This World Music Day, we're celebrating the launch of Sunderland Music City with a showcase of the North East's leading emerging talent.
This special event will feature performances from rising stars who are being supported by artist development programmes based in Sunderland and the wider region.
Hosted by Marty Longstaff and Frankie Francis.
Sunderland College present Red Remedy
Sunderland College has an award-winning music team who deliver broad and varied music programmes, giving learners a grounding in the industry.
Red Remedy are a five-piece alternative pop rock quintet from the North East known for their powerful and infectious music. Led by Maddy Storey’s mesmerizing vocals, the band's sound combines alternative rock, indie and punk elements.
Northern Roots present Fabz and Mcxxne
Northern Roots is a cultural organisation and charity that specialises in developing and promoting Roots music in the North East of England. They have been working for 20 years to mentor, develop and showcase artists including Kema Kay and Voices of Virtue.
Newcastle-based singer/songwriter Mcxxne (pronounced Maxine) describes herself as a big town girl making it out of a small town. She counts her biggest inspirations as Lauryn Hill, Rihanna, Jorja Smith, and Sha Sha. Mcxxne has been supported across platforms such as BBC Radio 1Xtra, BBC Introducing, and DMY.
Fabz is a rising MC coming through the Northern Roots mentoring scheme.
NAME present Ruby Kelly
The Northern Academy of Music Education is an independent music college in Sunderland. NAME offers a cutting-edge Modern Music Industries higher education programme, delivered with the University of Sunderland.
Ruby Kelly is a Welsh folk singer/songwriter who has grown out of the NAME music college. Influenced by artists such as The Kinks, Bob Dylan and Joni Mitchell, her songs are brutally honest accounts of moving away from her hometown at the age of 18.
Young Musicians Project present Lottie Willis
Young Musicians Project supports musicians to develop skills, write and play together, and to take the first steps towards gigging, recording and releasing their music. They run two weekly music groups from Field Music Studio in the centre of Sunderland.
Lottie Willis kickstarted her musical career by joining the Young Musicians Project at the age of 14 and now at just 19-years-old she has grown her audience across the North East with support from BBC Introducing as well as performing shows for the likes of Summer Streets, Waves festival and Tracks.
The Glasshouse present Jodie Nicholson
The Glasshouse ICM run a wide range of artist development programmes including Summer Studios, where emerging musicians are supported to develop their careers with a range of professional support. They also regularly showcase artists at their 'From the Glasshouse' series.
Jodie Nicholson is a Teeside-based writer and producer who has just released her sophomore album ‘Safe Hands’. Jodie was the first artist to play at The Fire Station in a pre-opening special event in 2021 and has a close relationship with The Glasshouse through their 2023 Summer Studios programme.
The Bunker present Celadore
The Bunker holds legendary status as a pioneering artist development organisation in Sunderland. In recent years, The Bunker has redeveloped its community objectives and runs many projects to engage young people from diverse backgrounds with a weekly programme of activities.
Celadore is the alias of Sunderland born-and-raised musician Rachael Small. Rachael has surrounded herself with a band of like-minded and talented folk with the aim of bringing to life the piano ballads she has been rehearsing and recording at The Bunker.
