Beyond Music Academy NE

We’ve launched some limited Beyond Vinyl merch.

Over the past few years Beyond Vinyl has grown into something much bigger than a record shop.

It’s become a place for live performances in the shop, Beyond Sessions recordings, studio sessions with artists, and the beginnings of Beyond Music Academy, creating opportunities for grassroots musicians and young people in our community.

None of this was built to make big profits.
It exists because we believe Newcastle deserves places where music, creativity and community can grow.

So we’ve launched a small run of Beyond Vinyl merchandise, a simple way for people who believe in what we’re building here to help support it.

The first collection includes:

• Beyond Vinyl T-Shirts
• DJ Slipmats
• Enamel Pin Badges
• Supporter bundles

To keep costs manageable as an independent business, the first production run will be made based on orders.

If people like them, we’ll produce more designs in the future.

If you’d like to support what we’re building here:

👉 https://beyondvinyl.co.uk/beyond-vinyl-merch/

Every order helps support:

• live music in the shop
• Beyond Sessions recordings
• grassroots artists
• the development of Beyond Music Academy

Thank you to everyone who continues to support Beyond.
It genuinely means a lot.

David

I’ve been very vocal about grassroots music and creating real opportunities for kids and young people in the West End of Newcastle and beyond and that’s not going to change.

I’ve also been critical of organisations and the council when it comes to how they say they support grassroots music.

Because honestly… I’m just not seeing it.

We keep hearing about millions of pounds coming into Newcastle for music and the creative industries, but where is it actually going?

Because from where I’m standing, it’s not reaching the grassroots.
Instead, it gets funnelled through gatekeepers, and very little of it actually makes its way out into the communities compared to what goes in.

And that’s where my issue is.

All we’re asking for is simple:

👉 Proper support for grassroots projects already doing the work in communities
👉 Access to funding so we can keep helping people at ground level
👉 Investment in equipment, spaces, and real opportunities, not just advice and conferences

Because right now, if you’re a kid in the West End (and beyond) who wants to get into music, the barriers are still there. Nothing meaningful has changed for them.

And that’s the truth.

I’ve personally put everything I had into building a music academy and I don’t regret that for a second.

But the reality is… that’s just one person plugging a much bigger leak in the system.

We don’t just need support for artists who are already gigging and building a following, we need support before that stage, when it actually makes a difference.

We need transparency and honesty.

If this funding isn’t truly reaching grassroots level, then don’t dress it up like it is, because all that does is give false hope to thousands of young people who think things are about to change.

This should be about everyone, not just the few who are already through the door.

And to be clear, I’m not against the investment. I’m not against the organisations receiving it.

I’m against how it’s presented… and how little of it actually reaches the communities that need it most.

It’s time that changed.

I will be reaching out to Kim McGuinness- North East Mayor again to ask for some clarification on where these millions are going and what it will be used for so we get answers on what this really means for grass roots music!

BBC Newcastle

🎶 Help Us Create More Opportunities Through Beyond Music Academy 🎶

To keep growing the Beyond Music Academy and to offer more sessions, live performances, and real opportunities for young and emerging artists, we’re still in need of some essential equipment.

If you (or your organisation) have any unused or surplus gear and would be happy to donate it, it would make a huge difference to the work we do across the Academy and the wider Beyond community.

We’re currently looking for:
• Musical instruments
• Wedge monitors
• Microphones
• Mic stands (various sizes)
• LED stage lighting
• Cables (XLRs, power, etc.)
• Stage steel decks (4ft x 4ft)

If you’re a recording studio, venue, rehearsal space, music organisation, or musician, and you’re able to help in any way, even with advice or connections, we’d love to hear from you.

Everything donated goes directly back into supporting artists, education, and live opportunities, helping us keep access affordable and inclusive for the local community.

💜 Please drop us a message if you can help or want to know more.
Thank you for supporting grassroots music and the next generation of talent.

Inclusive and accessible to everyone not just the few. That’s how it’s done.

Local music scenes don’t thrive by pouring money into awards ceremonies, major labels or corporate organisations. They grow when people work together, when we invest directly in our own communities, in independent venues, local artists (new and established)and grassroots projects that give everyone access to music.

Right now, too much investment is flowing upwards, making the wealthy even wealthier, instead of strengthening the foundations of our local scenes. Quick wins for the politicians and a pat on the back.

