The 1975’s Matty Healy Backs New UK Festival

The UK’s newest and largest multi-venue music festival, The Seed Sounds Weekender, will take place between September 26-28. Presented by live music marketplace GigPig, the initiative is backed by festival ambassador and The 1975 vocalist-guitarist Matty Healy.

What it’s about:

• The Seed Sounds Weekender is designed to support local seed music venues across the UK, which play a pivotal role in launching artists’ careers. They also contribute over £2.4 billion to the UK economy annually.

• It will feature more than 2,000 performances from local artists in 1,000 pubs, bars, restaurants and hotels across 20 UK towns and cities.

• The multi-venue festival arrives as both the live music and hospitality sectors continue to navigate rising costs.

How it works:

• Attendees can access most gigs via a free Seed Sounds Weekender ticket.

• To remove transport barriers, festival partner Uber will provide ticket holders with discounted rides to and from participating venues.

• Other backers include Genre Music, UseYourLocal and the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA).

What they said:

• Matty Healy, The 1975 vocalist-guitarist: “Local venues aren't just where bands cut their teeth, they're the foundation of any real culture. Without them, you don't get The Smiths, Amy Winehouse, or The 1975. You get silence.”

• He adds: “The Seed Sounds Weekender is a vital reminder that music doesn't start in boardrooms or big arenas; it starts in back rooms, pubs, basements, and independent spaces run on love, grit, and belief in something bigger.”