Emerging Sunderland band Docksuns cap off most successful year yet with home city show

Hype around Docksuns has been gathering all year with slots performing at the Airshow, Sounds of Sunderland festival and Independent in Sunderland, as well as gigs in Newcastle and Manchester.

The five-piece are fiercely proud of their Mackem roots. So much so, the band name is a play on ‘sons of the dock’, as many of the members are from Roker, and one of their biggest ambitions is to play Glastonbury in an SAFC shirt.

Now the band, who write all their own material, will be returning to Independent in Holmeside on Friday, December 6, to play an end of year gig, which will also mark the release of their second EP, Mr Devotion.

Lead guitarist Neil Doutwaite said: “We’ve had a really busy year, releasing two EPs, a single and building our set. We’re very much a live band and that’s when we’re at our best.

“Every gig we’ve done has led to other leads for us. Our first single was picked up by someone in Manchester and that’s how we ended up playing a gig there recently. A bus full of people came down with us and it was a great gig.

“We’ve built up a really loyal following at home and we’re confident we can do that in other cities too.”

He added: “We’re going to have a break over Christmas, then we’ll be back in the studio and building on the momentum from this year.”

Neil will be joined on stage by James Baxter, on lead vocals; Stephen Keogh, on guitar; Adam Dawkins, on bass and Glenn Laws, on drums.

Docksuns will be co-headlining this Friday with The Luka State, with support by The Blackbirds.

*Docksuns play Independent, Holmeside, on Friday, December 6. Doors at 7pm. Tickets in advance are £5 from the band or on the door at the same price.