KT Tunstall cancels appearance at Sunderland's first Lamplight Festival over scheduling clash

The new music festival was originally supposed to take place this year on August 8 and 9 in Mowbray Park, with performances from Kaiser Chiefs, KT Tunstall, Deacon Blue and Sunderland’s own Frankie & the Heartstrings.

But, like all major events, it had to be put back a year due to coronavirus and it was announced the inaugural event will now take place on Saturday, August 7 and Sunday, August 8, 2021 with the same line-up.

However, the new date clashes with Suddenly I See singer KT’s other touring commitments and she is now unable to perform in Sunderland.

The singer songwriter released the following statement: “Dear UK fans, Covid-19 has just absolutely spannered us. One of the trickiest aspects for us touring musicians is trying to reconstruct our Tetris-like gig schedules.

"I am so happy to be joining Hall & Oates on their rescheduled US tour; it’s a huge 2-month, 25-show run, now taking place August-October 2021. Sadly, as I have no control over the rescheduling of the dates, I’ve ultimately had to make some really hard decisions about other one-off appearances, whereas it of course all fit together beautifully before.

"So it’s with a very sore heart that I have to announce I’ll no longer be able to play the following UK shows, that were rescheduled to 2021:

August 5th - Kelvingrove Bandstand; August 7th - Fringe By The Sea; August 8th - Lamplight Festival.

"If teleportation was up and running, believe me I would BE there, but sadly I just can’t do it all. A MASSIVE thank you to the promoters of Kelvingrove Bandstand, Fringe By The Sea and Lamplight Festival for their fantastic support and understanding. I am so gutted to have to cancel these appearances for now, but really hopeful for a time when I can return to play their stages again.

"So very sorry to disappoint those of you with tickets, these decisions are impossible to make, but the times we are in means we have to make them."

Organisers of Lamplight Festival, Sunderland City Council, are due to make an announcement on who will replace KT in the coming weeks.

Any customer that would like to seek a ticket refund in light of the revised line up can do so by contacting their ticket provider.

All existing ticket purchases are now valid for the new 2021 dates, customers are, however, also eligible for a refund due to the date change.

See our guide to other big events happening in Sunderland in 2021 here.

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