Applications are now open for Soundcamp 25, where 8 emerging artists will be selected to embark on a 6-month journey to grow their musical skills, networks, industry knowledge and career.
Led by Werkha, with mentors Jack (Cooper T) & LayFullStop and supported by Ableton, PRS, BBC Introducing + expert guidance from Danny Fahey
You will gain:
Insider insight into the music industry
Create your own unique music and learn new skills
Discover and develop your artist identity
Perform on a 2-day tour of Blues Kitchen Manchester & London –
Free course with food and travel provided
We’re looking for young artists who:
Have some experience creating and/or performing music and are serious about pursuing a career in the industry.
Can provide an artist profile (basic presence online, demo recordings, performances, collabs, etc).
Can commit to all programme dates (to be shared in advance).
Eligibility
Applicants must:
Be aged 16–25
Live in the North
Commit to Tuesday evening sessions between Sept and Feb
Be able to commit to 3 full days – 10am – 4pm on the 6th, 7th and 8th Oct
Be able to commit to 3 full days – 10am – 4pm on the 24th, 25th and 26th Nov
Travel, perform and stay overnight London 4th March
Travel back and perform in Manchester 5th March
Show evidence of:
Musical work (recordings, demos, releases).
Performance experience (gigs, open mics, school/college shows, livestreams).
An interest in growing as an artist and developing other skills within the music industry
How to Apply
Send your application to: soundcamp2025@reformradio.co.uk
You can apply in one of three ways:
Written (max 2 pages).
Audio (max 5 minutes).
Video (max 5 minutes).
Please include:
Your name, age, location, and contact details.
Your artist name (if different).
Links to your music/performances (SoundCloud, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, Bandcamp, etc).
Short responses to the following questions:
What is your vision for yourself as an artist?
Why do you want to take part in Soundcamp 2025/26?
What commitments or challenges might affect your ability to participate?
Any access needs we should be aware of?
Timeline
Applications Open: 16th Sept at 5 pm
Applications Close / Shortlisting: 1st Oct at midnight
In Person Panel Shortlisting: 1st & 2nd Oct (You may be required to attend a meeting or audition at a time to be confirmed)
English Conversation Cafe is for anyone who speaks very little English or none, who would like to learn more about the English language and social culture/traditions, or just to socialise and beat the blues of isolation.
Do you want to learn skills in content production? Do you want to create change in the creative sector?
Join us for our Deaf Digital Productions programme! We will be working with organisations in the creative sector to make them more accessible and create high-quality digital content.
You will learn skills in creating videos and other online content, supporting you to find a job in different industries too.
Sessions are free to attend, travel and lunch is provided and every session will have BSL interpreters.
You will learn skills in:
Using the latest cameras
Using lighting and backdrops
Editing
Creating content for social media
Working with creative organisations
You don’t need any prior experience to join.
Eligibility: This opportunity is open to deaf people.aged 18+ living in greater Manchester(please note the age limit has changed recently to include anyone over the age of 18)
Programme Dates:
3 weeks starting from, 20th October – 7th November, Monday – Friday, 10 am – 4 pm.
Week 1: Monday October 20th – Friday October 24th, 10am – 4pm Location: Bolton Deaf Society – Bark St, Bolton BL1 2AX
Week 2: Monday October 27th – Friday October 31st, 10am – 4pm Location: Reform Radio – Bonded Warehouse, 18 Lower Byron Street, Manchester M3 4AP
Week 3: Monday November 3rd – Friday November 7th, 10am – 4pm Location: Reform Radio – Bonded Warehouse, 18 Lower Byron Street, Manchester M3 4AP
After the course, participants will receive follow-on employment support for 12 weeks.
How to apply
Please apply in the way that works best for you, by submitting either:
A written application – 1 A4 page max
A video application in BSL or English – 2 minutes max
This can be sent to us via WhatsApp on 07543 221800 or via email, admin@boltondeafsociety.co.uk.
Please include the following in your application:
Name, age, employmentstatus and location (i.e Bolton/ Manchester/ Stockport)
What is your contact information and best way to contact you?
