Over the weekend of August 15th, 2024, I went to We Out Here Festival (WOH). Having grown up attending festivals across the UK since I was 8, this one felt refreshingly different for a commercial festival. It wasn’t just another lineup of artists or a space for big commercial acts; it was a homegrown celebration of music and culture that felt linked to the UK arts and music scene.
'We Out Here Festival, inspired by the 2018 Brownswood Recordings compilation of the same name, debuted in 2019 to celebrate London’s vibrant jazz scene. Founded by Gilles Peterson, it brings together soul, hip hop, house, afro, electronica, jazz, and more. Over four days, legendary artists, up-and-coming talents, and top-tier DJs create a unique mix of live music and community.' (https://weoutherefestival.com/about-us/)
What struck me the most wasn’t just the music — though it was incredible — but the sense of community. We Out Here had the essence of a ‘local venue’ or ‘the community radio station your pals play at every week', where everyone shares the same love for music, art, and grassroots culture. Every morning, I woke up excited, with a clear sense of what I wanted to do and see —whether for professional development or just pure fun. (Granted, one or two mornings I was feeling the effects of the night before, I still got up to seize the day.)
Across the weekend, I was lucky enough to catch some unforgettable performances: Sampha, Izzi, Kae Tempest, Ebo Taylor, Lonnie Holley, Sherelle, and, of course, I boogied to Glasgow legends: Rebecca Vasmount, Elanda, and corto.alto, who closed the main stage on Sunday - massive for the boys and new Scottish music.
Besides the music, I attended several talks over the weekend. Prior to the festival, I had applied for a development opportunity: Future Foundations, an incubator scheme created by Gilles Peterson and Noah Ball to support emerging grassroots promoters. Although I wasn’t selected for the scheme, WOH offered all applicants free tickets to the festival and access to Future Foundations talks and networking events. The weekend’s lineup of discussions featured Elijah, Good Night Out Campaign, Pxssy Palace & Friends, Sister Midnight, and Amy Warren.
My main takeaway from the talks was simple: this work is hard.
Supporting, creating, and sustainably building an arts scene, especially within the current funding climate, is no easy feat. Hearing promoters I admire tell a group of bright-eyed, young promoters that what we’re doing is challenging was strangely reassuring. It validated the struggles I face, and makes me want to work harder to build my projects. Good things don’t come easy, or something like that right?
Still, every speaker reminded us that it’s worth it. Being part of this amazing community, surrounded by people who genuinely care about making a difference, is special. I particularly remember the conversation between Elijah and Gabriel Szatan (RA Editor). They spoke broadly about the sustainability of the scenes we are building, about trying things and letting them go, and about the reward of growing as creators alongside others who are also growing. It’s about lifting each other up and creating magic together.
Here are some things I took away (there were definitely more, but these stuck with me):
Work with what you’ve got: When it comes to promoting, Glasgow does this exceptionally well. We host gigs in flats, throw free parties in forests, and build strong relationships between collectives and venues. It’s all about being thrifty and resourceful— some of the best gigs I’ve been to have been in flats, you don’t have to be performing at Wembley Stadium to make an impact.
Learn by doing: As Emma Warren said during one of the talks, ‘I’ve learned everything I know through my feet.’ Her words resonated with me. The best way to learn is by taking action and figuring things out along the way. Going to that event, doing the work to get that exhibition started, or trialling a new way of making. Its probably not going to be perfect at first, but keep trying and you'll work it out.
Ask the question: This might be the most important takeaway. Don’t ask, don’t get. Be bold and ask the red questions—the worst thing people can say is no (probably), but the right ask might lead to incredible opportunities.
Post We Out Here, I'm inspired and energised, not just for myself, but for the future of Flos Collective and Glasgow’s creative scene. The conversations, the music, the fun times with friends—they all reaffirmed that we’re on the right path, and there’s so much more to build together. I left the weekend with a sense of ‘yes, I can,’ and an excitement for what’s next.
Written by Catherine Allison
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