A Tina Turner act will be among five top tribute bands to feature at a Gateshead festival this summer and fans are told to expect a show fit for the queen of rock.
Singer Shelley Stevens performs as her idol, who died last week, in a show that's billed as 'simply the best' Tina Turner act around and she is set to be a big draw on the line-up at Big Sound family festival coming to Blaydon Rugby Club in July. Tickets for the event are now on sale and a spokesman said that following the death of the music icon the aim now is to put on a show as a "tribute to the superstar she was".
Shelley herself has said she is devastated by her idol's death. The entertainer, who has more than 30 years' experience as a singer, actress and presenter, has performed worldwide but says her true love has always been Tina Turner and the star's music. In her show Simply Tina she is out to capture it all, from Turner's voice to the hair, the dresses and the moves.
Read more: Guide to North East music festivals
Her high-energy show is her own take - and a 'true fan's celebration' - of Turner's hits. Shelley calls the late star her "lifelong idol" and said: "She has inspired me throughout my career and my life.
"I’m devastated to hear of her passing." She added: "I'll take great pride in performing my Simply Tina Show this coming July at the Blaydon festival. It will prove a very sentimental performance and I will ensure I give a performance worthy of my idol."
Also among the tribute acts due to perform at the family music festival on July 29 will be Coldplay tribute Live In Technicolor, headed up by Jack Saxer who will be recreating the likes of Clocks, Fix You and Viva La Vida. Others are Oasis 96; Ezra Live, adding to the vibe with George Ezra hits, and The Manchester Anthems, paying homage to the Madchester, baggy and and Hacienda era.
Festival-goers will have a range of food and drink to pick from, including Lucca Pizza Company's wood-fired Neapolitan pizzas cooked fresh in a vintage horse box; Crepes Gourmet's sweet and savoury treats, offered with a range of toppings, and drinks served up by Beamish Mobile Bars. And, catering for young ones will be a children’s Play Zone, with games and fairground attractions including quads, a penalty shoot-out, bull ride, helter-skelter, hook-a-duck and darts challenge.
There are currently some 'super early bird' and 'early bird' tickets available for the festival, which is set to run on July 29 from noon until 9.30pm: see here.
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