If there’s one thing we’ve learned about this industry, it’s that it never stands still. Where you’re an emerging artist or a seasoned pro, the “standard” route to success if every changing. Something, the best way forward is to move Off The Beaten Track, which is the first panel we attended at this year’s Wide Days Music Conference!
At Edinburgh’s Pleasance Theatre we listened to five professionals highlighting their journey through the ever changing touring circuit. Topics such as engaging your audience and planning a financially viable touring route passed the revue, because there’s so much more to the UK’s grassroots music industry than there is in the big cities! My personal favourite shows usually happen in the small towns that have one or two community-driven venues led by passionate professionals who have created an entire scene for themselves; Artisan Tap in Stoke-on-Trent, and The Blind Pig in Sowerby Bridge are two examples.
Aside from touring outside of the obvious examples such as London and Manchester, planning a tour comes with many challenges that could be made easier when you think outside of the box. Get creative with accommodation; look for glampsites, local fan stays, and book through websites that reward their regulars (Booking.com).
We next headed to a panel inspired by Ireland’s Basic Income for the Arts Scheme, where it was highlighted how important it is for us to take care of our artists, mentions of radio quota in Quebec and Canada were mentioned, as well as what happens at French radio stations. Ireland’s scheme will be renewed soon, which is a great step forward, hopefully England will soon follow suit.
We next spoke about accessibility, sustainability, and the digital world. The consensus among speakers was clear; the future of physical media must be green. Whether through recycled vinyl or eco-friendly packaging, artists are encouraged to look toward organisations like AGreenerFuture and the No Music On A Dead Planet campaign. By collaborating with these charities, creatives can ensure their releases remain prestigious without leaving a heavy carbon footprint.
When it comes to the digital side of the business, the conference highlighted that distribution is far more complex than simply hitting an upload button. Experts from EmuBands shared a fifteen minute talk on pitching to streaming platforms, but could’ve talked for hours, yet were still able to give us all some incredible tips and pointers on how to best pitch our music. Beyond the technical, there is a human element to digital strategy; using tools like Artist Picks to highlight local bands helps tell a broader story. Sharing the narrative behind a track and a concrete marketing plan proves to editors that an artist is a serious professional, not just a casual uploader.
Building a long-term career requires treating music as a tangible asset, a point driven home by industry veteran Mark Garfield of Pop-Up Music. His advice was simple but vital: build a catalogue rather than focusing on a single isolated release. This involves ensuring all rights agreements are watertight and that memberships with organisations like PRS are up to date to ensure proper payment. Aside from that, releasing or having instrumental versions or alternative mixes in your back pocket isn’t just about providing filler; it is a strategic move to create a goldmine for sync opportunities.
Cracking the world of sync remains a primary goal for many, and Wide Days provided a roadmap to the gatekeepers. Ultimately, Wide Days 2026 served as a reminder that while the industry is in a state of flux, the diversity of opportunity has never been greater. Success in the modern landscape requires a blend of creativity, sustainability, and a proactive approach to rights management. By staying informed and maintaining a lively presence across both physical and digital spaces, artists can navigate these changes and thrive in this new era of music!
Hels Pattison is a musician I could never get enough of seeing, or hanging out with, and being able to book her a tour at the start of this year brought me immense amounts of joy. The venues and promoters loved her as much as I did and it’s always nice when that happens! You can read all about Hels’ adventures below, and sign up to her mailing list here!
Night 1 – The Globe, Newcastle-upon-Tyne Where better to kick off an independent UK tour of grassroots venues than The Globe. As part of Aelius Rising, we (myself, Zac and Niles) played alongside personal favourites CRANE HOUSE and Oliver Hunt. The gig was the perfect way to start – familiar, energising, fun.
Night 2 – Strings Bar and Venue, Isle of Wight After a short stay with Zac’s family on The South Coast, we were off to the Isle of Wight, officially making this an over-seas tour. Strings Bar and Venue kindly opened early so we could drop all our gear and go exploring. We headed out to The Needles, on the west of the island, enjoying the scenery (and wind), as well as the gift shops stuck in time. Corrine Atkins opened with swampy blues and thigh slapping honky tonk, before TriAmi blew us away with gorgeous three part harmonies, and tender slice-of-life songs. Fortunately, the car did not get locked into the Morrison’s and we even managed to blag our way onto an early ferry home – nice.
