A trio of top acts to play Sunderland's Independent

A trio of top acts will perform at the birthday gig, which takes place this Saturday at Independent in Holmeside.

It also coincides with Independent Venue Week, a national drive to encourage audiences to make the most of their independent venues.

Headlining the gig are alt-pop five-piece Shields. They had a huge 2015, playing 6 Music Festival and Glastonbury, and will be releasing their debut album, How Can We Fix This? on February 26 via Kaleidoscope.

Within the first few weeks of 2016, the band has already appeared as New Band of the Week on the Guardian website, their track Face To Face was Record of the Week on Amazing Radio, and they’ve recently been in session with Tom Robinson on BBC 6 Music.

Opening the night are Newcastle indie/rock five-piece Dalaro, and main support comes from Sunderland indie boys Cohesion.

Alex Burgess from Lone Wolf said: “I’ve worked with both Dalaro and Cohesion before, so it’s great to have them on the line up.

“Shields are one of my favourite bands, and to have them headline the event is just brilliant.

“I’m really happy to have the gig at Independent. I started helping out at gigs there when I was about 16, and being there, seeing local bands, is what made me decide to start Lone Wolf.

“It’s such an important venue for Sunderland, and it’s important for people to carry on supporting it.”

•Lone Wolf Turns 4 takes place at Independent on Saturday, January 30. Doors at 7.30pm. Tickets are priced at £5 plus booking fee in advance from www.wegottickets.com/event/342142 or £7 on the door.