Newcastle from Gateshead

I have been a fan of the wonderful guitarist Sean Shibe for a few years so, when I saw that he was appearing in a Prom concert, especially as I had given up on trying to organise to get to a Prom at the Royal Albert Hall and this was at Sage Gateshead (sorry the Glasshouse!), I booked tickets.

So, we were there today, making our way through, and trying to find quiet corners in, a concourse awash with masses of little children excited to be going to the CBeebies Proms that were on through the afternoon in the big hall.

What to say! The programme was a a bit ‘modernist’ for us really - not a lot of tune at times! But the sheer theatre of it was amazing - six highly skilled musicians playing with and off each other. It was unexpected and magnificent.

However, I will always remember Sean Shebe alone on stage playing Caprices - little gems like exquisite words from a poem, beautiful flashes of light. And look at the view I had . . . (Extra taken during the interval). The lady sitting at the far end is Sarah Walker, who I listen to every Sunday morning on Radio 3 and who introduced me to Sean Shibe in the first place. The Prom was going out live on Radio 3 and she was introducing it - we provided applause when she asked us to!!

And Gordon got back in time to see the end of the football . . .