Amplifying Grassroots Talent

Honey Box Live: Amplifying Grassroots Talent is a regional development and broadcast project supporting emerging musicians through live performances, livestreamed events, and targeted industry skills development. It is funded by Arts Council England’s Supporting Grassroots Music Programme, a time-limited funding priority within the National Lottery Project Grants scheme.

The project brings together venue partners, music professionals, and communities across four Midlands cities to platform underrepresented talent and provide meaningful career development opportunities for performers and early-career creatives.

Amplifying Grassroots Talent provides:

  • high-quality performance and broadcast opportunities for unsigned, emerging artistes
  • skills-based training and shadowing opportunities for aspiring music industry professionals
  • partnership and co-delivery for local music networks and grassroots venues
  • Increased audience access and engagement
  • long-term visibility and sustainability of the grassroots music ecosystem in the Midlands
Playing the guitar

Development Days

On the Saturday prior to each gig, the venue will host a Development Day, comprising of two skills-based workshops covering live audio production, social media marketing, visual branding for artists. A panel discussion featuring music industry professionals and a guest speaker session with a creative practitioner from the sector. Participants can expect plenty of shadowing and volunteering opportunities for trainees, in camera, audio, stage management, and production on the day of the gig.

Live Performance and Broadcast Day

The venue will host a live gig for up to 150 in-person attendees, featuring warm-up acts and 3 main acts (1 local, 2 touring/regional). The whole gig will be professionally produced, filmed and livestreamed, and will include band interviews and behind-the-scenes access. Local audiences get access to fresh talent and an intimate, professional live music experience. Watch this space for affordable tickets.

Two people singing

For artists...

Entertainment in Newcastle Under Lyme

Honey Box Live: Amplifying Grassroots Talent, will be taking place at these key venue partner locations:
King Street Studios – Newcastle-under-Lyme
Blue Note – Derby
2Funky Music Café in partnership with 2Funky Arts – Leicester
Wolverhampton Arts Centre – Wolverhampton

Launching Autumn 2025 
Catch the Amplifying Grassroots Talent Development Days and Gigs, as part of Series 9 of Honey Box Live.

NEWCASTLE UNDER LYME, King Street Studios
Development Day Saturday 18 October 2025
AGT Gig Sunday 26 October 2025

DERBY, Blue Note
Development Day Saturday 22 November 2025
AGT Gig Sunday 30 November 2025

LEICESTER, 2Funky Music Cafe
Development Day Saturday 14 February 2026
AGT Gig Sunday 22 February 2026

WOLVERHAMPTON, Wolverhampton Arts Centre
Development Day Saturday 14 March 2026
AGT Gig Sunday 22 March 2026

For media enquiries or further information about Honey Box Live: Amplifying Grassroots Talent GET IN TOUCH HERE