Lindisfarne duo’s homeless gig
FORMER members of one of the North East’s most beloved bands are reuniting for a special homecoming gig to help homeless communities in the region.
Ray Laidlaw and Billy Mitchell, once of folk group Lindisfarne, are touring the nation later this year, ending with the benefit show in North Shields for the charity North East Homeless.
The pair announced the second run of dates in November following a “fantastic” response to the first leg of the Lindisfarne Story UK tour earlier this year.
The pair’s performance will celebrate 50 years of Fog on the Tyne, the album that escalated the band to worldwide acclaim.
Ray and Billy tell the band’s story with rare video, unseen photographs, acoustic versions of their favourite Lindisfarne songs, and tales from life on the road and in the recording studio.
The final performance will be held on November 26, at the Exchange in North Shields. The tour travels from Winchester to Basingstoke and Potters Bar to Barnard Castle and various points between but it is the North Shields date that has an emotional tie for both Billy and Ray.
Ray said: “North East Homeless does amazing work in our hometown, work that unfortunately is now more crucial than ever. It’s important to Billy and I that we can give something back to the community that has supported us from the very beginning.”
Brian Burridge, founder of North East Homeless, said. “Lindisfarne have been such a big influence on me growing up, to have them supporting us is amazing. Having North East Legends like Ray and Billy is so important to us. It’s about Northerners looking after Northerners, in very difficult times.”
The Lindisfarne Story is a celebration of the life, times, and music of Lindisfarne, opening the ‘50 Years of Fog’ tour in Saltburn on November 15.