First ticket for the Sage Music Centre

Date: 2004-10-02, Publication: The Journal

Music lover Ronnie Russell made history yesterday, setting his alarm clock early to become the first person to buy a ticket for a concert at The Sage Gateshead.

It was 5.30am when Ronnie, from Benwell, arrived at Gateshead Old Town Hall which is serving as the international music centre's headquarters until it opens on December 17.

It was 6.55am when the caretaker turned up and made him a cup of tea - and it wasn't until 10am that Ronnie was able to secure two top price tickets, at £26 each, for the Nick Cave concert on February 27.

But he made history nonetheless, heralding a busy first day's trading for The Sage Gateshead's box office.

"I knew this concert was going to sell out and that a lot of my friends would be going and I wanted to be sure of getting a ticket," said Ronnie, who is 53 and works at Newcastle music shop Steel Wheels.

"Nick Cave doesn't come here very often but I have been to see him in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

"I always think if Leonard Cohen was married to Tom Waits, Nick Cave would be the perfect son."

Ronnie's wife, Allison, suffers from multiple sclerosis and will decide nearer the time whether to join her husband in the building's 1,700-seater Hall 1.

Also in the queue yesterday was special needs teacher Jeannie Shepherd, from Birtley, who won a competition to perform the topping out ceremony at The Sage Gateshead in January 2003.

"We have booked for about 11 performances and the New Year's Eve event," she said after an outlay of around £300.

"My husband, Brian, is tone deaf but he comes along to most things. We like folk, jazz, brass, classical, anything. I've even got tickets for a ceilidh.

"We go to the City Hall, the Arena and we even go to Allendale for the folk night. I think we will continue to do that but it is so exciting to see this project coming together."

Amanda Woods, head of media and public relations, said: "The demand for tickets for our opening programme has been fantastic. Our box office team have been flat out all day."

Free tickets for the building's opening weekend were all sold out within days last week.

Customers are advised to buy tickets for scheduled concerts by phoning (0870) 703-4555 or by email via boxoffice@thesagegateshead.org The website is www.thesagegates-head.org

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