Do you need a BSL interpreter?
Please tell us about any access support you require.
Why would you like to apply for the programme?
What type of role are you looking for in the creative & cultural sector?
Can you commit to all sessions on the programme?
If you need any support with your application or have any questions please contact us on 07543 221800 or admin@boltondeafsociety.co.uk
In partnership with Jigsaw Homes, we’re bringing back our Skills Exchange programme where we’ll be running 2x week long training courses for young people aged 16-18 (or 18-25 with an EHCP) who live in Tameside and aren’t in education, training or full time employment. The courses we’ll be running are:
Hospitality: 8 Sept – 13 Sept from 1-4pm at Dukinfield Community Hub HOSPITALITY LINK
As part of the course, participants will get further support from a Key Worker at Jigsaw to help them into further employment or training opportunities AND the chance to see a free show here at RET. We can also support covering cost of travel, lunches etc or any other barriers that people might face.
There is an exciting opportunity to join the Reform Radio team in Manchester as our new Reform Mentor. We’re a growing Community Interest Company and award-winning radio station, dedicated to supporting young adults to access cultural opportunities and career pathways in the creative industries.
As part of our Engagement Team the Reform Mentor will engage young adults and organisations across Greater Manchester and the North to recruit and enrol participants onto our creative programmes and workshops. The role is mainly based out of Reform Radio, based in Manchester and partner spaces.
Our ideal candidate will have experience working with young adults aged 18 – 30 in a creative, training or mentoring capacity.
As a Reform Mentor, you will take time to get to know participants and understand barriers which prevent them from achieving their goals. You will also assist in delivering creative courses alongside our Creative Practitioners, ensuring all participants feel supported throughout their course.
This support includes co-creating individual, personalised action plans with participants and offering support and advice during and after the project or training programme. As a mentor, you will aim to introduce participants to a person-centred and creative approach to improving confidence, employment and transferable skills. If you’d like to chat about this opportunity, please contact Lewys, Head of Quality Assurance, on lewys@reformradio.co.uk or on 0161 806 0879. To view the full job description, please click here.
The DJ Sessions course (funded by MAES) last month in June was an absolute hit. We are lucky to have had a cohort of incredible young talent and passion walk through our studio doors, ready to upskill in the world of mixers and beat-matching. Over the two-week course, our trusty team of mentors helped the participants curate their music selection and learn the often tricky technicalities of DJing. All of their preparation was geared towards their showcase on the final day of the course! We spoke to Mason just ahead of his showcase to hear about his experiences of DJ Sessions and his exciting future plans.
Please can you introduce your name, and pronouns, and tell us a bit about what you like getting up to in your free time?
My name is Mason Neville Cooper (he/him). I love DJing, clearly, and I love learning everything there is to know about it.
What prompted you to get involved with the DJ Sessions course?
It was just that at one point, I heard a song, and it just resonated with me. I wanted to know how it was made and who made it – most importantly, I wanted to know if everyone else felt the same way about that song. And now a year down the line, here I am, learning about it.
What do you love most about DJing?
What I love the most about it is definitely the creativeness, you can literally be your own person when it comes to DJing. You can express yourself in a million different ways. It’s a good thing to always have at the back of your mind, and know that if all else fails, I’ve always got this. It’s not even just a good skill to have, but a backup plan – I enjoy waking up in the morning and DJing.
Did you have much experience in DJing before? What’s one stand out thing you’ve learnt at Reform?
I had barely any experience before, just a love for it. I think one big thing that I’ve learned is how creative you can actually be with it. Everything that we’ve learned altogether has been absolutely amazing.
How would you describe your DJ set in three words?
Absolutely bloody amazing.
Do you have any role models in the music scene that inspire your practice?
I have so many, I could spend all day naming them. I’ll name all the big names, you’ve got people like Chris Stussy, Kettama. There are a lot of people in the industry that I highly look up to and all for different things: the person that they are, their attitude, and how they make the crowd feel. The DJ world just gives off a really warm vibe, and it’s a great community to be a part of.
