Cover and illustrations: Arinjoy Sen
Songlines Russ Slater Johnson, Editor James Anderson-Hanney, Publisher Spencer Grady, Listings and Content Writer Erin Cobby, Editorial & Marketing Assistant
British Underground Crispin Parry, CEO Steph Wilkinson, Senior Production Manager Dan Ford, Senior Associate Producer Almass Badat, Producer & Digital Communications Routes is part of British Underground’s Good Showcasing Guide initiative. For more information, visit britishunderground.net
Arts Council England Adam Jeanes, Senior Relationship Manager Music, Arts Council England Claire Mera-Nelson, Director Music, Arts Council England
Songlines, British Underground and Arts Council England would like to thank the advertisers who have made it possible for us to expand this guide so that it can be as useful as possible, to as many people as possible
Routes is published by MA Education & Music Ltd St Jude’s Church, Dulwich Rd, London, SE24 0PB, UK info@songlines.co.uk songlines.co.uk
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The Sound of England by Sam Lee
It is said in England, the distances between variations in our regional accents are equal to the miles a horse can travel in one day. What this adage suggests, in how local cultures have emerged, diasporated and self-identified across this fair isle, is gloriously illustrative of what lies below our feet and indicative of how complex and diverse we English are. When it comes to music, this united ‘singdom’ is a mycelium of sub-cultures, underground movements, nu-genre upwellings, nexuses of noisemaking and a hotbed of sonic disruption. This country has been an apothecary of sound pioneers, alchemically exploring new musical forms and always at the forefront of technology and art .
What an island and what a scene!
This land sings. Sometimes, it raves, rages and roars, ofttimes it dances and all-out parties, but rarely is the temperament and nighttime endeavours within our cities and rural communities quiet . We are a nation intent on making as much noise - and nuisance - as possible. As the political activist and anarchist Emma Goldman supposedly said, “If the Revolution doesn’t have dancing, I don’t want to be part of it”. And nowhere does that revolutionary character prevail stronger than in how the multicultural creative classes keep that restless spirit tuned in and volume high. It’s not just a celebration but our exercising of the need for diversity and interconnectedness. It is our subversive means to build resilience and equality into the world around us. It’s how we survive this little island. But what an island and what a scene! Have no illusions,
for England’s size, it’s huge and complex, vibrant yet full of quirks. It’s many, many things; it’s welcoming and cutting edge, it’s thriving, yet it’s also impenetrable. It’s secretive and seductive, it can be rampant in its consumption and beleaguered and struggling yet lithe and voracious. The live scene can be one moment independent , then corporate, grassrooted yet commercialised. It’s fiercely hard-working, supportive of the underdog and defending of heritage, while also being future thinking. But obvious it is not . Our national scene is a contrary conundrum. It is a manyheaded-hydra revealing multiple personalities, at times sharp-clawed and fiery-breathed, but mostly it’s a beast noted for its warmth and camaraderie, its motherliness and vigilance to making sure good art flourishes and determination to pioneer its offspring while welcoming the new, the foreign and the uninitiated.
Unpicking this kaleidoscope of platforms, art makers, amplifiers, space holders, greenfield and urban opportunities is not and should not be easy. Parts of this ecosystem might feel like you need a PhD in taxonomy, geography and ethnomusicology to navigate. But if you’re reading this, then you probably want in, or are in and could just use a little guidance. And that is what this is. A snapshot of now, a compass to where, a little black book of who and a memento of what is. It’s a star chart from which to discover the many creative constellations that mark England as such an incandescent beacon in the wider map of sound. Read on, listen in and come and join the party. All are welcome. Sam Lee, folk singer and nature activist
ROUTES.SONGLINES.CO.UK
