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David Saunders checks out the delights on offer at this year’s Waves Festival in Sunderland
Image: Miles Kane
The North East has its fair share of multi-venue all-day music festivals but one of the new kids on the block, Waves, is also carving out a reputation as one of the most vibrant and exciting. Emerging from a resurgent Sunderland music scene, and brought to life through the dynamism and hard work of Independent promoter Ben Richardson, Waves is now in its fourth year and will be a thoroughly enjoyable day that showcases the talent and infrastructure of the ‘Music City’.
Waves Festival takes place at various venues in Sunderland on Saturday 16th November.
Top-notch headliners
When it comes to getting exciting names to head the bill, Waves never disappoints, and this year is no different. Bringing the event to a close in the best way possible will be one-half of Last Shadow Puppets and indie icon Miles Kane, Liverpool’s brass-fuelled indie outfit Red Rum Club, Teesside punk poets Benefits and local hero and talented songwriter Tom A. Smith.
A cracking selection of venues
Sunderland has a fantastic music scene and that is partly due to the city’s amazing music venues, many of whom are part of this year’s Waves Festival. Sunderland’s flagship venue The Fire Station, nightlife centrepiece Independent, record shop/venue and community space Pop Recs Ltd., music hub The Bunker and bar/event spaces The Ship Isis and Diego’s return to this year’s event. They will be joined by two new additions in the form of a couple of well-loved staples in the Sunderland music scene, The Museum Vaults and The Ivy House.
Collaboration
Waves is a connected festival due to its focus on partnering with local promoters and organisations to programme artists for the festival. Helping curate some of this year’s line-up are Sunderland’s punk and hardcore champions Serial Bowl Records and esteemed regional promoter Portions For Foxes. There will also be a stage from BBC Music Introducing who will programme a stage of their hottest regional tips, as well as choices from the people behind Stockton Calling, who will be sending over three Teesside artists as part of a Sunderland-Stockton swap programme between the two festivals.
The best local and touring talent
Aside from the ethos, the venues and the collaborative approach, what really makes Waves great is the top-notch line-up that includes the best and brightest from the North East and further afield. The plethora of talent includes Yorkshire’s riotous Big Break, Newcastle indie popsters Cat Ryan, Sunderland songwriter Celadore, synth-pop duo CHAT, high-octane act Dead Stilettos, Teesside grunge quartet Dossers, Leeds’ disco divas Galaxians, Wearside emo rockers Hivemind, regional post-punks Houseproud, local racket makers Dead Wet Things, North West alt. duo Dirty Blonde, Sheffield music makers Forum Friends, Sunderland songsmith Isabel Maria, electro pop lovelies Look Terrified, Geordie wordsmith Kay Greyson, Middlesbrough’s queer pop artist Loren Heat, two of Hartlepool’s indie heroes Marketplace and Michael Gallagher, Teesside punks Onlooker, dreampoppers Oslo Twins, rock rebels Precious Ink, punk rockers Sanction This, Tees rapper Shakk, garage duo The Sewer Cats, Sheffield-based art pop six-piece Work In TV and many more.
