Author: PaulC

Independent Festivals?

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Reading Festival is one of the UK’s longest running music events. What was first a jazz festival in 1961 has now become a staple in the music calendar for a variety of artists and bands. It has moved on from its original roots as a jazz festival and having embraced rock as its main genre in the 1980s, it is now no longer a genre-specific festival, with a wide appeal to young audiences.

The festival has grown year on year since its acquisition by the Mean Fiddler Group in 1989. A second site at Leeds was added in 1999 and as festival demands have grown multiple stages have also been added to accommodate a variety of music genres on display.

A fantastic feature of the festival has been the “BBC Introducing” stage which has showcased the latest up-and-coming talent for eighteen years. Curated by the BBC, the stage has helped birth some of the UK’s biggest acts, while Charli XCX, Raye, Dave and Florence + The Machine – who previously played the event’s BBC Introducing stage – are among the headliners at this year’s Reading Festival.

Despite this, Festival Republic recently announced that neither Reading nor Leeds festival will feature a BBC Introducing Stage. As a replacement for smaller artists, the festival has announced a new Canopy Stage, dedicated to upcoming talent, although the stage will be curated by the festival rather than the BBC. While a promising alternative, it has faced criticism from some. Only the Poets singer Tommy Longhurst said it was “sad news” for young musicians, particularly as it is so hard already for those starting out. Time will tell how the Canopy Stage will compare in its success and legacy to its predecessor in championing independent artists, but in the meantime we want to shout out to some smaller festivals that are dedicated to supporting upcoming and alternative artists and bands!

Cultural curation has always been influenced by a broad range of taste, but as the music industry becomes ever more focused on profit, and the process of curation becomes less independent, these festivals help to keep the independent music spirit alive:

End of the Road Festival, which focuses on independent rock and folk, host their Next Wave Contest for upcoming artists to perform on stage. Watch the winners and lots of other acts on 3rd-6th September in Salisbury.

The Green Man Festival is an independent music, science and arts festival held annually in mid-August in the Brecon Beacons, Wales. Green Man has evolved into a 25,000 capacity week long event, showcasing predominantly live music.

Radar Festival is dedicated to contemporary and progressive music at the O2 Victoria Warehouse in Manchester. Catch this on 31st July to 2nd August.

The Long Road Festival in Leicestershire has multiple stages dedicated to showcasing new country artists and songwriters on 27-30th August. It also has a Homegrown Talent Contest every year to give start-up acts a chance to perform on stage in front of a festival audience and industry professionals!

Het Laatste Nieuws

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Most people will be wondering what the title means, or wondering if perhaps we didn’t have a little too much to drink over the weekend.

However, after a number of months of effort we are very pleased to announce that FOH International BV now has its KVK number and is officially incorporated in the Netherlands.

Though we’ll be breaking out our DuoLingo to help us cope, this new undertaking allows us to offer our services seemlessly across the EU, even in the post-brexit landscape.

Wherever your tour takes you, let us help you find a solution.

the Great Escape

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Just a short few weeks until the FOH office moves to Brighton for a week.

Last year’s festival was blessed with sunshine and great music. I’m sure the music will deliver again, but the UK being the UK we’ll be packing for all weathers.

Either the way the best of Brighton will be on display, whether it’s the record stores, rehearsal rooms or independent venues platforming the best up-and-coming artists.

Highlights of last year, strolling along the sea front with Pale Blue Eyes, each of us seemingly more worried about factor 50 sunscreen than anything else, such was the weather!

Lowlights? Unfortunately there were too many artists I missed last year, but the one we absolutely wanted to catch but failed was Chloe Slater. Hopefully we get the chance again!

Do get in touch if you’d like to just catch up or if you’re keen to discuss all things merch.

Barrowland Ballrooms

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There’s not a lot of venues we haven’t been to over the years, and yet somehow December 2024 saw FOH’s first visit to the Barrowland Ballroom.

First built in 1934 to provide a space that could be used by the traders at Barrowland Markets for social events, it was extended only a few years later in order to cope with the demand.

Despite the original building being destroyed by fire in 1958 it was rebuilt, bigger and better, and was open again by 1960 before falling into disuse as dancing became less popular.

Revived during the 80s it has become home to any number of scottish bands over the years. It certainly provides a singular atmoshere and remains a historic lanmark of the UK music scene.

You can read more about the venue here.

The glamour

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Things aren’t always as they appear. Sometimes you’re away for weeks on end, missing your partner and your pets, haven’t slept so well, and yet you still need to do you laundry.
Often you’ll be able to send out your laundry with a runner, especially on large tours, and yet sometimes, having a couple of hours to yourself, while looking at a washing machine, can be some of the most relaxing moments.

An hour or two alone, a coffee and a snack from a nearby store, and a light stroll from the hotel, can provide not just clean clothes, but a couple of hours where you get to be alone. It can be almost hypnotic watching the drum spin around, a moment of medatation among the madness.

Doing laundry in yet another foreign city might not be something I talk about in my tender years, but it certainly sits up there among one’s accomplishments, navigating strange customs and freeing up the rest of your day off certainly feels rewarding, even if it’s mundane!