TJs in The Square

We are pleased to be supporting TJs in The Square, which will features some of the brightest stars of the 1990s, who are to reform for a special open-air gig in John Frost Square this summer in tribute to Newport TJ’s owner John Sicolo, who died in March.

Local hit makers Goldie Lookin Chain will be joined by a stellar line-up including The Darling Buds, fronted by Andrea Lewis, who have not played together since racking up a string of hits in the 1980s and early 1990s. The Darling Buds, Novocaine, Doctor Bison, Flyscreen, Rollerco, Varispeed and Disco will all also reunite for the concert. As well as the music, there will be guest speakers including Paul Flynn MP and John Sicolo’s daughter, Leanne.

The Empty Shops Project will be providing the backstage area, in the old Co-Op Bank, which was cleaned up this weekend by an army of enthusiastic volunteers! There will also be an exhibition of photos and clothing in one of the Empty Shops.

Mr Sicolo was pivotal to the mid-1990s Newport music scene which led to the New York Times dubbing the town the ‘New Seattle’, after the US city that had earlier spawned Nirvana and the grunge movement. At that time, local MP Paul Flynn even raised a Parliamentary White Paper in praise of the town’s talented musicians. And now many of those bands that found their feet in TJ’s years ago will play one-off sets at a free, open-air show for up to 2,500 people in John Frost Square.

Newer bands will also be represented by the likes of Sick Livers, Bad Samaritans and Elephant Rescue Plan, and there will be ska bands earlier in the day to represent Mr Sicolo’s love of the genre. As well as the established acts, a band of local youngsters will be given the chance to play in front of thousands as part of a ‘Square Factor’ talent contest, which is supported by Newport City Homes.

The gig on Saturday July 10 will run from 11am until around 9.30pm and is supported by Newport Initiative as part of the Summer in Newport City events schedule. 

For further event details check www.wearevoice.co.uk, www.newportcitycentre.co.uk or check out the Facebook group.