10 minute read
Arts & Culture
Ricky Ross 27 September
Scarily good music
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From internationally renowned vocal groups and indie rock legends to iconic DJs and hotly tipped newcomers, there’s a frightening amount of talented musicians making their way to Sunderland this Autumn!
Deacon Blue star Ricky Ross is heading down from Scotland this September to bring us lucky lot some bonnie live music from his brand new solo album, Short Stories Vol. 2! You’re in for a magical night with Ricky at the piano, sharing stories from his forthcoming autobiography Walking Back Home, as well asserenading you with some of the best tunes from his acclaimed career. You might even hear the song voted ‘Scotland’s Greatest Song’, the Deacon Blue smash hit Dignity! We can’t wait for this one at The Fire Station.
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Brandy Clark 6 September
The Fire Station has pulled it out of the bag with this one, the 10x Grammy nominated and CMA-Award winning artist Brandy Clark is coming to Sunderland! She’s in the midst of another landmark year in her career, further solidifying herself as one of our generation’s most respected songwriters and musicians with her new Grammynominated album Your Life is a Record. Don’t miss the chance to hear Brandy’s world renowned musicianship live, as she takes to The Fire Station stage armed with a variety of fantastic new tracks!
SUNDERLANDCULTURE.ORG.UK The Subways 21 September
Since bursting onto the scene way back in 2005, garage indie-rockers The Subways have won troves of fans across the globe with their explosive rock ‘n’ roll and wild live performances. Their debut album Young For Eternity rocked the international music charts, whereas their floor-filling single Rock & Roll Queen dominated dancefloors. Strap in for them tearing the roof off The Independent when they touch down in Wearside this September! Expect a high-octane night of big riffs and big choruses at one of the region’s finest community-run venues.
Cancel all of your Friday plans… The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club show is coming to Sunderland and it's an absolute must for your September social plans. The BBC 6 Music favourite will be spinning an electric assortment of all things funk and soul, featuring everything from original tracks Motown crackers through to the current soul sounds currently on the airwaves. You’ll also be treated to some of that classic Craig Charles patter throughout so get your tickets for the soul train now before Craig calls you a wazzock!
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Wrest 9 October
Hotly-tipped Scottish indie rockers Wrest are making their way to Wearside this October, taking to Independent Sunderland stage for one huge night of soaring riffs and mega melodies. Reminiscent of bands like Frightened Rabbit, The National, Idlewild, Snow Patrol and We Were Promised Jetpacks, this Edinburgh outfit have all the making of the next big band out of the North. Having already sold out venues across Europe and the UK, the Wrest lads are expected to do the same again in Sunderland. Be sure to grab your tickets now, whilst you still can!
Leading the charge in forward thinking alternative music for over a decade now, Public Service Broadcasting are hitting the road once again! Fresh off the heels of their fourth album, 2021’s Bright Magic, the band are loaded with fresh material that pushes boundaries and paints vivid pictures. Bright Magic has been called the band’s most varied and cerebral record to-date, pulling no punches with their vivid sonic soundscapes. You truly have to experience Public Service Broadcasting live to appreciate their next level musicianship, don’t miss your chance when they hit The Fire Station this October!
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Woman To Woman 21 October
Ever wanted to see four of the UK’s most celebrated female singer-songwriters all on one stage at the same time? Of course you have, it’s a music lover's dream come true! Woman to Woman sees Beverly Craven, Judie Tzuke, Julia Fordham and Rumer join forces and perform their classic hit singles and album tracks alongside their fantastic band. This unforgettable experience at The Fire Station will be a chance to hear much-loved hits like Promise Me, Happy Ever After, Welcome To The Cruise, and so many more!
Iconic South African vocal group Ladysmith Black Mambazo are set to play their first UK tour in a number of years this October, setting their sights on a huge show at The Fire Station. It’ll be a night of spinetingling soulful ballads, traditional upbeat dance songs, all with perfectly timed harmony work that’s a treat for the ears. Dubbed South Africa’s cultural ambassadors by Nelson Mandela, this is going to be one special performance by a special group!
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The Fire Station is preparing for its hot new programme!
Some of the UK’s top comedians, legendary rock, pop and folk icons and one of the country’s leading performance poets all feature in an exciting programme at Sunderland’s newest cultural venue.
