Supporting emerging musicians and technicians

Huge Funding Boost for Supporting Emerging Musicians and Technicians

Mic drop! The King Street Studios and Honey Box Live teams are celebrating a funding boost of nearly £30k. This investment will focus on supporting emerging musicians and technicians across the Midlands. The project receives public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England.

Expanding Opportunities for Local Talent

Our director, Pete Herbert, said, “The Arts Council England funding recognises the impact the Honey Box initiative has made. It enables us to expand our support for emerging musicians and technicians beyond the studio and into new locations. Growing and encouraging local talent is rewarding, and we look forward to Series 9 of Honey Box incorporating this new venture.”

A History of Nurturing Talent

Since launching in 2016, the Honey Box team of industry professionals has shared their expertise to strengthen the local music scene. They host new and emerging local musicians at King Street Studios, Newcastle-under-Lyme, who perform live before an intimate audience. The gigs get recorded, live-streamed, and uploaded to our YouTube channel to reach a wider online community.

Taking Music Beyond the Studio

Thanks to the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, Honey Box took its show on the road last year. We connected emerging artists with audiences in new cities and helped them learn the ins and outs of touring. Small, accessible live venues serve as gateways for musicians to develop skills and confidence. Honey Box found success in Series 8 at The Sugarmill (Stoke-on-Trent), 2Funky Music Complex (Leicester), and Hull Truck Theatre (Hull).

Training the Next Generation

The gigs don’t only improve playing skills—they build performance confidence. They also train upcoming live music producers and technicians. These trainees face real challenges and learn to manage technology behind the scenes of touring live broadcasts.

Growing the Initiative Across the Midlands

Building on this success, we created a plan to bring this project to more cities. This funding will launch a series of performances at King Street Studios (Newcastle-under-Lyme), Blue Note Nightclub (Derby), 2Funky Music Complex (Leicester), and Wolverhampton Arts Centre. These events aim at supporting emerging musicians and technicians across the region.

Development Days: Workshops and Industry Insights

Each location will host a Development Day alongside performances. These days will offer practical workshops on live audio, stage production, social media, and music marketing. Guest speakers from the industry will join panel discussions to share insights from promoters, funders, and music professionals. These sessions help participants build experience, gain knowledge, and make vital connections.

Get Involved

For more details about the Honey Box Live: Amplifying Grassroots Talent project, upcoming gigs, development days, and how to join as an unsigned artist or trainee technician, get in touch.

Let’s get this show on the road!