major enthusiasm for expanding their community reach across northern England following a period of rapid business growth.

Addressing their customer base directly on social media, as cited by Simon Duke of Chronicle Live, the Ruby Rae’s team published a statement reading:

“Our first Ruby Rae’s XL, sign up now if you trust us to put on a show! We’re so excited to bring this to our country community across the North.”

What Is The Background Of Ruby Rae’s In Newcastle?

As detailed by Simon Duke of Chronicle Live, Ruby Rae’s initially opened its doors in May 2025, taking over the city centre premises previously occupied by long-standing nightlife spot The Empress shortly after its closure. The opening represented a commercial milestone for Tyne and Wear, establishing Newcastle’s first dedicated country music venue.

Following its launch under co-owners Dean Saunders and Dan Cooke, the venue established a strong commercial footprint by hosting weekly social nights, line-dancing workshops, and transatlantic ‘Nashville nights’ featuring touring artists from the United States. Following sustained high demand in Newcastle, co-owners Dean Saunders and Dan Cooke expanded the brand in summer 2026 by opening a second Ruby Rae’s venue in York.

How Can Fans Secure Tickets For The Arena Event?

As reported by Simon Duke of Chronicle Live, formal pre-sale ticket registration for ‘Ruby Rae’s XL’ is currently active online via the venue’s primary promotional channels. Due to the restricted 1,500-person capacity at the Times Square arena site, organisers have advised interested attendees to register early to secure access ahead of general public release. Further specifics regarding individual stage times, catering vendors, and secondary act announcements are expected to be released by event management in the weeks leading up to the October event.