A trio of talent show favourites are heading home to their native North East for a free concert this weekend.
X Factor winner Joe McElderry, who topped the charts with his debut single The Climb in 2009, is performing in Bents Park, South Shields on Sunday (August 2), as part of the South Tyneside Festival 2015.
The 24 year-old, who also won reality shows Popstar to Operastar and The Jump, has already released four successful studio albums and is returning to the festival by popular demand after attracting record crowds in 2011.
Joe will be joined for this year’s special homecoming gig by former fishmonger and fellow X Factor star Lola Saunders, from East Boldon, as well as Gateshead’s Jamie Lambert, who will be appearing with his Britain’s Got Talent winning band, Collabro.
The musical theatre boyband, which stormed to victory on the ITV talent show in 2014, will be entertaining the crowd with tracks for their chart-topping debut album, Star, as well as the highly successful follow up, Act Two, which was released earlier this year.
There will also be an appearance by talented South Shields teenager, Eve Simpson, who is already building a strong fanbase after showcasing her original music and covers on social media.
Gates for the gig, supported by Port of Tyne, Dicksons and Colmans, will open at 1pm and organisers, South Tyneside Council, are advising visitors to arrive early to avoid missing out.
Councillor Alan Kerr, Deputy Leader of South Tyneside Council, with responsibility for Culture and Leisure, said: “We have had amazing audiences in Bents Park over the past few weeks and we expect that our North East Stars concert will once again get people turning out in their thousands to give our talented singers the welcome home they truly deserve.
“We are advising anyone who wants to see Joe, Collabro and Lola Saunders to get there early for what will be another excellent day out for all the family.”
The North East Stars concert is the final in a series of four Bents Park gigs being held as part of the South Tyneside Festival 2015.
The festival itself, which annually attracts music lovers from across the UK, continues until the end of August with free entertainment and activities for all ages.
For more information and full listings visit www.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.