Sat 25th Feb-BIG Little Gigs Presents The Whippet Beans
Big Little Gigs starts off 2023 with a fabulously silly gig featuring Newcastle’s musical answer to Monty Python, ‘The Whippet Beans’. With storytelling, singalong songs about all sorts of wondrous things such as rambling, clocks, birds and more they bring a variety of genres together from reggae to rock, folk to funk all for a fun afternoon of live music for you and your little ones to enjoy.
There will be crafts to join in with too. Please be aware we have a small amount of ear defenders available to hire for FREE, £10 deposit needed so if your little one struggles with live music come see us and we’ll be happy to lend you some.
Tickets £5(plus booking fee, under 1s FREE) Doors: 2pm-3pm Tickets available here
We are so excited to bring Baghdaddies back to Darlington after an amazing set at this Summer’s Mish Mash Festival in Darlington Market Square. Newcastle’s ultimate festival party band, they’ll bring a fun mix of Balkan melodies, ska, latin and jazz. This will be a fun upbeat show so make sure you have your dancing shoes on and if your little one struggles with noises, bring along some ear defenders, we will have a limited supply to loan out at the event.
A big thank you to Creative Darlington and Arts Council England for making this event possible
Doors: 2pm-3pm Tickets: £5 (under 1’s FREE, all children to be accompanied by their grown up)
The Forum Music Centre, Borough Rd, Darlington
BIGLittle Gigs Halloween Special!
We love the spooky time of year! Come and join us for some singing fun from our Shrieking Witches, Lilith and Morgana Fluke! They will be performing silly spooky songs, some you’ll know, some you won’t, telling stories and hosting a Halloween disco plus ghostly crafts in the bar!
Doors: 2pm-3pm Tickets: £5 (under 1s FREE) available now on Skiddle
The Forum Music Centre, Borough Rd, Darlington, DL1 1SG
On Saturday 30th April BIG Little Gigs returns for it’s first gig of the year! We have some gorgeous sunshiny New Orleans inspired jazz with The Sunny Side Jazz Band! Double bass, banjo, clarinet and trombone, some fabulous instruments to introduce your little ones to! With a set list featuring such classic songs as ‘On The Sunny Side Of The Street’, ‘When You’re Smiling’ and ‘Bring Me Sunshine’ the band will get everyone’s feet stomping, BIG and little!
Doors: 2pm-3pm
Tickets: £5 (under 1s are FREE) Available from The Forum or from Skiddle
Venue: The Forum Music Centre, Borough Road, Darlington
BIG Little Gigs Christmas Special
On Thursday 23rd December BIG Little Gigs will be bringing some seasonal musical family fun to Darlington Market Square. Join us in a festive marquee alongside the Christmas market, for live music from The Christmas Witches and the Phil Wing Duo. There will be singalong Christmas favourites plus the chance for your little ones to make a jingle stick to shake along to the music.
Event: 11am-12.30pm FREE Entry
Saturday 13th November – Back To The 80s
After a long break from indoor in person events due to Covid, we are bringing back our family musical experiences with a friendly, fun 80’s disco at Darlington’s The Dolphin Centre!
Held in a giant marquee in the sports hall, it will be a fun filled afternoon with DJ James Watson playing 80’s classics and Jade Sloan from Platform Perform leading some awesome dance moves for you and your little ones to join in. Included in ticket prices are free glowsticks, crafts and 80’s inspired colouring in, there will also be refreshments available to buy.
Throughout lockdown we’ve delivered online virtual gigs, workshops and singalongs but lots of people are ready to get back to indoor events. Dig out your neon leg warmers and dancing shoes and come along to dance away the afternoon to some iconic tunes from the best decade for dance floor fillers.
Doors: 2pm-3pm Tickets: £5 in advance/ £6 on the door (under 1s FREE)
Tickets available online from skiddle.com/e/35920126 (subject to BF) or in person from the Dolphin Centre
Saturday and Sunday 28th and 29th August – Mish Mash Festival Weekender
Saturday 6th February – BIG Little Gigs Online featuring Back Chat Brass
We are excited to welcome Leeds brass ensemble Back Chat Brass. No stranger to the region the band energised Darlington town centre back in the Summer with a day of fantastic, live performances at Pease’s Monument and the Market Square. With a nod to their roots in pop, funk and hip-hop, Back Chat Brass combine a brass twist on classic tunes with electrifying showmanship and fun which will be sure to get you and your family off the sofa and having a dance around the house.
BIG Little Gig’s host Sarah Wilson will start off the performance with a musical craft that everyone can join in and then the band will perform. Watch the show for FREE on BIG Little Gigs Facebook page or over on Tracks Darlington’s YouTube channel.
