Youth Music

Leo Miyagee

Leo Miyagee is a rapper based in Belfast. They have performed at events including Guinness’ ‘Live and Rising’, BBC Introducing's ‘Across the Line’, and Output Belfast. They were also nominated for Ticketmaster’s Rising Irish Artist of the Year 2024.

Kindelan

Kindelan is a songwriter, guitarist and producer who writes and performs jazz-infused alternative pop. She has received support from BBC Introducing, was nominated for 'Best Live Performance' at the 2023 Youth Music Awards, and opened the York date of the 2024 Independent Venue Week tour.

Jayahadadream

JayaHadADream is a Jamaican-Irish rapper based in Cambridge. In 2024, she won Glastonbury’s Emerging Talent Competition, and performed on the festival's Main Stage that year. She has also performed at Leeds Festival, The Great Escape and the Southbank Centre.

Jack Thompson

Jack Thompson is a videographer from Torbay. With the NextGen Fund, he has been working with upcoming artists in his local area to create a series of music videos, about the experience of growing up and making music in a seaside town. His videos promote a positive message that if you work hard you can make it in music, no matter where you are from.

GIYA

GIYA is a producer, singer-songwriter and bass player based in South London. She has sold out headline shows across London, performed at various festivals including Glastonbury, 2000 Trees and Victorious Festival, and supported Hak Baker on tour.

Finnbarr

Finnbarr is a rapper based in Northern Ireland. He has performed at Hotbox Entertainment's Northern Irish Cypher and featured on their 'NI's Finest' mixtape, and has had further support from BBC ATL Introducing and Dublin City FM. He has also supported Leo Miyagee on tour, and filmed a music video for Lemonade Shoelace - both fellow NextGen Fund recipients.

Wrenna

Wrenna is a singer and songwriter based in Wales. Her indie, dream-pop sound has earned her a spot on the BBC Radio Wales Welsh A-List, as well as performances at festivals including In It Together and Llais Festival. She has also co-written songs for Latvia's Eurovision entries.

FIZA

FIZA is a singer-songwriter based between London and Edinburgh. She frequently performs in both cities, including shows with Sofar Sounds and AMPLIFI. She has supported Skinny Pelembe on tour, and has been part of Edinburgh Hogmanay's New Year's live music lineup. She has also received support from BBC Radio Scotland, BBC Asian Network, Amazon Music Editorial, and the Sunday National newspaper in Scotland.

Eyve

Eyve is an artist based in Glasgow. With the support of the NextGen Fund, she will soon be releasing her Afrofuturist EP 'Metamorphosis ye Sound', which combines Zimbabwean influences with contemporary hip-hop, and sounds from Glasgow's techno scene.

Elizabeth Liddle

Elizabeth Liddle is a 70s-inspired, pop singer-songwriter. She has supported bands such as Lindisfarne, played festivals like Hardwick Live & Stockton Calling, and sold out three of her own headline gigs. She has also received support from BBC Introducing North East, and BBC Radio Newcastle.

Dee Rae

Dee Rae is an artist based in the North West of England. She has toured across the UK and Europe, playing in London, Manchester, Southampton, Leeds and Paris. She has also played at Live at Leeds Festival, and worked with the likes of Dance to the Radio and Come Play with Me.

Cian Jay

Cian Jay is an artist and the founder of London-based event series CLUB GUNK. His past events have sold out venues including the Old Blue Last, Peckham Audio, and Bermondsey Social Club. With the NextGen Fund, he will be launching a three-track EP titled 'Gunk', which will fuse nostalgic 2000s/2010s electronic indie pop with new and forward-thinking production ideas.

Boudicca

Boudicca is a rapper, poet and singer who blends spoken word and rap to produce socially conscious hip-hop. She has performed across the UK, in Germany and in The Netherlands, where she won a political rap battle at Democracy Alive, hosted by the European Union. She has also written bespoke pieces for TED x Brighton, Storytelling Army and Poets VS MCs.

Anmol

Anmol is a Nepali drummer, who is creating an EP of traditional Nepali folk music with the support of the NextGen Fund. He has been awarded the Anjool Maldé award for his distinctive work as a drummer, has been invited onto Guildhall School of Music and Drama's Junior Fellowship Programme, and has worked with composer and multi-instrumentalist Nitin Sawhney.

Alex Rushfirth

Alex Rushfirth is a musician, graphic designer and podcast host. To date, he has written over 956 songs, recorded and released 6 full length solo albums and 18 minor works including EPs, short films and radio plays. He has also written and produced for other musicians, and put on gigs, theatre and art shows. His life goal is to release 100 projects and write 10,000 songs.

Connor Morgans

Connor Morgans is the founder of Adlais (meaning 'echo' in Welsh), which is a bilingual promoter of contemporary Welsh music. He is also a presenter on Radio Cardiff, a freelance producer for BBC Radio 1, and has hosted Anthem Cymru's 'Family Gathering'.

Jack Coleman

Jack Coleman is a promoter based in Kent. Under their brand name 'The Big Cheese Co.', they have booked and promoted 18 events over the last year, platforming over 50 grassroots artists in the local area. They have also co-produced WhereElse?'s grassroots music night KPX, worked for the charity project Tonetic Records, and freelanced for the digital creative company Electric Medway.

TEEDEMBA

TEEDEMBA is a rapper, singer, youth worker and model based in Coventry. He has featured on the cover of iD Magazine, as well as in campaigns for Nike, Louis Vuitton and HOMME+. He has also headlined the Resonate Stage at Godiva Festival, raised awareness of homelessness in Paris and Amsterdam with his music video for 'Tap & Go', and performed at the Commonwealth Games.

Tee Peters

Tee Peters is a musician and multidisciplinary creative from South East London. He is the founder of the UK-based Jazz Rap collective, 'The Working Class Band', and the creator of record label 'Working Szn', distributed by Sony Music / BSMV. He has performed at Love Supreme Festival, Titan Festival, the Royal Albert Hall, and Tapefabrik Festival; and his music reaches an audience of 400,000 monthly listeners on Spotify.

Safii Koii

Safii Koii is a musician and producer. She has been featured on BBC Yorkshire and BBC Radio 6, taken part in a jam with Nile Rodgers, and gained over 3.3 million views on some of her song covers on social media. The NextGen Fund will be supporting her to release her new, self-produced EP, 'INERTIA'.

Redz Man

Redz Man is a musician, artist and producer. This year, he has performed at Rich Mix, toured the UK with Animeleague, and been a recipient of Wired4Music's Generate Fund.

Raivo Sloan

Raivo Sloan is a musician and multidisciplinary artist. They have been commissioned to compose a piece for the Counterflows Festival, have been selected for the Sonic Youths programme in Glasgow, and released their debut EP this year to critical acclaim.

NO-EL

NO-EL is a DJ and music leader, who runs workshops to teach young people how to produce and DJ. He works across genres, having produced a range of music from rap to house and dubstep, and the NextGen Fund will allow him to release his debut EP.

NE-O

NE-O is a rapper and producer based in Newcastle. He has represented the North East as part of BBC1Xtra Introducing's rap cypher, has headlined the Glasshouse, and performed on the BBC Introducing Stage at Reading and Leeds Festival.

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Next Gen

NextGen Community Events

Our NextGen Community events give attendees aged 18-30 the chance to connect with other creatives in their local city, listen to panel discussions from industry experts and watch performances from emerging artists.

funding

NextGen Fund

Grants of up to £3,000 for 18 to 25 year olds creatives (aged up to 30 for those who identify as d/Deaf, Disabled or neurodivergent) in England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland.

Funding round opens 10/01/2025