Bringing magic to the coast

WHATR’S ON EDITOR GORDON BARR HAS NEWS OF THIS YEAR’S SOUTH TYNESIDE FESTIVAL

MONSTERS, myths and magic will herald the start of a summer of entertainment, when the South Tyneside Festival returns.

The three-month long event is once again bringing together music and family fun across a whole host of venues in South Shields, cementing it as one of the UK’s biggest free festivals.

The annual Summer Parade will take place on June 30, when hundreds of youth groups, schools and community organisations will be taking up the theme of monsters, myths and magic, under the artistic direction of South Shields-based Community Interest Company, Creative Seed.

The parade will make its way through the town and end at Bents Park, where visitors can enjoy a range of family-friendly activities and live music.

The town’s Sandhaven Amphitheatre will be the venue for a range of performances, with live music every Thursday and Saturday evening from June 2 ro 23.

It will also host brass band concerts every Sunday afternoon from June through to August, apart from July 1, when music lovers can enjoy Proms in the Park, which this year will move to Bents Park, which will once again be hosting the extremely popular Sunday concerts, on July 8, 15, 22 and 29, with the promise of big names to follow in the footsteps of the previous acts who have taken to the stage.

Last year’s shows featured stars including KT Tunstall, Busted, Sister Sledge and a host of X Factor names and the hope is that this year’s line-up will be equally as exciting.

Parents worried about how to keep their young ones amused throughout the long holiday will also be relieved to know that the Kids Fun-Fest is also returning to the amphitheatre, with activities every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon from August 2 to 23.

Councillor Alan Kerr, Deputy Leader of South Tyneside Council, with responsibility for culture and leisure, said the festival continued to be a huge draw for the town.

“The South Tyneside Festival continues to put the town on the map and is a fantastic three months of free events for people of all ages,” he said. “We know that every year it also brings in visitors from not just the North East but from across the UK and further afield and there is no reason to think that this year will be any different.

“We are sure when the line-up is announced for the Sunday concerts there will be a huge response – as there always is – and we look forward to welcoming thousands of visitors over the summer months.”