City bids to join international music network

Musicians Marty Longstaff and Frankie Francis are the project's music officers

A successful bid to cement a city's musical status would help local acts land gigs across Europe and as well as increasing a sense of pride, organisers have said.

A project to make Sunderland part of the European Music Cities Network, which sees members work together to enhance cities by growing the music sector, was launched at the end of June.

If approved, the city would be the first in north-east England to join, and only the second in the UK after Manchester.

Musician Frankie Francis, who is part of the project, said the bid had been embraced "fantastically" both by Sunderland music makers and residents.

"I think it would be celebrated so much by the people inside the city," he said.

"I think people are very protective and proud of the city and I think that would be elevated again."

Along with artist Marty Longstaff, Mr Francis has been appointed as a music officer for the bid.

He believes "someone from Sunderland could have a whole life as a musician", if they wanted, in the city.

It is hoped the Music City status would attract more funding into the city

Organisers hope Sunderland will join the network in 2025 after a strategy is developed to enhance and fill in any gaps in the city's music scene.

Local talent will also be showcased at events as part of the project.

There are hopes to establish a Sunderland radio station, playing music connected to the city, too.

Mr Francis, who is the lead singer of Frankie and the Heartstrings, said travelling with the band had shown him Sunderland already had the reputation of a music city across the world.

"I know there is a perception of Sunderland as a music city from outside the UK in particular, but we need the people in this city, whose lives revolve around music, to be proud of that," he said.

Mr Francis added he was "expecting some cynicism".

"I tell people about it, I tell my parents, friends about it, and they say 'oh yeah, whatever', but then I remind them that some of the best times they've had in Sunderland is because of music," he said.

'Don't have to leave'

Sunderland has produced a number of successful bands along with the Heartstrings, including Leatherface and The Futureheads.

It has also hosted world-famous acts such as Beyoncé, Pink and Bruce Springsteen.

Getting a music city status is expected to attract more international artists to work and perform on Wearside, as well as help local acts land more gigs in cities which are part of the network.

Members currently include Aarhus, Bergen, Berlin, Gothenburg, Groningen, Hamburg, Manchester, Reykjavik, Sydney, and Valencia.

Graeme Hopper, who has been organising experimental music festival Boundaries in the city for the past three years, said getting a music status would be a "win-win".

"I think it might inspire people to make music and attend live events as well," he said.

Laura Brewis said the project could help keep young musicians in Sunderland

Laura Brewis, from We Make Culture which runs the Young Musicians Project in Sunderland, said a music city status could help attract funding and show "you don't have to leave in order to become a musician".

"For young people who are trying to make a career in music, I think Sunderland can still feel quite far away from the centre of where music is," Ms Brewis said.

"It can still feel like you have to go to London, or Manchester, or somewhere like that."

She added young people were "really excited" about the music city project.

"I think the idea that something big is happening is really exciting for them."

Mr Francis said there were hopes that if Sunderland officially got a music city status, it could join even bigger networks.

"It feels like there's a real change in the atmosphere in Sunderland, something's happening in Sunderland and I think the potential of a city like Sunderland is incredible, really."