An art exhibition which merges football club crests and band logos is coming to Newcastle's This Is Tomorrow festival.
Last summer, Bands FC became a viral sensation after Nick Fraser and graphic designer Mark Liptrott decided to create a project combing two of Britain's biggest loves: football and music.
Following a conversation between the pair and Charlatans singer Tim Burgess, they started merging football crests with band names and logos, to create Bands FC.
Their work includes a mash-up honouring Stiff Little Fingers and Newcastle United, inspired by the band's frontman Jake Burns' support for the Magpies.
Nick and Matt have curated a Bands FC exhibition heading to Embrace, Detroit Social Club and BBC Introducing stage added to This is Tomorrow festival bill in Exhibition Park, Newcastle on Friday May 24, Saturday May 25, and Sunday May 26.
Bands FC co-founder Nick said : “We're excited to bring our project - a mash-up of football and music that we started last year – to the region for the very first time.
"It was an idea that we thought might last a few weeks, that we would show to some friends. It's all gone of went a bit crazy around the world.
"We will have loads of our celebrated crests on show as well as a whole load of brand new shirt crest designs for people to enjoy at the festival. We are making the exhibition an outdoor event which means we can have it at the heart of what’s going on - we’re even ready for the rain but we have it on good authority that the sun will be shining."
Oasis, The Stone Roses, Wu Tang Clan, Queen, Daft Punk and Beastie Boys are just some of the artists transported into the football by the project, which also includes a Stiff Little Fingers inspired Newcastle United shirt. Other notable nods to the region includes specially made crests for Country Durham's Prefab Sprout, Lanters on the Lake and Pet Shop Boys.
Bands F.C first got started in July 2018 and by September their first exhibition opened at The National Football Museum in Manchester before heading to SoHo in New York , being featured on Match of the Day , leading magazines, as well as TV and radio shows all over the world.
Since its inception, Band F.C's merchandise and art exhibitions has built an international reputation as well as raising much-needed funds for an array of charities nationwide, including a specially crafted football shirt for Sheffield band Pulp, which raised over £30,000 for Sheffield Children’s Hospital.
This is Tomorrow Festival organiser Steve Davis, adds: “We don't want This is Tomorrow to remembered as just another music festival. We want this to be a fully immersive forward-thinking event that will stick in people's minds for years to come and Bands F.C is a perfect addition to our commitment to the arts.
“The name of the event is inspired by the father of pop art, Richard Hamilton, who lived and worked in Newcastle, and I hope we're matching his vision for pushing the boundaries of what is expected.
“The people of the North East love their music and football and we know they'll appreciate Bands F.C.”
The last few remaining tickets for This is Tomorrow Festival, featuring Foals, Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds and Stereophonics can be purchased the This Is Tomorrow website .
Embrace, Detroit Social Club and BBC Introducing stage added to This is Tomorrow festival bill
What to expect from Stereophonics at Newcastle's This is Tomorrow festival