After The Fire Station Auditorium’s brilliant debut programme – Firestarters – came to a successful conclusion in June, the venue is gearing up to an action-packed new season of events which kick off this September. Tamsin Austin, Director of The Fire Station, said: “Our next programme is packed with great music, theatre and comedy and we’re really looking forward to welcoming audiences back into the venue. We’re sure our programme will attract new people into the city centre, as well as bringing back those who’ve already enjoyed a night or two out at The Fire Station.” Highlights for the new season include award-winning singer songwriter Brandy Clark (September 6); The Story of Soul (September 15); Queen tribute Radio Ga-Ga (September 16); The Squeeze’s Chris Gifford (September 18); Deacon Blue’s Ricky Ross (September 27); indie rock group Public Service Broadcasting (October 3); Transatlantic Blondie (October 8); folk rock band Turin Brakes (October 10); jazz folk pairing The Unthanks (October 12); Kathryn Tickell and The Darkening, who played the venue’s opening night (October 23) and Beth Nielsen Chapman (November 13). The Royal Northern Sinfonia (RNS) will return on October 8, December 1, February 16 and May 11. Multi-buy packages for The Fire Station’s RNS performances are available through the venue’s website – with up to 20% off ticket prices! Away from the musical programme, the laughs will be provided by Pub Landlord AlMurray (October 1); Mock the Week favourite Milton Jones (November 9); acclaimed stand-up Hal Cruttenden (January 21) and Live at the Apollo star Justin Moorhouse (February 18). Meanwhile, three children’s theatre shows have also been confirmed; Room on the Broom (September 21), The Tiger Who Came to Tea (October 4) and The Very Hungry Caterpillar (November 16). On the other hand, older audiences can enjoy the Elysium Theatre Company’s version of Ibsen’s The Doll’s House on October 13. On September 17, the original people’s poet, John Cooper Clarke, brings his I Wanna Be Yours live show to the auditorium. The show, touring the US, UK, Europe and Canada, is a mix of classic verse, extraordinary new material, hilarious ponderings on modern life, good honest gags, riffs and chat – a chance to witness a living legend at the top of his game. The new season has a lot to live up to after the success of Firestarters - more than 18,200 tickets were sold across 60 performances. The venue opened with a successful and emotional night featuring Wearside-born Marty Longstaff, aka The Lake Poets, and legendary Northumbrian musician and composer Kathryn Tickell and her band The Darkening. Since the opening night, bands, singers and musicians from a wide range of genres have performed at the £11m venue, which was developed by Sunderland Music, Arts and Culture (MAC) Trust and is run by Sunderland Culture. Tamsin explained: “The venue has given Sunderland what the city needed, a top quality, brand-new, mid-scale home for music and performing arts. The response we’ve had, both to the building and to Firestarters, has been overwhelming. “We were very proud of the quality of music we presented during Firestarters, but our opening programme also featured dance with the brilliant Southpaw Dance Company; children’s theatre with the Smartest Giant in town; comedy with Mock the Week regular Gary Delaney; Shakespeare with The Globe’s Julius Caesar and community theatre with Open House, an incredible few days which gave local talent a fitting platform to shine.”
FOR MORE INFO AND TO DISCOVER MORE EVENTS THIS AUTUMN VISIT SUNDERLANDCULTURE.ORG.UK
Big smiles all around at Sunderland College as students celebrate a fantastic results day!
Students at Sunderland College are celebrating making the grade after collecting their A-Level and vocational results. Hundreds of the college’s students received their results today (Thursday 18 August) with many accepting offers from some of the country’s leading universities, progressing to higher level apprenticeships, or starting a new career. Sunderland College Sixth Form’s overall pass rate for A-Levels was higher than pre-pandemic, with 10 subjects including Business, English Literature, Mathematics, Physics and Psychology receiving 100%. The number of students receiving A*-C grades also increased by 7% on 2019. Outstanding individual achievements included Jared Turnbull, 18, who is heading to Teesside University to study Forensic Science. He said: “I was so shocked when I saw I got an A* for Criminology, I was over the moon. Thanks to Sunderland College I found myself as a person; the level of expertise and care from the tutors is amazing and helped nurture me.” Another delighted student, Cadence Boxall, 18, will be studying Media, Communications and Culture at Newcastle University after receiving AAB in Business Studies, Media Studies and Sociology. She said: “I am so excited and happy. I have had lots of opportunities made available to me at college and the staff and teachers were so motivating.” Milo Coates will also be attending Newcastle University to study History after receiving A*BB in Sociology, English Language and History. The 18-year-old said: “I’m surprised and overjoyed that I got the grades needed for university. I’ve had nothing but support from my lecturers who really care about their subjects and students and I couldn’t have done it without them. Those studying vocational courses also impressed with a high proportion of subjects receiving a 100% pass rate including Engineering, Computing, Sports Coaching and Applied Science. UK medal winning swimmer, Pru Hubbard, achieved D*D*D* in Sports Coaching will be continuing her studies at Sunderland College on a Foundation Degree. The 18-year-old said: “I was so proud when I saw my results. My lecturers have been so supportive in balancing my studies and sport and pushed me to reach my full potential.” Uniform Public Services student Jake Gray will be studying Paramedic Science at the University of Sunderland in September. After receiving D*D, he said: “I’m so relieved and exhilarated. Sunderland College is a great college with amazing staff and I’ve really enjoyed my time here.” For the first time since the pandemic began, students sat exams in May and June, and then faced an anxious wait to find out if all their hard work had paid off. Results were available to collect from Bede and City campuses from 8am with those unable to pick up their results in person receiving an email later in the morning. The college’s Matrix Standard accredited Careers team also hosted drop-in support and one-to-one appointments offering advice and guidance on grades, clearing and course options. Principal Toni Rhodes said: “We are absolutely delighted to see so many students get the results they hoped for today. “This year has been incredibly difficult year following the pandemic and for some the first time they have sat an exam, however we could not be prouder of every and every one of them and wish them all the best in wherever their journey takes them next.” Sunderland College is accepting applications now from 2022 school leavers for its wide range of A-Level subjects, vocational and technical courses including T Levels.
