THE NORTH-EAST’S premier music venue has announced it will be providing coach transport from Teesside for selected concerts during the coming classical season.

Sage Gateshead will run the services for two Royal Northern Sinfonia (RNS) concerts, as part of a trial.

The service is initially set to stop at Fountains Road car park, Guisborough, then pick up at Great Ayton High Street car park (opposite Coopers Chemists); Stokesley High Street car park; and The Blue Bell (Acklam) car park, before arriving at Sage Gateshead with ample time for a pre-concert drink and to get settled in seats.

Tickets for the coach cost £7.50 return per person, with booking opening from Tuesday September 23.

The first service will run to Sage Gateshead on October 23. The concert, conducted by Mario Venzago, at 7.30pm features works by Beethoven, Brahms and Strauss.

The next service will run on Thursday, January 29, when the RNS is conducted by Ainars Rubikis, with the programme featuring works by Prokofiev, Sibelius and Beethoven.

Tickets for the concerts, at 7.30pm, are £10 to £33.

Both coach and concert tickets can be purchased from Sage Gateshead Ticket Office on 0191-445-4661, or in person.

Coach seats are subject to availability, and can be booked up until four days before the concert.