Let’s throw it back to your first day at Reform versus now, tell me a bit about your first impressions/feelings/emotions in comparison to how you feel now. What has changed?
Well, I’d say the first day, before even coming, I was a bit nervous because I’m not really the type of person to just meet new people like this. But the second I walked through the door, everyone made me feel right at home. I’ve made really good friends.
What will you take from the DJ course moving forwards and what are your plans from here onwards?
I’m definitely taking my attitude and everything I’ve learned with me. And my plans for after are to hopefully become the next big superstar DJ, hopefully you’ll see me at Parklife next year.
If you could DJ at any festival, event, or place in the world, where would it be and why?
Recently, there was a rave in front of the Pyramids in Egypt, which is my ideal place. Sunset, in front of the Pyramids, dropping absolute bangers.
To find out about our future projects at Reform Radio, sign up to our Projects newsletter here.
WHATCLASS is a revolution in modern music learning. On-demand, bite-size classes directly from the most influential artists in music culture, with insight and skills you can use immediately.
Whether you aspire to perform on the biggest stages or simply explore a personal passion for music-making, WHATCLASS empowers your artistic journey, one class at a time.
oin Black Creative Trailblazers & Manchester Museum for an evening to reflect, recharge & connect with creatives across Manchester. Inspired by The Cat that Slept for 1000 Years, we’ll explore how caring for ourselves and our dreams shapes a better future.
Expect beautiful conversations, good vibes, and space to simply be.
Join us for a night of creativity and community at the Trailblazers Open Mic Night, showcasing emerging musicians, poets, and performers from across the creative community in Manchester.
Whether you’re an artist looking to share your work or simply want to enjoy a creative evening, come and experience a night filled with amazing performances, inspiring storytelling, and good vibes! Creatives can sign up to perform here
Commercials are full of people like you and TV/film producers want REAL PEOPLE, not posh drama school graduates. However, unless you’ve been to stage school or had some kind of formal training, it’s hard to be yourself on camera. That’s where Manchester Television Workshops comes in.
MTW take people from all walks of life and teaches them acting skills and industry secrets that gives them everything they need to get work in the industry. They are all about diversity, so classes are open to everyone.
MTW only take people into workshops who they feel have potential, and offer an introductory class completely FREE OF CHARGE – it gives you the chance to show what you can do and to see if you like what they do!
Our acclaimed DJ Sessions are one of the most popular free creative courses at Reform throughout the year. Over the course of the project, participants get hands-on experience in the likes of beat-matching, self-promotion and sourcing gig opportunities.
This project is kindly funded by MAES, and takes place across two weeks. The programme closes with a celebratory showcase. Lunch and travel is provided.
For the full information on how to get involved in our next round of DJ Sessions, check the flyer below.
Hop behind the scenes of one of our DJ Sessions in the video below.
Meet Erika that took part in our last programme who chatted to us about what she’ll be taking from it moving forward here.
Find out about our other free creative courses here. If you like the look of them, get in touch with our lovely Engagement Team on projects@reformradio.co.uk to get involved.
This year has been filled with so many exciting projects and partnerships for us. On Reform Radio’s 12th birthday, we thought we’d take the opportunity to reminisce over the past year. Let’s get into it…
Our Skills Bootcamp courses, funded by GMCA and GM Work and Skills, invited over 100young creatives through our doors. These participants had the opportunity to work with major clients such as Band On the Wall, Parklife, Blossom Foundation, and West Art Collective. Also, thanks to our amazing mentors, Skills Bootcamp attendees continue to receive support for six months post-project.
As we transitioned to DAB radio earlier last year, we have been exploring the need for censorship within live broadcasts. We asked ourselves questions to further understand the intricacies of censorship, such as, if and when is it appropriate to play a word that can be equally offensive and empowering? We took to our airwaves to open this discussion in a productive and informative manner. You can listen to this pivotal open forum below.
