Embrace and Ocean Colour Scene set to rock Sunderland seafront this summer

Throughout 2026, the Yorkshire band is celebrating three decades of hits and they will play a new event for the city called Cliffe Park Live.

It will see them take to the stage at the cliff top park in Seaburn on Friday, August 14, 2026.

Over the years, Embrace has racked up three UK Number One albums, over two million records sold and a catalogue packed with era-defining hits including Gravity, All You Good Good People, Ashes, Nature’s Law and Come Back To What You Know.

2026 marks a landmark year for the band, with the release of their brand new album, Avalanche, alongside a major UK headline tour celebrating 30 years of music with the record described by the band as their most “honest, open and raw” yet.

Tickets are on sale now for the gig at https://tickets.xfp.events and it’s expected more announcements will be made under the Cliffe Park Live banner.

Also announced for that weekend is Ocean Colour Scene on Saturday, August 15, famous for anthems including The Riverboat Song.

The special one-off show at Cliffe Park marks 30 years since the release of the iconic Moseley Shoals.

It’s set to be a big summer of music in Sunderland, kicking off with Radio 1’s Big Weekend from May 22-24 at Herrington Country Park with headliners Fatboy Slim, Zara Larsson and Olivia Dean.

Sunderland City Council has also announced its One Big Summer programme, which sees back-to-back shows in Keel Square in August, including:

• Love The 90s - Friday 22 August
• GirlyPop - Saturday 23 August
• The Bootleg Beatles - Friday 28 August
• Armand Van Helden - Saturday 29 August
• Road to Nashville - Sunday 30 August
• K POP Live - Monday 31 August

Over at The Fire Station, the team has announced its Summer Parties series of gigs in the Parade Ground.

Now in its fourth edition, The Fire Station Summer Parties will once again transform the venue’s outdoor Parade Ground - with artists confirmed so far including chart-toppers The Lottery Winners, Maxïmo Park, John Grant & Richard Hawley, Kula Shaker, Ibiza in Symphony, and Silent Disco for Grown Ups.