A top TV chef is highlighting his passion for music when he brings a festival of food and entertainment to Sunderland this summer.
Here’s everything you need to know…
Sunderland’s social programme continues to go from strength to strength, as it’s been revealed that the city centre welcome will Souled Out Festival Sunderland to the streets this summer.
Si King, one half of The Hairy Bikers, has helped bring together a number of much-loved performers and top street food suppliers for a special event in June.
And now tickets are set to go on sale for Souled Out Festival Sunderland – part of the wider Soul Food and Music Festival taking place across the city from 10-12 June.
Souled Out will take place on Plot 12 – the events space at the former Vaux site – and across the festival visitors can enjoy performances from headliners The King Cush Band, Voices of Virtue, Groove Train and Smoove and Turrell.
They will also be a range of specialised street food vendors – chosen by Si – including Scream For Pizza, Dosa Kitchen, burger specialists One Dining and Nan Bei, who sell Chinese dumplings, with more operators about to be confirmed.
The Soul Food and Music Festival will also take place at the same time, with a range of free events at Keel Square including family entertainment, local buskers and a street food market offering a whole host of international cuisines.
This includes a silent Zumba and exercise session – a new take on a silent disco – cooking demonstrations, a kids club and sporting activities, along with a range of walkabout characters.
Emphasis will also be on health and wellbeing, with the food stalls including vegan and vegetarian offerings and organic produce.
The events have been organised by Sunderland City Council and Sunderland BID, as part of an exciting year-long programme in the city.
The Souled Out Festival will be a ticketed event, with more details to follow.
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Everything you need to know about Sunderland’s Souled Out Festival
The Hairy Bikers consist of Si King (left) and Dave Myers (right). Image courtesy of BBC.
Speaking ahead of Souled Out Festival Sunderland, Si said:
“I’m absolutely chuffed to bits to be involved in the Souled Out Festival Sunderland.
It’s going to be an amazing event where artists, food producers, amazing musicians will come together and showcase Sunderland’s warmth and hospitality.
It has been my privilege to curate some of the food offerings and music, things that speak to the soul like nothing else.
We’ve brought together an incredible programme which anyone who loves food and music won’t want to miss.”
Sharon Appleby, Chief Executive of Sunderland BID, said:
“We are delighted that Si King is bringing Souled Out to Sunderland and that he has put so much time and love into bringing this event together,” she said.
At the same time, we’re also creating an exciting free programme of food and drink-related events so there really will be something for everyone to enjoy.”
Peter McIntyre, Executive Director of City Development at Sunderland City Council, echoed Sharon’s words.
“The strong partnership between the council and the BID means that we can work together to bring a really strong and exciting programme of events to the city this year and the Soul Food and Music Festival is a great example of this.
It has something for people of all ages and it’s a great opportunity for the city to showcase what it has to offer and attract more visitors to Sunderland.”
For more information regarding tickets, activities and available food vendors, continue to check soulfoodmusicfestival.co.uk.
