On a warm summer evening on Saturday 20th June, excitement and the sound of live music filled the air as a significant celebration took place in Sunderland, a city that has firmly established itself on the international music map as part of the Music Cities Network. The occasion was An Evening with The Futureheads, a special event celebrating one of Wearside’s most influential bands.
In recognition of their contribution to Sunderland’s rich musical heritage, the band have now been added to the city’s Wall of Fame. Located outside The Fire Station, the installation is an ongoing project celebrating some of Sunderland’s most iconic musicians and bands. Its purpose is not only to honour those who have helped shape the city’s musical identity, but also to inspire future generations of artists.
To find out more about the event and the Wall of Fame, Kayleigh Mattson spoke to Frankie and the Heartstrings frontman, public figure and Music Officer at Sunderland Music City, Frankie Francis, who played a key role in bringing the celebration together.
I understand there were several events taking place on Saturday 20th June involving yourself, The Futureheads, the Wall of Fame and Summit Week Sunderland. How did it all come together?
Yeah. So we did an event with The Futureheads and thought it was time they were recognised on the Wall of Fame at The Fire Station. We got them added and made it part of the performance that night. It was pretty cool because it also fell during Summit Week, when we had representatives from 14 other Music Cities from around the world in Sunderland, working together on music policy. The Music Cities Network is a global, independent, non-profit association dedicated to strengthening music ecosystems through international collaboration and local empowerment. Sunderland officially became one of only 16 recognised Music Cities worldwide in June 2024, and recently welcomed delegates from across the globe as host of Summit Week.
How did the Wall of Fame idea come about? And who decides which bands and artists are added? I’m also curious…is there a Frankie and the Heartstrings tribute?
No Heartstrings… yet! The Wall of Fame was a collaboration between Sunderland Music City and Culture Quarter, the organisation that runs The Fire Station.
You also mentioned that the Wall of Fame unveiling formed part of An Evening with The Futureheads. How did the night unfold?
It was a really proud, celebratory night with a lively crowd, and there was a proper buzz in the room all evening. It felt like one of those moments where you could see how much it meant to people in the city. The unveiling got a huge reaction. Everyone loved it. It was a great way to recognise The Futureheads in front of a home crowd, and it just lifted the whole night. We also had some of the visiting Music City representatives there as part of Summit Week, and they were really engaged, chatting to people and taking it all in. It gave the night an extra edge, like Sunderland was properly being showcased internationally.
The artwork celebrating The Futureheads’ contribution to Sunderland’s music scene was created by Sunderland-based artist Kathryn Robertson, better known as KR Illustrates. The striking mural can be found outside The Fire Station, the city’s thriving multi-arts and live music venue in the heart of Sunderland’s cultural quarter. The evening was far more than a tribute to one of the city’s finest bands. It highlighted Sunderland’s growing reputation as a place where music is valued, nurtured and celebrated on both a local and international stage. As the city continues to build its profile through the Music Cities Network, events such as this demonstrate how recognising home-grown talent can strengthen civic pride while inspiring the next generation of musicians.
For more information about Sunderland Music City and its projects, visit musiccity.uk.
