SHINE ON SUNDERLAND

Famous Funksters Love Sunniside Crowds

FAMOUS FUNK band The Brand New Heavies have vowed to return to Sunderland, after thousands of music fans flocked to see them at the city’s annual Sunniside Live festival on Saturday (July 16).

Sunniside Live, which is Sunderland’s only city centre live music festival, returned to the city for the second time on Saturday with a record turn-out of crowds, close to the festival’s 4,000 capacity.

A combination of hot weather and music brought revellers in to the heart of the city to listen to headliners, The Brand New Heavies, and a host of other acts, including North East groups Smoove & Turrell, and Picnic, along with special guests Alison Limerick and Shola Ama.

Sulene Fleming, the lead singer of The Brand New Heavies, was overwhelmed by the Sunderland support, saying: “There was a fantastic atmosphere at Sunniside live, along with a great crew and awesome crowd. Everyone had a blast and we hope to come back again...”

Fellow band member Simon Bartholomew added: “We had a great day out and there was a lovely warm atmosphere - we had a blast for sure!”

The event was organised by Helen Davies and Sean Maddison who run both Bar Justice and Gin & Bear it Bar at West Sunniside and was supported by Sunderland Business Improvement District.

Helen Davies said she was delighted to see Sunniside Live return to the city:

“This year’s event was a huge success and attracted thousands of people into the city centre. The sunny weather definitely brought the crowds out and we couldn’t have hoped for a better turnout.

“We’re incredibly proud to have brought acts like The Brand New Heavies and Shola Ama to Sunderland,” she said.

“And we’re already looking forward to planning next year’s, with plans to make it even bigger and better, with plenty more bar, food and WC facilities, and even bigger acts.”

Ken Dunbar, Chief Executive of Sunderland BID, who sponsored the festival, said: “We couldn’t believe how many stories we’d heard of people travelling to Sunderland from the likes of London and Scotland to see their favourite acts.

“The festival does a brilliant job at shining a spotlight on Sunderland and helps put the city on the map as a place to see the best established and emerging acts in British music and we’re already looking forward to next year’s – roll on Sunniside Live 2017.” l