Night 3 – The Guitar Social, London We expertly navigated around the congestion charge zone to arrive in London, where we played The Guitar Social in Shoreditch. Two years ago, to the day of the show, I played an open mic at The Guitar Social so it felt right to be returning there for a debut London show at their Folk Club. With supporting sets from Matt, Miliella, and From the Workshop.
Night 4 – Magic Dragon Brewery Tap, Wrexham Wrexham was a whirlwind. After being completely ghosted by the venue we were supposed to play, we were taken in and well looked after by Magic Dragon Brewery Tap. We tweaked the set to suit the louder room and the pub vibe and had an absolute blast. Megan Lee played a blinder of a set, with perfectly crafted country songs, top notch guitar playing, and a slick stage presence. It became apparant that we’d struck gold with the venue change and had ended up in the Ticket Office of Wrexham. Before leaving for Stoke, we did a whistle-stop tour of some beautiful spots just outside of Wrexham – we shall definitely be returning.
Night 5 – Artisan Tap, Stoke-on-Trent With nowhere to stay directly in Stoke-on-Trent, we had a bit of a weird day waiting for the venue to open, which was largely spend in the local Morrison’s, including catching up on admin in the cafe (Hels), and napping in the car (Zac). It was a drizzly and uninspring day, but our spirits lifted once we were in the quirky, cosy, three-roomed Artisan Tap. Beth Hill opened the show with her sublime vocals, and introspective songs about her life – can’t wait to hear some of these recorded and released. Next, the Hollie Vee Trio (playing as a duo) effortlessly waltzed through a range of country, Western swing, and bluegrass classics with professional ease. Honestly, we were happy just to have seen these two great acts and by the time we played we’d already had a great night.
Night 6 – Northern Guitars, Leeds Feeling refreshed after a day off staying with family, we had a short trip to Leeds, and a longer trip navigating through the one way system to the venue. Zac was in his happy place because the venue was also a guitar shop and bar – heaven. Madeleine May’s soft vocals and gut wrenching song writing gave serious Phoebe Bridgers energy (which I obviously loved), and Lilian sung hauting traditional English folk packed with folklore and ghost stories, absolutely great. Northern Guitars seems to be the Leeds venue I always see other Newcastle based artists playing, so I’m super pleased to finally pop my name on that list.
Night 7 – AAA Vinyl Coffee House, Harrogate One of the most unexpected venues of the tour was AAA Vinyl Coffee House, nestled in deepest darkest Harrogate. A cafe/bar/vinyl & apparel shop kitted out with a surround sound system fit for any audiophile. The “AAA” moniker made more sense once Dave explained he was formally a globe trotting audio engineer, and pointed out the framed collected of backstage triple A access passes on the wall. Despite the impressive array of artists on the wall (think Amy Winehouse, Corine Bailey Rae, even Goldie Lookin Chain), not a single name drop clanged to the floor – classy. It was a fun gig, playing a double set in the absence of a local support, and an even better hang after the show with Dave (venue), Marquee (photos), and Annabelle (friend) in the venue.
Night 8 – Fabio’s Bar, Durham Our final night on the road, before finishing the rest of the shows from home, we were in Fabios’s Bar. This one is a bit tenuous to include in a headline tour as we were billed as part of a Durham Fringe Presents event, but hey, there are no rules to getting your name out there these days! We were billed as the musical act among a variety performance including improv comedy troupe Shellshock! and magician Brooklyn-Ellis Carr. Leading up to this event, we had many discussions about how to curate a set list if we were to follow a magician and/or improv comedy – do you keep the mood high? do you play songs that have funny stories behind them? do you hide an animal in the sound hole of the guitar to pull out midway through a ballad? Mercifully, we opened the show to an attentive and engaged audience who didn’t shout out prompts throughout the set. It was a great experience, and the full force of Durham Fringe were out to pull the show together. Fingers crossed, we might be back in the summer with a full Durham Fringe Show to share.
