‘A mega opportunity’ - Local band welcomes the chance to play alongside ABC in South Shields’ Bents park
A North East band are relishing the opportunity at playing alongside some of their musical heroes in South Shields.
A North East 80s synth-pop band are preparing to play alongside ABC and Chesney Hawkes in South Shields later this month.
Nuromantica are set to perform alongside some of their musical heroes at the Bents Park Sunday Concert on July 26, which has been described by the band as a “dream come true”.
Some of the band’s members have previously played at Bents Park during their time as ‘The Breakfast Club’ and are now looking forward to bringing their new venture back to the seafront venue.
‘We couldn’t believe it’
Mark Little, the bassist for Nuromantica, has told the Shields Gazette how much it means to be playing with big artists so early into the band’s journey.
He said: “Following the split of The Breakfast Club, we started this band and then after a few gigs, we got the news that we were going to be playing at Bents Park.
“We couldn’t believe it because we were a new band who was starting all over again.
“As a band, we saw the likes of ABC and Chesney Hawkes when we were growing up so to meet and play alongside them is going to be fantastic.
“We prominently play early 80s music so to get to support these artists is an absolute dream come true because it fits our genre so well.”
‘A mega opportunity’
Mark has also praised South Tyneside Council for organising on the Sunday Concerts and for giving acts from across the North East a platform to play alongside bigger artists.
He added: “To play in front of a local crowd does bring some pressure because you don’t want to be the ‘band that fails’ but I’m sure we’ll go out and give everyone a good day.
“It is a fantastic event that is put on by South Tyneside Council and there isn’t many places where you get to see older big name artists like ABC for £5.
“If you were to see them alone, it would probably be about £50 so the audience is getting really good value.
“I don’t really know of any other place around the North East that gives smaller acts an opportunity like this.
“For us, it is a mega opportunity and a chance that very rarely comes up.”
You can keep up to date with Nuromantica by following them at: https://www.facebook.com/nuromantica.
Tickets for the Sunday Concerts
The Sunday Concerts are set to be fully ticketed for the first time in 2026, with South Tyneside Council previously stating that prices have been kept deliberately low to ensure that the event remains accessible and affordable for everyone.
General admission costs £5 per concert for those aged 17 to 65, with tickets priced at £2 for those aged 11 to 16 or 66 and over.
Entry is free for those aged 10 and under.
Online tickets are subject to a booking fee, which doesn’t apply to free tickets.
You can buy tickets at: www.visitsouthtyneside.co.uk - once purchased, they will be emailed to you and then scanned on entry to the event.