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Culture vultures have marked this weekend’s Spring Bank Holiday in their diaries as they look forward to this year’s Fish Quay Festival in North Shields. The Bank Holiday bash, which was scaled down last year - but still managed to attract tens of thousands of people - returns with its usual range of music and family entertainment, all set against the stunning backdrop of the River Tyne and North Shields Fish Quay. Getting there couldn’t be easier with North Shields Metro station just a 10 minute walk away and regular ferry services from South Shields arriving just along the river from the festival site. On Sunday, the first sailing of the day from South Shields is at 8.45am with the last back across the river from North Shields at 10.50pm. On Monday, the first ferry of the day departs South Shields at 6.45am with the last return trip from North Shields leaving at 8.00pm. Operator Nexus will be laying on extra ferry services on both days with additional crossings between 11am and 6pm on the Sunday and between 10am and 6pm on the Monday. And although North Shields Metro Station is just a 10-minute walk away, for those who don’t fancy or can’t manage the walk up the hill there is the 333 Ferrylink bus service which will be operating a Sunday service on both days. It should be noted, however, that journeys serving the Fish Quay will be suspended due to road closure. Although this year’s Fish Quay festival remains on a smaller scale than pre-reduction days, organisers are hoping for another good turnout this year, especially with the promise of performances from popular local bands and other activities like the funfair, pageant and parade, street entertainment and Thanksgiving Service for the fishing fleet. There's a great line-up of performers featuring some of the best local bands and sought-after acts in the country for folk and rhythm and blues lovers. Paul Young, the 1980s icon famous for hits such as “Wherever I lay My Hat” and “Every Time You Go Away” is headlining, with Tex-Mex band Los Pacaminos, one of the most sought-after acts on the live music scene today with their Tex-Mex-style a bluesy rock'n'roll with a slightly Latin feel. Whilst the catchy pop songs and ballads that made Paul Young a household name will be missing, old crowd-pleasers like Woolly Bully and La Bamba are often performed to packed houses wherever they go. Los Pacaminos featuring Paul Young headline the Fish Quay Family Festival on Monday May 31, while local band Gangsters of Ska headline Sunday 30th. Other attractions at this year’s event will be more great live music on the main stage, street theatre and entertainers, a colourful pageant and parade, market stalls and a fairground. Programme: Sunday May 30 10am Fishing Fleet Thanksgiving Service
12noon Official Opening
12:30pm School bands
1:45pm YMCA NT Youth Collective
5:00pm Bluestar
6:00pm Tony McNally
7:15pm Jed Grimes Band / Hush
8:30pm Gangsters of Ska Monday May 31 12noon Caffrey Brothers
1:15pm Gladstone
2:15pm Ryofu
3:15pm Steve Gilroy Band
4:15pm Cuban Salsa - Carameloson
5:15pm The Questionnaires
6:15pm John Miller and the Country Casuals
7:15pm Los Pacaminos featuring Paul Young For more on the Fish Quay Festival go to www.northtyneside.gov.uk
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