As we enter 2021, there’s still much uncertainty as to when, if at all, we can return to theatres, stadiums and arenas as normal. Until then, we’ve had a look through the archives of the glory days of some of Sunderland’s greatest gigs of the past decade.
1. Beyoncé, Stadium of Light, June 2016
Queen Bey rocked the Stadium of Light in 2016 with her Formation World Tour. The show was the 19th concert to be staged at the home of the Black Cats and the largest stage production to date. The US superstar performed to 51,000 fans in a performance which generated headlines across the continent as the opening night of the European leg of the tour. Photo: submitted
2. Oasis, June 2009
Oasis will Live Forever as the greatest of Stadium of Light gigs according to Echo readers who regularly hail it as the best they've seen there. The rockers performed in the first year of gigs at the stadium and were supported by a stellar support line-up of The Enemy, Reverend and the Makers and Kasabian. Photo: JPI Media
3. Coldplay, Stadium of Light, June, 2012
Pyrotechnic light displays, fluorescent confetti and interactive flashing wristbands made Coldplay a spectacle to remember back in 2012. Coldplay were one of the most popular bands in the world since their hit album Mylo Xyloto and this was their only gig in the North that year. Photo: submitted
4. Happy Mondays, Sunniside Live, July 2017
For one night only the usually sleepy Sunniside Gardens turned into Manchester’s legendary Hacienda nightclub when The Happy Mondays headlined the second night of Sunniside Live 2017, with Bez and Co shaking their maracas to some of the band’s greatest hits, including the iconic Step On. Photo: JPI Media