The first Sunday concert of the year at Bents Park in South Shields, a Pride in South Tyneside special, was a sun-soaked success with temperatures climbing well past 20 degrees Celsius. The event drew a huge crowd to the famous park by the sea, where local hero Joe McElderry headlined with a superb set.
Pride Celebration in South Tyneside
The Pride in South Tyneside concert celebrated the LGBTQIA+ community and their allies at a time when such events are more important than ever. The lineup featured a mix of local and national talents, starting with South Shields powerhouse vocalist Shelly Stevens, who delivered an anthem-filled set including Red Light Spells Danger, Proud Mary, and an encore of Simply the Best.
Following Stevens, North East talent Channy took the stage with near pop perfection, performing tracks like Golden, Beautiful Things, and Where is My Husband, flanked by brilliant dancers. Liverpool's Sonia then brought the crowd to their feet with hits like Hopelessly Devoted to You and her 80s number one You'll Never Stop Me From Loving You.
Nostalgia and Headline Act
The Smash Hits era was revived by 911, with Lee, Spike, and Jimmy performing 30 years after their appearance at the Catherine Cookson festival in South Shields. Their set included debut single Night to Remember, Party People, 1999 number one Little Bit More, and the pop banger Bodyshakin'.
Local favorite Joe McElderry closed the concert with a dynamic set that showcased his vocals. He opened with Feel the Fire, followed by a cover of Rein Me In, his new single Love Me Out Loud, dance anthems Pretty Green Eyes and Freed From Desire, and his signature song The Climb. According to the event report, the crowd was thrilled, and the concert was deemed a perfect success.
