Secret music festival at The Ship Isis, Sunderland
22nd-24th May / £20 for the weekend or £10 a day
A new grassroots music festival is set to take over Sunderland’s historic Ship Isis venue this May bank holiday weekend, bringing together some of the city’s most exciting established and emerging talent for three nights of live music.
Running from 22–24 May, the aptly named Huge Weekend promises a packed programme celebrating the strength of Sunderland’s independent music scene. Weekend tickets are priced at £20, with day passes available for £10.
The festival will showcase 10 acts from across Wearside, including rising young artists, award-winning performers, and touring bands that have gained recognition far beyond the North East. Among the featured musicians are artists backed by BBC Introducing, winners of Spark Local Music accolades, Mercury Fringe favourites, and even chart-breaking rock acts that have reached the UK Top 10.
Organisers describe the event as a celebration of Sunderland’s creative community, offering an alternative to larger regional festivals happening over the same weekend, but with a more intimate atmosphere and considerably cheaper tickets.
Huge Weekend has been organised alongside respected local promoter Independent Live and supported by several organisations championing music in the city, including The Bunker, Spark Local Music, Gan On, WeMakeCulture, and Northern Academy of Music Education (NAME).
Festivalgoers hoping to discover the full lineup will need to keep an eye on social media, with artist announcements being teased gradually in the lead-up to the event.
For tickets and lineup updates, follow @hugeweekend on Instagram.