ORGANISERS of one of the UK’s most successful music events have invited North-East musician Mitch Laddie to be the headline act when their show comes to Houghton-le-Spring on Sunday, March 22.

Northern Guitar Shows are the most popular events of their kind in the UK, bringing together, traders, luthiers (string makers and repairers), retailers, musicians and music fans, across four venues each year covering the North-West, Merseyside, Leeds/Bradford and the North-East. This year, the event is being hosted by the Rainton Meadows Arena, Houghton-Le-Spring – a purpose-built venue that was looking for a top class show.

Blues/rock-performing The Mitch Laddie Band are topping the bill, to the delight of the growing numbers of music fans who visit the show every year.

Mitch, who was born in Consett and is now based in Ebchester, has been playing guitar since the age of 12. Along drummer Matt Connor and bass player Rhian Wilkinson, who are both from Consett, he has gone on to perform in venues as prestigious as The Royal Albert Hall and the Shepherd’s Bush Empire.

The band have released two albums, the second of which, Burning Bridges, was voted Best Blues Album of 2012 by Blues & Soul Magazine. A live album was recently recorded at popular Newcastle club The Cluny and a fourth offering is already in the pipeline, which likely to be followed by a tour of the UK and Europe.

“We played the North-East Guitar Show a couple of years ago and have also played at the North-West show in Haydock. We love the ethos behind the shows and we were really pleased to be invited back as the headliners this year," says Mitch. "Organisers Peter and Gail Hoarty are always keen to support the music scene right across the North and their guitar shows really reflect that. They are a great day out and we’re proud to be associated with them.”

* The North-East Guitar Show runs from 10am until 4pm. Admission is £6, under 12s are admitted free and there is free parking.

For more info, visit guitarshows.co.uk/north-east