* Great North Big Band Jazz Festival

‘The Sunderland University Big Band is a community big band who rehearse regularly within the university. Band members range from school leavers through to current students and alumni of the university. As well as regular weekly rehearsals the band also host quarterly workshops open to musicians of all ages ... This is an ideal opportunity to work with some of the North East's greatest jazz musicians. As well as regular gigs the Band also host the North East's most successful big band competition and festival.’ Held Early March.