A member of the Lighthouse Family has apologised to fans after the duo split, leaving a festival without a headline act. After almost 30 years together, keyboardist Paul Tucker announced that singer-songwriter Tunde Baiyewu wanted to focus on his solo career.
The group, formed in Newcastle and who had hits like Lifted and Ocean Drive in the 1990s, had been due to headline the Saturday of next month’s Mouth Of The Tyne festival. On Facebook, Tucker said: “I have tried everything with our agents and promoters over the last few weeks to make this work but we just couldn’t get it over the line.
“Tunde now wants to focus on his solo career and I wish him all the best. I would like to say sorry to the promoters and to all of you who have tickets for this show and have waited through the last two years.
“I was really looking forward to this hometown show and playing our songs in this amazing place close to the lighthouses that gave us our name. I am as disappointed as you are. It breaks my heart to let you down.”
North Tyneside Council has started to look for a replacement for the empty Saturday night slot. The festival beside Tynemouth Priory will still run on Friday July 8, with Keane headlining, while Sophie Ellis-Bextor will top the bill on Sunday July 10.
Anyone with tickets for Saturday’s show will be given a refund. Councillor Carl Johnson, North Tyneside Council’s deputy mayor and cabinet member for culture, tourism and events, said: “We were extremely disappointed to hear that the Lighthouse Family are no longer performing together and will be unable to play their headline slot at the Mouth of the Tyne Festival.
“A sell-out audience have held onto their tickets throughout the pandemic, and like us, they were looking forward to the performance. However, the decision to pull out of the show has been made by the band leaving us all bitterly disappointed.
“Our festival team works throughout the year to put on an incredible show and are exploring all avenues to get a new headliner set up – as soon as we have a name confirmed we will communicate this and the new details to purchase a ticket.
“Thanks to all ticket holders for their understanding and apologies again for any disappointment. The show must go on and we know this year’s festival will still be a huge success.”
