A County Durham town is gearing up for a three day music festival starring X Factor winner Joe
McElderry and former Squeeze, Mike + The Mechanics and Roxy Music vocalist Paul Carrack.
Bishop Auckland’s Music and Arts Festival kicks off at 5pm tomorrow (Friday) and organisers are expecting record crowds after bumper advance ticket sales.
The Tyneside singer, who won ITV’s X Factor in 2009 and Popstar to Opera Star last year, will make a guest appearance at Bishop Auckland College’s Proms held on Sunday – the final day of the festival.
The Proms concert, which begins with Songs of Praise at 4.30pm, also includes performances by the Hurworth Concert Band, St John’s School Orchestra and the Cobweb orchestra with guest violinist Min-Jin Kym.
Paul Carrack is the other big name performer, appearing on Saturday as part of a full line up from 12noon to 10pm. His impressive list of credits include hits The Living Years, Over My Shoulder and Silent Running, and artists he has worked with include Elton John and Eric Clapton.
Pop rock five piece band ‘The Silence’ will headline on the opening night tomorrow, having recently toured Europe and recorded in the US.
Kevin Burns, Head of Marketing at Bishop Auckland College, said: “This is our fifth annual music and arts festival and after the success of last year’s event, which attracted over 8,000 people, we are delighted to have secured some excellent headliners to raise the profile of the event and the town over the three day festival weekend. Advance ticket sales would suggest we could have record crowds this weekend, so I’d urge everyone thinking of coming to secure their ticket now.”
The Music and Arts Festival is organised by Bishop Auckland College, sponsored by Bishop Auckland Town Council and STAR Radio and supported by St John’s Catholic Academy and Bishop Barrington School.
Tickets for the three-day event are available from Bishop Auckland College by calling (01388) 443000 or Bishop Auckland Town Hall Box Office on (01388) 602610, costing £4 Friday, £6 Saturday, £8 Sunday or £12 for a three day pass. For more details visit www.bishopaucklandcollege.ac.uk