The Future Fest ethos punches up!

“There are SO many amazing and exciting bands within the UK alone, if anything the hard task is narrowing it down!” says Ghost Road Fest, an exciting new addition to the independent rock music festival circuit that debuts this November. More on that to follow.

Ah, but mainstream festivals…

Generic fame reflects society at mainstream level - and sells tickets.  The pandora's box of pandemica exposed so much socially and politically, music industry included, that without change from the top, an eternal circle of conversations about rebuilding better, go nowhere. With fear and loathing in las plagus, we’re a nation that needs to party, sing and dance together. Tickets will still sell if some credible curve balls thrown in, enhance reputation.

Corporate sponsors of the biggest events may see otherwise to the statements of good intent or presume that us DIY girlies ain't as good at entertaining or scouting.  The fact is, smaller festivals activate the cultural shift guidelines. “Cro Cro Land felt like a platform for tomorrow’s headliners to play a festival crowd. You know; the ones who haven’t necessarily come to see you but who fall in love with your band regardless.” (London In Stereo, whose reviewer fell for Nova Twins April 2019 - they play the main stage at Reading/Leeds Festivals this autumn)

There is often dismay at post lockdown bill announcements at a time when even next level talent is struggling. With up to three decades of the same names, old guard thinking looks dated without emerging star-turns injected as lifeblood. “Ironic there is a band on there called Scouting For Girls, which is how I feel every time I look at a festival poster.” noted Tiger Mimic of one event. This band (on the forthcoming Brits & Pieces II CD) are a face-the-stage commanding, alt-rock proposition who mix a little Queen into their tempo tangent punk. They play Jam On The Farm festival in July (tickets)

By 2021, when artists deserve acclaim for just surviving, the friction of mixing in a little risk invites extra thrill. Cosmic new discoveries please, or it's not a festival - it's just an outdoor concert in cosplay.

Impassioned independent media can decry, but still enjoy, major events. Mainstream journalists don't write/(know?) about art punky party love via a spectrum of scenes. True festival spirit is here:

Organic pioneers, the previously mentioned CroCroLand (2019, pix above), DecoloniseFest, Kick Out The Jams, This Feeling Club, Loud Women Fest etc. gift a (proven succesful) wealth of possibilities.

Eventually the “prickstock” mentality will go tits up as audiences change. “We are the future, stop fucking ignoring us”, Ms Mohammed told The Guardian newspaper (a clip from her set at the awesome and inclusively welcoming DecoloniseFest) - or, ignore and bore.

Bigger bookers, select your 2022 entry level artists with guitars from ground level curators. There’s wide acclaim to select. Hard work, talent (and (r)evolution) has EARNED it. #SaveOurVenues alumni contain (disproportionately fab) future heritage acts. Thank you John Kennedy (Radio X), a swathe of BBC Introducing/6 Music and a wealth of independent  music media who are getting this noticed.

Also take note of how the fresh scenes fizz femme power. Never mind the bollocks, here's all the genitals. At the skint bottom of some imaginary heap, largely being talked over. But… being talked about in crossbreeding spaces.  

Our voices are 4REAL. Agreeing to disagree, keeps it interesting, an all happening flourish of diversity in adversity amidst an array of achievements, often for good causes. Interdependence is where the true thrills-and-results-per-week exist. Says a DIY documentary of the action fraction.

Flavouring this surreal decade are affordable festivals with cracking guitars inclusion. Jam On The Farm (July 30th-31st) looks like a wow-some pick n mixed mix.

Autumn includes Wide Awake, (3rd September) Modern Age Music’s Soma Fest (4th) and before then, rad female fronted new ventures: ReclaimTheseStreetsFest in Sheffield on 7th August and No Man’s Land in Manchester on 14h August.

At #TheZineUK doc we are stoked to be involved in this Leeds and London weekender debuting in November…

“Ghost Road Fest was born out of an excitement to change how things are done post lockdown. I feel like with this much time off there's a real scope for change in how the industry is run. It's really disappointing there is still in 2021 an outcry for (god forbid) inclusivity within line-ups.

I've seen a few festival line ups released and it's still very male heavy - and it's not like there is only a handful of bands with female and trans representation that are 'good enough' to be playing these events! There are SO many amazing and exciting bands within the UK alone, if anything the hard task is narrowing it down!

Our festival has an 82% balance of acts with female or trans representation in - and I'd love to say I'm proud of that - but that should simply be the norm and not something to be highlighted. Alongside the festival we are also running a mentoring programme to encourage young adults to pursue their career within the music industry - something I think is very important - as they are the future of this industry and I strongly believe if you're educated within the correct surroundings then that is how you'll carry on that ethos.”

Lori of #GhostRoadFest

Written by a vintage West Indian rock chick who has promoted/booked artists and events at all levels, and is excited by the Fertile Environment.

Ghost Road Fest 6-7 November 2021 line up grows!

M O S E S and YOU WANT FOX to play Ghost Road Fest (London/Leeds 6-7 November 2021)

Hear M O S E S at Spotify

Hear YOU WANT FOX at Spotify

Buzzing just got buzzier as they join The Virginmarys (London only), SHEAFS (Leeds only), Weekend Recovery (London & Leeds) and SNAYX (London & Leeds) - as genuine fan based, tipped and media acclaimed favourites. This heated bill is lighting up Saturday 6th November at London’s Club Kolis and Sunday 7th November at Belgrave Music Hall in Leeds.

Smaller live music events, later in the year are rebooting the rocking music world. #GhostRoadFest is definitely one to look forward to: On a mission to present the UK's most exciting up-and-coming bands plus mentoring and paid work experience for young people who are interested in a music industry career.

Get tickets while they’re discounted!

This guitar graced weekender by freshly sewn industry hitter Ghost Road Promotions is about music socialising with a gender balanced artists/crew vibration and in the spirit of rock’n’roll dreams. We need all we can get right now.

A seeding moment of the fertile environment. You'll swear you were there. With women not virtually outlawed from the line up as per some rock music festival sexist booker (literal) bollocks, Ghost Road Fest joins the likes of CroCroLand, DecoloniseFest and Loud Women on the side of inclusion. No tokens were formed in the making of the line up or crew members (TheZineUK really pleased to be one of the partners).

The live sets are booked on merit of entertainment value.

As per previously mentioned interdependents, no payola to play, here. The grassroots music venue circuit is loaded with future heritage where diverse working class is not excluded by lack of priviledge, so are organically feeding the mainstream.

For instance, This Feeling's stages showcase hot artists (and writers, photographers etc.) performing, creating and injecting a much needed dose of flashing fresh fiery fury with involvement opportunities to be announced.

Ghost Road Fest wishes to stimulate the underground music scene post covid-19, help smaller bands gain a further reach. National and regional DJs are on board (future announcements) with these music socials which are opening doors for artists, audiences and allies with networking welcomes and heartwarming outcomes. Trust.

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#MusicTourism - 18+ events. London venue is next to a tube station (photo id scan entry), Leeds venue is in the city centre.

#GhostRoadFest partners Blackstar Amplification - Pistonhead Lager - Knight PR - Kycker - These Bloody Thieves Records - The Zine UK - Vocalzone