The grassroots festival Where It All Began closed its crowdfunder back in January 2026 on an extraordinary £180,000, far exceeding expectations and offering a rare success story for the UK’s struggling independent festival sector.

Achieved without corporate sponsorship, paid advertising, Meta campaigns or major financial backers, the crowdfunder relied instead on word-of-mouth, a collaborative email campaign and large-scale community mobilisation. Notably, it launched without a line-up announcement or conventional marketing assets; a deliberate rejection of industry norms.

Continue reading “Music News UK: Where It All Began Festival update “ →

 

Exclusive series of Barbican Cinema screenings including Obsession, Emma and Wallace & Gromit: The Curse of the Were-Rabbit

Introductions with special guests including Norma Herrmann, Julian Nott and Rachel Portman

Masterclasses with celebrated games, TV and film music composers, including Gareth Coker and Richard Jacques

In-conversation event with LSF headline composer David Arnold (Casino Royale, Independence Day, Sherlock)

Continue reading “Music News UK: The London Soundtrack Festival 2026 full programme unveiled” →

Where It All Began: An independent UK Festival built by it’s community.

A final call to become an Original Founder of the UK’s first crowdfunded, not-for-profit grassroots festival.

£68,000 raised. No paid ads. No line-up. No corporate backers; just a powerful concept and a community backing independent culture.

A new UK festival is being built in a way the industry rarely sees. ‘Where It All Began’; a not-for-profit, strictly grassroots, independent event, has raised £68,000 through crowdfunding without spending a penny on paid advertising, without headline names as bait, and without relying on ticketing loans or major sponsors.

Continue reading “Music News UK: Last chance to support Where It All Began Festival” →

Andy Rourke Mural to Be Lit Up Purple to Mark First Anniversary of Tribute and Raise Awareness of Pancreatic Cancer.

One year after its unveiling in Manchester’s Northern Quarter, the striking mural of late Smiths bassist Andy Rourke will be illuminated in purple on Thursday evening to mark the anniversary and support Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Day 2025.

Continue reading “Andy Rourke Mural to Be Lit Up Purple to Mark First Anniversary of Tribute and Raise Awareness of Pancreatic Cancer” →