THE HEART OF LOCAL MUSIC

The Bunker 29 Stockton Road

Sunderland SR2 7AQ

www.bunkeruk.com

t: 0191 567 1777e: info@bunkeruk.com

FOREWORD

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Without doubt, The Bunker has come a long way since its beginnings in 1981. Despite physical changes in location, and a massively increased capacity to assist creativity, music has remained firmly at the heart of what we do. 30 years of experience in arts development has only allowed us to increase our remit, which now includes services to business and community organisations as well as to artists and musicians.

In recent years we have nurtured relationships with

many partner organisations throughout Sunderland

and the wider North East, as we strive to constantly

develop and ensure that The Bunker is heading in a

direction which allows us to continue as a positive force

for creativity in our region. As an organisation which

has survived against the odds on an almost constant

basis, we feel we are lean and weathered to endure the

trying times we all face, still offering value for money as

a service provider on many levels. However, this would

not be possible without continued support from fellow

organisations, as well as our important relationships with

charities and volunteer groups.

In 2012 we are keen to build on our remit in Sunderland

and beyond. With creativity and music at our heart,

we will continue to exercise our influence throughout

different areas and assist local communities. I’m proud

to say that we have a fantastic team, the expertise of

which allows us to stay at the cutting edge and one step

ahead of developments in the creative world, ensuring

we provide sound advice and opportunities for our

customers and clients. The world has changed a great

deal since 1981, as has The Bunker. But as an organisation,

our goals and objectives remain much as they have for

30 years. We exist to support music, creativity, and the

development of local people.

CONTENTS

01.

02.

03.

05.

07.

08.

09.

10.

Foreword

Services

Community

Business

Partners

Team

The Future

How To Get Involved

1981 - The Sunderland Musicians Collective, which will develop The Bunker, is born and rents a small rehearsal room on Borough Road.

1982 - The Bunker and the members of the Collective move to Green Terrace School.

“THE BUNKER IS A SUPERB PLACE TO

HAVE IN SUNDERLAND, IT IS A BREEDING

GROUND FOR TALENT AND WITHOUT IT

I DOUBT I WOULD HAVE EVER BECOME

A PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN. I HAVE

BEEN GOING THERE FOR 15 YEARS AND

IT’S BETTER THAN EVER. IT’S SOULFUL,

ETHICAL AND AFFORDABLE AND THE

CITY WOULD BE SCREWED WITHOUT IT.

I LOVE IT.”

Barry Hyde - The Futureheads

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1984 - Sunderland act The Toy Dolls re-issue “Nellie the Elephant” and reach #4 in the UK Singles Chart, staying in the chart for 14 weeks.

1985 - The Clash play a secret gig inside The Bunkers walls sparking a mass last-ditch ditch gathering, which becomes legendary.

1983 - The Bunker finally settles in its current home at Stockton Road, rising from the rubble of a former bakery.

John Peel With some of the UK’s most impactful artists and bands emerging from the region during the 1960s, when his career began, it was perhaps inevitable that John Peel would be drawn to the North East.

Harder to predict would be the love affair he developed with Sunderland. Making many friends in the City, DJing regularly in the late 1960s, early ‘70s, and becoming a great advocate of The Bunker in the 1980s and onward, playing music from bands based at Stockton Road on his BBC Radio 1 show and inviting several down to London for live sessions.

When The Bunker came under threat of closure in the late 1990s, as a result of withdrawal of community funding, Peel added his influential voice to the protests, donating a significant amount of money which undoubtedly helped The Bunker to survive during its darkest period. One of Britain’s most loved and respected broadcasters, John took a keen interest in The Bunker and supported North East music right up until his death in 2004.

CASE STUDY

SERVICES

The Bunker has acted as a platform for thousands

of musicians and artists since opening over 30 years

ago. Recognised for catapulting acts including The

Futureheads, Field Music and Frankie & The Heartstrings

to national and international stages, The Bunker is a unique

and vital force within the North East’s creative economy.

Today, The Bunker’s recording and rehearsal facilities act

as a base of operations for hundreds of bands. We also

deliver key services to budding musicians, technicians and

businesses including Training, Artist Development, Youth

Provision, PA Hire, Promotions, Event Management, Stage

Management and access to two in-house record labels.

The Bunker’s reputation as a professional service provider

for live events is built upon work with a number of high

profile organisations, assisting delivery of BBC Radio 1’s

Big Weekend, Sunderland City Council events, and North

East appearances from music industry giants including

Kasasbian and Snow Patrol. By the same token, new and

burgeoning artists from across the UK have been allowed

opportunities to perform in the North East at events

organised by The Bunker.

