Since 2019, U.K. music festival We Out Here — which is set to host its fifth edition from Aug.
15-18 in the Dorset countryside — has sought to elevate under-the-radar artists whose music falls outside mainstream tastes. Now, the festival is opening more doors — this time for the next generation of promoters. Newly launched by We Out Here, the Future Foundations initiative is seeking to educate and empower grassroots music promoters by offering 15 applicants the opportunity to level up their skills with a bespoke training program.
In addition to on-the-job training at this year’s We Out Here, the initiative includes mentoring, networking opportunities and virtual workshops. It will also knock down other potential barriers for hopefuls by covering the cost of travel, accommodation and meals. “As an elder, it is without a shadow of a doubt our responsibility to support the grassroots scenes for the sake of the culture,” says Gilles Peterson , a curator, radio host and A&R who co-founded We Out Here with live music promoter Noah Ball .
“We’ve all benefited from that expertise over the years, so we need to allow those experiences and opportunities to happen.” Grassroots music promoters are often the first line of discovery for emerging musicians, but that comes with a certain amount of jeopardy, says Ellie White , head of marketing at We Out Here. “Those promoters take a lot of financial risk doing what they do,” she says.
“They often do it as passion proje.