We teamed up with We Out Here Festival to curate and deliver a lineup for their WOH Radio Stage. They also joined us on the Reform Radio airwaves for multiple exclusive shows. To get a deeper insight into what We Out Here is all about and how we collaborated with them, take a look at their short documentary ‘Amplifying Voices’. This film beautifully encapsulates ‘The Power of Community Radio’.
Beyond The Music is another festival we curated a lineup for. This local festival brings music and energy to Manchester’s City Centre. We featured some amazing local DJs and some of our very talented DJ Sessions graduates.
Our most recent stage takeover was hosted at The Old Fire Station in Salford for the Sounds From The Other City festival on May 4th. Read more about our day of partying via our blog post here.
We were a production partner on BBC Sounds’ Audio Lab project, which empowered a young creator to bring their podcast idea to life. A big congratulations to Mia Thornton for creating ‘Instrumental’, a podcast which amplifies the influence of black artists on Britain’s favourite music genres. This 6-part series featured guests including Clara Amfo and DJ Paulette. Some of the episodes were aired on BBC 6 Music. Listen to all the episodes on BBC Sounds here.
Our podcasting team also produced a BBC Bitesize GCSE History podcast about Elizabeth I. In this revision series, Alice Loxton and Anouska Lewis uncover the history and hardships of this famous female monarch. Listen here.
The Get Up, our weekday breakfast show hosted by Yelena Lashimba, featured some exciting new segments, including industry adviceinterviews, guest mixes and getting to know the Reform Radio team. Some of Yelena’s guests over the past year include, Craig David, Andy Burnham, Efia Mainoo & THT GRL from Not Bad For A Girl.
We celebrated Record Store Day this year with a special programming of vinyl-only sets on April 12th. Also, we spoke to the lovely team at Vinyl Exchange about their preparations and predictions for the day. In store, they kindly played the exclusive programming as their customers browsed RSD away. After all, our lineup included one of their very own, Ailsa of Living Room Dance Club.
In the lead up to the MTV EMAs, we were a community partner for Paramount’s Content For Change event at New Century Hall. There was an amazing array of guests, panels and networking opportunities. We had so much fun getting to interview some amazing people.
Well, what a year it has been! A big shoutout and massive thanks to our amazing team at Reform, our DJs, artists, Advisory Board, young people and audience for making Reform what it is today. Here to another great year and many, many more!
At this year’s Sounds From The Other City festival, the team at Reform Radio worked hard to deliver a top-notch lineup for our takeover at The Old Fire Station in Salford on the 4th of May.
The general vibe at SFTOC this year was next level as they celebrated their 20th birthday. Perfect weather and a vast array of talent across all the venues attracted a bubbly and bustling crowd.
SFTOC took over pubs, restaurants, clubs and more sites all around the City of Salford. Our home for the day was The Old Fire Station pub, situated directly across from the ticket station at Salford University.
As guests stepped into our brightly decorated venue, a perfectly placed bar greeted them, inviting them to grab a drink before hitting the dance floor. The music flowed from the DJ station at the other end of the oblong-shaped room, seeping outside through the open doors too. The warm weather made for a perfect al fresco listening experience.
These acts brought everything including disco, bashment, cumbia, dancehall, house, UK funky, techno and jungle – what more could you want on a sunny bank holiday Sunday?
Even better, in case you missed out or want to listen back to your favourite set of the day, all Reform Radio performances were recorded and are now available to stream on our website here.
Thank you, SFTOC, for having us – it’s always a pleasure to party with you. Here’s to another 20 years of more music and more fun!
As part of Mental Health Awareness Week 2025, our Wellbeing Manager and in-house trained psychotherapist, Dan, is taking over the Reform Radio blog. When it comes to mental wellbeing and self-awareness, it can feel like a hard-to-navigate minefield. In this post, Dan invites us to expand our understanding of ourselves by asking ourselves just 5 questions. Here they are, straight from the therapist’s mouth…
Am I treating thoughts as facts?
