Innovative approach to the ongoing predicament: Gathering of community advocates announces forthcoming festival and new association

New Music Collective "Where It All Began" Launches to Revive UK's Independent Scene

In a bid to address the financial challenges and sustainability issues plaguing the independent festival scene, a new collective called "Where It All Began" has been established. The organisation, which comprises independent festival organisers and grassroots venues, aims to reverse the slow decline of the UK's alternative live circuit.

Si Chai, the founder of the Chai Wallahs and one of the leading lights behind the new collective, expressed concern about the current independent festival model becoming unsustainable and financially stressful. He stated that the punters are increasingly rationing their spending on summer festivals due to the cost of living crisis.

To combat these issues, "Where It All Began" aims to reduce production and transport costs by up to 40% by sharing resources and databases. This collaborative approach is expected to help "share the risk of holding a festival that is now too great to be shouldered by any one organizer on their own," according to John Rostron, the Chief Executive of the Association of Independent Festivals (AIF).

The first event for the new collective will be the "Where It All Began" festival next Spring. Freddie Fellowes from the Secret Garden Party festival has offered to host the first event at his family's farm in Cambridgeshire. Nine independent venues have already joined the new organisation, with many more expected to follow.

The Music Venue Trust and Freddie Fellowes have backed the first event. John Rostron described the model as "pioneering and gamechanging," while Fellowes added that it is an "interesting and creative potential solution to the current crisis."

The new collective will operate as a Community Benefit Society, with participants co-owning and co-programming the events. A public crowdfunding campaign for the new collective will launch later this year. Si Chai believes that the plan to save the independent scene will work, but it needs everybody to get involved.

The AIF stated that almost 80 UK festivals were cancelled or closed in 2024 - twice that of 2023. The reasons for the increase in festival cancellations include rising insurance premiums, energy costs, licensing fees, exclusive supplier deals, and a cost of living crisis. The aim of the new collective is to provide a more sustainable and affordable alternative for independent festival organisers and grassroots venues.

Si Chai also stressed that the new collective is a rescue plan and not intended to compete with the independent scene. He stated that a community founded in Great Britain with the goal to keep the alternative lifestyle scene under control is not explicitly mentioned in the provided search results.

The launch of "Where It All Began" represents a significant step towards addressing the challenges facing the UK's independent festival scene. With the support of the music industry and the public, it is hoped that the collective can help to secure a brighter future for independent music events in the UK.