Practice rooms are available for hire 7 days a week

between the hours of 9am to 10pm with prices starting

from £3 an hour.

A range of recording studios are available for hire all year

round, or if you would prefer, we can come to come to

you. We have recently engineered and recorded sessions

from bands such as The Futureheads, Hyde & Beast,

Leatherface, Lucas Renney, Lets Buy Happiness and

Frankie & The Heartstrings as well as students from local

colleges ESPA and City of Sunderland College.

Sessions priced at £15 per hour with discounts available for

students, unemployed, and block bookings.

“THERE MUST BE SOMETHING

WONDERFUL IN THE WATERS OF

THE WEAR”

John Peel

EACH WEEK THE BUNKER WELCOMES AN AVERAGE OF 225 MUSICIANS. SINCE THE START OF 2011 THAT’S 11,700 IN TOTAL

The Bunker has a proud tradition of utilising our trained staff members’ skills and facilities to aide in the development of local communities. This is manifested in our work with socially oriented organisations where we coordinate, facilitate and deliver funded projects and initiatives.

We have strong, successful working relationships with

YOS (Youth Offending Service), NECA (North East

Council on Addictions) DISC (Developing Initiatives

Supporting Community) and OCN (Open College

Network). The Bunker’s specially trained practitioners

are regularly on hand to deliver a number of key

initiatives on behalf of community based organisations.

Most recently, The Bunker has successfully delivered

outcomes for initiatives including ‘Sober Sounds of

Sunderland’, ‘Bottle It’, and the ‘NEET2EET Beat Project’.

Partners turn to The Bunker as a credible and unique

facility which is able to deliver initiatives to combat a

variety of social inclusion and addiction issues, as well

as approaching re-engagement of young people into

education and learning.

Our staff members are always on hand to discuss

projects or offer advice to local community

organisations, and The Bunker’s wide range of

equipment and facilities are made available in

accordance with circumstances, often free of charge.

“THE WORK THAT THE BUNKER

HAS UNDERTAKEN IN PARTNERSHIP

WITH DISC HAS BEEN INVALUABLE.

ORGANISATIONS LIKE THE BUNKER HELP

US TO PROVIDE A FUN, PRODUCTIVE

AND SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR GROUPS

WHO CAN THRIVE IN THIS TYPE OF

COMMUNITY BASED REHABILITATION.”

Jillian Crumbie, Acting Project Leader at DISC

“THE WORK OF THE BUNKER UNDERPINS

A GREAT DEAL OF CREATIVE ACTIVITY

IN SUNDERLAND AND PLAYS A KEY

ROLE IN THE CITY’S WELL ESTABLISHED

MUSIC SCENE, CONTRIBUTING TO

THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE LOCAL

ECONOMY.”

Gary Hutchinson, Head of Venue and Events at Sunderland AFC

COMMUNITY

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1989 - Leatherface’s Frankie Stubbs and the lads take their assault on the alternative charts from their practice rooms.

1990 - Ashbrooke All Stars ‘Dubbin’ Up The pieces reaches no.15 in the UK Dance charts.

1988 - A Tribe of Toffs’ novelty pop track “John Kettley is a Weatherman” reaches No. 21 in the charts in December.

CASE STUDY

DISCDeprived groups across Wearside were given the opportunity to use music as part of their personal development thanks to a scheme delivered at The Bunker. DISC (Developing Initiatives Supporting Communities), is an independent North East Charity focusing on deprivation and exclusion. Initially engaged by The Bunker in 2010 during a 6 month long programme of music workshops funded by the NHS, DISC decided that the success of the programme had such a positive effect on those taking part, that they commissioned a new programme starting in August 2011. A 6 week programme of accredited group workshops, were part of a creditable initiative to combat alcoholism whilst inspiring musical creativity.

YOS/YDAPThe Youth Offending Service worked in partnership with The Bunker across the city of Sunderland to provide a range of innovative services to support children and young people from offending or re-offending. The NEET2EET project was one such project delivered through the Bunker which provided creative and artistic learning opportunities for under-18 year old young people. The aim was to engage young people in voluntary, educational activities in an informal, friendly environment. By participating in the activities, young people gathered evidence that was used to gain nationally recognised qualifications as well as developing their social skills. Over a hundred young people have participated in the programme over the past 3 years with many of those above school age progressing onto work, education or training in areas ranging from the army to art college as well as a variety of local training providers.

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1992 - “It’s a Fine Day” by Opus 3 tops the U.S. Hot Dance Club Play chart and reaches number 5 in the UK Singles Chart.