Thoughts are not facts – perhaps an obvious statement, yet so easily forgotten in the moment. We jump to conclusions and panic, we assume what others are thinking and don’t dare check, we make predictions like they’re ‘going out of fashion’ (this a prediction in itself!) and then lose opportunities. Consider your thoughts carefully. Thoughts that give rise to uncomfortable emotions can often be distorted. What is the evidence for your thought?
Am I relying on ‘Emotional Reasoning’?
Emotional Reasoning is when we rely solely on our feelings to assess the situation. Sure, trusting our gut can be helpful. However, remember, feelings in themselves are rarely able to offer a detailed account of reality. For example, feeling guilty doesn’t automatically make us guilty! Feeling hopeless does not make it hopeless! Feeling shame does not mean we are shameful. Notice your feelings and consider if it is helpful to consider the facts before reacting.
Am I ‘Shame Savvy’?
Guilt is what we might feel because we did something bad. Shame is what we feel because we are bad (or so shame would have you believe). It is one of the most intolerable emotions. Shame makes itself known with “I am …” thoughts that don’t just tell you that there is a problem, or that you created a problem, it tells you YOU are the problem. “I am bad, I am inadequate, I am stupid, I am not good enough” are all signs that shame has crept up on you. When we’re not ‘shame savvy’ by naming shame for what it is (a feeling – not a conclusive character assessment) we can avoid the many barriers it presents to being our authentic selves, taking accountability, feeling enough, and much more.
Am I playing it too safe?
If there’s one thing our mind is great at it’s getting us to avoid the uncomfortable. Of course, it makes sense – as far as our primitive brain is concerned, comfort = safety! Just one problem –discomfort is so often not only a component in the process of personal growth, but conductive to it! Always playing it safe only serves to rob us of fulfilling our potential. In moments where you are invited to rise to a challenge ask yourself: “What matters to me most right now? Avoiding short-term discomfort? Or doing something to support my personal growth?”. Remember, often we can’t do both at the same time.
Am I setting healthy boundaries?
How we set boundaries has a huge impact on the quality and health of our relationships and our mental health. But how often do you say “yes” when you think you should be saying “no”. How often do you take accommodations that feel unfair? Avoid addressing behaviour you don’t feel comfortable with? Poor boundary setting does not make a person “nice”, or “easy going”. In fact, it so often leads to unpleasantness and difficulties down the line, for one or all of those in the relationship. Remember, people who want healthy relationships want you to communicate your boundaries, so they know what is acceptable or not in your relationship. If someone persistently disregards your boundaries, reacts unpleasantly to them, or guilt-trips you for setting them in the first place it may be worth considering whether or not that person can truly offer a healthy and equal relationship.
Listen back to Dan’s recent conversation on The Get Up below.
We had an eclectic group of musicians develop their artistry on our Music Course at Reform Radio (funded by MAES). Whether first-timers or new artists looking for guidance, all the participants worked over two weeks to write and produce a song. Expert help from our Reform Radio mentors, Alex, Femi and Les, led these budding creatives towards their end goal, where they had the opportunity to play their new song live on Reform Radio’s airwaves. The sheer talent and passion from our attendees on this Music Course can be experienced via their ‘Quest For Groove’ show, where they let you into this new, exciting chapter of their musical careers.
Listen below.
We caught up with two members of the groovy crew at the end of their course to see how they developed over their time here:
Please can you introduce your name, and pronouns, and tell us a bit about what you like getting up to in your free time?
S: Hi, I’m Sakinah (she/her). I am a classically trained actress, but I’ve always had this hidden hobby for music. Music is something I’m in love with, it has saved my life. I love to listen to sounds like R&B, Ragga, Jazz and Hip-Hop. Hip-hop is my therapy. My goal is to make a lot of music and perform onstage.
J: My name is James (he/him). I’m a folk and soul singer-songwriter. I always grew up around music, and even when I wasn’t consciously looking for it, it became a part of my life. I love old soul music. Otis Redding is my favourite singer in the world. I have an eclectic taste, I love bits of everything. My end goal is to share music and help people with mental health – hopefully they can relate to my songs and put people in a better place.
