Little Mix's Jade headlines BBC Proms festival

Two North East cultural hubs are set to host a renowned arts festival.

The Glasshouse International Centre for Music and The Fire Station will host BBC Proms in the North East over the summer.

The event will feature artists including South Shields’ Little Mix star Jade Thirlwall, songwriter Angeline Morrison and the Royal Northern Sinfonia, led by music director Dinis Sousa.

Further performances will include a prom led by presenters and characters from children’s television channel CBeebies and a session with guitarist Sean Shibe and friends.

The festival will kick off at The Fire Station, in Sunderland, with a special edition of Radio 3 jazz programme 'Round Midnight' with Soweto Kinch.

Organisers say the line-up “will deliver symphonic works, boundary-breaking collaborations and joyful family performances”.

The festival coincides with The Glasshouse International Centre for Music’s 20th anniversary, which chief executive Abigail Pogson said represents a “defining moment” for the Gateshead venue and North East music scene.

She said: “To welcome Jade home for a headline orchestral debut with Royal Northern Sinfonia is a standout concert in a weekend that stretches from Boulez to CBeebies, and reflects the scale, range and ambition of what we’re doing.

Jade said: “It means the world to come home to the North East for this show.

“The BBC Proms is such a huge part of British music culture, and to be performing with a full orchestra – in this iconic venue, with my hometown crowd – is a dream.” 

Tamsin Austin, The Fire Station venue director, added: “We’re thrilled to be part of the BBC Proms’ growing regional programme.

“From fearless international artists to rising stars from our own region, this reflects what we’re all about – world-class music, great nights out and putting Sunderland on the cultural map.” 

The event will run from Thursday, July 24 to Sunday, July 27. 

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