By Jenny Dean
Between 21st June 2025, and 21st June 2026, Sunderland took part in a Year of Music. Facilitated by Sunderland Music City, the aim was simple; to deliver live music every single day for a whole year. We’re now on the other side of the milestone, and it’s time to reflect on everything the city has achieved through the initiative.
Sunderland joined the global Music Cities Network in January of last year — being only the second city in the UK after Manchester to join the likes of Sydney, Hamburg, and Berlin within the network — and with more than 500 events taking place across the city over the last year, there have been plenty of highlights.
With gigs across beloved Sunderland venues spanning an expansive range of genres, there has been something for everyone in the Year of Music; from hometown lad Mickey Callisto playing a sold out Fire Station, to huge touring bands such as Reverend and the Makers, Franz Ferdinand, and Courtney Barnett performing on our local stages — we’ve been given so much proof of why Sunderland deserved it’s spot in the Music Cities Network.
The Sunderland music Wall of Fame was unveiled outside The Fire Station in September 2025, painted by local artist Kathryn Robertson, and local legends Dave Stewart, Field Music, The Futureheads, Kenickie, and Ruth-Ann Boyle currently feature on the wall. The city was also able to host some of the fringe events programmed around the Mercury Prize in October (which was held in the North East for the first time last year), including a songwriting session and discussion with Paul Smith from Maxïmo Park at Pop Recs, and a showcase gig featuring three Sunderland bands and artists programmed in partnership with Generator.
The first half of the Year of Music was rounded off with a huge charity gig at The Fire Station, which raised over £50,000 for local charity Love, Amelia. Part of the fundraising efforts included 174 musicians from all over Sunderland coming together to take part in (and beat) a World Record attempt for continuous piano playing.
On top of all of these wonderful and varied events, Sunderland had the privilege of hosting the annual Music Cities Network Summit Week in June 2026, marking the first time the event has been held in the UK. Throughout Summit Week, we saw events such as An Evening With The Futureheads, MCN Live, and the A to B Conference which included panel discussion, interactive workshops, and a marketplace of organisations across the North East and beyond that are built to support creatives and artists in their careers. We also had three issues of Gan On Magazine released this year, including a special edition made for the A to B conference to support early-career musicians.
To celebrate completing the year-long milestone, Music City is hosting Sunderland Year of Music: A Celebration at The Fire Station on Tuesday 8th September. The free event has been programmed to thank everyone who has played a part in the Year of Music in any capacity, and will celebrate the achievements that have been made within Sunderland over the last 12 months.
Free tickets can be claimed via The Fire Station website, and quantity is limited, so book yours while you can.
Here’s to another year of music, and keeping Sunderland thriving!
