German band calling South Tyneside home for a week of music

A big band from Germany is making noise in South Tyneside this week.
Knapp Daneben performing at the amphitheatre in South Shields.Knapp Daneben performing at the amphitheatre in South Shields.
Knapp Daneben performing at the amphitheatre in South Shields.

Knapp Daneben, who hail from the borough’s twin town of Wuppertal, is already wowing audiences here and has a string of gigs lined up before they head home.

The community-based band kicked off their 10-day tour of South Tyneside on Saturday, when they played at the annual fundraising river trip for the South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade, which is celebrating its 150th anniversary.

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They followed the gig up on Sunday with a show at the amphitheatre on the seafront, in South Shields.

Tom Fennelly, honorary secretary of the life brigade, who is looking after the band while they’re in town, said: “The band has a long-time association with the borough, they’re good friends of South Tyneside and of the South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade.

“They’ve got a great link with coming over here to play and this is their third visit to the borough.

“They went down a storm at our event on Saturday and again at the amphitheatre on Sunday where they drew a huge crowd. They’re here until Monday so people should take the chance to see them while they can.”

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Yesterday, after a day of sightseeing, the band were received by the Mayor and Mayoress of South Tyneside, Couns Alan and Moira Smith, for a civic reception at South Shields Town Hall.

They’ll be on stage again tonight at St Wilfrid’s RC College, in Temple Park Road, South Shields, where they’ll be playing with the school’s junior orchestra.

The school has links with one in Wuppertal called Gymnasium Kothen.

Tickets for the 7pm show cost £3 and can be bought on the door.

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Tomorrow, Knapp Daneben will visit Arbeia Roman Fort and see the life brigade’s exhibition at South Shields Museum & Art Gallery, before a lunchtime visit to Sts Peter and Paul’s RC Primary School. The final free public performance is on Saturday at South Marine Park, from 2pm to 3pm. They’ll also play at Primrose CA on Saturday.