Free evening of live music with local and international artists as Sunderland hosts global summit

The eyes of the music world will be on the city from June 18–20 when it becomes the first UK city to host the global Music Cities Network (MCN) Summer Summit, which will shape the future of music ecosystems and city-level cultural policy.

It also features a week of wraparound events across the city, with member cities from the global Music Cities Network coming together to engage with Sunderland’s cultural highlights.

The latest event announced is for MCN Live: Sunderland, an evening of live music featuring three local artists as well as three international artists.

It will be held at Independent in Holmeside on Friday, June 19 and Sunderland Music City has given bursaries for three international artists to travel to play the venue, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

Ben Richardson from Independent Sunderland said: “We're over the moon to be hosting this groundbreaking event in Sunderland. Amongst the grassroots music scene, I think this was always a hope from the Sunderland Music City initiative and now it's coming to fruition.

“Hopefully this show can lead the way for more live collaboration across the Music Cities Network and see future opportunities for Sunderland artists continue to grow."

The local artists playing are:

*Patrick Gosling

*spacecadetbloom

*Prospect of Power

Hailed as the ‘the Mackem Bob Dylan’, Patrick has continually sold-out local shows with his own indie anthems and has successfully toure his latest EP, The Summit Push, in venues across the country.

Students at Sunderland’s Northern Academy of Music Education, spacecadetbloom are fresh from releasing their first two singles and playing a host of shows.

Prospect of Power are an all-female three-piece alt rock band from Sunderland, who have been playing live across the region since summer 2025 and have just dropped their first single Chapter One.

The international artists playing are:

*Migluma

*Lemony Rug

*Velocity Made Good

Migluma is an emerging electronic music composer, producer and vocalist from Vilnius, Lithuania. She fuses ethereal soundscapes, choral harmonies, and Lithuanian folklore into avant-pop creations.

Velocity Made Good are a Dutch duo creating abrasive electronic rock, taking influence from LCD Soundsystem and The Chemical Brothers. Since releasing their debut EP in 2023, VMG have built a reputation as one of the more intense live acts of the Netherlands.

Lemony Rug is the solo project of singer songwriter Léon Rudol. Hailing from Hamburg in Germany, he’s been praised for making ‘dreamy head-in-the-clouds-indie.’

Frankie Francis, Sunderland Music City Officer, said: “This event is a brilliant example of what Sunderland Music City is all about, creating opportunities for local artists while building meaningful international connections through music.

“We’re proud to welcome delegates and musicians from around the world to Sunderland during such an important moment for the city’s musical journey, and we hope these collaborations open doors for future touring, partnerships and exchange long after Summit Week ends.”

Tickets are free and available via: https://www.fatsoma.com/e/m7b4nz0m/music-city-showcase