Describe yourself in 3 words.
S: Tranquility, fun, light.
J: Unique, honest, brave.
If you were stuck on a desert island with a record player, what record would you want to have with you to listen to?
S: ‘I Will Always Love You’ by Whitney Houston.
J: One song that’d keep me going is ‘Dry The Rain’ by The Beta Band.
Did you have much musical experience before? If so, what’s your favourite thing about making music?
S: I’ve mainly got acting experience. But my sister said to me when I was sixteen that I can’t sing, so I thought that I was never going to be able to do that. So I always hid behind dance and acting when truthfully, I’m a little superstar who loves singing!
J: I went to college to study music performance. But from growing up around music, I have developed an eclectic music taste. Music for me is about expression, you can really express how you feel; express soul and love and even unhappiness. Most sad things turn out beautiful in music. After studying music for three years at college, I really realised that this is my life. I like performing and feeling the soul and feeling a buzz. I don’t really feel that when I wake up, but when I’m onstage I feel something – I don’t know what it is but it’s something that keeps me going.
What prompted you to get involved with the Music Course?
S: I’ve come on this course to get confident being around other people who are creative in this music bubble. I just wanted to be able to feel confident. I want to create something and share it because I feel like loads of people are gonna relate to me. I’m supposed to make these songs to help people. I love healing the world, so this is my method of doing that.
J: I’m unemployed because I want to work in the music industry and it’s something that you can’t really just walk into. So, I was at the job centre talking about my music, and Damian, who’s very good, directed me to this course. It’s been really good, this course has helped me so much. It has taught me so much and shown me how music is important to me.
Let’s throw it back to your first day at Reform versus now, tell me a bit about your first impressions/feelings/emotions in comparison to how you feel now. What has changed?
S: I came here with an open mind, receptive to anything that was asked of me. I’ve got more clarity and confidence now because I’ve been able to practice what I do in front of people and have feedback, which I never had before.
J: Coming from college, I always found there was a lot of pressure to be a certain way. So I said to myself, “I’m going to come in here with a mindset that just wants to learn and grow with other people.” It’s been really chill, and I’ve met a lot of nice and creative people who genuinely care about the soul of music. People who care about the journey and not the destination. At college, it wasn’t like that. Alex and Femi are absolutely phenomenal, I’ve learned so much from them already.
What’s your go-to album to listen to after a long day?
S: When I’m creating, I don’t listen to any other artists. I only listen to frequency music. Because if I listen to them now, I’m potentially going to try and sound like them, and I can’t afford to do that because it’s important that I keep my originality. But when I’m not creating, I listen to Janet Jackson (‘That’s The Way Love Goes’), Lauryn Hill, and Missy Elliott.
J: For me, that’s easy, I’m going to say ‘Otis Blue’ by Otis Redding. It’s got some really beautiful and calm melodies and some more upbeat melodies. Every time I listen, I think, “That’s my man Otis Redding”. I love that man.
Do you have any musical role models that inspire your practice and why?
S: Beyonce, because she does this thing, that when she’s creating a world and a body of art, she’s drawing from all these different elements and she’s using that to be the foundation of the art. Everything she does is calculated. She’s not putting anything together just because it looks good.
J: My dad. He’s been singing in bands all his life. Without him, I would not be the musician I am today. I’m very lucky because my mum and dad play great music. My dad taught me the basics of the guitar. He is my music hero.
What will you take from the Music course moving forward & what are your plans from here onwards?
S: I want to perform. I want to do festivals and concerts and support artists; writing and write for people. With my whole new lease of life, I just want to live it. I want to get onstage and share to the masses.
J: Keep creating music. I need to start up a social media page for it. I’m not a big fan of social media, but I know it’s important if I want to raise my music awareness. I want people to see it! I’d love to work in the industry facilitating music courses for disabled people.
To find out about our future projects at Reform Radio, sign up to our Projects newsletter here.
