Tyne Tees Music News

The North East's "biggest ever pop show" is set to take place this summer.

Little Mix, Amelia Lily, and JLS are among a host of artists set to perform at Sunderland's Stadium of Light.

The event will take place over five hours on June 22.

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Local bands will battle it out tonight to be crowned winners of the Soundwave Music Competition, in aid of Cancer Research UK. Hundreds of unsigned musicians from across the North East applied, and 12 bands were chosen to perform in the final.

The show will take place at the O2 Academy in Newcastle and hundreds of music fans are expected to turn out to support them.

The bands in the final are:

• Jamie Lee Harrison, Gateshead, Newcastle
• Silva Method, Gateshead and Newcastle
• AfterShock, Durham
• Chloe, Newcastle and Durham
• Face The Republic, East Durham
• Qualia, Peterlee

• Harwood Drive, Washington
• Kiss Your Commander, Newcastle
• Public Secret, Newcastle and Washington
• Black Nevada, Shildon and Bishop Auckland
• Below The Bridge, Tyne and Wear
• Dynamo, Cumbria

The winners will receive prizes that include a day of recording and radio airplay across Newcastle.

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Northern Sinfonia, Orchestra of The Sage Gateshead, has had a CD nominated for a GRAMMY award.

Conductor Claudio Cruz recorded the world-premiere recording of Hans Gál’s Cello Concerto, coupled with Elgar’s Cello Concerto.

It has been nominated in the Best Classical Instrumental Solo category.

“Superb first recording of his Cello Concerto… could hardly be more eloquently served than here: the commanding Brazilian virtuoso Antonio Meneses surmounts every hurdle with ease and he is backed to the hilt by his compatriot Claudio Cruz at the helm of a notably alert Northern Sinfonia.”

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• Tyneside

Rock veteran Meat Loaf is to play a "final goodbye" to fans by performing his epic hit album Bat Out Of Hell in full for the first time at a series of UK shows, starting in Newcastle.

The singer will play arena gigs in April as part of his Last At Bat tour, featuring a set of greatest hits as well as the classic 1977 album which made him a global star.

Meat Loaf, 65, previously announced he was retiring five years ago but continued to perform.

The dates were announced as his chance to "bid a final goodbye to his fans", and a publicist said they understood this was going to be his last tour.

The singer said: "I know the fans will enjoy the show as much as I enjoyed putting it together."

The tour calls at:

• Newcastle Arena - April 5th

• Glasgow SECC - April 7th

• O2 Arena, London - April 10th

• LG Arena, Birmingham - April 12th

• Capital FM Arena, Nottingham - April 14th

• Motorpoint Arena, Sheffield - April 19th

• Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff - April 21st

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Some of the biggest names in North East music are getting together to raise money for St Oswald's Hospice in Newcastle. They will play St Os Fest in January. The money raised will stay in the region, and the bands will be performing songs by the people who inspired them at the fundraiser.

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• Newcastle

"We're delighted that once again Sunderland will be playing host to a world class act.

"It builds upon tremendous success of the last four years of concerts at the Stadium of Light, which have brought hundreds of thousands of people and, millions of pounds, into our city and our economy.

"The fact that major bands and artists continue to choose Sunderland for their concerts is proof of our ability to host major events and will provide a fantastic boost for the city."

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