Ruby Rae's, the country bar that opened in York this summer, takes six tribute acts to Times Square in Newcastle on Friday 23 October, 5pm to 11pm.
Ruby Rae’s, the country music bar that opened in York this summer, is putting on its biggest night yet. Ruby Rae’s XL is an indoor country festival with six tribute acts, line dancing and a barbecue. It runs from 5pm to 11pm on Friday 23 October.
It is not in York. The festival takes place at Times Square in Newcastle upon Tyne, next to Newcastle Central Station, about 80 miles north of the city. The organisers expect more than 1,500 people and call it the largest indoor country music festival ever held in the North of England.
Ruby Rae’s opened in Newcastle first. The York bar followed this summer, and the brand runs country nights in both cities every week. The XL night is the owners’ attempt to do the same thing at festival size, inside a marquee built on the Times Square site.
Who is playing
The line-up, as the organisers announced it:
- The Ella Langley Experience
- Zachbryanuktribute, a Zach Bryan tribute
- The Lainey Wilson Experience tribute
- Almostwallen and their tour band (billed on the festival poster as the Morgan Wallen band)
- Shania Twain by Tia Dodds
- Jo Fry as Dolly Parton
What else is on the night
Alongside the music, the marquee will have:
- line dancing
- Nashville-style decor
- Tennessee-style barbecue food and a bar
- country music merchandise
- a rodeo bull, according to the festival poster
The poster also says a cowboy hat is included with every ticket.
Why they are doing it
Dean Saunders and Dan Cooke co-founded Ruby Rae’s. Dean Saunders said:
“We are super passionate about country music and Ruby Rae’s, and we wanted to create an XL version of what we do every single week in York and Newcastle. Ruby Rae’s XL will have six incredible tribute acts, line dancing, Nashville décor, BBQ food, country music merchandise and 1,500 people coming together for one unforgettable night. Dan and I can’t wait to work with Nigel, Mike, Stu and the rest of the EVNT Inspirations team to bring this amazing event to Times Square.”
Dan Cooke said the night would be different from a regular Ruby Rae’s evening:
“We know first hand that Yorkshire and the North East love country music and they definitely know how to embrace a great night out! And the Ruby Rae’s XL Country Music Festival will bring a completely different energy. Country music has such a feel-good spirit; it brings people together.”
The event is a partnership with EVNT Inspirations, whose Times Square site hosts it. Its co-director, Nigel Holliday, said the two businesses have worked together for more than 15 years:
“We are really excited to work with Dean and his team at Ruby Rae’s because we’ve all known and worked together now for over 15 years. When Dean approached me to see if he could use our large Times Square site and combine it with Ruby Rae’s, a huge brand in Newcastle and York, to offer an XL version of the Ruby Rae’s experience, well it was an easy decision. They’ve pulled together an exciting line-up of the UK’s best country music singers, and we can’t wait to see 1,500 people line-dancing together in our huge marquee!”
Tickets and getting there
- When: Friday 23 October 2026, 5pm to 11pm
- Where: Times Square, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 4EP, next to Newcastle Central Station
- Age: 18 and over, according to the ticket listing
- Price: earlybird general admission was £20 when we checked the listing on 27 September, with a group-of-four earlybird option listed at £17.50
- Tickets: on sale through Skiddle
Prices on the listing can change, so check it for the current price. For anyone going from York, the venue is a short walk from the station, and the event finishes at 11pm.
Sponsored feature for Ruby Rae’s XL.
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