Up-and-coming rapper Sindysman joined us in the studio for Jorgy & Cheech’s show in April. However, he did not bring the energy alone with Frankie Strange by his side. The duo hopped on the beat with their unique rap style. This live feature on Jorgy & Cheech’s show couldn’t have come at a better time for Sindysman, with his most recent song release, ‘Sharkboy‘ coming out ahead of a 42-track album entitled DOGTOOTH (set to be released on the 28th of May). Keep your eyes peeled and your ears open for this exciting new music to come!
The Early Career Promoter Fund is open again for applications after a successful first year of the programme. For the latest advice see the ‘How to Make a Strong Application’ webinar with Grants & Programmes Manager Ben Price on the PRS YouTube channel here.
Early Career Promoter Fund recognises the vital role independent promoters play in supporting the talent pipeline across England, and offers grant funding and capacity building support, with the aim of bolstering the local, regional and national ecosystems.
Grants of up to £3,500 will be available to support a range of activity, including:
The booking, programming and promotion of gigs, concerts, club nights, showcases, tours and other performances
Costs associated with those activities (including venue hire, production, artist and/or DJ fees, crew fees, administration and other related costs)
Capacity building (including mentoring, coaching, shadowing, workshops, masterclasses, and other skill building and networking opportunities)
Other expenditure which helps grantees to programme a diverse range of artists, develop new audiences and build their skills
The fund aims to help emerging promoters to do what they do best – book and promote shows to develop scenes, support artists and DJs and to reach and engage audiences locally, regionally, and nationally, and build sustainable careers in the grassroots music sector. Those receiving support will be able to step up to book and promote talent at a scale beyond their current level, and build their capacity, skills and networks.
Managed by PRS Foundation and supported by Arts Council England and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), the Early Career Promoter Fund also helps to address under representation, ensuring support reaches a diverse range of promoters, and proactively encourages grantees to support a diverse range of artists and music genres nationwide.
Peshkar are seeking artists across disciplines under the age of 30 who have an interest in working in a participatory way and an interest in digital practice, although experience in these areas is not essential, this is an opportunity for you to explore, develop, learn and accelerate.
There are no limits to artform, and they are interested in anyone from theatre, dance, music, visual arts, digital arts and beyond. All you need are some big ideas and are looking to develop your practice in participatory and digital environments.
This is a rolling opportunity and prospective candidates are contacted on a roughly quarterly basis.
This opportunity is for artists who would like to explore socially engaged participatory practice, identifying key target groups in the communities of Oldham, Bolton and Blackburn to explore themes and issues that are important to society in 2025/6.
This is a 10 day paid engagement including access to mentoring to develop concepts and ideas, training, support to develop digital content to profile your work across Peshkar’s social channels, time to develop and deliver a participatory piece of work with a target group and the chance to showcase work created at Peshkar’s annual flagship event, the Young Digitals Festival 2026.
The full value of the contract to the artist is £1665.
Peshkar are actively seeking under-represented artists so would particularly welcome applications who possess protected characteristics. We are also actively seeking artists who currently reside in Greater Manchester, Pennine Lancashire or West Yorkshire (Calderdale and Kirklees).
HYPE THEM returned with a bang on the airwaves last month. Hosting duo, kaoti & sher, welcomed Salford’s Roukaya B to the show for an incredible live session and chat. Roukaya B has been making moves in the Northern music scene, fusing sounds of jazz, RnB and soul. Therefore, we were beyond excited to share her genre-bending melodies on Reform Radio.
Check out the full live session and show below.
Off the back of the show, we caught up with Roukaya to find out more about her musical journey and inspirations.
Please can you introduce yourself (name, pronouns and star sign)
I am Roukaya B, she/they and a Gemini.
If you had to describe your music in three words to someone who had never heard it before, how would you describe it?
If I had to describe my music in three words – which is very hard for me – I would describe my music as “analog in digital”.
Where did your journey with music begin?
It’s always been a part of me to be honest. I’ve always felt connected to music very deeply and as though I really understood it from an early age. For example, how certain songs would make me feel when you heard them or being able to pick up melodies and lyrics really quickly.
