SUNDERLAND HITS THE RIGHT NOTE IN BID TO BECOME MUSIC CITY

18 June 2024
Make a Music Day STILLS-10

PERFORMERS from across Wearside will take to the streets of Sunderland this week to showcase the region’s musical talent.

On Friday 21 June the city will once again take part in Make Music Day UK, with singers and musicians performing at busking spots and venues across the city centre.

And two of its leading, home-grown stars – The Lake Poets’ Marty Longstaff and Frankie Francis, lead singer of Frankie and the Heartstrings - will be on hand to kickstart the day as Wearside aims to become an internationally recognised Music City.

This is the second year Sunderland has taken part in the annual Make Music Day initiative with performances, workshops, lessons and gigs for all ages throughout the day.

Busking spots have been set up at key locations in High Street West, Market Square, Fawcett Street, the Bridges, Park Lane and outside The Fire Station, while school children will be entertaining shoppers at the Bridges.

Numerous venues across the city will also be holding musical performances throughout the day and into the evening.

By raising awareness of the city’s musical culture Sunderland hopes to join existing Music City member cities, such as Berlin, Sydney, Reykjavik and Manchester, in 2025

And, in their new role as Sunderland Music City Officers, Marty and Frankie will work to build on the city’s growing musical programme with a series of gigs, concerts and events and work with citywide educational organisations, and national organisations and programmes to develop new, emerging and existing talent on Wearside.

Partial funding for Make Music Day has been made possible by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) following a successful application made by Sunderland BID, which led to an award of £202,253.

This money is being used on various projects in the Sunniside area, designed to build pride in place and a sense of community.

Sharon Appleby, Chief Executive of Sunderland BID, which is organising the event jointly with Sunderland City Council and We Make Culture, said she has been “blown away” by the variety and scale of the city’s musical talent.

“The city will ring to the sound of music today,” she said, “with every genre, every age group and every taste catered for – it’s going to be spectacular.”

For the full schedule of performances and businesses taking part visit www.sunderlandbid.co.uk/make-music-day/