Growth Lab: The Sunderland Music City Strategy

Explore the business of music with an expert panel of guests offering a local, national and international perspective on the music economy:

David Brewis 
Mercury Prize Nominated Artist, Music Producer and Studio Owner

Since 2005, David Brewis has been writing, recording and releasing records as part of the Mercury Prize-nominated Field Music. He released their latest album, Limits of Language, in 2024, and has worked on a variety of other projects, as well as touring extensively across Europe and North America. David has also written music for live film scores and culture and heritage commissions, as well as producing, recording and mixing music for other artists. He owns and runs Field Music Studios, a large multi-room recording space in Sunderland.

Carly Davidson
Global Tour Manager for Foals, Friendly Fires, Everything Everything and more

Carly Davidson has over two decades of experience working in music and is currently a global tour manager for bands including Foals, Friendly Fires and Everything Everything. Alongside her work as a tour manager operating within the UK and internationally, Carly is a show rep for a number of international promoters and has worked on events of all shapes and sizes, including major stadium shows.

Darren Henley CBE
Chief Executive of Arts Council England, Chair of the UK National Lottery Forum and former Managing Director of Global Radio

Darren Henley is the Chief Executive of Arts Council England. Darren began his career as a freelance radio journalist and newsreader at Classic FM before rising to Managing Director of Global Media in 2006. In 2014 was appointed Chief Executive of Arts Council England. Darren holds an honorary doctorate from the University of Sunderland and was awarded an OBE for services to music in 2013, as well as a CBE for services to the arts in 2022.

Lena Ingwersen
Managing Director of the Music Cities Network, Cultural Manager and DJ

Lena Ingwersen is the Managing Director of the Music Cities Network - a transnational non-profit association uniting Music Cities and policy makers around the globe. With more than 15 years of experience in the music industry, Lena is committed to bettering structures, intensifying borderless cultural exchange and creating sustainable business opportunities via the Music Cities Network. She is also the co-founder of the nonprofit initiative Act Aware, as well as the festival concept HALLO/Schaltzentrale, an artistic format for spatial development. Lena works as a DJ under the artist name Lej.

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Our engaging panel will share real world success stories and practical advice to take your music business to the next level. They will also discuss the key pillars of the Sunderland Music Strategy, a new framework to guide, inspire and grow the regional music economy and the next generation of music talent on Wearside and beyond. 

Hosted by Frankie Francis of Sunderland Music City in partnership with the North East BIC, this is a unique opportunity to learn more about the inner workings of the music industry and help drive your business forward.  

Enterprising Sunderland is the overarching title for this business support programme and is funded by the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. Delivered by a unique consortium of delivery partners in Sunderland working together to stimulate entrepreneurial ambition across the city.

By signing up to attend this event you are confirming consent to share the data you provide with these partners.