Rap superstar rocks the Rainton Arena

US rap superstar The Game thrilled the crowds at a sell-out gig at an unlikely Wearside venue.

The multi-platinum selling star of the West Coast hip hop scene took to the stage at Rainton Arena with support from a number of up and coming North East talents.

Bournmoor-based DJ and presenter Ryan Swain was invited to introduce the star.

“His management had heard of me and that kind of helped,” he said.

“They got me backstage, asked me a few questions and then he said ‘I want you on stage’.”

Rumours had been circulating that The Game would be a no-show, but the concert had been a runaway success, said Ryan.

”There was a lot of speculation around,” he said.

“The Game was booked to do a show in Middlesbrough when he was promoting his eighth album – the show sold out but he did not turn up, so there was a lot of speculation about whether he would turn up or not this time.

“But it is just a really amazing night.

“Rainton Meadows is a really nice arena, but Houghton is not somewhere you would expect to see somebody of that calibre but he actually really enjoyed the show.

“He is used to playing big arenas and concert halls, so I think it was quite an intimate show for him and he enjoyed it a lot.”

Ryan was delighted to get the chance to hang out with one of his musical heroes.

“I was invited to his dressing room after the show and we had a bit of a chat,” he said. “I was one of only three people he had a photo taken with.”