Beyond Vinyl Launches Listening Sessions with Blur’s 1997 Album
Beyond Vinyl launches its monthly listening social in Newcastle with Blur’s self-titled 1997 album on Thursday 19 November 2026.
Newcastle record shop Beyond Vinyl is inviting music fans to spend an evening listening to an album together, starting with Blur’s self-titled 1997 record on Thursday 19 November 2026. The first Beyond Listening Sessions event runs from 7pm until 10pm at the shop’s John Marley Centre home, with the album played in full on vinyl from 8pm.
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It is not a live appearance by Blur. Instead, the new monthly social centres on the experience of hearing a familiar record in company, with time either side to browse, have a drink and talk about the music.
Why start with Blur?
The choice has a personal connection for host David, who links the album to his time working at HMV and seeing the band at Newcastle’s Mayfair in January 1997, shortly before the record was released. It was one of those gigs whose atmosphere stayed with him long after the setlist faded from memory.
That connection provides a fitting opening for a series built around the stories people attach to albums. Blur’s 1997 release marked a defining moment for the group, and hearing it from beginning to end offers a different experience from picking out the familiar tracks on a playlist.
For anyone used to listening alone on headphones or while travelling, putting an entire record on in a room with other people can be a welcome change. Beyond Vinyl is keeping the first session deliberately small, with just 30 places.
How the evening will work
Doors open at 7pm, giving guests time to settle in, collect their included drink and browse. A short introduction leads into the full vinyl playback from 8pm, expected to finish at around 9pm, allowing for record changes. Conversation and more music continue until 10pm.
Tickets cost £5 per person and include one drink from the selection offered on the night. Under-18s are welcome when accompanied by an adult; their included drink will be a soft drink. Each attendee, including accompanying adults, needs a ticket. Admission does not include a copy of the album.
The venue is Beyond Vinyl, John Marley Centre, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE15 6TT. The shop describes the sessions as a new monthly gathering on the third Thursday, with different records taking centre stage as the series continues.
Whether you know every word or have never listened to the album all the way through, the emphasis is on sharing the experience rather than proving how much you know. For a city with a lively gig calendar, it is another way to spend an evening around music without needing a band on stage.
Book the Blur listening session through Beyond Vinyl.
Event information is correct at the time of writing. Check the organiser’s official page for booking updates.