Thank you to the Arts Council and Creative Darlington for supporting this event
Saturday 12th Dec – BIG Little Gigs Stay At Home Christmas Session with The Christmas Witches
After a strange old year where we have missed exploring live music with you all, we thought we would have a bit of Christmassy fun for you to share with us online from your own home.
Join us for a fun session of singalong silly festive songs performed by the Christmas Witches, finishing up with storytelling of a classic Christmas story.
To add to the fun there will be 100 free ‘gig in a box’ treats up for grabs made up of fun bits and bobs to accompany the performance. No peeking in the box before the show! Santa will be watching!! These will be available from Darlington Library from Monday 7th Dec a limited number will also be available to order from tracksdarlington@gmail.com from 7th Dec.
On Thursday 10th at 4.30pm we will be running a little online craft session to create something special you can play during The Christmas Witches set! Keep an eye on the BIG Little Gigs FB stream for more info!
A big thank you to Darlington Borough Council for supporting this event and to you for continuing to show love for BIG Little Gigs in our 5th year!
To watch the show just head over to our BIG Little Gigs FB page or Tracks Darlington YouTube at 2pm on Sat 12th Dec
*****SOLD OUT*****Sat 7th March- BIG Little Gigs at Darlington Bookfest featuring Beatles Unplugged
Looking forward to this year’s Darlington Libraries Bookfest! We’re working with Bookstart in Darlington to bring you a fun filled Beatles themed gig with the wonderful Beatles Unplugged. There will be crafts, dancing and singalong! Most exciting news is tickets are FREE and available now from Darlington Libraries website
Doors: 4.30pm-5.30pm Tickets: FREE
Sat 15th February- BIG Little Gigs Hip-Hop Special featuring Kay Greyson
We are starting the year with a storming BIG Little Gigs at The Forum Music Centre, Darlington on Saturday 15th Feb 2pm-3pm. The event will be part workshop, part gig and we will be welcoming rising female hip-hop star Kay Greyson
Kay Greyson is a twenty one year old Hip Hop artist from the North East of England. Since releasing her debut mixtape ‘Morning After Music’ in 2016, she has performed all across the UK including opening for Akala, KRS One, Pharoahe Monch, Lil Eazy E and DJ Yella. She takes strong inspiration from her influences Chance the rapper and Childish Gambino and she incorporates their fun and interactive performance style into her own. She has been described as having a ‘witty and energetic set that gets the room on board from the off.’ Kay Greyson leads with her personality, telling personal and sometimes dark stories in her lyrics but delivering them with youthful joy and enthusiasm. Kay also featured on the Noisy Daughters compilation, the first vinyl compilation featuring exclusively female artists from the North.
Kay will be starting off the event with a short, fun interactive workshop teaching everyone BIG and little some hip-hop vocal skills! We are so excited for this!
Tickets on sale now at The Forum Music Centre priced at £5 each, everyone needs a ticket adults and children, under 1s are FREE Tel: 01325 363135 or online from www.theforumonline.co.uk
Date: Sat 15th Feb
Doors: 2pm-3pm
Tickets: £5 (under 1’s FREE) Get your tickets here
Venue: The Forum Music Centre, Darlington, DL1 1SG
Sunday 8th Dec – BIG Little Gigs Christmas Fest!
BIG Little Gigs in conjunction with Darlington Borough Council welcomes in the festive season with a FREE fun family day filled with live music in a big tent in the market square!
Our event launches at 11.30am with a family Ceilidh featuring the fantastic Blind Panic Ceilidh band. Playing English,Irish, Amercian and Scottish folk music, the band’s highly experienced caller will teach you all the dance routines you’ll need to join in!
At 1pm join us for a joyful Christmas singalong complete with silly songs, festive favourites and free Christmas craft and face painting.
The cherry on the cake (or should it be berry on our holly) will be an afternoon of awesome 80’s classic tunes performed by our faves ‘Groove Lite’. From 3pm they will be performing Christmas hits from Wham, Chris Rea and of course Shakin’ Stevens! Twin your Santa’s hat with your ra-ra skirt and leg warmers and come along for a fun, festive party with your BIG and Little ones!
11.30am- Blind Panic Ceilidh Band
1pm- Christmas Singalong, crafts and face painting
3pm- Groove Lite – 80’s Christmas Gig
FREE Entry Darlington Market Square Marquee
Sunday 27th Oct- Halloween BIG Little Gigs Special feat The Shrieking Witches
We had such a wicked time last year at The Spotted Dog for our Halloween special, we’ve decided to do it all again! There will be the creepy Halloween trail with a treat for everyone and we welcome back Fran the friendly witch with spooky kids story telling in our Halloween grotto. Also this year Fran will be bringing her witchy sister Meg along to perform exclusively as acoustic duo “The Shrieking Witches”! Playing supernatural songs you know and some you don’t! All rounded off with a mini kids disco so you can dance your best skeleton salsa, freaky floss and terrifying twist! Any grown ups embracing the Halloween vibe and donning their best spooky costumes will be entered into a raffle to win a £20 voucher to use at The Spotted Dog.
