A Pop Recs pub quiz, music and acrobatics: Summer Streets announces line-up for virtual festival

Summer Streets has announced the line-up for this year’s online festival.

Like all major events, the not-for-profit music, arts and community festival, which usually takes place in Sunderland every July, had to cancel this year’s event in its usual format due to coronavirus.

However, thanks to an Arts Council England Emergency Fund grant, the festival is trialling an online programme for this summer.

Confirmed events for the free festival include:

:: Exclusive video performances from internationally renowned Gandini Juggling who have performed across the world including appearances at the Royal Albert Hall, The New York Metropolitan Opera and Edinburgh Festival.

:: A performance of Dandyism - a celebration of style and cool inspired by the gentlemen of the Congo - by Sunderland University alumnus choreographer Patrick Ziza.

:: I Made You A Mixtape, a new show made especially for Summer Streets Festival that uses song dedications to form a musical celebration, by The Six Twenty - creators of cult comedy sketch music quiz show, Mixtape.

:: Out the Window - a short acrobatic film featuring world-class circus artist Nikki Rummer created exclusively for Summer Streets Festival.

:: Award-winning North-East musician Bridie Jackson will work with community participants to create an original song called Together: Apart - an anthem about the importance of connection.

:: Poet Kirsten Luckens will transform lockdown walk stories into unique pocket-sized poetry-collage zines and postal art.

:: A kirigami workshop - the Japanese art of papercutting - delivered by artist and Sunderland University alumnus Natsumi Jones.

:: Family activities including Curious Storytime Online – a storybook adventure that break the norms by Curious Arts; Summer Streets favourites Tiny Tweeties bring their popular interactive music sessions online; and join Chalk for a fun playful session exploring what sounds might look like.

:: The Big Summer Streets Pop Recs Pub Quiz’ – hosted by Pop Recs impresarios Dave Harper and Michael McKnight - lookout for some celebrity quizmasters!

More acts, including an evening of special musical performances, will be announced soon.

Festival Director, Ross Millard, guitarist in Sunderland band The Futureheads, said: “We were determined to do something to mark Summer Streets Festival 2020, even though we knew it couldn’t be in its usual outdoor festival format due to the Coronavirus crisis.

“Although we’re disappointed not to be able to host the festival in Seaburn at Cliffe Park, we’re excited to host an online version of the festival. It’s a chance for us to try something new and experimental. We’ve got a range of exclusive performances, interactive workshops and local, national and international artists

as part of the line-up. The festival is completely free to access and we’re hopeful that everyone will find something going on at Summer Streets that they can get involved with and enjoy.”

Summer Streets Festival 2020 is happening from Wednesday, July 15 – Friday, July 24 and will take place across various online platforms including YouTube, Facebook and Zoom. There is no cost to access the festival, all events are free.

For more information and the full line-up visit www.summerstreetsfestival.com

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