Mark Knopfler, Joe McElderry and The Unthanks join Sir Bobby Robson 'A Celebration'

Tickets go on sale for Sir Bobby Robson – A Celebration, today at 10am Friday 12th October at www.thesagegateshead.org. The launch was attended yesday by Alan Shearer and Joe McElldery who performed Nessun Dorma for guests.

Sir Bobby Robson – A Celebration - promises to be a star-studded charity fund-raising event featuring Mark Knopfler, Joe McElderry, Roy Hodgson, Northern Sinfonia, The Unthanks, Paul Whitehouse, Simon Day and many more soon to be announced. It will be held on 18th February next year – on what would have been Sir Bobby Robson's 80th birthday.

Sir Bobby Robson – A Celebration will raise money for the Sir Bobby Robson Foundation and The Alan Shearer Foundation and will feature Sir Bobby's 'Desert Island Discs' performed by some of the country's finest artists at the Sage Gateshead.

It will also feature Sir Bobby's final interviews, which were originally filmed for use at this event when it was first planned, with his involvement, in 2009.

Sir Bobby was passionate about live music and enthusiastic at the prospect of a charity evening which would unite greats from football, music and comedy on the banks of the Tyne.

Sadly, because of his failing health, that original event was postponed and now the team behind it, with the help and input of both Lady Elsie and Alan Shearer, are pleased to fulfil Sir Bobby's ambition by creating what is sure to be a spectacular and emotional evening.

Hosted by Sir Bobby's friend Jim Rosenthal and, with many more big name acts to be announced, the star-studded gala night will celebrate the life of an extraordinary man.

One of the first names on the Sir Bobby Robson – A Celebration 'team sheet' was The X Factor and Popstar To Operastar winner Joe McElderry.

Joe, from South Shields, recently entered the top 10 of the album charts and garnered success with his fourth album 'Here's What I Believe'. McElderry is an Ambassador for the Teenage Cancer Trust and was quick to agree to support the event.
He provided appreciative onlookers with a taste of what the gala night has in store by giving a powerful rendition of Nessun Dorma from the Sage's second floor balcony.

Lindisfarne's Ray Laidlaw, from Tynemouth, is one of the producers of the celebration night and was involved in filming Sir Bobby's final interviews.

Tickets for Sir Bobby Robson - A Celebration are priced at £45, £60 and £75 and on sale from 12th October. To buy tickets, or for more information, please call 0191 443 4661 or visit www.thesagegateshead.org.