All artists have dodgy promoter stories to share.  The music scene has suffered from a systemic culture of unethical promoters, competitions and even venues unfairly taking advantage of artists and bands stretching back decades. Despite young, inexperienced artists being warned, and these promoters repeatedly called out and shamed, they have just continued to change their names, mutate and survive much like a Covid variant.  So its a very great day indeed to announce and celebrate the launch of the FAC Kitemark for Independent Promoters. Its a fair trade symbol awarded to artist friendly organisations and this Promoter Kitemark is being awarded to qualifying promoters in partnership with the Association of Independent Promoters.  We are very proud indeed to add the Kitemark to our Success Express website today and continue to put the interests of artists at the heart of each and every show.

We couldn’t be more proud to announce this, as we have been looking for the right community venue, to bring artists, audiences and friends together, for a very long time.  Launching on 24th July, we are excited to have a wonderful and quite stunning new home for regular live music, at The Sherriff Centre, West Hampstead.  Just steps from Jubilee, Thameslink and Overground stations, The Sherriff is the first church in the UK to house a post office and its unusual. A vibrant community centre, licensed bar, Time Out winning neighbourhood cafe and all in all a genuine hub for the local community, gifting free food and fresh baked bread plus many other lovely initiatives.  Over the next few months The Sherriff will step up to be a fully serviced music venue and we have an exciting regular programme in the works.  

Mark the soft launch date, Saturday 24th July in your diary, as we have a truly memorablel lineup to be announced. 

Its always been a huge part of of Success Express gigs - supporting out of town artists to play London at every possible opportunity. From venues big and small, from Worlds End to The Jazz Cafe, our programmes have given UK wide artists the opportunity to take part in the London independent live scene. As a member of The Association of Independent Promoters we are very proud indeed to work with our fellow UK promoters to offer opportunities to AIP tipped artists at our new monthly showcase.  We launch on 22nd July, find us monthly at The Old Queens Head, Islington.  We cannot wait to share some extraordinary talent from the UK tipped by our fellow promoters at our shows!

If it's all about bringing artists and audiences together once again, there was only one venue choice a return to live normality.  We are absolutely thrilled to be hosting live music for Omeara’s opening weekend. A venue created from scratch for and by artists and every little detail is perfect - we love you Omeara! Tickets are now on sale via our ticketing partners DICE for The Dunwells, with very special guests Lucy-May Walker and Edmund Jeffery.  

https://link.dice.fm/04zEHGh1ffb

Ahead of a planned full re-opening for venues nationally late June we are proud to now be members of the Association of Independent Promoters alongside some of the most important grassroots promoters, music venues and festivals, including Communion, Bird On The Wire, Birmingham Promoters, The Cluny, Manchester Folk Festival, The Boiler Room, Stockton Calling, and many more.  It’s great to step up and play our part as live music venue doors re-open! All indications are for greatly increased demand, sold out shows and festivals and a long overdue revival in grassroots music and UK touring.

https://www.aiporg.com

Now that we are official DICE partners it’s time the exciting bit - announcing and putting those shows on sale! DICE is a global platform that has fast established itself as the identifying brand for indie music gig discovery. Tickets on sale with lineup announcements for our Folklore events later this month!

Finally! We are back on 29th June! 

After so much time away it was essential to take the time out to make the right first steps back to create something intimate, special and inclusive.  This mini series at the uniquely independent and individual Folklore Hoxton does just that. A Headline Artist, a Special Guest Band plus and some amazing spotlight artists to open the night, with each week a little different, possibly a little unexpected. We are just so buzzed to bring artists and audiences together once again!  A really exciting programme of artists is set to be announced and tickets will be on sale through DICE later this month.

We have so missed each other but one bit of good news - we now have our own Club on the hugely trending new audio only social app Clubhouse!  Brand spanking new and currently in beta for iPhone users only, its like a  conference call get together where people can discuss topics, hold interviews, or generally hang out together for some much needed company. It’s been just lovely to hear all your voices, so Clubhouse users do stop by and join in, take part or just come and say hi at one of our Clubhouse events. 

Our Music Events Drop in is every Thursday at midday. Drop us a line if you need a Clubhouse invite.  

https://www.joinclubhouse.com/club/music-events-drop-in

Lorraine caught up with London Music Podcasts this month. You can listen to this here:

Listen to Podcast

Daisy Chute & Crawford Mack plus guests 

Live from Century Soho 3rd December