FAQs

The Fire Station, Independent and Diegos have full level access into the venue with accessible toilets. The Bunker has level access but no accessible toilet. Pop Recs is accessed by a single step so does not have level access or an accessible toilet. Unfortunately The Ship Isis is a first floor venue, only accessed by stairs with no lifts available. If you require an access ticket please contact benricho@independent-live.co.uk and that can be arranged instantly.

The Box office at The Fire Station will be open from 12pm midday to get your ticket scanned and collect your wristband, after this you’re free to walk around and head to any stages you like. Tickets can not be checked at any other venues, they must be exchanged for a wristband at the box office first.

Wristbands permit entry into all of the venues however they do not guarantee it, each venue has its own capacity and when that capacity is hit a one-in-one-out policy will be in place. If you want to avoid any potential disappointment of missing a specific artist please arrive early to get your spot.

Waves is located across 8 venues in Sunderland’s city centre: The Fire Station, Independent, Pop Recs, The Ship Isis, The Bunker, Diego’s, Museum Vaults & The Ivy House. The venues are all indoors and within walking distance of each other. Maximum walk between venues is 10-15 minutes, most are shorter than that. Your wristband gets you access to all 8 venues.

Sunderland city centre is accessible by various public transport, bus links from across the region and a train station with regular metros and national services from Tyneside, Teesside and beyond. The box office is located roughly a 10 minute walk from Sunderland Train Station and Park Lane Bus Station.

Waves festival is an all ages event, however, under 16s must be accompanied by an adult.

Subject to capacity you may be able to purchase tickets on the day from the Fire Station box office ONLY (not from any other venues).

There’s lots of food spots across the city centre, a few of our venues also sell food, The Ship Isis, The Ivy House and Diego’s all sell food whilst Pop Recs, The Bunker and The Fire Station all have adjoining cafes/bars that also sell food (Sonny’s, Otto and The Engine Room). A few other great local spots include: Mexico 70, Moti Raj, Enfes, Koji, Pho 179 and for something quick, grab and go, there’s Ati’s Smash Burgers and Naga Noodles. Check them out on social media to confirm location and opening times etc.

City centre hotels such as The Travelodge, The Premier Inn and Holiday Inn are all pretty much central to the venues for Waves.

The full schedule is usually published across our social media accounts in the weeks running up to the festival. All ticket holders will be given a schedule card and map when collecting your wristband on the day plus this year we have a great festival takeover on the GigSeekr app, click here to download and on the day of Waves you’ll be able to head to our section and load up all of the stage times.

The lineup for Waves 2024 is almost complete however we will soon be launching our apply to play process for the festival, follow us on social media to keep up to date with that.

We’re still taking applications for photo and press passes for 2024, please email benricho@independent-live.co.uk with as much information as possible and we’ll try our best to organise any passes requested.