Simon RushworthCountry Rock N Raise — the latest in a series of fundraising concerts shining a light on the power of live music to positively shape communities — cooked up a Southern-flavoured storm. Rushonrock editor Simon Rushworth celebrates a fantastic night in the company of Kezia Gill, Whispering Bob Harris and more.
Rock N What?
The Newcastle-based Rock N Raise concert series has been funnelling thousands of pounds to transformative charities for almost a decade. Past performers have included Thunder’s Luke Morley, Quireboys’ Spike and The Power Station co-founder/ex-Duran Duran six stringer Andy Taylor. The star-studded gigs generate cash for the Sir Graham Wylie Foundation, Teenage Cancer Trust and Newcastle’s Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy with all of the artists giving their time for free. The 2025 edition shone a light on Country Music with rising UK star and newly-signed Snakefarm Records artist Kezia Gill topping a Nashville-themed bill.
Toon and Country
Country Rock N Raise tapped into the UK’s — and Rushonrock’s — growing appetite for a genre that continues to grow at an incredible rate. And who better to host the whole shebang than Mr Country himself — the wonderful Whispering Bob Harris. Fresh from popping his head into The Opry’s Royal Albert Hall takeover the previous week, the host of Radio Two’s Country Show proved to be the perfect compere as a succession of acts blew the roof off Wylam Brewery. Every penny raised from a three hour-plus show went straight to worthy causes with the evening’s assembled talent wrapping things up with a fabulous ensemble cover of Country Roads. Tyneside never felt more Tennessee.
Kezia kicks ass… as Mrs Loud turns up the volume
Kezia Gill’s the fast-rising outlaw star of the UK’s brilliantly diverse country scene: Snakefarm’s latest signing is set to break through in a big way in 2026. A short but JD Honey-sweet set showcased a must-see live performer at her swaggering best — a bullish duet with Meat Loaf collaborator (and Rock N Raise regular) Lorraine Crosby brought the house down and left fangirl Gill glowing. Elsewhere Americana-fuelled quartet The Often Herd followed up their Whispering Bob-endorsed play on the previous week’s Country Show with a stellar set. And next big thing North Riding (below) — catch them at Newcastle’s Newgate Social for their EP launch show on October 24 — should be riding high this time next year. And country music’s even been adopted by the social media generation: TikTokker Chanel Yates added glam to the grit.
Images by Adam Kennedy