World Headquarters: The History and Evolution, Part 2

This A2 poster launched the new WHQ Club in 2003 & we declined all media interviews. It was massive news & sent the gossip grapevine into overdrive, but this wasn't for those mainstream cats. It was simply a well-earned gift for our extended WHQ family

We'd made it & by the skin of our teeth. After all our struggles, the future of WHQ was secured. It was a massive step up, with a 612 capacity over the bottom two floors. Big to fill, but in the past decade WHQ had grown into a cultural powerhouse & had way more followers by 2003

With all our new wall space, we upped our visual game & began to create our first murals. The greater capacity also let us program a tonne of far out musical events & diverse DJ guests

We now began doing spoken word stuff too, for the first time, hosting iconic guest speakers like Darcus Howe & Shami Chakrabarti. We always nurtured young DJs & promoters to build Newcastle's underground scene & allow all that talent to shine. WHQ meant opportunity for everyone

Here's a tiny snapshot of some of the Black musical talent we've hosted: Brenda Fassi, Akala, Goldie, Frankie Knuckles, Tenor Fly, Ms Dynamite, Jayda G, DJ Ez, Moodyman, Jeff Mills, Jazzie B, AJ Tracey, Biz Markie, Solo Banton, Trevor Nelson & the cream of UK Reggae Soundsystems

A-listers are fab but nailing the best & most exciting young talent to play the Club is the key. We do it often & we do it at the exact right time - just as they are breaking. That's one of the main factors behind WHQ's continued longevity, consistency & success

In a city as white as ours, it's important our multiracial stance is always clear. So, we built an amazing website, chronicling the entire history of the Club's evolution, with a ridiculous level of detail. It let folk in, understand & relate to our WHQ journey & motivation

Despite us staying under the radar, a Channel 4 film was commissioned about WHQ & the Club was listed among the top 100 on the planet. In 2017 our founder was awarded a Doctorate from Newcastle University for WHQ's positive influence on generations of young people in city

In 2017 we launched WHQ & Nat Turner Live Events to further spread our WHQ unifying message. We now also promote big live shows in major venues right across the UK, we've worked with a massive range of acts inc. Toots & the Maytals & the London African Gospel Choir

Black, white, gay, straight, religion or lack of it... we hope you come to love World HQ Club. We built it right here, for you & all your chums, in the hope that you would