With four days of live music set to rock Newcastle with the return of This Is Tomorrow this weekend, fans can't wait to welcome back their favourite bands.

For many the postponed festival will be a first chance to enjoy live performances again following the pandemic cancellations and those who have not been much out and about since the lifting of restrictions will be keen to know what to expect.

Ahead of This Is Tomorrow, a special thank-you concert for key workers - This is for The NHS - will first get the music ball rolling at Exhibition Park on Thursday.

Read more: Tickets to see The Wanted reunion tour in Newcastle go on sale this week

Then This is Tomorrow will get under way on Friday with I rish pop star Dermot Kennedy topping the night's bill, to be followed by Scottish singer-songwriter Gerry Cinnamon as the headline draw on Saturday then local favourite Sam Fender who'll be wrapping up on Sunday.

The main question for those with tickets to the Newcastle festivals is whether they will need a vaccine passport to attend.

Some music festivals this summer, such as Mighty Hoopla in London, have asked people to prove their Covid status and confusion still exists, despite the fact the Government has just announced it is ditching vaccine passport plans for the likes of nightclubs.

But those going to This is for The NHS and This Is Tomorrow are assured that there is no need for a vaccine passport.

The festivals do, however, stress that festival-goers are responsible for ensuring that they are free of Covid symptoms.

A spokesman said: "We all have a responsibility to follow Government guidelines to reduce the spread of coronavirus.

"It is important that you do not attend This Is Tomorrow Festival if you are displaying any Covid-19 related symptoms."

These symptoms are a high temperature; new continuous cough or a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste. Symptoms can be checked on the NHS website here.

Anyone with any symptoms it is advised to have a PCR test as soon as possible.

The spokesman added: "We strongly suggest that you take an NHS Rapid Lateral flow test prior to attending the event.

"If your test result is positive, it is advised to get a PCR test and you must not attend the festival."

Free NHS rapid lateral flow tests can be ordered online on the Government website here and are also available from participating health care providers such as local chemists.

Festival-goers are reminded that anyone who has been told to self-isolate in the previous 10 days or who is feeling unwell must stay at home.

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