1994 - Alt-pop group Kenickie are formed and launch on the world from The Bunker, sparking the career of BBC Radio 6music DJ, Lauren Laverne.

1991 - Current Managing Director, Kenny Sanger, begins rehearsing regularly at The Bunker in his band The Sweetshop.

160 PARTICIPANTS HAVE ENJOYED SPECIALISED TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AT THE BUNKER OVER THE LAST 12 MONTHS

100 NEET YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS THE CITY HAVE GAINED A NATIONALLY RECOGNISED QUALIFICATION OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS

Over the past decade, The Bunker has been commissioned

to coordinate and provide provision for scores of large

scale music events in Sunderland, marking the birth of an

entirely new set of staff skills and services, as well as an

increasingly varied cultural calendar for Wearside.

For the last 5 years Sunderland City Council has

commissioned the services of The Bunker to deliver a

programme of summer music events. ‘Sunderland Live’, and

its accompanying Fringe Events have grown to attract a

record number of bands and spectators to Wearside each

year, showcasing the cultural face of the city and providing

quality free entertainment for the local community.

Since the City’s annual Split Festival began in 2009, The

Bunker has played an integral role in its organisation and

management. Our Live and Event Management Team

makes up the core of support staff involved in the festival

weekend, as well as developing the events which lead up

to it.

The Bunker also works closely with local schools,

colleges and the University of Sunderland in providing

professional rehearsal and recording facilities, as well as

acting as a placement provider through Connexions and

delivering nationally recognised qualifications through

the Open College Network.

Our Event Management and Live teams are available to

deliver a range of high quality packages, ranging from

dry hire to a complete service which includes set-up

operation and management of live music and arts related

audio/visual events.

“ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING THINGS

THAT HAS HAPPENED IN SUNDERLAND

OVER RECENT YEARS HAS BEEN THE

GROWTH AND THE VIBRANCY OF THE

MUSIC SCENE. NEW MUSICIANS HAVE

EMERGED AND ALREADY ESTABLISHED

MUSICIANS HAVE GONE ON TO RECEIVE

NATIONAL RECOGNITION. ONE OF THE

KEY ELEMENTS OF THIS HAS BEEN THE

BUNKER. IT HAS PLAYED A SIGNIFICANT

ROLE IN BRINGING MUSICIANS

TOGETHER AND GIVING THEM A

FANTASTIC PLACE TO CREATE AND

DEVELOP THEIR MUSIC. ITS INFLUENCE

SPREADS FAR BEYOND SUNDERLAND TO

THE NORTH EAST REGION AND BEYOND.

LONG MAY IT THRIVE AND FLOURISH.”

Paul Callaghan - Chair of the Leighton Group / Chair of ONE North East / Chair of the University of Sunderland

1997 -Sunderland act, Olive, hit the Top 40 and play Top of the Pops 3 times.

1998 - A serious threat of closure sees phenomenal support from the community and a donation from John Peel to help pay utility bills.

2000 - The Bunker is put up for sale by Sunderland Community Arts & Music Project despite efforts from many local businesses and Sunderland-born musician, Dave Stewart.

BUSINESS

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1995 - Sunderland’s music workshops are is flourishing the emergence of Bunker based bands Field Music and The Futureheads.

CASE STUDYSunderland LiveThe Bunker have been commissioned by Sunderland City Council over the last five summers to co-ordinate, deliver and manage the biggest Summer Festival events the city has ever staged. The Bunker’s Live, Promotion and Event Management Teams were hired to lead the co-ordination and delivery of ‘Sunderland Live’, liaising with over 100 bands across three weekends of free live events and street performances including Squares and Corners, ‘Party In The Park’, ‘Sunderland Soul and Funk’ and ‘Sounds Of Park Lane’. In 2011 The Bunker again worked alongside Sunderland City Council to deliver a music programme at the Christmas Lights ‘Switch On’ and Sunniside Street Market.

Further EducationThe Bunker is a training hub for a number of educational institutions across the city. The University of Sunderland have several productive business links with The Bunker ranging from developing their media relations, student development and vocational training as well as enabling partnerships with the likes of Spark FM. Throughout schools in Wearside, The Bunker staff and volunteers regularly deliver music and art based qualifications as well as hiring out the professional facilities at Stockton Road to local educational establishments who wish to allow their students the experience of working in a professional environment used by working musicians, technicians, producers and DJs.

2001 - Current owners of 29 Stockton Road step in and re-open The Bunker just before it is sold and redeveloped.

2002 - The Bunker magazine emerges as the new team develop a fresh outlook for the new millenium.

