A free live music extravaganza at South Shields seafront will come to an end this weekend with a sensational set from a British 1980’s pop group.
Crowds of local and visiting music lovers to the Borough have turned out to enjoy a month of free live music at the Borough’s open-air Amphitheatre at Sandhaven.
The legendary band The Blow Monkeys – best known for their hits Digging Your Scene and It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way – will close the live music series this Saturday (25 June), from 7pm. They will be supported by well-respected North East singer-songwriter Steve Daggett.
The group, fronted by the iconic Dr Robert (Robert Howard), epitomised the glamour of mid 80s pop at its most graceful and sophisticated. Their music even contributed to film soundtracks includingPolice Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol (It Doesn’t Have To Be This Way) and Dirty Dancing (You Don’t Own Me).
The Blow Monkeys reformed in 2008 and their latest album If Not Now, When? released last year, was a huge success.
Councillor Alan Kerr, Deputy Leader of South Tyneside Council with responsibility for Culture and Leisure, said: “We are excited to welcome The Blow Monkeys to play at the Amphitheatre on Saturday.
“Every year the Amphitheatre live music programme proves to be a popular part of the annual South Tyneside Festival and this year is no exception.
“The Blow Monkeys are brilliant performers and I am sure they will prove to be a hit with the crowds of music fans on the seafront.”
The Amphitheatre live music programme is organised by South Tyneside Council in partnership with Minchella & Co have been running on Thursday and Saturday evenings throughout June as part of this year’s South Tyneside Summer Festival.
Ahead of The Blow Monkeys, the series continues this week with The Garage Live Showcase, featuring Beth Macari and Lauren Amour performing this Thursday (23 June), from 7pm to 9pm.
Residents and visitors to the Borough on Saturday 25 June can also enjoy an afternoon of free family-friendly entertainment at the Summer Charity Fayre, from 12.30pm to 4.30pm, in Bents Park, South Shields, featuring live music, Morris dancing, children’s entertainment, fairground rides, face painting and much more.
Other highlights include a spectacular nautical themed parade through the streets of South Shields onSaturday 2 July, which will make its way from South Shields Town Hall at 1pm, travelling along Fowler Street and Ocean Road to the seafront, where the entertainment will continue until 4pm, with live music and family friendly activities in Bents Park.
Still to come are the renowned free Sunday Concerts at Bents Park in July with performances from X-Factor stars Alexandra Burke, Ben Haenow and Reggie ‘N’ Bollie, The Proclaimers plus Lindisfarne, Tony Hadley and UB40.
Additional festival highlights include, brass bands from across the North East at the Amphitheatreevery Sunday afternoon in June, July and August.
There will also be live music in South Marine Park every Saturday afternoon from Saturday 16 July until Saturday 3 September, and performances by members of South Tyneside’s Wind Bands onSaturday 9 July from 10am until 12noon, thanks to The Friends of North and South Marine Park.
Visitors can also enjoy live music at the annual Proms in the Park on Sunday 3 July at South Marine Park.
The South Tyneside Festival also features South Tyneside’s Craft Markets at Harton Quays Park on the first Sunday of the month from June to September and Kids Fun-Fest at Sandhaven Amphitheatre on Tuesday and Thursday afternoons from 2 to 25 August.
For more information about the events and activities for South Tyneside Festival 2016 go to www.visitsouthtyneside.co.uk, call the South Tyneside Visitor Information Centre on (0191) 424 7788 and follow South Tyneside Events on Facebook or follow STynesideEvents on Twitter.