The Knowsley Music Festival returns from 30 October to 28 November 2025, with performances from The Real Thing, The Farm and a Spice Girls Theatre Show.
As with previous years, the main festival programme will be supported by the Knowsley Fringe Music Festival which will shine a spotlight on some of the region’s new and emerging local artists.
Funding is available from Knowsley Council’s Culture and Events team who want to hear from anyone who has an idea for a music event. The fund is open to local venues, promoters, programmers, or performers who have the chance to bid for funding of up to £500 to put on a gig in town centre and village venues. The team are especially interested in receiving applications from new artists and new venues across the borough.
The local programme will showcase Knowsley and Liverpool City Region artists, bands and performers and will take place in new and established music venues across Knowsley.
How to apply:
- Please send a brief proposal (no more than 1 x A4) describing your proposal including venue and artist/s and/or band/s.
- Please include the proposed date your music event will take place (this must be between 14 and 27 November 2026 to be considered).
- Please supply a budget breakdown of how the funding will be spent.
- Please supply an artist/band bio of no more than 100 words
- Please supply a square image (1080 x 1080) for event promotion if your bid is successful
Proposals must be submitted by 11.59pm on Wednesday 30 September 2026 (Applications after the deadline will not be accepted).
You will be contacted if you have been successful by 5pm on Friday 9 October 2026.
Applications are to be submitted via email to amy.grundy@knowsley.gov.uk
If there are any accessibility issues or difficulties in applying via email, please contact the team to discuss on 0151 443 2788
Funding bids will be judged on the following criteria:
Date – Your event must happen between Saturday 14 November and Friday 27 November 2026
Performers – We are keen to showcase Knowsley artists, bands and performers and will place special focus on original music. (We will also consider applications showcasing Liverpool City Region musicians). We are especially interested in seeing applications from new artists and new venues across the borough.
Music Policy: The music policy is open, but we do want to see attempts to make sure line ups reflect diversity and a fair gender balance and that the performers booked reflect high standards of reputation regarding conduct.
Cost: The small commission amounts available are up to £500 so please evidence your costs
Venues: We would like the events to take place borough wide (Knowsley) attracting people into the town and village centres and taking place in both new and established music venues.
Line Up and Venue: Both of these need to be realistic and we will need to see evidence in your application that preliminary discussions have already taken place with talent and venues. If you are a venue that wants to be matched with an artist or an artist that wants to be matched with a venue, please make this clear in your application.
Marketing – If awarded, this will be considered a partnership event and your event will be listed as part of the official music festival programme.
Please note: The Knowsley Culture team will not be able to provide organisational event support but your event will be included in our Fringe marketing activity e.g. event listings, social media support.
We also request you tag @cultureknowsley in any of your own social media posts and use #KnowsleyMusicFestival. Please also liaise with the Knowsley Council communications team if you wish to engage with the media about your event – communications@knowsley.gov.uk
