A collective of festival organisers and venues have come together to organise what is being described as a “pioneering, gamechanging music collective,” to help support alternative live music.
As reported by The Guardian, the group will “bring together independent festivals, venues and collectives to share resources, cut costs and pool audiences.” This comes after festival organisers and venues have outlined how rising logistical costs and an increased dominance in large-scale music festivals and events are harming independent promoters.
The initiative is being led by Si Chai, Creative Director of both the Bristol-based venue Chai Wallahs and booking agency Diplomats of Sound.
As stated by The Guardian, this collective will host the Where It All Began festival in 2026. Acting as a cooperative, members will both co-own and co-programme the festival, while cutting costs by “up to 40%.” The aim is to mutually support those involved, and help share the costs and risks in hosting events.
Over the past several months, Festival Insights has learned how debut events, such as 2025’s Homestead Festival, were forced to cancel their weekends due to spiralling costs. More established festivals, such as the cult favourite BANG FACE, are also feeling the squeeze, with the festival founder James St Acid telling Festival Insights in July that “the cost of an event has tripled in around five years. It can only sustain itself if people are buying tickets.”
