Martin Stephenson & The Daintees Return to Pop Recs Sunderland

Martin Stephenson Sunderland is back on the calendar as Martin Stephenson & The Daintees play Pop Recs on Saturday 26 September 2026, bringing one of the North East’s most enduring songwriting names into an intimate grassroots setting.

The Sunderland date is billed by Pop Recs as a rescheduled full-electric show, with the venue listing a 7.30pm start and an 11pm finish. It puts Stephenson and The Daintees back in front of a local crowd only a short distance from the places that helped shape their early career.

Martin Stephenson Sunderland show at Pop Recs

Stephenson’s connection with the North East runs through decades of work with The Daintees. The band emerged from the region in the early 1980s and built a catalogue that moves easily between folk, pop, rock, jazz and country influences. That mix has always made their live sets difficult to reduce to one genre, with warm storytelling and sharp musicianship doing most of the work.

For this date, the venue’s own description leans into Stephenson’s easy humour and storytelling as much as the songs themselves. That should suit Pop Recs particularly well. The Sunderland venue is small enough for quieter moments to land properly, while an electric Daintees set can still fill the room when the arrangements open up.

The show also has strong ties to the North East music scene. Stephenson remains closely associated with the North East music scene, and The Daintees have long been part of the region’s musical history rather than simply visitors passing through on tour.

A North East favourite in a grassroots venue

Fans can expect material from across the group’s long career rather than a narrow anniversary-style set. Stephenson’s catalogue has always balanced character-driven writing with melody, while the band can shift from understated acoustic textures into fuller rock arrangements without losing that conversational feel.

No additional support act was confirmed on the Pop Recs listing when this preview was checked. Timings, line-ups and ticket information can change, so check Pop Recs and the artist’s official channels before travelling.

Martin Stephenson Sunderland: event details

• Date: Saturday 26 September 2026
• Venue: Pop Recs, Sunderland
• Time: 7:30pm–11:00pm

Tickets and the latest information are available from Pop Recs’ official event page.

For more dates across the city, browse SoundBite’s Sunderland gig previews.