Festival turns to community model to avert closure

4 hours ago

Pritti MistryEast Yorkshire and Lincolnshire

Humber Street Sesh is due to return to Hull on 1 August

Kamil Liston Photography Four musicians playing instruments on a stage. Two at the front on the left are playing guitars in front of a mic. The one on the left has long hair and is playing a saxophone while a man in the back is playing the drums. They are performing at a music festival. — Humber Street Sesh is due to return to Hull on 1 August

Hull's biggest festival for emerging music has ended fears of closing after launching as a new Community Interest Company.

Organisers of Humber Street Sesh, which is due to return to the city on 1 August, said the grassroots festival "narrowly avoided closure due to financial pressures" over the past year.

They said by becoming a Community Interest Company (CIC), operating as a limited company to benefit the community, they would be able to apply for grants and secure a "more sustainable future" for the festival.

Mark Page, founding director of Humber Street Sesh, said: "We didn't really think we could come back for 2026. We thought the journey had finished in 2025."

He said the past 12 months had been "a struggle" due to rising costs and pressures facing the wider events sector, leaving the festival's existing business model "untenable".

"The costs are going up astronomically each and every year," Page said.

"It's the same with every business sector. Fees are going up and we just needed to address that."

Organisers say the event is the biggest grassroots music festival for emerging music in the country

Paul Newbon Photography A performer stands on an outdoor festival stage, holding a microphone and leaning forward with one foot raised on a speaker. Bright red and orange stage lights surround the scene, with metal rigging and banners visible against a blue sky. — Organisers say the event is the biggest grassroots music festival for emerging music in the country

Festival Director Dave Mays said the one-day event generated more than £1m in "social value" and had a "huge positive impact on Hull".

"It is an event that is completely unique to the city. There's nothing else like it in the country," he said.

Despite confirming that this year's event would be going ahead, Page said the festival's long‑term future was still not guaranteed.

"The ticket price will remain as it is for this year," he said.

"I cannot guarantee that we won't be putting the ticket prices up next year or the year after. And, at the same time, we've got ambitions to extend the festival."

Mark Page says this year's festival line-up will include international acts

Mark Page Mark Page. He has a white/grey beard and is looking to the right of the picture. He is wearing a white shirt and khaki-coloured baseball cap. Behind him are green shrubs and foliage. — Mark Page says this year's festival line-up will include international acts

He said the festival remained comparatively affordable, with more than 100 acts expected across about 10 stages during the day‑long event.

"This year, it's going to have a bit of an international flavour," said Page.

"We're really excited about inviting not just regional and national acts to the festival. We're also hoping to bring some international acts to Humber Street Sesh as well, which is really exciting."

Kath Wynne‑Hague, Hull City Council's head of service for culture, place and city centre, said the festival played a "vital role" in delivering the city's music strategy and supporting emerging artists.

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