LINDISFARNE STORY PROVIDES A WARM FEELING TO THE PEOPLE’S KITCHEN

Former Lindisfarne members Ray Laidlaw and Billy Mitchell are giving back to their local community by playing a special benefit gig in aid of some of Newcastle’s most vulnerable people.

Following the fantastic response to the first leg of the Lindisfarne Story UK tour earlier this year, the pair have announced a second run of nationwide dates in November culminating in a very special sell out show in North Shields, the town where Lindisfarne began.

The final (sold out) performance on Saturday 26th November at the Exchange in North Shields will be a benefit show for The People’s Kitchen. The pair’s performance will celebrate 50 years of Fog on the Tyne, the album which escalated the band to worldwide acclaim.

It was the UK’s biggest selling album in 1971, and Ray and Billy tell its remarkable story with a combination of rare video, unseen photographs, acoustic versions of their favourite Lindisfarne songs and tales from life on the road and in the recording studio.

The tour travels from Winchester to Basingstoke and Potters Bar to Barnard Castle and all points between but it is the North Shields date that has an emotional tie for both Billy and Ray.

“North Shields is where we were brought up and just a few miles up the “foggy” Tyne, The People’s Kitchen in Newcastle does amazing work helping people a lot less fortunate than ourselves. Christmas is just around the corner and Billy and I feel that it is important to recognise the important work the Kitchen does helping so many vulnerable people, “said Ray.

Maggie Pavlou trustee of The People’s Kitchen was delighted that the pair had decided to donate in such a generous way to the charity. “If you mention Newcastle to anybody, it isn’t long before they mention Lindisfarne and the Fog on the Tyne. It’s amazing that this album’s 50^th birthday celebration is now helping us to look after the city’s most vulnerable people thanks to these two Geordie Legends.”