2000 - The Bunker is put up for sale by Sunderland Community Arts & Music Project despite efforts from many local businesses and Sunderland-born musician, Dave Stewart.

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IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS THE BUNKER HAS PROGRAMMED OVER 25 OUTDOOR FESTIVALS AND EVENTS IN THE REGION

OVER THE LAST 3 YEARS THE BUNKER HAVE PROVIDED OVER 500 BANDS/ARTISTS FOR LIVE EVENTS IN SUNDERLAND

Throughout the Bunkers long history, key partners have

been essential to identifying opportunities and ensuring

our continued development as a successful organisation.

Today we have a range of business relationships with

partners ranging from local media outlets, fellow

development organisations and leading arts and creativity

departments in Sunderland. The Bunker has a longstanding

working relationship with local newspaper The Sunderland

Echo and radio station Sun FM but as well as our work

with these established media outlets we strongly support

local music magazine Manifesto.

Since Sunderland’s community radio station first began

broadcasting ias Radio Utopia, to its relaunch as Spark

FM at the new £12 million City Space Building, The Bunker

has contributed to a platform where local people are

able to inform the community of news and events as

well as providing an accessible medium with localised

programming. The Bunker’s work with Generator, the UKs

leading Music Development Agency, has allowed both

parties to join forces and cement a unified voice for the

promotion of music development and industry education

in Sunderland through free music training, seminars, events

and music advice clinics at local venues.

Developing partnerships with agencies closer to home has

also allowed us to deliver further free events for the people

of Wearside. Specifically our partnerships with the likes

of Youth Offending Service, YMCA, SNCBC, Box Project

and The Sunderland Music Workshops, have allowed us to

target the education and development of our local youths.

“SUNDERLAND IS A CITY WITH A REAL

BUZZ ABOUT IT AT THE MOMENT, AND

A THRIVING LIVE MUSIC SCENE. THE

CITY’S EMERGING MUSICAL TALENT

JUST KEEPS ON GROWING, WITH THE

LIKES OF THE FUTUREHEADS AND

FRANKIE AND THE HEARTSTRINGS

PUTTING SUNDERLAND ON THE MAP.

THESE BANDS, AND MANY OTHER

MUSICIANS, WOULD NOT HAVE FOUND

THEIR WAY TO MUSICAL SUCCESS

IF IT HAD NOT HAVE BEEN FOR

THE SUPPORT, FACILITIES AND ALL

IMPORTANT NURTURING ENVIRONMENT

THAT THE BUNKER HAS PROVIDED

OVER THE YEARS. LONG MAY THE

SWEET SOUND OF SUCCESS RAIN OVER

THE BUNKER.”

Councillor John Kelly - Portfolio holder for ‘Safer City and Culture’, Sunderland City Council

PARTNERS

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2004 - The Bunker develops it’s live promotion arm working with many emerging UK artists including Snow Patrol, Kaiser Chiefs and Kasabian.

2004 - Bunkeruk Records releases its 1st limited edition 7” vinyl, The Infidels ‘Ghost Train’.

2005 - The Bunker co-ordinates the warm up events for Radio One’s ‘Big Weekend’ as it is launched under it’s new name in Sunderland.

2003 - The Sunderland Music Awards take place at Manor Quay hosted by The Bunker and attended by the local music and business community.

CASE STUDY

GeneratorGenerator provides training and opportunities for businesses and those involved in the music industry to continue their professional development as well as network with others to develop links within the local music business community. In 2005 The Bunker were asked to join forces with Generator to provide a platform for Sunderland businessesto enjoy the same opportunities. The Bunker has gone on to host a number of well attended, successful events including Music Business to Music Business, Plugged Inn, a panel led event for Live Music Promotion, as well as co-ordinating the one to one Music Clinic’s with industry experts. The overall aim of the partnership was to bring together two of our regions key agencies and enable music based learning and connections throughout the North East.

SUN FMWearside’s longest running radio station identified that The Bunker, as a professional organisation capable of providing a reliable and regular service to co-ordinate and run some of their biggest events. In the past, The Bunker have provided recognised personalities of the local music scene to sit on panels for large showcase events sponsored by Sun FM. The station’s events team regularly look to employ our fantastically trained live and event management teams to manage, amongst others, their ‘Battle Of The Bands’ events. This year, The Bunker was recognised for their work, winning the ‘Local Community Project Award of 2011’ at the Sun FM Business Awards.

150 VULNERABLE YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ASSISTED VIA THE BUNKER’S PARTNERSHIP WORK

500 ITEMS OF MUSICAL EQUIPMENT WERE HIRED OUT FROM THE BUNKER DURING 2011

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2006 - The Bunker release Live at The Voodoo Room double-album which scores 8.5 /10 in NME.