Bonus gig – Supporting The Often Herd at PILGRIM Back in the North East, we had a gorgeous home town show opening up for The Often Herd. Neither Zac or I had seen The Often Herd live before and we were both blown away. The level of musicianship was inspiring, as the four piece effortlessly weaved through a double set of blistering bluegrass solos, sweet and sentimental songs, and generally great craic throughout. Thank you to the many people who came and chatted, brought merch, and shared kind words after the show. The joy of a matinee was that extra time to hang out after the show but still be home by nine (the 30 year old’s dream).
Night 9 – Repas7, Berwick-upon-Tweed Next up on the North East leg of the tour was Berwick, which is further than we’d expected, but definitely worth it. Friend and collaborator, Ezra Briggs, came down from Edinburgh to open the show, playing a mixture of dark folk favourites as well as new songs from his latest EP, Industry, with Three Good Years being a standout track both in the set and on the EP. There were a lovely group of regulars down to watch the music, and also a slightly roudier group of holiday makers who’d made use of the recent coupon campaign in The Sun for the local caravan park – an interesting mix but still a great gig. Haaruun, of Newcastle Jazz Fusion outfit Sleep Suppressor had recommended this venue to us and it was a great choice.
Night 10 – The Angels Cut, Darlington We returned to Darlington for our second time playing here, this time at The Angels Cut, a super cool bar with a cosy upstairs venue space with a warm, DIY feel. I met Steve, the owner, at The Glasshouse watching Imogen and The Knife, and by the end of the opener we’d booked a gig. Anna Karila (who you might also know as Anna Stevo) was there for support, bringing effortlessly cool, haunting vocals, and beautiful blend of originals and covers. People of Clay was our consensus favourite – “I wish I was the lightning, but I’m the gentle thud of rain.”
Night 11 – The Vault, Hexham After what has felt like an age (almost 2 months!), we managed to sneak a full band into the tour. Hexham is a gorgeous town, and one that is new to us, so we were genuinely surprised when we found out we were one ticket off a sell out! The narrow stone arch way of the venue quickly filled up while we got ready and changed in the upstairs art gallery (don’t ask). Like our last full band show, Tommy Arch opened, and I’m not sure what else I can say about Tommy’s set that I’ve not said before, other than it’s bloody amazing. He treated us to a new track too which I can’t wait to be released.
Night 12 – The Ticket Office, Whitley Bay Finally, we wrapped up back home at The Ticket Office, for an almost surprise show. I think almost everyone by now knows my connection with The Ticket Office, and why it’s so special to me. In the year or so that I worked there, it became the place I started doing open mics on my own, and it was the time I really started to work on writing songs under my own name, not for a group project. If you’ve been there, you know it’s small, so it was lovely to see it packed full of friendly faces – from Ticket Office regulars, to friends, to new fans of my music who we’d met from the North East leg of the tour. We played through a fairly lengthy set of 15 songs, and I also took the time to play three covers that used to be on my regular rotation while I worked there – Tin Man, Travelling Solider, and Kyoto. I wouldn’t have wanted to end the tour anywhere else, or in any other way, so thank you to everyone who came down and made it so special.
Just after his performance with The Quiet Fire at Aelius Alternative last Saturday, singer and overall wonderful human being Colm reached out to me asking if I’d be able to help him get a line-up together for Thursday evening, for an intimate show at Little Buildings, because his mother was visiting from Ireland. The answer was yes.
We pulled together a line-up of incredible local musicians, and shared it with all those that wanted to hear it or couldn’t avoid us. When I got to Little Buildings early that evening, the first person I saw was someone that never fails to bring a smile to my face, Hels Pattison is one of those unique rays of sunshine that you simply want to be around. Hels’ partner and equally wonderful human Zac was sound checking, Sam Shields, Colm and his friend Johnny who was helping us out on the door were all there. An instant atmosphere of warmth and camaraderie filled the room, and seeing everyone together like that left me with a smile I couldn’t shake.
