TIME is running out for music fans looking to guarantee admission to this year’s South Tyneside Festival Sunday Concerts as advance ticket sales prepare to close.
Priority Access Tickets costing £5 each are still available ahead of this summer’s performances, but with closing dates looming, organisers are warning people who still want to buy to act now or face queuing for admission on the day.
Scottish singer-songwriter KT Tunstall will kick-off this year’s Sunday Concerts series when she takes to the stage on July 9 at Bents Park, South Shields.
She will be followed by leading boyband Busted on 16 July, X Factor stars Louisa Johnson, 2016 winner Matt Terry, Jedward and 5 After Midnight on 23 July and the series will conclude a week later on 30 July with disco divas Sister Sledge.
The Sunday Concert series, supported by BBC Newcastle 95.4FM and sponsored by Port of Tyne, Colmans Seafood Temple, Town Centre Automobiles and Little Haven Hotel, regularly attracts tens of thousands of visitors.
With more and more shows in recent years reaching capacity in record time, organisers have this year introduced a small number of Priority Access Tickets which guarantee admission and also allow earlier access to Bents Park on the day.
For anyone not wanting to buy one, admission remains free but will be on a strict first come, first served basis.
However, with ticket sales closing a week before each show, Councillor Alan Kerr, Deputy Leader of South Tyneside Council, with responsibility for Culture and Leisure, is urging anyone who still wishes to purchase one to act now.
“Since deciding to launch the Priority Access Tickets we’ve had a very good response, with a lot of people snapping them up as soon as they went on sale,” he said.
“As we get closer to the event we’ve noticed sales have stepped up again, and with the closing dates approaching we would like to remind everyone that time is running out.
“We would advise people that if there is a concert they really want to see, then it is worth investing in a Priority Access ticket.
“As soon as the park is full, we will be forced to turn people away and we don’t want anyone to be left disappointed at having to miss their favourite act.”
Ticket sales will close for this year’s shows as follows: KT Tunstall – Sunday 2 July, Busted – Sunday 9 July, X Factor stars – 16 July and Sister Sledge – 23 July.
Priority Access Tickets are available from Ticketmaster at www.ticketmaster.co.uk/southtynesidefestival or by calling 0844 844 0444.
They can also be purchased over the counter at Shop @ The Word in Market Place, South Shields.
For more information and full listings visit: www.southtynesidefestival.co.uk