Here’s some of the big gigs, shows and festivals happening in and around the city this year.
5. Sunlun Calling, July
SunLun Calling is set to bring three days of live music and entertainment to Sunniside Gardens next summer when it replaces the area’s Sunniside Live festival. Taking place from July 7-9, 2023, it will feature three whole days of entertainment from noon until 11.30pm. The Sunday will be a day of Sunderland music, with headliners The Futureheads, Tom A.Smith, Smoove & Turrell, The Lake Poets, This Little Bird, Vandebilt, The Voyd and more performing. The Saturday will be Sunderland Pride and the Friday will be a DJ day with acts including Craig Charles. Photo: Stu Norton
6. Kubix Festival, July
Kubix Festival returns to Herrington Country Park with a whole summer of music. On July 15, a pop and dance day features Blue, Sugababes, N-Trance and more. Squeeze, The Enemy, Inspiral Carpets and Marc Almond will perform on the rock and indie day on July 22. Photo: submitted
7. N-Dubz
As well as festival days at Herrington Country Park, Kubix is hosting an evening with N-Dubz plus Bad Boy Chiller Crew and Nathan Dawe on Friday, July 21, 2023. With a huge outdoor headline production, promoters say it's something “never seen in the area before.” N-Dubz perform inbetween the two Kubix events. Photo: Ashley Verse
8. The Who, July
Rock legends The Who have announced they’ll be playing Durham’s Riverside ground this summer. The UK The Who Hits Back tour will see them play Seat Unique Riverside, Chester-le-Street, on July 19, 2023, with a full orchestra and support from UB40 featuring Ali Campbell. Photo: submitted