Local artists will be performing live in a free concert at the home of Middlesbrough’s independent traders.
The Promoting Local concert takes place at the Dundas Shopping Centre between 12 and 4pm on Saturday 5 October and will feature performances from some of the most popular up-and-coming bands and singers on Teesside. 
Appearing on stage will be indie band Into the Blue from Stockton and singer/songwriters Josh Atkinson from Stokesley and Mary Elizabeth Webb. The line-up also features another Stockton indie band – Stockholm, as well as band punk duo 3 Day Reign. Completing the bill is Middlesbrough’s Afraid to Sleep, which is fronted by Nicole Bean who runs the Alta Ego shop in the Dundas Indoor Market.
Organiser Nicky Hargreaves, who hosts the Promoting Local show on Teesside’s The Red radio station, said: “It’s going to be a fantastic afternoon and a perfect opportunity for people to show their support for both the local talent and the independent retailers in the Centre and Indoor Market.
“If you’re a local artist starting out you’re most likely to get your support from your local community. The best place to start – and get that first foot on the ladder for a decent career -is to really engage with the audience who are close to you…and a shopping centre is the perfect place for that to happen,” added Nicky, who as well as a broadcaster is a tech start up entrepreneur and boss of Music Monitor.
Local artists’ messages and songs are already played to shoppers in the Centre, providing an early introduction to their music, and Nicky – alongside Dundas’ bosses – is confident the partnership will grow and feature further concerts in the future.
David Harris, the Manager of the Indoor Market, said: “We’ve been promoting grassroots music for a while so this seems the logical next step. It’s a great way to connect people. 
“We hope people enjoy the performances and also come to check out our independent traders. The only way they will continue to do well is through your support.”
The Dundas Shopping Centre is managed – on behalf of its owner – by Tees Valley commercial property specialist Dodds Brown. Its Senior Associate Richard Wilson said: “If you walk around Middlesbrough town centre it almost feels like it’s been abandoned by a lot of the big retailers, but I don’t think it’s all doom and gloom.
“It’s a similar picture in lots of other towns up and down the country where – like Middlesbrough – a revival is being led by the local community. That’s where the independent traders come from as well as the singers and bands.”
He added: “Town centres have to offer more than just shopping otherwise people will chose the convenience of sitting at home ordering stuff on their phones. Our concert will help people discover that it really is worth supporting local.”