The TikTokification of music has birthed a new witch-hunt: the industry plant. This article dissects how this gendered label erases the years of labour female artists put into the grassroots circuit while distracting from the systemic collapse of the UK’s cultural infrastructure. We explore the erasure of history, the reality of label investment, and why the "plant" narrative is a weapon of gatekeeping.
Read MoreBecause the state aims to exhaust, the artists have built a counter-siege. The demo track Ocras is the engine and the lead for the OCRAS Hunger Striker Support Fund.
Read MoreOn Sunday 11th January, Tim Burgess brought his Merch Market to The Troxy, George Tavern, The Old Ship and The Clem in East London for a day and night of musical community on the side of artists. Musicians at all stages of their story and fans from everywhere were part of 5,000 people gathering to buy, perform, DJ, sing, dance and - especially - meet people. Pulsing positivity into 2026.
Read MoreThroughout 2025, Caffy, Ruby, and I were in the trenches. We weren’t just "covering" a scene; we were stewarding a movement. From the symbolic reclamation of "Kneecap Hill" outside Woolwich Court, to the sweat-soaked sanctuaries of our favourite under-threat venues, we have been documenting the New Wave of musical resistance.
Read MoreThe stage is not neutral. This manifesto explores how Decolonised Fest and grassroots artists are rewriting the rules of resistance—and why we need musicians, fans, and venues to join the fight for art that refuses to stay silent.
Read More