Sam Shields opened the evening with his beautiful story telling and incredible voice, announced a live EP soon to be released, followed by Hels and Zac who performed a bunch of new songs they’ll be recording soon, I can’t wait to hear the magic they’ll undoubtedly be creating in the studio! I then finally got to enjoy The Quiet Fire as a quartet live, after I’d seem them in stripped back and acoustic form at Mosaic Tap the weekend before. The four piece brought a combination of their own work and that of others, with my favourites being their cover of Johnny Flynn’s ‘The Water’, the Oh Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack ‘I’ll Fly Away’, and original ‘The Flood’.
From all three acts it is their unwavering passion for their craft, their incredible talent, and warm stage presence that made this another evening to remember and made me want it to last forever. As I danced through their sets and sang along to the songs I thought to myself “I’ve really never felt this at home anywhere before” and it’s a feeling I cherish, adore, and hopefully will never lose.
I remember vividly attending a music conference and listening to a talk on how nearly impossible it is for emerging bands to tour. Nearly impossible, sure, but also completely possible. Over the past seven years I have created a list of music venues and contacts across the country and into Europe, simply by looking for music venues on Google Maps and finding their contact details on websites and Facebook-pages. I’ve divided them into a few categories including music cafes, for acoustic and mellow acts, venues, and rock venues, add a bunch of promoters I’ve found on social media through searches and connections, and you’ve got the start of a tour, almost.
When an artist reaches out to me about a tour I first check what cities they’ve got a crowd in already, friends, family, uni mates, colleagues, and what cities they’d like to play in or where they know bands they’d like to share a line-up with. I then check when they’re available for shows or a tour, and start to draw the route that has them drive the least amount of miles inbetween shows. With that I start reaching out to venues and promoters, as well as bands that might be able to help out, including proposed dates, the bands background info and the reason they’re touring. These days responses come rather quickly but it can take a good few weeks to get a response even after chasing.
Some venues charge a fee, sometimes they only charge for a sound engineer, and sporadically they pay a fixed fee for a set. Although the risk at times ends up with the artist, this also means you have full control over the line-up, your timings, your costs and your income and you increase your chances to get booked by a promoter as you now know the risk they take when booking you. Abnorm hired a van from a local to travel the country in and made sure not to bring too much equipment but have everything they needed to put on a good show.
We booked our accommodation through Booking.com, on which I have acquired Genuis Level 3 through using it regularly, which got us about 15% discount per house we stayed in. We all mostly had our own rooms, bathrooms, and kitchens to cook in if needed or when there was time. We sold our own tickets, split the income with the local supports and made money on merchandise. Through Abbie’s job we received some money to put towards petrol, keeping the financial costs at a great low, and this was only their first one!
Some things I would have done differently is get some physical promo material printed to spread through the cities when we arrived early, and ask local friends to help us promote the shows as well through posters and flyers. I’d get another band member to share driving duties with wor Abbie who drove like a champ but I’d stick with Booking.com and hiring a van! I’ll still always only book support bands through recommendations and try to see them live myself first.
Despite it being a knackering experience, being on tour is something I would do over and over again and an experience I would never have wanted to miss out on, fancy doing it yourself or looking for some help? Don’t hesitate to get in touch!
I knew the moment I started working with Newcastle-based heavy rock outfit Abnorm that a tour would eventually be unavoidable, and a few months ago we finally started planning with the hometown headline being their set at Aelius Alternative. After mapping out a route I picked the venues we’d wanted to target and got the dates confirmed. Before we knew it we were on our way to Belfast for the first show of their first six date counting tour!
I joined the band in Belfast traveling straight from Stockton after a day of stage managing at Stockton Calling! I loved local rock venue Voodoo and incredible supports Revolution and Sheela, after which we headed back to Newcastle before driving to London. We arrived the day before show day which meant that we had an entire day ahead of the show which I used to have a coffee with another PR agent at Kaffeine. I then headed to Clissold Park for a natter and more coffee at 13th Floor Coffee, after which we had a great show at Nambucca with a very quick and easy soundcheck support from Tales of Perdition and The Eeps.