2007 - The Bunker forms a Community Interest Company and again becomes a Community Project.

2005 - The Bunker co-ordinates the warm up events for Radio One’s ‘Big Weekend’ as it is launched under it’s new name in Sunderland.

The Bunker have assembled a vastly experienced team

who work hard to provide services, advice and support

to Sunderland’s creative community. Throughout the

years, staff have provided the skills and assistance to

enable the use of music as a tool to tackle cultural

and social barriers with the aim of achieving a positive

outcome.

Those who have spent time working for or on behalf

of The Bunker have gone on to be successful in the

wider music, business and community sectors, whilst

maintaining their ties to Bunker projects . Others have

graduated from volunteer roles to become part of the

strong, experienced and integral Bunker team.

MANAGING/OPERATIONS DIRECTORKenny Sanger

THE BOARDChris Hair

Peter Brewis

Chris Watt

Dave Logan

Phil Jarvis

OPERATIONS TEAMEmma Howe - Media Executive

Daniel Lowes - Promotions Assitant

Liam Huitson - Studio Assistant

Seb Otigbah - Studio Assistant

Steve Fay - Youth Worker

Ronny McCully - Maintenance

Joanne Reid - Maintenance

Paul Graham - Maintenance

LIVE TEAMDave Stark

Matthew Cutter

Nathan Wood

Chris Blacklock

TRAINING DELIVERYGavin McClary

Nicola Maxwell

Chris Harris

Frank Styles

VOLUNTEERSNicola Wright

Sam Gallagher

Brian Bradley

Hannah Ward

Scott Vincent

Amy Swann

Michael Redhead

Plus many more who help throughout the year

TEAM

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2008 - The Bunker are contracted to deliver the first ever ‘Sunderland Live’ on behalf of Sunderland City Council.

2009 - The inaugural SPLIT Festival takes place at Ashbrooke and The Bunker team provide help and support to launch Sunderland’s cool new event.

2008 - Manifesto magazine launched in a bid to support the newly formed Sunderland Music Forum and the local music scene.

As The Bunker looks forward to the years ahead, we

have reviewed our strategic aims and objectives to

develop business and the local community as well as

maintaining the high standards we have set in the last 30

years as an organisation.

OUR AIMS AND OBJECTIVES FOR 2012:

• Ensure we are in the best possible position to

support our client group, the local music community

• Build on our reputation and further cement our

place as the central hub for music across Wearside

• To provide invaluable experience to volunteers in a

variety of settings

• Offer support to a variety of target clients including

pre-start businesses, self-employed, freelance

practitioners and small businesses.

• To embed the music sector in regional, economic,

social, cultural and creative strategies

HOW WE WILL DO THIS:

• Provide an unrivalled service to musicians/venues/

businesses in Sunderland

• Continue our ‘joint thinking’ approach with partners

to provide opportunities in Sunderland

• Continued use of music as a tool to aide in

community development through projects with

community based organisations and charities

• Take innovative approaches to ensure we stay at the

forefront of the region’s creative industry

• Continued professional development of staff

Funding to achieve these objectives

• We need funding to achieve these objectives

WHAT THIS WILL LEAD TO:

• Support and development structures for musicians,

businesses and venues

• Support from the music sector and key partners

• Regional development partnerships identified and

strengthened

• Promote quality, diversity and access

N THE LAST YEAR THE BUNKER HAVE SUPPLIED WORK PLACEMENTS TO OVER 50 STUDENTS AND 40 UNEMPLOYED LOCAL PEOPLE

33% OF BUNKER VOLUNTEERS HAVE GONE ONTO ROLES IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY

THE FUTURE

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2011 - Another award follows a year later at Sun FM’s Local Business Awards with recognition as  Community Project Of The Year.

2010 - The Bunker become the first recipients of the Creative Industries Award at the Sunderland Echo’s Portfolio Business Awards.

We rely on local businesses to support us in achieving

our aims and objectives, and there are many ways in

which they can help from using our services, to making

donations to spreading the word about the work we do.

We also couldn’t survive without the many volunteers

who help out be it a few hours each week or almost

every day. Together we can develop the music scene in

Sunderland whilst providing more opportunities for the

deprived in what is such a difficult time for us all.

Please get in touch with our Managing Director to see

how you can contribute, we look forward to hearing

from you.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED?

The Bunker 29 Stockton Road Sunderland SR2 7AQ

www.bunkeruk.com

t: 0191 567 1777e: info@bunkeruk.com

www.bunkeruk.com