After fans counted down for months and months, Bruce Springsteen finally arrived in Sunderland on Wednesday night, although his gig ended up delayed by half an hour, as huge crowds gathered outside the Stadium of Light and others struggled to get there in time.
It's been 12 years since The Boss and The E Street Band were on Wearside, with their last visit being with the Wrecking Ball tour in 2012. And now the wait is over, as The Boss is back in Sunderland, having already delighted huge audiences in the likes of Cardiff, Cork and Dublin over the last few weeks.
Starting with Waitin' On A Sunny Day, fans were treated to three hours of Bruce classics, with the music legend ending his set with the likes of Twist & Shout and See You in My Dreams.
Sadly unlike for Bruce's Dublin gig on Sunday, when the man himself and his legions of fans were bathed in warm sunshine, the weather was bleak for Sunderland, after the Met Office issued a weather warning for heavy rain for the North East, and there being 100% chance of rain.
ChronicleLive had reporters and photographers inside the ground to capture all the key moments in the run up to the gig, during it and after, as many fans faced a lengthy wait for a Metro home.
Simon Duke
Bruce Springsteen gives Sunderland rain soaked night to remember
With many fans now safely home or at least on ther way, that's it for our live coverage of Bruce Springsteen in Sunderland. Thanks for joining us!
We'll leave you with links to our stories and photo galleries for tonight's gig. Hope everyone who went is now drying out nicely!
* Fan pictures as drenched crowd descend on Stadium of Light
*Bruce Springsteen in Sunderland - 25 pictures as The Boss rocks stadium
*Bruce Springsteen's setlist in full for Sunderland gig
*Bruce Springsteen Sunderland gig delayed as fans face travel chaos
Simon Duke
Fans pack out Metro on way back to Newcastle
Two hours after the gig finished and loads of fans are still making their way home. This is is the scene on a packed Metro back to Newcastle right now
Simon Duke
Take a bow Bruce - a true music legend
It's little wonder that the rain did little to put off thousands flocking to see Bruce Springsteen tonight. What a show and what a legend!
Simon Duke
What a night with The Boss!
The weather might have been horrific, but fans still managed to have a ball with Bruce Springsteen in Sunderland tonight.
See if you can spot yourself in this pic from inside the stadium:
Simon Duke
Still huge queues at St Peter's Metro
ChronicleLive reporter James Robinson is one of many people stuck in a huge queue to get on a Metro to Newcastle from St Peters station in Sunderland.
And this is his current view...
Simon Duke
Drenched but delighted by Bruce
Not the first time "wetter than an otter's pocket" has been used to describe tonight!
Wetter than an otters pocket but great night seeing #BruceSpringsteen in Sunderland. pic.twitter.com/eiYfpBXLN0
— EvanGR (@EvanGrogan8) May 22, 2024
Simon Duke
Fans facing lengthy wait to get Metro home
This is the scene in Sunderland right now as fans who've been at Bruce Springsteen wait to get a Metro home
Simon Duke
Bruce's setlist for Sunderland in full
And this is some setlist!
Waitin' on a Sunny Day
Lonesome Day
Prove It All Night
No Surrender
Ghosts
Letter to You
The Promised Land
Hungry Heart
Light of Day
Atlantic City
Darlington County
Nightshift (Commodores cover)
The River
Racing in the Street
Last Man Standing
Backstreets
Because the Night (Patti Smith Group cover)
She's the One
Wrecking Ball
The Rising
Badlands
Thunder Road
Encore:
Born to Run
Bobby Jean
Dancing in the Dark
Tenth Avenue Freeze-Out
Twist and Shout (The Top Notes cover)
I'll See You in My Dreams
Simon Duke
The Boss bossing it on Stadium of Light stage
Another shot of the man himself on stage tonight:
Simon Duke
More fans react to Bruce's Sunderland gig tonight
There's no escaping the fact the weather tonight was horrendous but fans definitely think getting a soaking was still thoroughly worth it!
Numerous people always ask me why I go to see Bruce Springsteen so many times. Tonight is why. Biblical rain at times but one of the best sets I've ever seen him play. 5 mins from my house! Long lasting memory tonight.
— IDWakefield (@IDWakefield) May 22, 2024
And another happy customer...
