Difference

FANS of legendary Tyneside favourites Lindisfarne are being invited to hop on board a trip back to the band’s musical roots with the launch of a one-off tour.

Tyne Idols, the company behind entertainment tours around North East music, TV and film locations, is adding a one-time-only addition to its programme, which aims to bring the Lindisfarne story to life – with help from former band members themselves.

Fans are expected to snap up tickets to the double-decker bus tour in spring which, besides taking in significant sites in the group’s decades-long history, will include a performance of popular show The Lindisfarne Story, featuring acoustic sets played by singer Billy Mitchell and drummer – and founder member – Ray Laidlaw.

Laidlaw, who also will act as compere on the journey, promised: “There will be lots of tales linked to the locations we visit and loads of music, some of it quite rare.”

A stop for fish and chips is also on the Tyne Idols itinerary for the day: Saturday, April 13.

A spokesman for the Whitley Bay-based company called the new addition “unique” and a “once-only, full-day tour for fans of Lindisfarne”.

Tyne Idols runs a full programme of tours. Previous one-off specials have included a location tour based around The Likely Lads, which was accompanied by the series’ creators Dick Clement and Ian La Frenais, on a visit to the region from LA.

It will include the many coastal locations which have featured in the group’s development and, accompanied by stories, will revive memories behind the music and places that have formed part of Geordie folklore.

It was in the mid-60s that the folk rock band took shape in North Shields when Laidlaw, Rod Clements and Simon Cowe starting making music together around the coast. Tynemouth, Cullercoats and Whitley Bay all featured in their music-making story after Ray Jackson and Alan Hull joined the group.

The background of the band forms part of The Lindisfarne Story, which sees Laidlaw and Mitchell perform acoustic versions of such hits such as Fog On The Tyne; Run For Home; Meet Me On The Corner and Lady Eleanor.

After the tour adds a new dimension to the story, this production, showing at The Playhouse Whitley Bay, will round off the day, with guests learning how the band was formed; how it set a record for the most performances at Newcastle City Hall, and the story behind those iconic songs.

Tickets for the event, including the tour which will start in Whitley Bay; the stop-off for fish and chips at the new Trenchers Restaurant in the Spanish City dome, and tickets for The Lindisfarne Story at The Playhouse at 7.30pm, cost £50.

■ To book, email julie@tyneidols. co.uk or call 0191 253 1618.