Hexham’s Cosmic Frequencies Festival “a stellar first year”

By Ewan Wishart The Hexham Courant 14 August 2025. Original article here.

HEXHAM's new space-themed festival is aiming for lift-off after a stellar first year.

The team behind Hexham’s first-ever Cosmic Frequencies weekend (August 8-10) said they were 'thrilled' by the turnout, and are already making ambitious plans for next year.

Highlights of the festival included immersive live sets, talks on UFOs and space science, interactive sessions, and cinematic experiences.

The three organisers: Hexham-based artist and curator Michael Evans, Australian-born musician and writer Nicole Skeltys, and former BBC special effects engineer Bill Garrett, pulled the two-day event together on a shoestring budget.

Cosmic Frequencies sci-fi party at The Tannery - (from left) organisers Bill Garrett, Michael Evans, Nicole Skeltys and guest speaker Ryan Sprague

Nicole said, "We had no budget; we just relied on the goodwill of the town. We reached out to very high-profile people, and they all agreed to come to this little town.

"They were very excited about the whole idea, and we realised we were onto something: a celebration of creativity and curiosity about space, and the existential question: are we alone in the universe?"

Held across multiple venues in Hexham, including The Forum, The Queen's Hall, The Tannery, and The Heart of Northumberland, the festival blended talks, music, and performance art, drawing audiences from Newcastle, Durham, and even the South of England.

Michael said one highlight was a talk by Ryan Sprague, a US-based podcaster and UFO researcher, which prompted an unexpected reaction from the crowd.

Ryan Sprague giving his Cosmic Frequencies talk at The Forum (Image: Rob Halliburton).

"Ryan asked how many people had seen something they couldn’t explain, and maybe 10 to 15 people put their hands up – probably more.

"That really surprised us. We want to pick up on that next year, and we’re asking anyone locally with a story to tell to get in touch."

For Michael, the aim is to cement Hexham’s place on the map for cosmic curiosity: "We want people coming from outside of the area for the festival; great speakers, artists, and musicians.

"This year, we've set the standard. We’ve had brilliant feedback from everybody. The aim is to establish Hexham as a go-to place for people interested in space."

Plans for 2026 include using more venues, securing funding, and expanding the programme.

"In the coming months, we’re going to be busy with grant applications. We’ve already made contact with a very supportive UK Arts Council representative, and we’ll settle on a date soon so we can start collaborating with anyone who wants to get on board," added Nicole.

Anyone from Hexham or the wider Tyne Valley with a UFO or unexplained encounter is encouraged to contact the Cosmic Frequencies team via mothership@cosmicfrequencies.org