Ray Laidlaw is a founding member of Tyneside music legends, Lindisfarne. He is also the producer of the Sunday for Sammy Show. Here he tells us about his weekend.
Do you ever have to work weekends?
Yes I do, I’ve beem involved in the entertainment business for 60 years and a lot of it happens at weekends.
Are most weekends the same
That depends, if I’m working on a project then sometimes weekends can be indistinguishable from other days. Deadlines can do that. If it’s a time when I don’t have a lot going on I enjoy that Sunday morning feeling.
Do you find it hard to switch off?
I do. I’m lucky enough to be involved in some wonderful projects. Take Sunday for Sammy for instance, we’ve been working on the up-coming show for about nine months and it’s not over till the last song is sung. I find myself thinking about making the show better all the time, What tunes to do, who could perform it really well, how can we make that sketch work etc etc. It’s not a 9 to 5 situation.
What do you do at a weekend which you can’t fit in through the week?
I really enjoy local football, whether it’s going to watch Whitley Bay or my grandson’s team, that’s almost always at weekends
Big night out or a night in the house?
We like both, we’re out three nights this week, birthday celebration, cinema and concert. There’s always something really interesting to go and see on Tyneside. I like a night in too, lots of good drama on TV these days
Do you watch or play sport at a weekend?
I don’t play sports anymore but I enjoy being a spectator.
Where do you like to eat out at a weekend?
If it’s Sunday lunch then High Tide in Cullercoats is my favourite. If it’s evening, then probably the Gulshan in Tynemouth.
How important is the weekend to you?
The most important weekend for me is coming up on 15th February. Sunday for Sammy is back after a six year break. It’s been a big job putting together our ‘come-back’ show but I know what it means to the public and to the talented young people that the charity supports. When the last chorus of the final song has been sung, we will all know it’s been worth the effort.
Tickets for Sunday for Sammy at the Utilita Arena on 15th February (two shows) are available from www.utilitaarena.co.uk/events/detail/sunday-for-sammy