A collaborative Artist Development programme supporting singers, rappers & MCs aged 18-30
NEXT LEVEL 2024
Big Team and Bristol Beacon have joined forces once again in search of the city’s best emerging talent. Now in its third year, we are bringing the activity to Bristol Beacon’s brand new redeveloped studios and stages, as well as returning to the Big Team festival circuit!
This project has been specially designed to help support aspiring artists who are making original music of modern genres, and might already be making steps with performing live, or releasing records. We aim to help advance the artist’s creative development through building confidence and connection whilst enhancing their writing, recording, performance, and promotional skills.
Successful applicants will take part in a creative studio week and will present their demos, write new material, and collaborate through co-writing and rehearsals.Following on from that will be an industry workshop day focused around navigating the world of music business, featuring specially curated workshops hosted by Bristol heavyweights Team Love, Saffron, Boomtown Festival and Hey? What! – who better to learn from than some of the biggest names in the creative industries.
With guidance from well-established artists who are experienced in the industry, and a number of active organisations in the local music scene, the hope is that together we can support the next generation of exciting Bristol artists to take their careers to the NEXT LEVEL.
Apply
Applications for 2024 are now open with a deadline of Thursday 22nd Feb. Please take time to read the following info before submitting.
What the project offers
- Support from mentors experienced in songwriting, rapping, singing, production, performance
- Studio sessions to write, record, and rehearse
- Creative collaboration with other artists and producers
- Performance opportunity at Bristol Beacon showcase event
- Industry workshops with local music companies
- Live Radio broadcast on SWU FM
- Performance slot at Love Saves The Day Festival 2023
- Additional opportunities to perform at Boomtown,
- Glastonbury and Forwards festivals
- Wellbeing support and advice
- £300 fee for participation in the programme
Please note – all applicants must meet the essential criteria:
- Be between the age of 18 – 30
- Be a vocal artist of some description (rapper, singer, MC etc)
- You are already making your own original music (i.e. not just cover songs)
- Be Bristol based or from the surrounding area (up to approx. 15 mile radius)
- Not signed to a management / record / agency contract that would restrict you from taking part in the project
- Able to attend and commit to the full project dates and times:
Tue 2 – Fri 5 Apr
Mon 8 – Wed 10 Apr
Sat 25 & Sun 26 May
To apply please fill out the Google form here:
Project collaborators and partners
NEXT LEVEL is produced by Bristol Beacon and Big Team with support from Team Love, Pirate Studios, SWU.fm, Boomtown Festival, Love Saves The Day and Hey!What?
We would also like to thank Out of Hand for their help in promotion of the 2024 programme.
Watch: Next Level 2023 Documentary
To get an insight into what went down in the project last year, watch our mini-doc here:
Meet the NEXT LEVEL 2023 artists
B3NJI
B3NJI
B3nji, aka Kai Benjamin, is a half-Japanese rapper and singer/songwriter who takes pride in his bouncy flows and energetic live performances.
A semi-finalist on the 2022 season of The Voice UK, he had all four coaches (Will.i.am, Anne-Marie, Tom Jones and Olly Murs) turn for him at the Blind Auditions, and is boasts radio play on the likes of BBC Cornwall and BBC Introducing in the West.
Rebekah Dinnall
Rebekah Dinnall
Rebekah is a Bristol-based experimental reggae and dub artist. Incorporating rich melodies and captivating harmonies, she draws on her Jamaican roots to combine the modern and traditional, creating a contemporary sound made for people to feel seen.
Solo Jane
Solo Jane
Originally hailing from Exeter, Solo Jane now resides in Bristol. An expressive, lyrical and emotive alternative R&B singer, she has been working hard to cement herself in the Bristol music scene.
With her first single hitting over 2 million streams, she is going from strength to strength. No stranger to BBC introducing, three of her releases have been track of the week and other accomplishments include DJ Targets touchdown tour, +44 playlist and Earmilk Publication.
G U Y
G U Y
G U Y is an up and coming artist from the South West, raised in a small town called Devzies. His genre-spanning music is inspired by his Jamaican heritage, touching on hip hop, R&B, and pop.
Taking inspiration from the likes of Dave, Berwyn, and Kojey Radical, his sound involves catchy hooks and strong melodies. Since moving to Bristol he has been ramping up his career, performing at venues and local festivals and has been featured on BBC Introducing and Ujima Radio.
RED
RED
RED is a singer-songwriter-producer with a gift for lofty storytelling and a penchant for bass-driven pop fusion. From Gucci campaigns and Glastonbury festival, to Academies and theatres around the country, she’s made a name for herself as a vocal powerhouse on the UK drag scene.
Now, as a proud trans woman, she’s ready to level up, unleash her music on the world and cement her place in the music industry.
Asher Simmons
Asher Simmons
Asher Simmons is a Bahamian singer, songwriter and beat maker who was born in Paget, Bermuda, and raised in Abaco, Bahamas. Drawing inspiration from his upbringing, he is known for his melodic delivery and surgical lyricism.
Already hitting the ground running in the UK music scene, in 2022 he performed at Glastonbury, and has been featured as a spotlight artist in the Bristol Black History Month Magazine.
2022 Finalists
Watch: Next Level 2022 Documentary
In April 2022 we launched Next Level with Big Team and partnered with some of Bristol’s biggest names in music – Team Love, Pirate Studios, Crack Magazine and SWU FM – to find and inspire six local upcoming acts with an unparalleled heavyweight package of artist development support.
Watch the short documentary looking back over the year so far, immerse yourself in their sounds, and discover how the Next Level 2022 artists are defining the future of music in Bristol.
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Support for Creatives
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About Us
About Us
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