Member Article

Enjoy a summer of sound with a special staycation

Music lovers from across the UK can enjoy a summer of sound with a staycation holiday in South Tyneside.

Texas, All Saints, Gabrielle, Shayne Ward, B*witched, 10cc and Heather Small are among the acts who’ll be heading to the seaside borough over the next two months – and there’s a whole host of accommodation available for those who choose to join them.

South Shields, a few miles south east of Newcastle on the North East coast, offers a mix of hotels, guest houses and self-catering sites, ideal for couples, families and solo travellers, with the town’s Ocean Road recently being named among the UK’s top 10 best streets for places to stay.

Many accommodation providers are already in high demand ahead of the borough’s summer music events, including the South Tyneside Summer Festival and Sound Waves 2014, and are urging visitors to book soon to avoid missing out.

Graham Davidson, General Manager at The Little Haven Hotel, said: “July and August are always busy months for us and that’s in large part due to the packed-summer events programme, which is run annually by South Tyneside Council.

“We were already expecting to be a bit busier this year due to our location next to the new Littlehaven Promenade development, but have seen a sharp rise in bookings since the details of this year’s events programme were announced.

“It’s likely that this will increase steadily as we get closer to each high-profile gig, with some nights likely to sell out completely.”

Alan Watson, General Manager at The Sea Hotel, in Sea Road, added: “We’re advising people to book as early as possible, especially if they’re travelling as a family or larger group, to ensure they can enjoy the best rates and really make the most of all the entertainment on offer in South Tyneside this summer.”

Sound Waves 2014, being held at Bents Park, South Shields on Saturday August 23, will feature performances by Scottish super group Texas, chart-topping girl group All Saints, BRIT award-winning singer/songwriter Gabrielle and South Tyneside’s own rising star, soul singer Lulu James.

Before this special, ticketed, event music lovers will also have the chance to see a whole host of live performances for free, as part of the South Tyneside Summer Festival 2014,

Highlights in this year’s festival, which runs from June until the end of August, include a series of outdoor concerts in Bents Park, headlined by pop stars Shayne Ward and B*witched (July 13), 70s hit makers 10cc (July 20) and M People singer Heather Small (July 27).

This forms part of a packed programme of events for the South Tyneside Summer Festival 2014, which also includes live music at the Amphitheatre every Thursday and Saturday during June, a Proms in the Park concert at South Marine Park on July 6 and Brass Band performances at various locations throughout July and August.

The festival’s renowned carnival-style parade through South Shields will also return on July 5, this time with a Get Active theme, followed by a family fun day with more live music and entertainment on July 6 and the new Kids Fun-Fest programme running throughout August.

Councillor Alan Kerr, Deputy Leader of South Tyneside Council, said: “Summer is always a busy time in South Tyneside, with our live music and family-friendly events helping to attract visitors from across the UK and further afield.

“We hope that music lovers of all ages will join us for a special staycation and enjoy the wide range of entertainment on offer right through until September.”

Both Sound Waves and the South Tyneside Summer Festival are being organised by South Tyneside Council, with support from a number of sponsors and partners, including Colmans, Dicksons, Port of Tyne, Minchella & Co and Ocean Beach Pleasure Park.

Tickets for Sound Waves 2014, priced at £30 for adults and £20 for ages five to 16, are available from The Customs House, South Shields on 0191 4541234 or www.customshouse.co.uk, The Stadium of Light Box office on 0871 911 1973 or ticket.office@safc.com, Ticketmaster on 0844 8440444 or www.ticketmaster.co.uk and the Visitor Information Centre at Haven Point, South Shields.

For more information and details of where to stay visit www.visitsouthtyneside.co.uk, search southtynesidevents on Facebook or follow @soundwavesst on Twitter.

You can also find out more about the free events happening as part of the South Tyneside Summer Festival at www.southtyneside.info or by following STynesideEvents on Twitter.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Sorted PR .