Adele Sande (a.k.a Emeli Sandé) will open the Sunderland Year of Music 2025-
2026. Now performing under her real name Adele, Sande will return home to perform at The Fire Station on Saturday 21 st June, kicking off a week-long opening celebration
of music dubbed Welcome to Sunderland Music City. Sande is a name synonymous with soulful melodies and profound lyrics and has carved an indelible mark on the music industry.
Born in Sunderland, she has emerged as one of the most influential voices in contemporary music. Her musical breakthrough came in 2011 with the release of her debut album, “Our Version of Events,” topping the UK Albums Chart and becoming the best-selling album of 2012 in the UK with over 1 million sales. It featured hit singles such as “Heaven,” “Next to Me,” and “Read All About It, Pt. III”.
The album’s success led to her performing in both the opening and closing ceremonies at the 2012 Olympics in London, and earned her numerous accolades, including the Critics’ Choice Award at the 2012 BRIT Awards and Best British Female Solo Artist in 2013. In 2017 she received an MBE for services to music.
Sande said: “I’m very proud to be born in Sunderland, it’s an exciting city full of
character, warmth and creativity!
“Although we moved to Cumbria when I was 2 I’ve always felt close to the city
through my parent’ stories of how they met and their time at the University of
Sunderland“.
“I thought it would be the perfect opportunity in my birth town to use my real name
Adele. Something I’ve had the urge to do for a while now. My last show as Adele
Sande was 18 years ago!“
“This will be a showcase of new material, music in the works, improvisations and
new imaginations of songs that may be familiar. A show embracing full artistic
freedom and authenticity which I hope will take us all on a journey and open up the
Sunderland Year of Music with love.”
The Fire Station’s Venue Director Tamsin Austin said: “Adele Sande is a world class
artist, with enormous talent and a huge heart who has been consistently creative
throughout her career. We cannot wait to welcome her back to The Fire Station for
this very special concert as part of the launch of Sunderland’s Year of Music.”
Sande’s show at The Fire Station is one of many paid, free and pay what you feel
music events across over a dozen venues on Wearside on the 21 st June. Independent, The Fire Station, Live Lounge, Pop Recs, The Peacock, The Dun Cow, The Engine Room, The Saltgrass, The King’s Arms, Mexico 70, Gatsby and Washington Holy Trinity Church will all host music events, with a dedicated programme and clash-finder to be released ahead of the big day via musiccity.uk and social media.
Free wristbands for music fans will also be available to collect from The Fire Station
and Pop Recs on the day, with businesses in the city encouraged to promote
discounts and offers to music fans wearing their Sunderland Music City wristband
with pride.
The ‘Welcome To Sunderland Music City’ paid events are as follows:
-2pm until 7pm: Cool for Cats DAY DISCO at Pop Recs – £5 adv, £7 on door
-6pm until 11pm: KLANG All Dayer at The Saltgrass – pay what you feel
– 7pm until 11pm: Primaveras, live at Independent – £8
– 7.30pm: Adele Sande, live at The Fire Station – from £29
– 7.30pm: Martin Stephenson & The Daintees, live at Washington Holy Trinity
Church – £22
– 11pm until 4am: THE SESH at Independent – £7 on the door
Free live music will take place at the following venues:
– 5pm until 7pm: Jason Holcomb Live Jazz Ensemble at FireSide (The Fire
Station)
– 7pm until 10.30pm: Social Saturday DJs at The King’s Arms
– 8pm until 10.30pm: The Spitting Vicars, live at Live Lounge
– 8pm until 10.30pm: Tamala All-Stars, live at The Peacock
– 2.30pm until 5pm: Stumble Inn Folk Players, live at The Dun Cow snug
– 8pm until 11.30pm: live DJs at Mexico 70
– 9pm until 4am: DJ Nath Brown and DJ Hendo at Gatsby
Young Musicians Project, The Bunker and Sunderland College will also be
programming events on the 21 st June across the city.
The Bunker will open its doors for an open day, there will be a Young Musicians
Project showcase in the city, while Sunderland College students will be performing at
Park Lane. Designated Sunderland Music City busker locations will also be established across the city; music will be everywhere. Emerging talent will be situated at five points in the city – in front of Roker Pier, outside of the Holiday Inn Sunderland, The Fire Station, Independent and at Market Place in the city centre – from 11am until 3pm.
As well as the five designated Sunderland Music City busker locations, budding
musicians can also get involved – no licence is required to busk in Sunderland, and
the Sunderland Music City team is encouraging musicians to create your own busker
spot in the city, share your details with the @musiccity.uk socials, and Sunderland
Music City will promote your involvement in the day.
Tickets for all paid events on 21 st June are available to purchase from individual
venues.
Tickets for Adele Sande (a.k.a Emeli Sande) go on sale via thefirestation.org.uk on
Friday at 10am.
The Sunderland Year of Music 2025-2026 is a year-long celebration of music in our
city following the news that Sunderland has been officially granted Music City status,
joining the Music Cities Network in January 2025.
Over 500 events will take place on Wearside from 21 st June 2025 to the 21 st June
2026, with Sunderland Music City supporting both new and existing events.
The Sunderland Year of Music follows in the footsteps of Sunderland’s fellow Music
City, Aarhus, which ran its own Year of Music in 2022. The event was a resounding
success, serving to strengthen cohesion in the region’s music industry and creating a
framework for further development.
The Holiday Inn Sunderland is the official accommodation partner for the Sunderland
Year of Music.