ONE of the most iconic singers of the 1980s will lead a Gold line up this autumn (22 September) at the 14th annual North East Oyster Festival.
Tony Hadley, formerly of Spandau Ballet, is heading to Hardwick Hall Hotel to perform at one of the biggest events on the region’s social calendar.
The unmistakeable voice behind a string of the decade’s biggest pop hits including True, Gold, Highly Strung and Through the Barricades, will be heading to the Sedgefield hotel on Friday 22 September.
Having released five solo albums since Spandau Ballet disbanded in 1990, Tony Hadley is still hugely popular around the world, and will arrive in County Durham fresh from a tour of the United States.
He will be joined by comedy entertainer Steve Rawlings, who will be bringing his unique blend of humour and juggling prowess, along with The Wild Murphys, ‘purveyors of fine Irish music and quality hangovers’.
Once again, North East comedian Steve Walls will compere the event which will also feature the return of Irish folk favourites, JJ Galway Band.
The North East Oyster Festival is organised annually by Ramside Estates, and supports Butterwick Hospice Care.
The charity operates hospices in Stockton and Bishop Auckland which care for people of all ages with progressive life-limiting illnesses.
John Adamson, director of Ramside Estates said: “The North East Oyster Festival has evolved into one of the region’s biggest social events, and we are delighted to announce Tony Hadley as our headline artist this year.
“Once again the aim is to raise a considerable amount of money for Butterwick Hospice Care, a fantastic local cause which we have been supporting for few years now, and we are looking forward to what we hope will be our most popular North East Oyster Festival yet.”
The glamorous daytime event will include a Champagne reception, three-course fruit de mer menu, oyster stalls and complimentary lager, beer and wine.
Tickets for the 14th annual North East Oyster Festival cost £140 per person plus VAT, and are available by calling 01740 620 253 or by emailing: events@hardwickhallhotel.co.uk
More information on the event is available at www.theoysterfestival.co.uk