There will be special Halloween bar snacks available and witches brew cocktails being served.
All attendees need a ticket BIG or little, under 1s are FREE and do not need a ticket. Tickets on sale now!
Door: 5pm-7pm Tickets £4 each available from https://www.skiddle.com/whats-on/Darlington/Spotted-Dog/BIG-Little-Gigs-Halloween-Special-feat-The-Shrieking-Sisters/13640146/
Sat 27th July – Big Little Gigs Ska Special
We’re really excited to announce that we are holding a Ska Special! It’s three years since we had a BIG Little Gigs ska show, so we are well over due another one! We will be welcoming the brilliant Skapones, the Darlington based Ska band who are taking the world by storm! Performing foot stomping 2 Tone anthems plus brilliant original material, the band achieved two number ones last year in the iTunes reggae chart! They’re off to tour the USA in August and have supported ska giants The Specials and Madness!
Come and join us for a skank dance and share the live gig experience with your little ones!
Please note The Skapones are a 7 piece live band, we would recommend you bring along ear defenders if you feel your little one will need them. All children must be accompanied by an adult.
Doors: 2pm-3pm
Tickets: £6 ( everyone BIG or little will need a ticket! Under 1’s are FREE)
www.instagram.com/biglittlegigs
www.facebook.com/biglittlegigs
Sunday 25th August – MISH MASH Family Music Festival
Tracks and BIG Little Gigs in partnership with Darlington Borough Council present Mish Mash Family Music Festival. An exciting, diverse mish mash of live music from gypsy folk to flamenco hip-hop to Afrobeat and more TBA! Main support comes from funk, jazz group London Afrobeat Collective with the day being topped off with awesome headliners Chainska Brassika. From Glastonbury to Nottinghill Carnival to Darlington Market Square!This eight-piece band are a truly unique and energetic squad presenting a blend of authentic Reggae Ska rhythms, exquisite brass, and melodic vocals, making it impossible to deny your feet a chance to dance! Come and enjoy the music! Excited to announce that Weekend Sun are now added to the bill! 🙂
Darlington Market Square 1pm-8pm FREE!!!!!!!!!
Weds 19th April – BIG Little Gigs Family Pop Choir @ Jabberwocky Market
We will be holding a fun family pop up choir with the fabulous Jennie Brewis. Jennie has toured around the UK, performed at Glastonbury and on BBC6 Music with her band The Cornshed Sisters. She is a community musician who has delivered for Sage Gateshead,New Writing North and runs Sunderland’s Pop Choir Project.
Don’t worry about singing ability this will be a welcoming, lively, supportive singing session. Singing is good for the body,soul and mind, come and share some music with your little ones.
Tickets include a small snack and drink plus Easter egg trail. Sessions will run at 11am and 2pm both sessions will feature different songs if you feel like joining us for both!
Tickets: £5 (under 1s FREE) from Jabberwocky Market
SOLD OUT ****** Sat 9th March- BIG Little Gigs feat The Phat Tyrtles at Darlington Libraries Bookfest
So excited to be part of the first Darlington Libraries Bookfest! We’re working with Bookstart in Darlington to bring you a fun filled 60’s themed BIG Little Gigs featuring The Phat Tyrtles playing the very best of The Beatles, The Stones, The Who, The Kinks and more! There will be crafts, dancing, singalongs, 60’s fancy dress will be very welcome! Most exciting news is tickets are super groovy fabtastic FREE !!!!!!! Book your tickets from Mon 18th Feb from Darlington Libraries website.
Doors: 4.30pm-5.30pm Tickets: FREE from www2.darlington.gov.uk
Sun 9th Dec – BIG Little Gigs Mega Christmas Family Rave!!!
Take a break from Christmas carol overload and join us to bring in the party season with our fun family rave! We welcome back our fave DJ James Watson and special guests Wreckheads Krew breakdancers to get the party started!! Our biggest rave yet, we’re taking over the huge Dolphin Centre Sports Hall so lots of space for dancing!! Free glowsticks, tribal face painting and fun times! Post Ibiza parents, relive those glory days, have a dance and introduce your little ones to some feel good music ready for the festive season! Everyone needs a ticket BIG and Little unless you’re under one and then you’re FREE! Tickets available now from The Dolphin Centre or See Tickets
Doors: 2pm-3pm Tickets: £5 (under 1s FREE)
Sun 28th Oct – BIG Little Gigs Halloween Party at The Spotted Dog
A fun filled 2 hour BIG Little Gigs special for Halloween! We are heading to The Spotted Dog, High Coniscliffe for an evening of live music, spooky stories, halloween trail, party tunes and fancy dress fun! We have the brilliant Groove Lite returning to BIG Little Gigs after their sell out show for us back in March. This awesome three piece band will be playing the very best of funk and soul with a few spooky tunes thrown in! We will have a special guest story teller reading spooky (kid friendly!!) stories in our Halloween grotto, there will be treats for all little ones in fancy dress and any grown ups dressed up will be entered into a prize drawer to win a £20 Spotted Dog voucher! There will be spooky snacks and scary cocktails available and plenty of fun and games! All attendees need a ticket BIG or little, under 1s are FREE and do not need a ticket. Tickets on sale now!
