Soul'd Out in the city
With the North East gripped by MOBOs fever, one of the region’s most soulful voices is heading back to a venue synonymous with music of black origin. Georgia May looks ahead to her Tyneside date
When Georgia May received a telephone call, out of the blue, asking if she could make herself available for a top secret announcement at Newcastle’s Civic Centre earlier this month, she initially explained she was busy.
“It was only the day before and I had plans,” she says. “Then the lady on the other end of the line explained it was to reveal that the MOBOs were coming to Newcastle. My plans suddenly changed!”
Georgia became one of the faces of a raucously upbeat launch event, trailing the arrival of Europe's biggest celebration of black music and culture in February 2025.
“It’s amazing that the MOBOs are coming to Newcastle and fantastic for the city. There was a real buzz when it was announced,” she says.
“It will bring added awareness to what we’re doing up here. I don’t think people elsewhere in the UK - who’ve never visited Newcastle - realise all of the positive things that are happening here music-wise. We have a very different scene to anywhere else and it’s an exciting place to be.”
Georgia’s excitement and sense of anticipation is echoed by Michael Lavery, the new owner of Hoochie Coochie. Having taken on a luxury bar and live music venue with a reputation for celebrating, welcoming and nurturing music of black origin, the frontman of North East band groovetrain believes there’s never been a better time to shine a light on Newcastle’s vibrant and inclusive music scene.
“The MOBO awards coming to Newcastle builds on the legacy of venues like Hoochie Coochie and World Headquarters as champions of music of black origin in the city,” insists Michael. “It was fantastic to see artists like Georgia - and Kay Greyson, who launched her new album at Hoochie Coochie last month - front and centre of the announcement. To be able to follow that up with a Soul’d Out show, featuring Georgia, is extra special.”
Soul’d Out: Soul Sisters takes place at Hoochie Coochie on October 18. Georgia is joined by Sisi and the full Soul’d Out band, plus DJ Jamal D and breakout star The Gift, for what promises to be a special celebration of the region’s rising soul, R&B, and hip-hop stars.
“Soul’d Out represents soul and neo soul music in the region,” explains Georgia. “It’s a platform for upcoming artists to gain experience playing live and with live bands. A lot of the artists are beat based artists so it’s good for them to work in a different environment.
“It represents music of black origin and the Soul Sisters event captures the Soul’d Out vibe perfectly. It’s very inclusive, there’s an emphasis on getting the audience involved and engaged and there’s a real sense of community.
“I’ve been lucky enough to be involved in one of the Soul’d Out nights as an artist but I’ve been in the audience several times. I’m friends with the founder April — like me she’s involved with music in the community, she teaches and she’s a gigging musician.
Read more: ‘Fossil fish’ collection makes poetry prize shortlist
"That type of role is really inspiring for young people. We work together for Northern Roots and Gem Arts and try to inspire young people to get involved with music whenever and wherever we can.”
Northern Roots promotes more than 100 reggae, soul and blues concerts annually across Newcastle and Gateshead and the organisation was a pillar of the MOBOs announcement. A long association with Hoochie Coochie is renewed this week as founder Adam Collerton and his team oversee another hotly anticipated Soul’d Out shindig.
“I’ve been working as an artist with Northern Roots for some time now and first connected with them when I was at university,” explains Georgia. “They represent black artists in the North East and I had a brilliant first gig with them — it was successful and a lot of fun.
“Through Northern Roots I played at the Star and Shadow and they continue to support me by getting me on their gigs. I’ve done community work with them in schools and community centres, working with young people.”
The synergy between Northern Roots, Soul’d Out and Hoochie Coochie is clear and Michael is keen to develop shared goals and ambitions in the build-up to next year’s MOBOs and beyond.
“We’re delighted to welcome back the Soul’d Out community of musicians and creators to our venue and to showcase some of the region’s most exciting urban artists,” he adds. “Adam and Northern Roots are a natural fit for everything we aspire to do here and this growing community of artists deserve a world-class venue with the sound system and the style to match their talents.”
Georgia, working on new music as she looks to follow up 2020’s critically acclaimed Mood Daze, can’t wait to reconnect with her Hoochie Coochie family — the striking poster publicising the show features a portrait painted of her during a previous visit to the venue.
“I love the sound in there,” she adds. “The sound on stage is always impeccable. I’ve had really good experiences gigging there in the past.
“What I love about Hoochie Coochie is the age range of the people who go there. You’ll always find young people looking for something new and an older crowd who know what they like.
“The Northern Roots gigs always attract a diverse audience and so it is the perfect venue for Soul’d Out
“I’ve always been treated so well when I’ve gigged there in the past and it’s a venue that’s always celebrated the very best in soul music.
“This is an exciting time for me.
“Although I haven’t released new music — in terms of my own projects — since 2020, I’ve written loads of songs. I just haven’t had the resources to record those songs.
Read more: Review - My Name is Rachel Corrie at Alphabetti Theatre
“But I’ve been in the studio this month to record a new song and I’m hoping to release that soon. It’s part-funded by Northern Roots.
“So, yes, there is new music coming! And I’ve got a few more gigs lined up.”
As has Hoochie Coochie. “Soul’d Out: Soul Sisters is part of our Black History Month celebration at the venue,” adds Michael. “It follows shows with Cimarons, Don Letts, and Voices of Virtue Gospel Choir in October.
“Hoochie – along with World Headquarters and their legendary Club Africa nights – has long been a champion of the black music scene in the city and a venue committed to all forms of inclusivity and diversity in a safe space.”
As well as a home for emerging regional talent, a number of black music icons have appeared at Hoochie Coochie in recent years including Grammy winners Gregory Porter and Chaka Khan, DJs Craig Charles, Trevor Nelson and Jazzy Jeff and a range of artists including Omar, Soul II Soul, Fatback Band, Candi Staton, Angie Stone, Courtney Pine and more.
“The Soul’d Out gig with Georgia is just the start of an exciting new era,” adds Michael. “Look out for a full programme of music to be announced around the MOBOs!”
Tickets for Friday’s (Oct 18) multi-artist live show, Soul’d Out at Hoochie Coochie are on sale for £10 here.