Member Article

Local Hero Mark Knopfler to open Great North Run Million Opening Ceremony

Local hero and rock legend Mark Knopfler will perform at the Great North Run Million Opening Ceremony in what promises to be the most adventurous and entertaining event the Newcastle Gateshead Quayside has ever seen.

With tickets now on sale, organisers are delighted to announce that the guitar idol will open the spectacular opening ceremony on 4 September to mark the millionth finish at this year’s Bupa Great North Run.

In celebration of this prestigious milestone – which is a world first – the opening event will feature live music, film and a stunning dance performance, as well as star appearances, all held on the NewcastleGateshead Quayside; transforming the River Tyne into an outdoor arena ahead of the Bupa Great North Run on Saturday 7 September.

Mark Knopfler said today: “I’m proud to have been a supporter of this great event from the beginning and am looking forward to being there to play ‘Local Hero’ once more on September 4th when the Bupa Great North Run gets ready to notch up its millionth finish.”

Bupa Great North Run founder Brendan Foster, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to be able to announce, on the day our tickets go on sale, that the music legend Mark Knopfler will be opening our event playing the world-famous tune “Local Hero. Over 30 years ago, Mark, who hails from the North East, and Dire Strait’s music were our soundtrack in the early days of the Great North Run - that particular track has now become the Great North Run anthem. What better way to kick off this world first event?”

Four-time Grammy Award winner Knopfler is best known as the lead guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter for the global rock legends Dire Straits, who have sold over 120 million albums to date, and he was ranked number 27 in Rolling Stone magazine’s list of 100 Greatest Guitarists of All Time.

Award-winning North East author David Almond will write the story and an exceptional creative team, led by Artistic Director Bradley Hemmings (co-Artistic Director of the London 2012 Paralympic Opening Ceremony) and other members of the London 2012 Opening Ceremonies team, will bring it to life along with thousands of volunteer performers forming a giant choreographed circuit around the Quayside.

The Great North Run Million Opening Ceremony will be broadcast on BBC2 on Sunday 7 September as part of the Bupa Great North Run coverage.

Tickets are now on sale at £12 for adults and £7 for children at www.gnrmillion.org.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Nicky Mckeen .