A full day of music industry panels, practical workshops, live music and interactive sessions — all in the heart of Sunderland.
A to B brings together world-class music professionals, practical workshops, live music and honest conversations about building a creative career today. Whether you’re an emerging artist, producer, DJ, student, freelancer or simply passionate about music, there’ll be something for you.
A to B is open to anyone aged 16+, with no upper age limit. Free refreshments and lunch will be provided, with plenty of opportunities to meet other musicians, creatives and music lovers throughout the day.
Part of Sunderland Summit Week and Sunderland’s Year of Music, A to B is delivered by Sunderland Music City, We Make Culture, Music Connects Sunderland and The Bunker, with support from the North East Combined Authority.
Agenda
09:00 AM
Registration & Arrival. Grab a coffee meet other attendees and get settled in for the day.
09:45 AM
What Makes a Music City? Lena Ingwersen
What actually makes a city thrive musically? Lena Ingwersen, Managing Director of the global Music Cities Network, opens the day with insight into how music can shape cities, communities and opportunities for artists.
10:00 AM
Local Music Scene Docu-film by Second Draft (feat. Claudia)
Through the eyes of local riot-grrrl band, Claudia, Second Draft and We Make Culture take a look at the connections and journeys local musicians can take through the music scene in Sunderland. Featuring appearances from the Young Musicians Project, The Bunker, Serial Bowl Records, Pop Recs and The Futureheads.
10:20 AM
Performance by Orton
Fresh off the release of his debut EP, Durham based hip-hop artist Orton shares tracks about growing up in a pit village and the stresses of being an independent artist in 2026.
10:30 AM
Do I Really Need Social Media? Building Community as an Artist.
Grace Stubbings, Helen Walkinshaw, Fi Duncan, Daryl Jenkins
Social media can feel overwhelming - but is there a “right” way to do it? Artists and music professionals share honest perspectives on building audiences, finding your people and creating community online (and offline).
11:30 AM
"How Do I Get My Music on TV?" - Careers in Music Sync
Alex Grey, Tony Brown, Amber Leigh Irish, Frankie Francis
The music industry needs far more than performers. Hear from professionals working in production, sync, recording and creative industries about the many different careers that keep music moving.
12:15 PM
Lunch + Marketplace
Take a break, grab some food, browse stalls and chat to local organisations, creatives, venues and music industry professionals. Featuring a pop-up record store from Roker Records and a special gallery showcasing the history of Sunderland’s iconic venue and practice space, The Bunker! Meet: •Musicians Union •PRS Foundation •The Bunker •Independent •Sunderland Music City •We Make Culture •Music Connects Sunderland •Serial Bowl Records •Index •Band Van Man/Merch Bitch •The Glasshouse •Generator •Space North East •Roker Records •The Fire Station
02:15 PM
Session Musicians: Life on the Road
Hattie Steel, Adam Robson, Faye MacCalman, Daryl Jenkins
From touring internationally to stepping into rehearsals at short notice, session musicians are the people who keep live music happening. This panel explores the realities of touring, building a career and making a living in music.
03:15 PM
Inside the Mix with Grammy Award-Winning Producer Eduardo De La Paz
A rare chance to hear directly from a Grammy Award-winning producer and mixing engineer as Eduardo breaks down some of his biggest tracks live, sharing insight into music production, mixing and the creative process behind professional recordings. Expect to hear about artists such as New Order, Florence + The Machine, The National, Self Esteem and many more! Hosted by Frankie Francis, there will also be a chance to have your questions answered.
04:15 PM
Performance by Patrick Gosling
Having sold out hometown shows in Pop Recs and Independent, local songwriter Patrick Gosling, aka “The Mackem Bob Dylan”, closes the day with an acoustic performance of some unreleased material...
04:30 PM
Networking and Marketplace
Stick around to meet people, make connections, ask questions and continue conversations from throughout the day.
