Maximo Park gave an impromptu performance in the Grainger Market, Newcastle, on Thursday afternoon to celebrate their new album. Credit: Newcastle City Council(Image: Newcastle City Council)

Maximo Park's surprise Newcastle performance at Grainger Market as new album released

Newcastle band delight crowds with free acoustic set in celebration of new album Stream of Life - out now - following up with a city signing ahead of a special event taking place this Friday night in Tyneside Cinema

by · ChronicleLive

Shoppers at the Grainger Market in Newcastle were in for a surprise treat on Thursday afternoon when local favourites Maximo Park played an impromptu acoustic set.

With little notice, the Newcastle band, fronted by Paul Smith who was wearing his trademark hat, gave a free unplugged gig which soon saw the aisle outside the market's historic weighhouse packed out with crowds. The Mercury Award-nominated alt-rockers - who are touring the UK this October, with two sold-out home-city dates being included at The Boiler Shop ahead of a European leg in November - were out to celebrate their new album Screen of Life and they followed-up Thursday's set with a tea-time signing at city record shop RPM Music.

This Friday evening will see them make their third Newcastle appearance within two days when they attend a special Screen of Life event at Tyneside Cinema for their album on its official October 4 release day. It will see the band take the audience on a visual journey through their new album with music videos, including album tracks performed during an election day special live show, and a question-and-answer session about all things Maximo Park.

There are some limited tickets still available for this - see here - as well as bundle options which include a signed copy of the album. Following their Grainger Market performance - which arts body Creative Central helped to promote the previous day - Maximo Park took to X to say of their unplugged acoustic gig: "Who needs amplification?! Thank you to all who spent their lunch time with us at Grainger Market today."

Reponses to the tweet included: "Yay! That was a lovely way to spend a bit of the afternoon!" and "Outstanding! In so many ways!" Images: Newcastle City Council

(Image: Newcastle City Council)
(Image: Newcastle City Council)
(Image: Newcastle City Council)
(Image: Newcastle City Council)