Culture And Memory

Mackem Music Memories: the history of Sunderland Music City

Following Sunderland’s official designation as a Music City, MAC Trust and Sunderland Music City are launching a landmark project to preserve the city’s sonic soul. By documenting the evolution of music as a defining local force, the initiative aims to bridge the gap between heritage and innovation. Key Objectives: 1. Prevent Heritage Loss: Capturing at-risk oral histories and documenting grassroots icons like The Bunker venue. 2. Skills & Volunteering: Training ‘Heritage Champions’ in professional archival research and digitisation. 3. Community Connection: Engaging 300+ participants through R&D sessions in social hubs like allotments and working men’s clubs. 4. Diverse Representation: Celebrating the traditions of Sunderland’s international communities, including Nigerian and South Asian voices. 5. Lasting Legacy: Build a major exhibition at Culture House featuring innovative ‘Gig Ghost’ audio trails and a Lyrical Patchwork Quilt, ensuring the city's musical timeline from Bede to Springsteen is digitised to professional archival standards.