Plans for music festival at Hartlepool seafront

Seaton Rock will be held in the Sandy car park on Saturday, July 1. Tickets went on sale yesterday.

One of the organisers Ian Young is hoping the 11-hour festival will be the biggest event to hit Seaton for years.

He said: “When I was a kid, the place was bouncing. We have a fireworks display now but we have not really got much else.

“I have been organising this since the beginning of November and we will be hoping for 6,000 to 10,000 people.”

Ian has organised full-day concerts before but on a smaller level. He said: “When you look at the other events, they were pretty stressful but this is on a different scale.”

When asked why he has done it, Ian said: “It is about time we got something good back into Seaton.”

Tickets are now available on an early bird scheme where they will cost £20 for adults or £15 for under-16s who must be accompanied by an adult. Under fives will be admitted free.

The early bird scheme will run for three weeks unless tickets sell out before then.

Four mainstream acts are being lined up for the festival as well as three local bands and gates will open at 11am. The event is subject to appropriate licences being granted.

Ian works as a delivery driver who delivers white goods in a wagon. The 48-year-old uses every spare moment he has to organise charity events and just one year ago, he planned a charity night at the Staincliffe Hotel in Seaton Carew.

It was supported by organisations including Hartlepool Scooter Club, Hartlepool Monkey Hangers Scooter Club, the Vespa Club of Britain 230 Hartlepool, Stray Cats Scooter Club, A19s Scooter Club Cleveland, North Easts Wasps SC and The Vespa Club of Britain 202 Woolybacks.

Ian is a member of the A19s club which sponsored the event. He then approached the other clubs who also agreed to get involved.

That time, he raised money for Gretton Court which is a purpose-built nursing home for elderly people and specialises in caring for people with dementia.

This time, he said, all profits will be given to Hartlepool cause Miles for Men and to other cancer-related charities in town.

Ian thanked colleagues Jo Winter and John Rogers for helping him with the organisation of Seaton Rock.

And he called on organisations in the area to come on board as sponsors.

Ian would also love to hear from people willing to act as volunteers for Seaton Rock.

Those wanting ticket details, or more information on backing the event, to visit the website at http://www.seatonrock.com/