Wind delivers blow as Joe’s show cancelled
THIS weekend’s big outdoor concert in Newcastle has been called off due to the weather, leaving thousands of fans disappointed.
Love at the Musicals, starring Joe McElderry, Collabro and Sophie Evans, was set to take place at Virgin Money Unity Arena yesterday afternoon but organisers pulled the plug due to concerns over the weather.
A Friday afternoon performance of a dinosaur show at Newcastle Racecourse also fell victim to high winds but Saturday night’s Supergrass gig went ahead.
The decision to call off yesterday’s concert came as a huge blow to fans, especially those with travel plans in place to head to the region to hear their first live music for months, but many reacted with understanding too, agreeing that safety is paramount.
The concert has been given a rescheduled date of September 12, meaning it now will be the second last show to take place at the arena which - billed as the UK’s first dedicated socially-distanced music venue - has a packed programme of concerts and events running up until September 13.
The new date will slot in between dates for Ronan Keating and the last performer, Becky Hill. It is not know whether Bongo’s Bingo, which had been due to take place in the evening of September 12, will still go ahead. Just the day before the postponement, Joe McElderry had spoken to us about how much he was looking forward to the concert and how he hoped the audience would be spared rain.
That same day the arena had remarked: “A bit of rain doesn’t stop us!” in response to a fan’s comment about enjoying a gig despite some apparent drizzle.
But, with the weather forecast warning of wind and rain on Sunday, it was decided that Love at the Musicals could not go ahead.
After cancelling Dinosaur World Live on Friday due “high gusts of wind”, and ahead of sharing pictures of Friday night’s arena performance by Newcastle DJ Patrick Topping, the arena posted a brief statement which read: “Due to the predicted bad weather, Love at the Musicals featuring Joe McElderry, Sophie Evans and Collabro has been rescheduled and will now go ahead on Saturday, September 12.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused but the safety of our audience, artists and staff are paramount! All tickets remain valid.” The star acts involved retweeted the news to their followers and many of them proved understanding.
Comments included: “Nooo. I was soo excited. If it’s not Covid it’s the weather, so sad but safety first always” and: “As much as I am disappointed I totally understand the reasons for this. Was so excited to be heading north so will still be travelling as planned.”
Another wrote: “So sorry. Let’s hope the weather is beautiful for the next date” while one who apparently had previously seen the show - which had a brief debut in London before lockdown - added: “It is very much worth the slightly longer wait. It is a great show. Such beautiful voices.”
And one music fan was clearly looking on the bright side of having to make a second trip to Newcastle, tweeting: “Means I get 2 weekends up North and am definitely looking forward to the 12th - just relieved it’s still a weekend date otherwise work would have ruled me put.”
The arena has yet to announce the rescheduled date for Dinosaur World Live but says that all tickets will remain valid.
On Friday, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps launched a specialist ‘acceleration unit’, intended to help speed up the delivery of transport projects across the country.
Led by Darren Shirley, currently Chief Executive of the Campaign for Better Transport, the project will see experts who’ve helped bring large-scale projects in on time support the fast completion of schemes, including on the A1.
In July, Highways England submitted a Development Consent Order covering the entire stretch of the A1 from Morpeth to Ellingham.
Previously the project had been split into two stages - Morpeth to Felton and Alnwick to Ellingham but delays to the Morpeth end of the project, which was first consulted on in 2018, meant that the scheme was combined into one this April.
Work is currently set to start on the scheme in 2022, with an estimated finish date between 2024 and 2025. In 2019, Highways England officials said they hoped to have parts of the Morpeth-Alnwick work under way this year, with the next part of the route begun by 2021.
Berwick MP Anne-Marie Trevelyan said the Roads Minister, Baroness Vere, confirmed to her in a meeting on Thursday that the A1 scheme would be one of the projects the new unit will focus on.
Mrs Trevelyan said: “This new unit is very welcome. It is vital that when we tackle major infrastructure projects, each of which brings with it unique challenges, we harness the expertise of those who have delivered similar projects on budget and on time.
Darren Shirley, head of the Acceleration Unit, added: “I am delighted to take on this important new role, bringing a fresh perspective and external advice to accelerate the delivery of key infrastructure projects and programmes.
“The breadth and depth of expertise in my new team will stand us in a good stead as we look to deliver the schemes that will help the country to rebuild faster through de-carbonising the transport system and levelling up Britain as we emerge from the coronavirus crisis.”