Town’s musical talent unites to celebrate youngsters’ lives
TOGETHER FOREVER LIVE A FINE TRIBUTE TO CHLOE AND LIAM WRITES SIMON DUKE
IT’S the gig that even 18 months ago no-one would have thought would ever need to happen, but on Sunday afternoon South Shields came together to remember two of its own.
South Tyneside teenagers Chloe Rutherford and Liam Curry both lost their lives in the Manchester terror attack at an Ariana Grande concert in May 2017 but they would have been looking down with pride at the concert staged in their honour in Bents Park.
Together Forever Live united a whole host of local musicians together to celebrate the lives of the much loved young couple in fine style.
After early entertainment was provided by the likes of former Pride of South Tyneside winner Eve Simpson and one of Chloe’s best friends Amy Ridley, the South Shields teenager that everyone’s talking about - James Bassett - entertained with a set that saw him play the likes of When I’m Cleaning Windows and Leaning on a Lampost on the ukulele.
Next up was Dan Elliott, who told the thousands in the park that he’d got a 4am flight from Dublin to be at the fundraising event, and he definitely made the trip from the Emerald Isle worthwhile with a top set that included the likes of Babylon, Piano Man and What A Wonderful World.
Beach balls were then in the air as Rivelino got everyone going with an eclectic set that included everything from Deacon Blue’s Real Gone Kid to
Tina Turner’s Proud Mary via some Kings of Leon and Killers hits.
Headline status for the huge event was bestowed on the shoulders of local lad and former X Factor winner Joe McElderry, who blended original tracks like Someone Wake Me Up and Ambitions with some real crowd pleasing covers.
One of those was the Greatest Showman medley that kicked things off and another was the always spine-tingling Nessun Dorma, the song that has become something of a calling card for the now 27-year-old.
Just like he did when he won Popstar to Operastar, Joe sang it brilliantly, sending goosebumps all around Bents Park as he took the opera classic to its crescendo. Other highlights of the set included a great cover of Simply The Best, which he dedicated to South Shields, and X Factor winning single The Climb, which was teased with an intro of Celine Dion’s Because You Love Me.
Rather than a minute’s silence, Chloe and Liam, very aptly given that she was an aspiring performer and he a fine young cricketer, the pair were remembered with a rapturous minute’s applause.
Nothing will ever be able to take away the heartache of their tragic deaths but their families and all involved with Together Forever Live can take great comfort in the support the event received.