Help us, help our community

A community day celebrating those who came over here during the windrush movement. A cross generational day offering free entry for all local people music, arts and education.

Supporting young people to have exposure at our main festival. A life changing opportunity to showcase their talent, mentorship, education and industry awareness.

"The fact that we’re females, people don’t really take the time out to listen to us and see if we are good, they look at our image first and our talent after which isn’t a good thing. There is a lot of pressure to do certain things and look a certain way especially with us playing Amapiano and with how the scene is now there is a lot of things that others do that people expect us to do. There isn’t necessarily a lack of access or exposure nowadays and Matts BBQ will help me reach a new audience and maybe get bookings and agency signing. Within culture, there isn’t a lack of access or exposure, but depending on what spaces you’re trying to get into, there is. As the world is evolving and growing, social media is a really great tool to stop the lack of access and exposure.’" - Tashwayysounds_

"The struggles I have faced getting into the industry is probably lack of knowledge and not knowing how to market my work. I've always been told don't do music and lack of support can be a struggle to motivate my self. Being put in care also was a struggle being disowned by both sides of my family because I clearly had mental health from the abuse. But I loved being put into care, god showed me a whole different world however it wouldn't of been a struggle if dad taught me the music industry rather than the drug industry. I can't wait ot be mentored and showcase my talent. I know Matts BBQ and cant believe this opportunity is available to us" - Sammy Joe Holder, aged 19

‘"ve always dreamed to perform at a festival. We know Matts BBQ and have never had the chance to attend or perform. This will be life changing for us as we have been passionate about UK grime music since in college and ever had a chance to perform in front of large audiences. We have come close a few times to industry recognition, with a good amount of industry and A&Rs following us and our work. But we have struggled to turn this into regular live gigs or pushing our careers to the next level. A lot of the time, we haven’t had the funding or performance opportunities as a collective, because most of the time people want us as solo artists. 

Whilst rap is popular, our approach to it as a collective - similar to old grime crews or hip hop collectives - isn’t the norm now. A lot of the music is not about community and instead about the individual. We feel there needs to be more representation for communities like ours as well as people who look like us in positions of power in the industry. 

Being part of a community, which is why we want to stick together with our music and our creative vision - we think it helps with your support network and also means we can share each others’ successes. Mentoring from people - we wouldn’t be where we are so far without the support of our mentors so we are so excited about this opportunity’ 

- Spit Game, Group average Aged 19