The next day we drove back up towards Nottingham but not before a stop at Sherwood Forest, it’s kind of a must on every tour now, we then found our apartment in Nottingham and after some dinner at Koroko headed to Billy Bootlegger’s. Adam Zareba and Three of Swords made for great openers for Abnorm’s set, and luckily we got somewhat of a lie in the next day before heading further up to Leeds. Another day of driving and a relaxed evening with pie at Pieminister before heading to bed to get up well and rested for our next show at Santiago Bar. The venue was potentially my favourite with its simple but convenient set up and layout and kind bar staff.
Great support from Tymisha and Understudy and plans to bring Understudy up to Newcastle made for a successful night before our last out of town show in Edinburgh. The next day we make the track further up the A1M to Edinburgh where we arrived nice and on time for our show at Sneaky Pete’s, with another incredible line-up including The Devil’s Forfeit and Gambit, a wonderful crowd, and lovely sound engineer Adam. After an eruptive last show we drove back to Newcastle, tired, content, ready to sleep, and ready to head back out on the road again…!
The moment the last band played their last tune at The Gathering Sounds last year I was already looking forward to my return to The LINK for Stockton Calling so when the day finally came around it was as if I was a kid going on holiday.
The brilliant team at This Feeling have trusted me with repping and stage managing their shows in the north east and every event so far has been an absolute pleasure. Having attended Stockton Calling plenty of times before I knew what to expect and returning to one of my favourite Stockton venues made it even better. The lovely staff at The LINK welcomed me with open arms and the incredible bands performing during the day were joys to work with.
We started our day with young indie outfit Montello, continued with incredible five piece Masi Masi, vibed along to The Juice, loved seeing Long Island and Eighty Eight Miles again – such powerhouses! – and loved Cusp and headliners Cruz. All kind professional and swift in helping each other out, the bands made this a breeze of a day.
Although I love an indie boy band like no other, seeing women take the mic and conquer the stage with ease is something that’ll never tire me, Long Island and Eighty Eight Miles stunned once again with their powerful and unapologetic performances and they could’ve played at least twice as long if you’d have asked me!
Once my stage at The LINK had wrapped up I headed to ARC for Glasgow favourites Soapbox, after which I saw The Molotovs at The Social Room before grabbing a quick late night dinner before heading to my accommodation for a decent night’s sleep. That wrapped another incredible Stockton Calling with plenty of wonderful faces and lovely old and new friends I can’t wait to see again!
Special thanks to George, Jimmy, Ellie, Ben, Rob, Ben, Kyle, Rich, Nicole, Chris, and Andy for making this another event for the books.
Classic rock outfit Alex James are releasing ‘Figure It Out Now’, taken from their upcoming EP on the 11th of March! Alex turns pain into triumph as he deals with the affects of life-limiting muscle wasting condition DMD.
After taking a break due to a health scare, Alex and his band mark their return with a 4-track EP, ‘The Outcast’, which is a modern take on classic rock, exploring experiences of life and thematically focusing on the idea of being stuck in a bubble and having the urge to break out and figure out one’s place in this ever changing world. The second single from this EP ‘Figure It Out Now’, follows in line with first single ‘Quarantine’ and will hit streaming services on Wednesday 11th March.
Last Wednesday Tim Gambles and I arrived by ferry in Rotterdam, had lunch at Het Magazijn, said hi to Peter Paul at Velvet, and headed to Belgisch Biercafe Boudewijn for a warm and welcoming show with some wonderful friends by our side.
The moment we stepped into the venue, its enthusiastic staff helped us store our equipment before they watered and fed us. The warmth of the staff and everyone attending Tim’s free entry show made it a great experience and a space we’d love to return to!
The next day we spent some time at Beest Boulders, then took the train to Utrecht where we met Mario, Megan, Pien, Femke & Judith and Tim played a blinder at the Cafe Averechts open mic, as did our incredible friend Mario, who releases music under the moniker of Nocebo, it was a joy to see him perform live again.
The next day we drove to Berlin, spent time at aquarium and the zoo, discovered the city, and enjoyed a great evening at Poison Bar Artliners Berlin. The evening started out with a series of original performers, developed into a spontaneous jam, and ended in karaoke, a surprise to say the least but an inspiring one at that!
