Especially for You: Sunday Concert Rescheduled

Aussie superstar Jason Donovan has been rescheduled to perform in summer 2024 after his Sunday Concert date in South Tyneside was stood down due to the weather.

The international headliner was due to perform at the open-air Bents Park, South Shields seafront, on 16 July, as part of the This is South Tyneside Festival.

However, forecasted wind gusts of up to 43mph led organisers to cancel the concert on safety grounds.

Now Jason has committed to a new date ofSunday 21 July 2024.

Councillor Tracey Dixon, Leader of South Tyneside Council, said: "We are thrilled that Jason is on board to join us next summer, 17 years after his last Sunday Concert performance was such a massive hit.

"The decision to stand down Jason's concert earlier this month was made with a heavy heart. We know it was a huge disappointment to all those involved and that many fans were left with 'broken hearts'. But safety is paramount.

"However, our small team of events staff have been working hard behind the scenes with Jason's management team to get a revised date in the diary, as well as continue with the delivery of this year's fantastic summer events programme.

"We thank everyone for their support, patience and understanding and look forward to giving Jason a big South Shields' welcome next year."

Jason Donovan is best known and loved for his role as Scott Robinson in Australian TV series Neighbours, his West End theatre performances in shows such as Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and Priscilla and his series of chart-topping pop hits from across the years, including Any Dream Will Do, Too Many Broken Hearts and Especially for You.

Jason said: "I was disappointed not to be able to play the show in South Shields this summer because of the weather. But safety must always come first, not just for us artists and stage crews, but all those who work behind the scenes to put on these shows and most importantly the music fans who come to see the performances.

"Audiences in the northeast are always amazing and make me feel so welcome. I can't wait to be returning in 2024 and hope to see as many of you there as possible."

The free Sunday Concerts are one of the highlights of South Tyneside's annual three-month long festival of live music, entertainment and family friendly events, running from June to August.

A limited number of Priority Plus Tickets are made available for each of the concerts. These guarantee earlier entry to events and access to dedicated bar services and toilets.

Priority Plus Tickets purchased for Jason's 2023 concert will remain valid for the rescheduled date of 21 July 2024.

For those who would prefer a refund, where tickets were purchased through Ticketmaster, please contact Ticketmaster direct for a refund. See www.ticketmaster.co.uk/southtynesidefestival for details. Where tickets were purchased from Shop @ The Word in South Shields, visitors can return to The Word for a refund.

Applications for refunds will be available until 31 August 2023, after which refunds will not be accepted. Further information about the Council's cancellation policy and refunds is available at www.southtynesidefestival.co.uk

The final Sunday Concert for 2023 will take place this Sunday (30 July) with Boyzlife taking to the Bents Park stage.

For more details about the concert, or to stay up to date, follow South Tyneside Events on social media: Facebook (South Tyneside Events) and on Twitter @STynesideEvents to keep up to date with information around all the events.