This turned out to be Grace’s final performance with the band before going on to more creative endeavours. All the best, Grace!
Around 100,000 ravers attended across the weekend at Hetherington Park, underneath Penshaw’s Monument, in the glorious North East sunshine.
Superstar DJ Fatboy Slim got the weekend off to beltin’ start on Friday, with Sweden’s singing sensation Zora Larsson delivering a stunning Saturday night headline set and the current UK Queen of Soul Olivia Dean’s set radiating with warmth, as the Sunday sun set over Sunderland.
On Sunday, Teesside singer songwriter Finn Forster appeared on the BBC Introducing Stage and, judging by this performance, he is destined for bigger things.
During the day, big names, such as Niall Horan, Holly Humberston, Dermot Kennedy, Myles Smith, Ezra Collective and CMAT all delivered in front of a boiling hot, capacity crowd.
Rumours that local hero Sam Fender would appear with headliner Olivia Dean to sing their mega hit “Rein Me In” didn’t materialise, but she didn’t need him as she delivered an amazing performance singing hits from her album “The Art of Loving”, including the crowd pleaser “Nice To Each Other”.
A fantastic weekend – bring it back to the region soon please, Auntie Beeb!