Doors: 6pm – 8pm
Tickets : £5 available from See Tickets ( under 1s FREE)
Sat 6th Oct – BIG Little Gigs (Jabberwocky Market) featuring Damaris Jeans Ragtime Rewind
We return after a BIG break to link up with our fabulous friends over at Jabberwocky Market to bring you another fun filled family live music event as part of their Autumn season. Featuring popular vintage swing band, Damaris Jean’s Ragtime Rewind Band – Vintage Swing & Bluesperforming 1930s & 1940s swing dance sets, plus 1950s and modern tunes with a vintage twist. For excellent musicians and outstanding vocals, immaculately presented, come along and be swept into a long gone era for a fun afternoon! Tickets are £4 each with a special ticket discount for a child and grandparent, and any accompanying great-grandparent can come along completely FREE!! P.S. Be prepared to dance the Charleston!
Doors: 3pm-4pm
Tickets: £4 / Special offer for child and grandparent/under 1s FREE
Tickets from www.jabberwockymarket.org.uk
Sat 8th Sept – BIG Little Gigs Useful Vision Event featuring Ragtime Rewind
A private event created especially for Useful Vision, a fantastic charity that fund and organise events for visually impaired children. BIG Little Gigs are proud to be a part of their day with the fabulous Damaris Jean’s Ragtime Rewind. To find out more about Useful Visions work take a look here https://www.usefulvision.org.uk
Wednesday 11th April- Activity Egg-stravaganza
BIG Little Gigs are excited to be part of the launch of the new Children and Young People’s Plan in Darlington. We will be running some fun music workshops from 1pm-2.30pm for 5yrs-10yrs and then breakdance sessions for 11-16yrs from 2.30pm-4pm. There’s lots of other great things happening from Yoga, Arts and Crafts and Sports all for FREE!! Children aged 5yrs-10yrs are to be accompanied by adults
Doors: 1pm-4pm
Entrance: FREE
Sunday 29th April – A Hullabaloo In The Woods
Very excited to be a part of this fab event at Theatre Hullabaloo Tickets are on sale now for A Hullabaloo in the Woods (3+) We will be finishing off an amazing day of story telling, lantern making, shadow puppetry and more with Bright Woods Forest School CIC with a fun filled Family Bug Ball! Bring your butterfly wings and dancing shoes and we’ll bring the bubbles,balloons,glowsticks, awesome tunes and fun!!
Doors: 10.30am-2.30pm
Tickets: £7 available from https://www.theatrehullabaloo.org.uk/shows/a-hullabaloo-in-the-woods/
Saturday 17th March- BIG Little Gigs Rocks The Library!
On Saturday 17th March BIG Little Gigs makes it’s long awaited return to the gorgeous children’s library at Crown Street Library. We will be filling the library with live music courtesy of the brilliant ‘Sole Groove’ who will be be performing Soul and Funk classic tunes to get you up and enjoying a dance!
Doors : 4.15pm with show starting at 4.30pm.
Tickets: £4 (under 1s FREE) available from https://www.seetickets.com/event/big-little-gigs-rocks-the-library-featsolegroove/crown-street-library-darlington/1202319
Sat 17th February – SOLD OUT!!! BIG little Gigs Breakdance Workshop feat Tim Smith
This event has now SOLD OUT!!!
BIG Little Gigs returns in 2018 with something a bit different! We are embracing the world of break dancing with a fab, fun workshop with local break dancing legend Tim Smith! Tim will start with a demo followed by a fun workshop session suitable for all BIG and littles to join in! Due to space restrictions tickets will be limited for this event and will be available from The Forum from Tues 30th Jan.
Doors: 2pm-3pm
Tickets: £3.50 (under 1s FREE)
Thanks to everyone who came to our events and workshops in 2017, it was an amazing year for BIG Little Gigs with Raves, radio, silent discos, The Beatles, folk, the launch of the BIG Little Gigs Mini-Pop Up Music Tent, workshops, Includfest, Ingenuity Festival, Jabberwocky Market,Darlington Theatre Town, Kid Carpet, an indoor snowball fight and Zulus!!! We’ll be announcing some fab shows and events for 2018 very soon xxxxx
biglittlegigs.wordpress.com 