This year, because of one of my Facebook groups, Talent in Tynemouth & Tyneside, I became friends with Steve Willis, a joiner by trade, but who has rekindled his interest in music, specifically playing the drums and guitar and writing and singing.

I decided to add him to my admin and quickly learned that he had had a dream of getting musicians from the north and south sides of the River Tyne to ‘cross over’ and share their music with the other side. His dream started to take shape and I was soon very excited to be helping him on admin on his Facebook page, Crossing The Tyne Buskers Festival, which was due to take part on Saturday 29th August from 12 midday to 6pm. Steve had others helping him on admin and Jan Buglass was the main person who I liaised with. She is also a singer songwriter who plays the guitar.

The main aims of the festival were to expose the buskers from the south of the Tyne to the north side and vice versa AND to help raise money for The Great North Children’s Hospital.

Special thanks goes to Ray Rowley and to Bethan Amber Carr-Brown and Emily Palmer Giles for their help from the south of the Tyne and Derrin Atkins, Jamie Allen, Wayne Bordoli, Jenny Lascelles and Michael Steedman from the north side. I helped out trying to spread the word, taking photos and other online work. It was hectic but exciting to be part of the very first ‘Crossing The Tyne Buskers Festival’.

The day came and the plan was set. There were some venues around the north side of the River Tyne, the main base being the Old Low Lights Heritage Centre on the North Shields Fish Quay and the same with the south side. All of the buskers were free to go and perform at any of the venues, then had to be on the Shields ferry in enough time to set up their equipment and perform a half  hour slot, according to the timetable on a specially set up area on the ferry. Then, when their performance was over, they alighted on the other side of the river and continued performing at any of the venues on that side.

It all went according to plan on the day, except maybe for the weather, but even that was laughable, the sun shone, the rain came, wind blew and then the sun shone, but the musicians played on and braved the weather! The ferry passengers were delighted that their mundane daily journey had been brightened up by the talented musicians who were performing. It was such a success that there will definitely be another festival next year and hopefully, for many years to come.

I went around the venues with my son and took as many photos and videos as I could to help support this great festival. We ended up that evening in the Low Lights Pub on the North Shields Fish Quay, singing along to some of the many great artists taking part.

This event was supported by the local Transport Company NEXUS, the local newspapers, local radio stations and other media. A lot of upcoming young musicians had the opportunity to share their talents and at the same time entertain the passengers on the ferry and those people at the venues. And a very worthwhile charity will also benefit from the money collected.

I am SO looking forward to Crossing The Tyne Buskers Festival 2016!

Well done Steve Willis, your dream has come true! And thanks to the support from all of the amazing admin!