One half of The Hairy Bikers is planning a wide programme of entertainment for a festival taking place in Sunderland this summer.
TV chef Si King is helping to bring together a mix of street food suppliers and music performers for the Souled Out Festival and he's delighted to take part. “I’m absolutely chuffed to bits to be involved," he said.
The special event - part of the wider Soul Food and Music Festival which will be hosted across the city from June 10-12 - will be at Plot 12, an events space at the former Vaux brewery site, and during the festival there will be performances from headliners The King Cush Band, Voices of Virtue, Groove Train and Smoove and Turrell. North East-born King has also chosen the range of street food traders involved, including Scream For Pizza, Dosa Kitchen, burger favourites One Dining and Chinese dumpling specialists Nan Bei.
Read more: Ed Sheeran timings for Sunderland gig
The chef said: "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."
He added: “We’ve brought together an incredible programme which anyone who loves food and music won’t want to miss.” Tickets will be needed for the Souled Out Festival with details for these yet to be released.
The wider Soul Food and Music Festival will take place at the same time and this will include free events at Keel Square such as a silent Zumba and exercise session – in a variation on the silent discos - plus cooking demonstrations; a kids club; sporting activities; a street food market offering international cuisine, and entertainment including local buskers and walkabout characters.
Sharon Appleby, chief executive of Sunderland BID which is organising the events with Sunderland City Council, 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. 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.”
There will be an emphasis on health and wellbeing, with a selection of food stalls to include vegan, vegetarian and organic produce. Peter McIntyre, the council's executive director of city development, said the festival - which is part of a year-long events programme - has something for all ages and is "a great opportunity for the city to showcase what it has to offer and attract more visitors into Sunderland". For more information about Soul Food and Music Festival see its website here.
Read Next
