THOUSANDS of rock fans in the region have been treated to singalong anthems from some of the biggest names in music.
A blistering set from The Libertines rounded off the inaugural Rock N Roll Circus in Newcastle on Saturday.
Co-founding member Carl Barat joked it was something of a homecoming for the Hexham-born Pete Doherty, before the Geordie crowd was serenaded with a few lines from Lindisfarne’s Meet Me On the Corner.
The hit-packed set was delayed while the found a replacement for drummer Gary Powell who was delayed on a flight from Berlin but managed to join halfway through to rapturous applause.
The band still delighted from the start though with early songs What a Waster and What Katie Did setting the bar high at the outset.
They followed up with Music When the Lights Go Out, You're My Waterloo and Albion, a cover of the Babyshambles track, and Gunga Din.
The band belted out over 20 tracks, their trademark frenetic energy never waning to a crowd that barely stopped moving.
People sang every word back as the launched into Can't Stand Me Now, the ‘bromance’ love song about the troubled relationship between Doherty and Barat during the former’s notorious drug-addled days.
Incredible versions of What Became of the Likely Lads, Boys in the Band and the stellar Don’t Look Back into the Sun rounded off the set.
Earlier in the day there was also music from the DMA’s, the Reytons and Zela.
On Thursday, fans were treated to impressive sets The Charlatans and as well as Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds, the first half of which was his newer material.
But the former Oasis guitarist did not disappoint fans who wanted to hear the classics including The Importance of Being Idle, Whatever, and Half the World Away.
He ended with a mass sing song as he launched into Don’t Look Back in Anger, the crowd now in full voice.
This was first event of its kind with performers and acrobats keeping people entertained between acts in the big top as well as the open air ‘festival’ area.
Organisers are hoping to take the live concept on the road, bringing the event to cities across the country.
Let’s hope it becomes a regular fixture in the North East.
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