Newcastle's popular country music bar Ruby Rae's hosted its one-night-only XL festival at Times Square on Friday night, drawing crowds for line dancing and tribute acts despite worsening weather.
Festival Draws Crowds Despite Storm
Country music fans descended on the marquee in Times Square, which had recently hosted Oktoberfest, as cowboy fancy dress was encouraged. Attendees braved the increasingly bad weather to enjoy tributes to artists including Shania Twain, Ella Langley, Morgan Wallen and Dolly Parton.
The event featured Ruby Rae's signature weekly line dancing sessions, with plenty of opportunities for guests to hit the dance floor. ChronicleLive captured the festivities as the party was getting started.
From Bar to Festival Success
Ruby Rae's has grown significantly since opening in May, when Dean Saunders and Dan Cooke launched the bar on Side in Newcastle. It was the city's first dedicated country music venue, opening weeks after The Empress closed. The bar has since become one of Newcastle's busiest, and the founders opened a second location in York over the summer.
The XL festival marked an expansion of the brand, bringing its country music experience to a larger venue in Times Square. The event included a tribute performance by Dolly Parton tribute act Jo Fry, who entertained the crowd.
Gallery Captures the Night
A gallery of 21 photos from the event shows attendees in cowboy hats, dancing, and enjoying the atmosphere inside the marquee. The images highlight the enthusiastic turnout and the festive mood despite the stormy conditions.
