Echo & The Bunnymen are one of the acts lined to play the Freevolution free music event this May, as part of Newcastle’s Evolution music season.

The all dayer at Newcastle Gateshead Quayside on May 28 will be headlined by homecoming heroes Maximo Park. The Bank Holiday event will host 15 acts playing across two stages and will also see performances by Larrikin Love, Joe Jackson and Hot Club De Paris on the Spillers Stage.

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Radio Soulwax, Simian Mobile Disco and Calvin Harris all play the second, Baltic stage.

The Evolution festival, now in it’s sixth year runs from May 20-28, with gigs and music seminars across Newcastle Gateshead, with many of the events running for free.

The nine-day urban festival features over 20 indoor gigs in six venues across the city and culminates with the ever popular massive free outdoor event Freevolution.

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Evolution 07 will be helping to raise much needed funds for Northumbrian Water’s adopted international charity WaterAid – the official charity of the festival for the second year running. A special music CD has been made for the festival with the £15 cost being donated to the charity.

Evolution Festival Director Jim Mawdsley said: “We are again extremely proud to put together such a diverse and exciting programme for Evolution this year. This event is without doubt the biggest free music festival in the North and is a massive celebration of both our musical heritage and prominence on the world stage. It is only left for everyone to enjoy the whole week of gigs.”

Some of the confirmed shows taking place under the Evolution banner are:

Your Code Name Is: Milo, Baltic Center For Contemporary Art (May 20)

The Waterboys, Hall 1, The Sage, Gateshead (May 21)

Groove Armada, Carling Academy (May 22)

Patti Smith and Band, Hall 1, The Sage, Gateshead (May 23)

Nouvelle Vague, Newcastle University (May 24)

Joan As Policewoman, Hall 2, The Sage, Gateshead (May 25)

Full line-up and venue details are available here from evolutionfestival.co.uk

Listen to tracks from all the performing artists at Evolution’s MySpace page here