'We want to make really great music again' - Frankie & the Heartstrings are back to raise the roof

They’re one of Sunderland’s most successful bands who in their peak toured Japan, Australia and America, played all the major festivals and supported the likes of Florence and the Machine, Kaiser Chiefs and The Vaccines.

Hailed by the critics who compared their sound to Orange Juice and Dexy’s Midnight Runners, Frankie & the Heartstrings hit the top 40 with their debut album Hunger in 2011, the anthemic title track for which is still instantly recognisable, and they took their brand of Mackem-infused indie rock around the world.

They were prolific in the music scene for seven years, regulars on radio play lists, gracing all the top music magazines, before parenthood and the need for a more stable career took over.

Now, 18 years exactly since their debut gig on home turf, they’re back. This time, headlining the Music Against Child Poverty fundraiser gig in aid of Love, Amelia at The Fire Station on December 6.

Much has changed since a little-known Frankie & the Heartstrings stepped on stage at Independent for their first live performance in December 2008: Independent was then housed in the former Marlowes site, none of the band members were dads, Sunderland was yet to undergo its major regeneration and the band’s culture hub, Pop Recs, was just a twinkle in their eye.

On stage that night was the original four members, frontman Frankie Francis from Houghton, drummer Dave Harper from Murton and guitarists Michael McKnight from Grangetown and Steven Dennis from Downhill, who proved popular with the festive crowd thanks to their original, upbeat sound.

They were joined by other members over the years, and the upcoming gig will feature original members: Frankie, Michael and Steven, as well as Peter Brewis of Field Music and Futurehead Ross Millard.

In a touching tribute to the late Dave Harper, the band will also be joined on stage by Dave’s son, Sonny, after whom Sonny’s cafe at Pop Recs is named. Sarah Hayes on keys and Small Town Brass joining the Heartstrings set should also help make it one to remember.

Frankie, who today is also a commentator for SAFC and a music officer for Sunderland Music City, said the time is right to return and that the gig will herald new music from the five-piece in 2027.

“The music game has changed so much and we’re never going to be full time popstars again,” he said over coffee in Pop Recs, which started life as a pop up record shop to promote the band’s second album in June 2013 and snowballed into a cultural cornerstone in Sunderland.

“Creatively, we really want to do something again,” he added. “We’re sick of seeing s*** bands doing stuff, when we know how good we are. We never broke up as a band and I don’t think we’ll ever leave Frankie & the Heartstrings, it was just finding the right time to come back. And we know Dave would still want us doing stuff, too.”

Pop Recs, which started life in Fawcett Street and is now based in High Street West, is of course the spiritual home of Frankie & the Heartstrings and once they have new music in the bag, the band, who are still signed to Wichita Records, hope to play it there next year.

“After The Fire Station gig, we’re really going to focus on writing,” said Frankie. “We want to make something that says something about society now. We want to make a really good record again, be back on BBC6Music and make a statement about life in 2027. Remind everyone of how good we are as a band.”

On their forthcoming gig, Michael added: “A big motivation for us is also the chance to make a little bit of a difference. We’ve always done gigs for charity as a band, for causes like Shelter and Wearside Women in Need.

“Christmas is a great time of year, but it’s not like that for everyone.”

This will be the third year of the Music Vs Poverty fundraiser, which last year raised £50,000 for baby bank Love, Amelia. This year, Paul Callaghan of MAC Trust will once again match fund ticket sales and the team is hoping to hit that total again.

Instrumental mask-wearing groovers B>E>A>K also return to the stage, featuring members of local bands This Ain’t Vegas, The Lake Poets (Sunderland Music City’s own Marty Longstaff) and White Legs.

Maximo Park’s Paul Smith also makes his Music Against Child Poverty return, after his incredible performance back in 2024.

The North East-strong lineup also features Sunderland band Swindled and 70’s inspired duo Smith & Liddle.

Mackem girl band Northern Daughters will also be making an appearance, along with local rapper Kay Greyson.

*Tickets for Music Against Child Poverty at The Fire Station on December 6 are on sale via thefirestation.org.uk.