Where beats meet brews
Sunderland Music City and VAUX Brewery launch new partnership celebrating the city’s soundtrack
In a city where music runs as deep as the Wear, two Sunderland institutions are joining forces to turn up the volume on local culture.
VAUX Brewery and Sunderland Music City have announced a new partnership, blending beer and beats in the pursuit of celebrating community, creativity, and shared pride in place.
At the heart of the collaboration is a brand-new pale ale - still nameless, for now - set to launch at the Sunderland Craft Beer Festival on August 22. The beer, a 4% session pale, will be poured at VAUX’s riverside taproom and stocked in venues across the region. But this isn’t just about what’s in the glass.
“Music is a massive part of our culture at VAUX,” said Steven Smith, managing director of the brewery. “We started VAUX to play our part in regenerating Sunderland and creating more pride in our home city - so our values align perfectly with the work the Sunderland Music City team is doing to celebrate and build our music community.”
The festival will also feature a Sunderland Music City-curated stage, spotlighting rising local talent and established DJs. It’s a continuation of a year-long celebration marking Sunderland’s new status as an official global Music City - a title it shares with the likes of Manchester, Berlin and Sydney.
As the city leans into its musical identity, partnerships like this reflect a broader vision.
“This collaboration brings our worlds together in a way that celebrates local culture, supports a great independent business, and champions our internationally-recognised music scene,” said Andrew Dipper, marketing director at Sunderland Music City.
Locals are invited to help name the beer by submitting ideas via email. The winner will get more than bragging rights - they’ll take home a goodie bag and an exclusive tour of the brewery.
In total more than 500 events are taking place during the Sunderland Year of Music 2025-2026 with events are being announced daily. Keep your eyes on the website to see the latest listings.