LATIN spirit is coming to the North-East with the return of the Vamos festival.

The month-long programme, which runs in Newcastle and Gateshead from June 14-July 14, celebrates all things Spanish and Portuguese and will feature a host of live music, visual art exhibitions, authentic cuisine, seminars and picnics.

Working alongside Newcastle University, and contemporary arts and cultural venues such as The Stand comedy club, Dance City and the Sage Gateshead, festival director Nik Barrera, is confident this year's gathering will be the best yet.

He said: “The festival has grown year on year from a combination of the region's artists and enthusiasm for Latino culture and we feel this year's event is poised to be our best event to date.

“With a strategic partnership with Newcastle University and new partners with the likes of Cluny, The Boiler Shop, the High Bridge Quarter and the British Film Institute, we can present a wider variety of amazing events in new and unusual locations.

“Vamos really is for everyone and we hope the line-up this year will enthuse families and visitors to the region as well as the region's creatives, artists, students and lovers of the arts through its varied and high quality programming.”

The official launch event will take place at The Cluny in Ouseburn on Friday, June 14 at 9pm.

For more information log on to www.vamosfestival.com