Now that we are more or less fully embedded here in the North East we get to go and see friends anytime we like rather than giving them a call and saying "Hey, we're coming up this weekend, fancy meeting up!".

Just after lunch Neil asked if we want to go over to Seaburn and watch one of his friends perform at the STACK with Rock Choir. In my opinion any chance we get to go and visit the coast which is just on our door step I say "Yep, let's go!", not to mention watching someone singing or playing in a band, I'm there.

What's 'STACK' I hear you say!

STACK are ingenious entertainment venues made-up from shipping containers or in some towns, repurposed retail units. The first STACK being a temporary installation in Newcastle opening in 2018, unfortunately closed 2022 but reopened in a more permanent position in May of this year.

The nearest STACK to us is located on the sea front in a coastal town of Seaburn and consists of two levels of shipping containers welded together with a central plaza area with communal bench seating and a large stage for entertainment of live music or comedy performers and a huge screen as the focal point. All surrounded on both levels by bars and street food units.

It's an absolutely AWESOME place! Lively and well run and best of all, FREE to walk in to. In the day time it's completely family friendly with kids entertainment and in the evening it kind'a transitions into a live music venue.

The first time we went in was about nine o'clock on a warm July evening walking up the sea front from our hotel and as we wondered inside a live band was on the stage performing a Queen number. The place was a hive of action with people sitting and standing watching this pretty darn good band with an exceptionally good vocalist belting out Queens 'Radio Ga Ga!'. We didn't know what the 'STACK' was at this point, but every time since we've visited Seaburn we've always popped our head in the door to see who or what is going on.

Seaburn is about twenty minutes away from us so we had a leisurely drive down and parked the car round the corner from the STACK. The weather was really nice with the sun shining and was surprisingly warm. Normally it can be a bit chilly walking on the Seafront this time of the year, but not so today.

As we walked through the doors into the central plaza the Choir had already taken the stage... packing it out from side to side. We couldn't see our friend Laura, but as we were walking nearer the stage we heard someone shout our names. We walked over to where the sound came from and said hello to her family and friends. Unfortunately there was no space for us to sit so we went over to one of the bars to get a drink and stood near the back.

Laura came on with the final choir members and the choir master took his place on his little podium. Up went his hands as the first few bars of the backing track to Guns N' Roses - Sweet Child O' Mine!

The Superb opening number seemed to really please everyone and we were then treated to a good forty minute set of popular songs re-arranged and sung by the Rock Choir.

Awesome afternoon... sitting in the open square or central plaza of the STACK with the sun shining down on us all listening to some good live music with friends...

... what could be better!