Music Against Child Poverty Returns to Sunderland With Frankie and The Heartstrings Reunion
Music Against Child Poverty returns to The Fire Station, Sunderland on 6 December 2026, led by Frankie and The Heartstrings, B>E>A>K and Paul Smith.
Music Against Child Poverty returns to Sunderland this December, bringing a major North East line-up to The Fire Station while raising vital funds for local baby bank charity Love, Amelia.
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The Sunderland Music City fundraiser will take place on Sunday 6 December 2026, exactly a year after its previous edition. The 2025 campaign raised a record-breaking £51,684.10 for Love, Amelia, and organisers are hoping to build on that total this year.
Frankie and The Heartstrings return to the stage
Heading up the 2026 bill are Frankie and The Heartstrings, who will play their first gig in nearly five years. Frontman Frankie Francis, who is also a Sunderland Music City Officer, will host the evening.
They are joined by another returning Sunderland name in B>E>A>K. The instrumental, mask-wearing outfit features musicians associated with This Ain’t Vegas, The Lake Poets and White Legs, including Sunderland Music City’s Marty Longstaff.
Maxïmo Park frontman Paul Smith will also return to Music Against Child Poverty following his appearance at the 2024 event.
The wider North East line-up includes Sunderland band Swindled, 70s-inspired duo Smith & Liddle, Mackem girlband Northern Daughters and local rapper Kay Greyson.
Standing and seated tickets at The Fire Station
For the first time, Music Against Child Poverty will offer a mixture of standing and seated tickets, giving audiences the choice of getting closer to the live show or watching from a seat.
All funds raised on the night will go to Love, Amelia, which provides direct support to families experiencing poverty and hardship across Tyne and Wear and County Durham. The charity says money raised through the event helps it support around 1,000 local children and their families.
Love, Amelia CEO Steph Capewell said the charity was excited to see the event return for a third year, combining a celebration of local artists with practical support for children and families across the region.
Book launch joins the fundraiser
The evening will also mark the launch of Sunderland author Glenda Young’s latest book, Murder at the Seaview Hotel. Young is donating all profits from the book to Love, Amelia, with copies available to add when buying an event ticket as well as from the merch table on the night.
Her research for the mystery included conversations with several North East musicians, among them Marty Longstaff of The Lake Poets, David Brewis of Field Music, Marie Nixon of The Cornshed Sisters and former Venus Grrrls synth player Grace Stubbings.
Sunderland Music City CEO Michelle Daurat said the team was proud to support Love, Amelia again and hoped the 2026 event could surpass last year’s fundraising total.
Music Against Child Poverty 2026 tickets
Music Against Child Poverty
The Fire Station, Sunderland
Sunday 6 December 2026
Frankie and The Heartstrings, B>E>A>K, Paul Smith, Swindled, Smith & Liddle, Northern Daughters and Kay Greyson
Tickets go on general sale at 10am on Friday 9 October via The Fire Station.
Event details are correct at the time of publication and may be subject to change. Check the official venue or ticket page before travelling.
Tickets go on general sale on Friday 9th October at 10am via thefirestation.org.uk