At Beyond, we don’t want to turn people away because they can’t afford rehearsal time or recording sessions. We believe everyone should be able to access workshops, courses and creative opportunities. Yes, we need to pay the bills but we don’t want to rely solely on funding to make this work.

That’s why we reinvest our profits back into the CIC.

We offer fairly priced recording, video packages and workshops for those who can pay. That income alongside gigs and some funding allows us to offer as many free sessions and workshops as possible to those who can’t. It’s a model built on fairness, sustainability and shared responsibility.

This year, Beyond is investing further in our local scene with plans to release a Beyond Sessions compilation, albums by local artists, and live studio sessions that showcase the talent already here.

This is about building something lasting.
Not exclusive.
Not extractive.
But rooted in community, access and reinvestment.

Join us in doing this the right way..

Message me or email me for more details [email protected]

2026 is Newcastle’s time.
No gimmicks. No gatekeepers.
Independent. Fair. Artist-first.

Beyond Records × Beyond Music Academy NE
Pressing quality vinyl albums for local artists, properly, ethically and at scale.

We’re building something long term.
Community led. Artist owned. Built in the North East.

Ok… who’s first?
👇 Comment below and share

Found some time this morning to start work on setting up the new equipment and re configure the studio.

Once we have install the new equipment, set up the studio space we will start organising the live room and making it more comfortable with a new paint job, lamps, plants and maybe some artwork.

We will then start learning how to use the new desk and organise a couple of practice recording session so we know what we are doing and how it all works with the software.

Then we will look at starting our workshops and recording sessions at Beyond Studios

Help Launch Beyond Music Academy. We’re building a music academy and community led live venue project in the West End of Newcastle giving young people real access to music,

🎶 Still Moving Forward 🎶

We’ve hit a small bump in the road but that doesn’t mean we’re stopping. We’re still working hard behind the scenes to get our workshops and music development programme up and running as soon as possible.

In the meantime, we’ll be offering a limited number of FREE STUDIO SESSIONS for teenagers to come in and record a song a chance to experience what we’re building and be part of it from day one.

📣 Follow Beyond Music Academy NE for updates and announcements we’ll be posting details very soon.

If you’d like to support what we’re doing, there are a few ways to help:
🎙️ Book a paid session

💳 Make a donation → https://donate.stripe.com/00wdRa7DS5wWcZwf849AA00

🎯 Support our Crowdfunder → https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/beyondmusicacademy

🌐 Join us on Patreon → https://www.patreon.com/BeyondRecords

📣 Or simply share this post and spread the word

We’re doing this for the kids, the music, and the future of our community and every bit of support helps get us closer.

Thank you for sticking with us. Let’s keep going.
💛

Most people who know me know I don’t like asking for money. It makes me uncomfortable. But this isn’t about me.

It’s about building something for the young people in our city who’ve been overlooked for far too long.

We’ve set up Beyond Music Community CIC because there’s a gap in Newcastle. A real gap. Kids in the West End the part of the city I grew up in often don’t get the same chances. Not because they’re not talented. But because of postcode politics, cliques, and a system that leaves people behind.

I studied music tech in this exact building 20+ years ago. But back then, there was no one showing us the way. No real kit. No opportunities. No belief that a working class kid from Fenham or Scotswood could make something of themselves in music.

We’re going to change that. Proper live sound gear. Studio time. Training. Mentors. Sessions that lead to vinyl. Skills that lead to jobs. Confidence that leads to futures.

And not just for teenagers, we’re creating something open, accessible, and real for everyone in the area.

We’ve now raised £1,900, and that’s incredible. But due to a last minute snag with a potential supplier, we may now need to raise closer to £5'000 to get our first batch of live tech equipment secured and sessions started. A small hurdle by our contact believes in what we are doing and is still trying to find away to help us get the best price possible.

If you’ve ever believed in me, in what Beyond stands for, or in giving young people a proper shot at this, please back us now.

🛠️ Donate
🎁 Book a perk (like recording your own live session to vinyl)
📢 Share it with someone who gets it

This isn’t just about gear.
This is about giving people something they’ve never had before.

Thanks for reading. And thanks for believing in what we’re building. Let’s finish what we started.

👇👇👇
💳 Donate: https://donate.stripe.com/00wdRa7DS5wWcZwf849AA00

🎯 Crowdfunder: https://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/p/beyondmusicacademy

🎥 Patreon: www.patreon.com/BeyondRecords