A night with The Futureheads: Sunderland band to close city's Year of Music in style
Unseen photographs, untold tour tales, live performances and two decades worth of reflections as the band look back on a career that helped put Sunderland on the musical map
More than two decades after they emerged from Sunderland’s thriving music scene to become one of the UK’s most distinctive bands, The Futureheads are taking to a home for a special one-off event celebrating their journey to date.
Hosted by Sunderland Music City, An Evening with The Futureheads will take place at The Fire Station on June 20, offering audiences the chance to hear directly from Barry Hyde, Ross Millard, David ‘Jaff’ Craig and Dave Hyde as they look back on more than 20 years in music.
The event forms part of the closing weekend of Sunderland Year of Music and also sits within Summit Week Sunderland, a programme of events surrounding the Music Cities Network Summer Summit, which will be hosted in the city for the first time.
Rather than a traditional gig, the evening promises a mix of conversation, memories, photographs and live performance as the band reflects on a journey which has taken them from local venues to international stages.
Since bursting onto the scene in the early 2000s, The Futureheads have built a reputation for their distinctive post-punk sound, intricate harmonies and energetic live shows. Their success helped put Sunderland firmly on the musical map, inspiring countless musicians who followed in their wake.
Michelle Daurat, CEO of Sunderland Music City, said: “The Futureheads are one of Sunderland’s great musical success stories, and friends of Sunderland Music City.
“This event is a chance to celebrate not only their incredible career, but also the city’s vibrant scene, and the influence Sunderland continues to have on artists nationally and internationally.”
The band, who released a Christmas album at the back end of 2025 are promising a candid look back at the highs, challenges and changing realities of life in music, while also revisiting the city and local scene that shaped them.
In a statement, they said: “We’re delighted to have been asked to go ‘in conversation’ at the Fire Station as part of the Sunderland Music City Summit Week and the finale of the Sunderland Year of Music.
“It will be a rare opportunity to look back at the last 20+ years, dig out some unseen photographs, tell some tour stories and go through the albums with Frankie. We’ll talk about the local music scene that shaped us, how things have changed in the industry over the years, and have a relaxed play through some of the hits.”
The event comes as Sunderland prepares to welcome music leaders from across the world for the Music Cities Network Summer Summit from June 18-20.
The gathering will explore the role music can play in shaping thriving and connected cities, while also providing a fitting finale to a year-long celebration of Sunderland’s musical heritage and contemporary scene.
Tickets for An Evening With The Futureheads are on sale now from The Fire Station website.