A North East festival became even more of a family affair this weekend, as one of music’s best-selling couples took to the stage.
Pop queen Sophie Ellis-Bextor, whose hits include Take Me Home and Murder on the Dancefloor, performed for 14,000 fans in Bents Park, South Shields on Sunday (July 26) as part of the South Tyneside Festival 2015.
She was joined for the free, open air gig by her husband Richard Jones and his Brit Award nominated band The Feeling, who entertained the crowd with tracks from their extensive back catalogue, including infectious anthems Fill My Little World, Never Be Lonely and Love it When You Call.
The afternoon’s bumper bill, organised by South Tyneside Council, was completed by North East rising star Cortney Dixon, who has already shared the stage with a host of top acts, including Paul Heaton and Terrorvision.
Councillor Alan Kerr, Deputy Leader of South Tyneside Council, with responsibility for Culture and Leisure, said: “The South Tyneside Festival’s Sunday Concert series has had a real family feel this year and it has been wonderful to see so many happy couples and children both in the crowd and backstage.
“While Sophie and The Feeling had both performed at the festival before, the audience were delighted to have them back and were equally appreciative of the North East’s own rising star, Cortney.”
Sunday’s concert, supported by Port of Tyne, Dicksons and Colmans, was the third in a series of four Bents Park gigs being held as part of the South Tyneside Festival 2015.
The final event in the series, featuring Joe McElderry, Collabro and Lola Saunders, takes place this weekend (Sunday August 2) and visitors are being advised to arrive early to avoid missing out.
Timings for Sunday’s North East Stars concert, and all the other activities still to come in the South Tyneside Festival 2015, which runs until the end of August, can be found atwww.visitsouthtyneside.co.uk, by searching for South Tyneside Events on Facebook, following STynesideEvents on Twitter or calling the South Tyneside Visitor Information Centre on 0191 424 7788.