At some point during the past few days confirmations for a few more international shows came through, and new music will be coming out soon. It’s been exciting, inspiring and has shifted us both into gear to keep building on this momentum and book our next few tours with a few ready to announce very soon! Make sure you stay up to date, because you won’t want to miss what we’ve got in store for you…
Could you introduce yourself and those that influence your music? “Hi! I’m Caroline Larke, a singer & songwriter based in the US. I recently released my debut EP, Late Bloomer, which features 4 new songs that explore topics of introspection, observation of the human experience, first love, mental health, and more. I’ve always felt like a Late Bloomer in many ways (and come from a long line of self-proclaimed, late-blooming women) and this EP is a short chronicle through the “blooming” as it occurs in different ways.”
“I’ve always felt very influenced by the creative women in my life and how they view the world with such open curiosity. Other artists that influence my music include Regina Spektor, Imogen Heap, Kimbra, Elvis Presley, Ella Fitzgerald (and the other greats – Nina, Etta). They all create in such unique ways that really light something up in my brain in a way that stands out to me.”
What inspires you to write and to keep writing and what is it that you mostly write about? “I’m always inspired by new experiences and people – by traveling and interacting with life as much as I possibly can.I process everything through writing. It often makes more sense to me than regular conversation – though that’s very important too, of course. I write about everything. The human experience, the way people live, how I feel in the world, history, love, mental health, communication, being human. It sort of just finds you and you greet it as a friend.”
What are some of your proudest musical achievements so far and what do you still hope to achieve? “Anytime I see someone in the crowd experiencing something personal. Usually their eyes are closed and they’re connecting with themselves or the moment in some way. That always feels really special to me, that I get to be a part of that connection by doing what I love to do. Additionally, the first time I worked up the courage to play live, out in the world, in front of people. That changed everything. More recently, I received the Emerging Artist grant from the Durham Arts Council, which helped me gain the resources I needed to finish the final songs on my EP and release that out into the world.”
Could you share some of your current favourite artists with us? Big or small! “Absolutely! Regina Spektor, Imogen Heap, Elvis Presley, Kimbra, Tegan & Sara, Marina, Hozier, Billie & Finneas.”
What is next for you within your musical career? “I’m ready to dive in and do as much as I possibly can. I’m currently planning a U.S. tour for my recent EP, Late Bloomer, which just released, and there’s a European tour in the works for next year. I’ll also be starting production and recording for my debut album soon, which is very exciting. From there, festivals and any opportunity to connect with music lovers around the world.”
What song do you think our followers should be listening to right now and why? “‘Baby Sinner’ and ‘Horses’ are both great ones to start with. Lyrically, I think they both offer important stories, especially for the times. Sonically, they are very melodic and gentle. From there, I recommend checking out the rest of the EP, where you’ll find ‘Another Song’ and ‘Spirit Guide’. I have a few Christmas songs out too that I recommend giving a listen. ‘First Snow’ is available on streaming, and ‘If You Were A Metal Pole’ and ‘Come With Me For Christmas’ are only out on YouTube right now. All three feature a unique take on the holidays from a less common perspective that I hope people will connect with.”
The world is full of weird and wonderful sounds, and willine‘s in-depth French-spoken rap is a new favourite I’d never have thought would be for me. ‘Unseen’ is filled with emotional and slightly distorted electronic elements colouring its soundscape. A song more within the range of music I usually listen to is Caroline Larke‘s ‘Another Song’ which showcases her stunningly breakable voice and a softly wandering soundscape driven by warm guitar sounds, another is CYRILLE‘s ‘Backlash’, which is dark and thrilling, the pop rock track is a slower paced version of the dark rock arena bands I’d go see at the Utilita.
A cinematic new pop release came in the form of James Tonic‘s ‘Fold Down’, which also makes an appearance on his latest album ‘Safety’. A touch of shimmering pop elements has only ever brightened up a playlist and will do so again with this one. Last of my favourite new discoveries is Spanish indie outfit Red Moon Yard‘s ‘Queen of my Sorrows’ with is a welcome and comforting indie release with warm vocals, listening like a comforting friend when in need of one, and it’s got a lovely live video too!
LLIVELY Music 