The Bunker

About The Bunker

The Bunker is a small live music venue and rehearsal space at 29 Stockton Road, just south of Sunderland city centre. It began in 1980 as a youth project on Borough Road, moved to Green Terrace in 1982 and has been at its current home since 1983. Over the years it has hosted gigs by The Clash, Björk, Chumbawamba and Billy Bragg. When arts funding was withdrawn in 1998 its future was in doubt, and in 2001 the building was bought and reopened by two former local musicians.

Today The Bunker is run as a community interest company, with Kenny Sanger as managing director. Its gig room holds about 50 people and hosts regular gigs by local and touring bands, and the Everywhere at Once festival in June 2026 put 12 bands across four rooms of the building. Alongside the venue there are rehearsal rooms and recording facilities for bands, the BunkerUK Records label and The Bunker Radio. Check the venue's website for upcoming gigs and tickets.

Featured in These Guides

Blog posts and guides that feature The Bunker.

Sunderland's Music Scene: Bands, Venues and Where to See a Gig

The Futureheads, Field Music, Frankie & The Heartstrings and Kenickie, plus Pop Recs, The Bunker, Independent, the Fire Station and the Stadium of Light: a guide to live music in Sunderland.