Sunderland legend Dave Stewart set to inspire musicians of the future with unique teaching module

Published on 28, August, 2025

A music legend is teaming up with The Northern Academy of Music Education (NAME) and the University of Sunderland to help create the next generation of musicians in the city.

He’s one of our most famous sons, a Mackem legend, musician, songwriter and producer whose music has been enjoyed around the globe.

Never one to forget his roots, Barnes-born Dave Stewart, who made his name in the Eurythmics but went on to carve a wide-ranging career, still makes regular trips back to Sunderland.

The multi-million-selling artist is currently enjoying six weeks back in his home city, grabbing coffee at his favourite spots like Fausto and Pop Recs, watching Premier League football on home turf, and discovering new additions like Ember at Sheepfolds and Mogi in Chester Road.

He’s also found time during his summer in Sunderland to work on a unique module with Sunderland-based music college NAME.

Set up four years ago by Barry Hyde, one quarter of The Futureheads, and Dan Donnelly, who’s had a long career in bands such as Levellers, The Wonder Stuff and The Celtic Social Club, they pooled their extensive knowledge in the music industry to create NAME.

Based across three sites - on the top floor of The Fire Station, Birdland Studios above The Peacock pub and at the University's St Peter’s Campus - the college offers a cutting-edge modern music industries higher education programme, delivered with partners The University of Sunderland.

Dave is working with the team to curate a new module for third year students called Collaborative Songwriting with Dave Stewart.

As part of the module, Dave draws on his four decades of experience in the music industry, working with big hitters like Mick Jagger, Joss Stone, Bryan Ferry, Katy Perry, Stevie Nicks, Gwen Stefani and many, many more, as well his work with lesser-known artists as they embark on the journey of songwriting together, from the kernel of an idea to reaching No 1 in the charts.

The course also looks at Dave’s extensive work for music in movies, musicals and his friendship with Nelson Mandela, which led to him using the former South African president’s prison number as a telephone number for the 46664 campaign, a global anti-AIDS initiative in which he worked alongside artists like Paul McCartney, Bono and Edge.

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Dave said it was great to see more of a focus on the creative industries in Sunderland now.

“Creativity and that way of thinking has been underrepresented for many years,” he said. “Now you have lots and lots of little creative companies - places like Pop Recs - that have exploded.”

Whilst home, Dave also made a surprise appearance on stage with fellow Mackem talent Tom A. Smith who will be playing Dave in a film about his colourful life growing up in Sunderland.

Dan from NAME said: “It’s such a privilege to be working with Dave on this - it’s like having a Jedi on the team.

“Dave already had the idea of starting a songwriting school online, but as we already have a school up and running and staff it made sense to incorporate it as a degree module and we got the ball rolling.

“It’s a really unique module and gives students an insight into the different interpersonal skills needed to collaborate with someone - and the different types of collaborative work.”

At the end of the module, which starts this September, students will create a collaborative song, one of which will be presented with a Dave Stewart award.

In the meantime, if you’re lucky enough to have got tickets before they sold out, you can catch Dave performing at The Fire Station on September 5 and 7 where he’s reimagining Bob Dylan’s iconic tracks in his own unmistakable style.

You can read the original story in the Sunderland Echo by Katy Wheeler by clicking the link here.