Light show to celebrate world's largest bamboo bridge

Jul 18 2008 by Dan Warburton, The Journal

THE completion of the artistic bamboo bridge across the River Tyne will be marked with the lighting of more than 400 blazing firepots tonight.

The temporary suspension bridge, spanning more than 100 metres, has been created by riggers from Australian company Bambuco over the past few weeks.

As nightfall descends this evening, the riggers will again climb the bridge, lighting hundreds of firepots on each tower and along the bridge.

And sounds recorded during the eighth bridge’s construction will be played as each tower is lit, along with the haunting sounds of bamboo instruments.

Stella Hall, creative director of Culture10, said: “Tonight we will bring together local and inter- national artists working with bamboo to create a celebratory and moving event.

“It will be an opportunity for us to rejoice in our wonderful river skyline in the 80th year of the Tyne Bridge.

“It is also a moment to mark the realisation of Simon Barley’s ambitious vision to create the biggest bamboo bridge ever attempted in the world.”

Brian Finnegan from Irish folk legends Flook, composed the music that he will perform with North East musicians Brendan Murphy, Simon Tarrant, Victoria Conlon and Hank Hays.

Other musicians will play a range of instruments from around the world including bamboo flutes, an Indonesian “angklung” or pitched bamboo shaker and an African “mbira”, a thumb piano.

The special free event at 10pm can be viewed on the Newcastle Quayside between the Tyne Bridge and the Gateshead Millennium Bridge and Baltic Square, Gateshead Quays.

Newcastle Quayside will be closed to vehicles for the event, between 9.30pm and 11.30pm. QuayLink buses will run throughout.