In primary school my older sister and I would make up dance routines to our favourite songs. I would sing, and in high school I did BTEC music which taught me about basic production and music theory. This was where I started to focus on refining singing more. From here and alongside A Levels, I did a little stint in the Manchester United Youth Foundation Choir. This taught me a lot about my higher range and blending with other voices.
After completing my academic college studies aged 18, I enrolled at Access To Music in Manchester to do a vocal artist course. This taught me more about my range and studio workflow. It was where I began developing my writing skills, started busking in the city centre and where I first auditioned for Little Mix The Search.
I think this period in my life was really the solidifying factor of where my music journey began. Having danced with the rhythm for years and swayed with only academics for a couple at an A Level college, my studies at Access opened my eyes to the possibilities of what I could do with music and why I feel it as deeply as I do. It felt like a natural step back into something that was, at this stage, partially unknown, if that makes sense.
Have there been any important figures/role models in your musical journey or any that have inspired your sound/aesthetic?
Diving into that whole “analog in digital” to describe my sound, I’d say I resonate with artists of that similarity, like Amy Winehouse, Joy Crookes, Raye, Erykah Badu and Greentea Peng. I love artists that fuse or blend genres. My sound is definitely inspired by that and I think it’s showcased in not only beat selection, but flow and tone. I take a lot of inspiration from rap styles and love me some early 2000’s hip-hop, West coast and different styles of UK rap. I think it can be seen in even my most contemporary releases.
Where do you find inspiration for your creativity?
Usually it’s something that flows out of me, a melody of something, a flow, or a kind of cadence. My approach to creativity is very holistic. There is no specific knack or place, position, maybe even real reason for creating. It is more about capturing the essence of something. It definitely involves feeling what the vibe of something is too. For example, the track, the room I’m in, or the emotion I’m currently experiencing. I think that, combined with my everyday human experience, is where I find inspiration for my creativity.
How does your music writing process look?
The first steps definitely involve the inspiration for the creativity mentioned in the previous question. Usually from this I have some sort of rough outline of how I want something to feel and sound. Intelligibility on the other hand is different. Depending on what is laid down, some vocal phrases might say words which also contextualise the mood set. Alternatively, the whole take could be freestyle and the rhyming scheme and context may also be there for me when listening back to the voice memo or project laid down in the software.
In terms of collaboration, the process above may be how we work it. However, if there’s a hook or verse already laid down by the collaborator, I have an alternative process. This involves listening to the track a couple times to grasp the overall vibe, cadence, lyrical content and context. Then, either on the second or third listen of the song, I will freestyle something I think suits the track and my vibe.
If you had to recommend a music-centred event, space or venue in Manchester to somebody, where would you point them to?
Do Not Disturb for your intimate vibes. Also, 0161 Spotlight, Savage PnP, Sofar Sounds, Black Creative Trailblazers and Heads UK have an array of creative things to get involved with. Formatt GG also has a cool event coming up at the end of May to keep your eyes peeled for.
I’ll also say keep an eye out for Beyond The Music 2025. There will be so much to explore there and I know Factory International also has really cool showcases and events.
What do you see for the future of your music? Do you have any particular goals you’d like to achieve with your creative journey?
For the future of my music, I see myself being very experimental. I see myself diving in more with the capabilities of the human voice and seeing how it can be communicated through music as an instrument. I have a lot of really cool demos in the mix. These are blending more alternative/indie styles with soul, jazz, blues and rap. I’m really excited to start reworking them later this year to see what comes out of the project.
With my creative journey, my goals are to release music that continuously inspires me to create more. I want to create a community that unites those that have taken a few years to figure out what’s going on and how they truly want to express or communicate that. My goal is to make music that unites the outcasted or those labelled as something other than just being themselves. We’re all just figuring out what life is and my main goal is to capture the journey of chaos and the beauty of life.
Where’s the best place for people to find you on social media and to find your music? Instagram for gig updates and hot pics @iamroukayab. TikTok if you want the real me @badgyalroukrouk. My music is out on all streaming platforms – just search Roukaya B.
