Step into Christmas at Sage Gateshead
Christmas is just around the corner and when it comes to arranging your festive celebration look no further than Sage Gateshead. Whether you’re looking for a Christmas night out or a festive family celebration, Sage Gateshead has a sparkling line-up of festive treats to get you into the spirit of the season.
Back by popular demand and quickly becoming a fixture in everyone’s Christmas calendar, the Magic of Motown (15 December) promises to get the party season off to a dancing start. More than 36 classic motown hits are revived by a huge cast amid a flurry of glittering costume changes, dazzling dance moves and legendary musicianship. Get set to hear your favourite songs from The Four Tops, Supremes, Temptations, Jackson 5, Isley Brothers, Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Diana Ross, Lionel Richie and more.
New to the seasonal line-up, Stand By Me (29 December) is the phenomenal musical history of Ben E King and The Drifters – one of the biggest selling, longest serving bands of all time having sold 214 million singles and over 114 million albums worldwide. This is their musical history told through the music and anecdotes of the former members on screen. This is not to be missed and guaranteed to get you on your feet remembering some of the greatest hits over the last six decades, including Under the Boardwalk, Saturday Night at the Movies, Up on the Roof and On Broadway.
Direct from a residency in Chicago and national tour of the USA The Blues Brothers 'Approved' (21 December) head to Gateshead for a night of soul, rock, RnB, blues and jazz delivered with sharp suits and signature dance moves. Hear all the hits including Everybody, Gimme Some Lovin', Think, Shake a Tailfeather and Sweet Home Chicago.
Also new for 2016, celebrate the music and life of pop icon Whitney Houston with the award-winning production Whitney Queen of the Night (1 December) featuring the rising West End star Rebecca Freckleton. Hear classic hits including I Wanna Dance With Somebody, One Moment In Time and I’m Every Woman.
Enjoy some swinging jazz with British jazz legend Chris Barber (8 December) with his 10 piece big band, The Glenn Miller Orchestra (30 December) performing favourite wartime chart-toppers and Laura Adams & The Paul James Band (1 December) performing classics from The Great American Songbook. This season Sage Gateshead brings a touch of SummerTyne to Christmas with a special festive cabaret show featuring Yola Carter and The Kentucky Cow Tippers (22 December). Sunderland’s very own Martin Longstaff aka The Lake Poets (3 December) brings his honest, haunting & moving acoustic/indie-folk music to the line-up. For something a bit different, George Egg (20 December) serves up some comedy, storytelling and a three course meal in his internationally acclaimed show.
For some Christmas glitz, enjoy a night of showtunes from Oliver to Wicked, West Side Story to Phantom of the Opera in full orchestral sound with stars of the London stage and Royal Northern Sinfonia playing The Best of the West End (14 December). British jazz star Claire Martin (18 December) will also be joining the orchestra for a night of jazz standards and Christmas classics by Cole Porter, George Gershwin and Irving Berlin. Experience the joint force of Royal Northern Sinfonia and the Northern Sinfonia Chorus with their seasonal performance of Handel’s Messiah (10 December) with its uplifting choruses and sublime melodic arias. Plus the region’s largest community choir, Inspiration Choir (11 December), perform old festive favourites with the Orchestra as well as new songs written by the latest stars of the Christmas scene.
Folks fans are in for a treat with festive favourite Kate Rusby (20 December) who will be performing songs from her latest album Life in a Paper Boat as well as her popular Christmas songs and carols. Folk songwriter Jez Lowe (29 December) returns with his multi-talented band The Bad Pennies in what has become something of a Christmas tradition in the North East. Jez puts together an original take on Christmas, part folk-concert, part music-hall revue, with songs, humour and music.
Other folk highlights include performances from award-winning singer-songwriter Seth Lakeman (7 December) and Martin Stephenson & The Daintees (2 December) (playing their landmark album Boat To Bolivia in its entirety). Join musicians and dancers from folk powerhouse The Demon Barbers (4 December) and let your hair down at the Folkworks Christmas Ceilidh (23 December).
Christmas just wouldn’t be Christmas without Sage Gateshead’s annual favourites including Royal Northern Sinfonia performing the unforgettable soundtrack of The Snowman (22 – 24 December) alongside the film screening. Families can meet Father Christmas in Santa's Musical Grotto throughout December, join in with the Early Years Big Family Festive Sing and Dance (29-30 December) and the Family Ceilidh (23 & 24 December), and don't miss Sage Gateshead's Christmas Cracker (3 & 4 December) - a weekend of food, craft, gifts and live music.
For those looking to say goodbye to 2016 and ring in 2017 in spectacular style, Sage Gateshead welcomes the return of the mighty Vintage Trouble (31 December) who bring their blend of blues, soul, and riff-heavy rock and roll for an unforgettable night. The LA based rockers have wowed audiences across the globe opening for heavyweights like The Rolling Stones, The Who and AC/DC. Completing this New Year’s Eve party to end all parties will be bands on the Concourse, a northern soul DJ set, and a free drink at midnight with the perfect view of fireworks over the Tyne.
To book tickets please go to sagegateshead.com or visit Sage Gateshead Ticket Office either in person (open from 12noon) or by calling 0191 443 4661.
