In January 2025 Sunderland became part of the global and significant Music City network. Details of events and personal involvement will go in here. Meanwhile if your interest has already been roused go to
musiccity.uk
and
Music Cities Network | Non-profit association
to discover more. At a regular social recently plans for a Sunderland Year of Music between June 2025 and June 2026 were outlined. Anyone with an interest in music in the city or from the city is encouraged to join in. Just register an interest via musiccity.uk or ask for your details to be placed in one of the directories.
and as noted above
and one of only two in England to be accepted into the global Music Cities Network. Exciting times ahead!
WHAT’S HAPPENING?
April – On Wednesday April 09 at Washington Arts Centre I shared my ‘Songs For F Pit’ with the Washington Community Podcast group. There is talk of a podcast about the songs I wrote with local schoolchildren over a period of ten years – also a performance of the songs by me at Washington Old Hall as part of the Sunderland Music City Year of Music.
Friday 25 April Houghton le Spring Old Rectory – talk and song – Songs of Sunderland – 3.00 – postponed due to problems with the building – to be rescheduled.
Sunderland Year of Music started on Saturday 21 June and the Stumble Inn Folk and Acoustic afternoon at the Dun Cow seems to have been a huge success. Earlier I enjoyed busking for an hour and a half at Roker Shore on one of the sunniest days of the year!
On 04 July an update gathering was held at Roker – very worthwhile with a lot of positive chat and ‘cross curricular’ activity. Watch out for these which are held on a regular basis.
On Tuesday 22 July the Stumble Inn Folk Club will be celebrating its next contribution to Sunderland Year of Music ( 1.00 – 4.00 – all welcome).
I have put together a collection of template songs for youngsters – i.e. songs which are only partly written and can be finished off by the youngsters. I have also gathered together a collection of 20 plus songs I have written about Wearside and Wearside life under the heading ‘Songs For A Singing City’. These are also up and ready for performance at any time.