MEMBERS of the folk rock band Lindisfarne returned to their spiritual home at the weekend as more than 4,000 fans attended the annual Holy Island Festival.
The Lindisfarne Story Band, featuring original drummer Ray Laidlaw and former singer Billy Mitchell, performed a sell-out show in the island’s new £1m village hall.
They played the whole of Lindisfarne’s hit Fog on the Tyne album as well as other classics, rounding off with a resounding version of Run for Home.
The show christened the brand-new Crossman Hall which has replaced the old village hall where the band used to rehearse back in the early 1970s.
Ray Laidlaw said: “Fog on the Tyne was born on Holy Island so it was fantastic to bring it back home and complete the circle.”
Band members were treated to bottles of Lady Eleanor beer, named after their hit song, and brewed especially for the occasion on the island by Marcus Hahn.
During the festival, folk band The Unthanks gave a singing workshop to visitors and gave a concert in St Mary’s Church.
Singer Rachel Unthank said: “It was wonderful performing in that beautiful building on Holy Island which is such a magic place.”
The two-day festival also featured circus workshops run by Newcastle-based Let’s Circus, face-painting and kite-making and traditional crafts .
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