As 2019 draws to a close, we've rounded up some of the best gigs, events and spectacles to take place over the last ten years.
13. James Bay, Pop Recs, April 2015
Culture hub Pop Recs was set up by home-grown band Frankie & the Heartstrings to boost the cultural offering in their home city. It's brought a host of big names to Sunderland in the last few years including Badly Drawn Boy, Franz Ferdinand, The Charlatans and James Bay, who was riding high at the top of the charts when he performed at the original Pop Recs in Fawcett Street in April 2015. He still supports the venture and is patron of the third site, which is being developed in High Street West. Photo: Paul Alexander Knox
14. Boomtown Rats, Kubix Festival, August 2018
Summer 2018 saw the arrival of a new festival to Herrington Country Park, Kubix Festival. The first year saw Buzzcocks join Adam Ant The Boomtown Rats Fun Lovin' Criminals Peter Hook & The Light The Undertones, The Blockheads and more. It returns in 2020 with performances from The Futureheads and Ash. Photo: JPI Media
15. Hacienda Classical, Herrington Country Park, August 2016.
For one night only Manchester's legendary Hacienda nightclub came to Herrington Country Park - and what a night it was. With a set list full of dance music classics from the heyday of the nightclub, hit tracks were reinterpreted by the club’s original DJs, Mike Pickering and Graeme Park, and were performed alongside the Manchester Camerata Orchestra, the AMC Choir and guests including New Order’s Peter Hook and Happy Mondays’ Rowetta - as well as dance moves from Bez. Photo: JPI Media
16. Bruce Springsteen, Stadium of Light, June 2012
When it comes to musicianship it doesn't get much better than Bruce Springsteen . It had been 27 years since The Boss last played a stadium gig in the North East and there was no stopping him on stage - not even the weather. Photo: Picture by David Allan