Sunderland music maestro Marty presents emerging stars at the Fire Station

Marty Longstaff, also known as The Lake Poets, presents four rising stars from Sunderland Young Musicians Project (SYMP) at The Fire Station before playing his own set.

The first part of the show on Friday evening, November 10 features Izzy Price, Lottie Willis, Isabel Maria and Lily Mac, all hotly-tipped breakthrough artists.

Lily, from Sunderland, has been writing and performing her own music since she was 10 and is is now recording it. Inspired by Jeff Buckley, Jade Bird, Dire Straits and Tom Petty, she is one to watch.

Singer-songwriter Izzy from Gateshead made a successful debut at Sunderland Afterdark last year. She “blends gorgeous melodies with timeless songwriting in her own brand of Dodie meets Joni-Mitchell folk-pop”.

Isabel is another Sunderland singer-songwriter. With echoes of Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo and Phoebe Bridgers, her music crosses indie and pop. She sings live as part of her four-piece band.

Lottie is a talented songwriter and at just 19 she has already gained an appreciative audience across the region, with radio support from BBC Introducing as well as performing at shows including Summer Streets Festival.

The young stars will attend an official after-show party for Dave Stewart’s concert at The Empire the same evening. Dave is a passionate supporter of emerging Wearside talent, working in his own studio with both Marty and the wonderful Faye Fantarrow, who died in August aged just 21.

The party is at The Engine Room with a full party DJ set by Field Music’s Peter Brewis.

Laura Bewis, project director of We Make Culture and who heads SYMP, said: “A huge part of what we do is support young musicians to get real-life music industry experiences.

"We regularly work with venues like Pop Recs and Independent and use the Field Music studio to work from.

“That the young musicians get to play alongside Marty Longstaff feels really appropriate. Marty has been a music leader at the project from the beginning almost 10 years ago and we’re so lucky to have his skills and experience to inspire the young people.”

To book, or for more information, visit www.thefirestation.org.uk.