Bruce Springsteen absolutely tremendous tonight, some boy
— Tk9180 (@tk9180) May 22, 2024
Simon Duke
More Metro advice for fans as trains packed
Extra services ARE running tonight but you might need to be patient if you're heading home from Bruce in Sunderland
Extra trains running to get you home. Trains & stations will be busier than normal, extra staff will be on hand to assist. Hope you have all had a great night.^DL pic.twitter.com/vElgHX3kMx
— Tyne and Wear Metro (@My_Metro) May 22, 2024
Simon Duke
Fans deliver their verdict
Sounds like this fans had quite a night at the SoL!
EPIC! Still The Boss. I'm wetter than an otters pocket, but done plenty singing in the rain & even some dancing in the dark.#BruceSpringsteen #Springsteen #SpringsteenTour2024 #Sunderland @springsteen @StadiumOfLight pic.twitter.com/rbRlhxBP0n
— Keef B (@Keef_B_1) May 22, 2024
Simon Duke
Streets jam packed as fans head home from Stadium of Light
ChronicleLive reporter James Robinson is one of many people trying to get home from the gig.
And this is the sight in the street heading towards St Peter's Metro right now...
Simon Duke
Sunderland and Park Lane Metros now closed
If you're heading home after Bruce, don't walk into the centre of Sunderland to try and get a Metro, as both Sunderland and Park Lane stations are now closed.
Simon Duke
Bruce on stage tonight
He might have arrived on stage more than half an hour later than expected, but Bruce was on top form in Sundertland tonight.
CHECK OUT 25 PHOTOS OF BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AT THE STADIUM OF LIGHT
Simon Duke
Bruce brings curtain down on epic Sunderland gig
What a night for all the fans who braved the rain, with Bruce ending the gig with the likes of Twist and Shout and See You in My Dreams
Simon Duke
A sea of ponchos inside the stadium tonight
And we'd expect nothing less with the weather today!
Simon Duke
Metro services for tonight
With the gig at the Stadium of Light coming to an end now, here is a reminder of how the Metros are operating to get fans home
Reminder: Both Sunderland and Park Lane will close tonight at 22:00 to assist us in managing crowds after the Bruce Springsteen concert at the Stadium of Light. pic.twitter.com/DjW4Lr3zGl
— Tyne and Wear Metro (@My_Metro) May 22, 2024
Simon Duke
Bruce fans out in force tonight
The rain might have done its best to dampen spirits but it didn't succeed!
These lot look like they're having a wicked night!
CHECK OUT OUR FULL FAN GALLERY
Simon Duke
What a gig so far!
And it's not over yet - but here's another action shot from Bruce in Sunderland tonight
CHECK OUT 25 PHOTOS OF BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN AT THE STADIUM OF LIGHT
Simon Duke
A reminder of Metro services for after the gig
Don't walk into the centre of Sunderland to try and avoid the queues as Sunderland central and Park Lane Metro station are both closing at 10pm.
Fans are being asked to use St Peters and Stadium of Light, where extra trains will be running from.
Simon Duke
What a guy!
The rain definitely can't stop a music icon like Bruce Springsteen!
Simon Duke
Another action shot from Stadium of Light stage tonight
Bruce is ensuring that fans' dedication of waiting in the rain for hours is being rewarded with a stellar set at the Stadium of Light tonight.
Simon Duke
Bruce fans having a ball in the rain
Rain was not going to ruin the night for the thousands who headed to the Stadium of Light to see Bruce.
CHECK OUT OUR FULL FAN GALLERY
Simon Duke
The man, the myth, the legend
Love this shot of Bruce in Sunderland tonight!
Simon Duke
What time will tonight's gig finish?
The gig was set to finish around 10pm, but with a delay of over half an hour in getting started, the new finish time should be around 10.30pm.
Simon Duke
Shot of Bruce on stage in Sunderland
There's The Boss!!!
Simon Duke
Cracking view from the stands
ChronicleLive's Craig Connor captured this brilliant shot of the stage from his seat in the stands at the Stadium of Light tonight
Simon Duke
Fans at tonight's gig
The rain did not stop the fun for the droves of Bruce fans who headed to the Stadium of Light tonight, including these two...
Simon Duke
Metro update for getting home from Bruce tonight
Tyne & Wear Metro have just issued a fresh update for fans using the network after tonight's gig
Reminder: Both Sunderland and Park Lane will close tonight at 22:00 to assist us in managing crowds after the Bruce Springsteen concert at the Stadium of Light. pic.twitter.com/DjW4Lr3zGl
— Tyne and Wear Metro (@My_Metro) May 22, 2024
