Former members of one of the North East's most beloved bands are reuniting once again for a special homecoming gig to help homeless communities in the area.
Ray Laidlaw and Billy Mitchell, once of Newcastle rockers Lindisfarne, are touring the nation later this year, ending with the unique benefit show in North Shields for the charity North East Homeless. The pair announced the second run of dates in November following a "fantastic" response to the first leg of the Lindisfarne Story UK tour earlier this year.
The pair’s performance will celebrate 50 years of Fog on the Tyne, the album which escalated the band to worldwide acclaim and was the UK's biggest selling album in 1971. Ray and Billy tell its remarkable story with a combination of rare video, unseen photographs, acoustic versions of their favourite Lindisfarne songs, and tales from life on the road and in the recording studio.
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The final performance will be held on Saturday, November 26, at the Exchange in North Shields. The tour travels from Winchester to Basingstoke and Potters Bar to Barnard Castle and all points between but it is the North Shields date that has an emotional tie for both Billy and Ray.
Ray said: "North East Homeless does amazing work in our hometown, work that unfortunately is now more crucial than ever. It’s important to Billy and I that we can give something back to the community that has supported us from the very beginning."
Brian Burridge, Founder of North East Homeless said. "Lindisfarne have been such a big influence on me growing up, to have them supporting us is amazing. Having North East Legends like Ray and Billy is so important to us. It’s about Northerners looking after Northerners, in very difficult times."
The Lindisfarne Story is a celebration of the life, times, and music of the North East of England's most beloved band, Lindisfarne, opening the '50 Years of Fog' tour in Saltburn on November 15.
Here are all the dates:
- Tuesday 15th November - SALTBURN - The Theatre
- Wednesday 16th November - CONSETT - Empire Theatre
- Thursday 17th November - BARNARD CASTLE - The Witham
- Saturday 19th November - WINCHESTER - Theatre Royal
- Sunday 20th November - STOURBRIDGE - Katie’s Secret Garden
- Monday 21st November - NORTHAMPTON - Deco Theatre
- Tuesday 22nd November - POTTERS BAR - Wyllyotts Theatre
- Wednesday 23rd November - BASINGSTOKE - Haymarket Theatre
- Thursday 24th November - OTLEY - Courthouse
- Friday 25th November - NORTHALLERTON - The Forum
- Saturday 26th November - NORTH SHIELDS - The Exchange
Tickets for the performance at The Exchange on 26 th November are available from www.attheexchange.info
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