INTERVIEW
L-R: Emeli Sande by Olivia Lifungula, The Shires
THE FIRE STATION WITH SUNDERLAND’S FIRE STATION POISED TO BRING A PROGRAMME OF MUSIC AND PERFORMANCE TO THE CITY, CLAIRE DUPREE TALKS TO VENUE DIRECTOR TAMSIN AUSTIN AND FIELD MUSIC’S DAVID BREWIS ABOUT THE DIFFERENCE A WORLD-CLASS VENUE CAN MAKE What is it that makes a scene? Venues, infrastructure, money, an engaged audience…? Arguably the most important element for a healthy and supportive music scene comes from those with a passion to make it work. Sunderland has had passionate people at its heart for many years; spaces like The Bunker and Pop Recs Ltd. offer fruitful training grounds for musicians to learn, grassroots venues like Independent and The Peacock provide spaces for audiences and artists to connect, and organisations like Sunderland Culture and We Make Culture’s Young Musician’s Project nurture the next generation of stars. So perhaps the most logical next step on Sunderland’s journey to be recognised as a vibrant musical city is a world-class venue...enter The Fire Station. “Sunderland has a rich music heritage and a fine pedigree of artists. It deserves a world class, purpose-built music and performing arts venue to be both a community hub for artists and audiences and a place to have fun but also to welcome and to see world-class performers. There’s no doubt it will help put Sunderland on the map nationally and internationally.” So says venue director Tamsin Austin, whose enthusiasm about the state-of-the-art auditorium is infectious. Having undergone an £18m redevelopment programme, the area
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around the so-called Cultural Quarter promises to provide opportunities for local audiences and artists alike to connect. “The Fire Station programme is there for Sunderland to enjoy so it needs to meet the tastes of the city and the region in their broadest sense. The programme will be both popular to the extent that everyone wants a great night out, however it will have a curated programme with more specialist offerings as well. I would love to develop the standing gigs and try to attract a broader range of dance/electronic artists to the venue, and with our theatre and dance programmer I’d love us to develop some multi-art form events.” The venue’s Firestarters programme is already yielding some pretty exciting bookings. In the venue’s opening month alone Northumbrian pipes maestro Kathryn Tickell, celebrated local songwriter The Lake Poets, funk and soul kings Smoove & Turrell and up and coming rapper Kay Greyson will grace the stage. Into January and beyond their stage will welcome the likes of folk star Teddy Thompson, local avant-garde artist Richard Dawson, pop superstar Emile Sandé, country stars The Shires, multi-instrumentalist and activist Allison Russell, The Maccabees’ singer Orlando Weeks, Kate Staples’ extraordinary alt. rock project This Is The Kit, and celebrated folk group Flook among many others.
