Music and Performance
With award-winning singer-songwriters, the hottest new bands, and up-and-coming DJs, HowTheLightGetsIn music lineups shame the average summer festival.
"The art and soul of the party" - Harper's Bazaar
With award-winning singer-songwriters, the hottest new bands, and up-and-coming DJs, HowTheLightGetsIn music lineups shame the average summer festival.
"The art and soul of the party" - Harper's Bazaar
This 9-piece Afro-Funk noise bomb is fast becoming a household name in every European town who claims to know anything about a good party. Their live show can be a truly extraordinary experience for the audience who is ready to let go and surrender to the unstoppable force of the Groove, and people leave feeling they've run a marathon and had a spiritual awakening at the same time. From Europe to Africa, Glastonbury to ‘Felabration’*, they deliver party-music born of their truly global DNA.
Now a regular feature at many of the major UK festivals including Glastonbury, Bestival and Boomtown, as well as festivals and clubs across Europe, they are guaranteed party-starters - any stage, anywhere. Following their album release tour in October and November 2019, the new year will see them hitting the road through the UK and Europe again, bringing the funk to everyone who needs it so badly in these troubling times.
CoCo and the Butterfields are on a steady and unmistakable upward incline, developing an enviable reputation for their exhilarating live shows as their inclusive, acoustic-based sound has ripened to maturity. They’ve toured the island’s O2 Academy’s to sell out shows and appeared at Glastonbury, Isle of Wight and Bestival.
‘Expect folk-hewn pop, with gliding guitars and a strident vocal’ - Clash Music
'I’ve never seen (or heard) anything quite like it. CoCo and the Butterfields are back and they mean business' - musicriot.co.uk
After 12 years as the wildly charismatic singer of The Correspondents, Mr Bruce is taking a significant change of direction for his new project. With an expression of his love for UK dance music, Mr Bruce is delivering fresh approaches to Electro House, Garage, Jungle and Dancehall.
Now collaborating with London-based producer Angus Kemp, Mr Bruce is lyrically circumnavigating some very big issues. He explores his relationship to loss and grief with the death of his twin brother at the age of 21, and the more recent abrupt breakdown, and breakup of his marriage. He looks at the cross section between these personal experiences and the unfathomable horrors of climate crisis on the global scale with the impact of the social and political effects that are already tearing through our world at a rapid rate. Mr Bruce has something to say, stand up and act upon, and is able to express these universal fears with a deftness that he has acquired from more than a decade of writing hard hitting pop songs designed for the dance floor.
The brand new stage show featuring new choreography, costumes and props will fuse together his brand new songs with a carefully chosen handful of The Correspondents’ hits to create a new, unique and unparalleled live experience.
Sequin-clad satirical weirdos Bourgeois & Maurice are alien siblings from another planet that you’ve probably never heard of because it’s very new and cool and obscure. They write songs that stick in your head like bloodstains in your nice new carpet. Their world is a sexy, stomping, politically-charged echo chamber. A highly theatrical kaleidoscope of current affairs, moral confusion and slippery social commentary.
Recognised as one of the leading acts in London’s alternative performance scene, they gave their first performance in 2007 and have gone on to tour the world - collecting fans from Belgrade to New York. They have performed at the Royal Opera House, Southbank Centre and Sadler’s Wells and regularly appear at Soho Theatre in London.
As well as receiving nice reviews from the press, and some awards from awards people, they once received a letter of complaint for spilling fake blood on a lady’s capri pants. They, like the victim of the fake blood incident, recognise that life can be surprising and sometimes inconvenient - and this is what their work reflects.
"It’s hard to think of any other act delivering such clever, funny and sharp material" – Time Out
Having won the Glastonbury Pilton Party competition (judged by Michael Eavis), supporting Supergrass, Wolf Alice and performing all over the UK on main stages at festivals such as Bearded Theory and Beautiful Days, the Pattern Pushers triumphantly return to HowTheLightGetsIn.
This energetic funk-soul three piece from the South West create uplifting, inspiring and optimistic music that hits all the right notes for a world crying out for positivity.
Their crusade of happiness has earned them a loyal fan base, accolades from BBC Radio 6 and BBC Introducing support. This is one you can’t afford to miss!
“Strong classic songwriting from start to finish” – Tom Robinson (BBC 6 Music)
Emma Miller’s songs skillfully straddle the worlds of alternative singer-songwriter and contemporary folk. Her rich vocals, boundless harmonies and mature songwriting have led to comparisons with artists such as Feist, The Staves, Kate Bush and Joni Mitchell.
Since moving to London in 2014 and gaining a 1st class honours degree in Songwriting, the Scottish born songstress has so far garnered support from the likes of BBC 6 Music, BBC Radio Scotland, Amazing Radio and BBC Introducing, as well as successfully selling out her past headline shows as a solo act.
Emma released her debut EP at the end of 2020 to much critical acclaim, and this year proves to be no less fruitful with a string of singles set to mark the release of her sophomore EP in the autumn. Renowned for her captivating live performances, this artist should be on your radar.
“A songwriter of astute emotional resonance” - CLASH Magazine
“One to watch, we reckon” - BBC Radio Scotland, Roddy Hart
“Songwriting majesty” - Unrecorded
Flood for the Famine have gained notoriety for their passion and wild fevered energy, setting the stage alight with a new age blues, colliding unruly guitar tones with warped synths and big band jazz on steroids.
This five piece have performed at sellout live shows across London’s nightclubs gaining notoriety for their arresting stage presence and have continued the momentum adapting their live show for churches, rooftops and festivals across the UK. With a string of releases planned for early 2021, Flood for the Famine is set to take the year by storm.
“Clearly one of those songwriters with the ability to compel with a deeply atmospheric vein of rock. A rousing success” - Obscure Sound, Mike Mineo
“Beautifully ambient, completely able to produce a wall of sound out of nowhere” - BBC Introducing, Andrew Marston
“Incredible! So emotive and passionate… he really captivates audiences with his compelling lyrics” - The Huffington Post, Mohadesa Najumi
After landing a spot on the longlist of Glastonbury Festival’s Emerging Talent Competition in 2017, Soham was faced with a choice: to continue with his studies at Durham University, or to pursue music as a full-time endeavour? For most of us, it would be an impossible dilemma: but not for Soham De. So, he left the world of academia behind and set about writing new music.
His debut single proper, ‘Brave’, was released in 2018, and he soon garnered support from BBC Introducing, Sofar Sounds, the Never Fade Sessions, SBTV, Amazing Radio, Oxjam, and BBC 1 Look East. Slots at WOMAD, Pinkpop, The Great Escape, Boardmasters, Live at Leeds, Hit The North, and Dot to Dot festivals followed, as well as a European tour with The Pierce Brothers and select headline shows across the UK and Europe.
East London native Chinwe is a singer-songwriter and producer who cites Nina Simone and Portishead amongst some of her biggest influences. The daughter of a Nigerian father and a Jamaican Mother – Chinwe was exposed to an eclectic range of music from an early age. Having taken classical violin lessons for several years, she eventually ditched the violin in favour of teaching herself the guitar.
The self-taught musician started writing songs in her early teens, and shortly after began experimenting with production as another outlet for her creativity. Having released her debut single in June 2019 and a further two singles in 2020, Chinwe has already gained acclaim from the likes of Complex and Wonderland. As well as support from Jamz Supernova on BBC Radio 1xtra, Tom Robinson on the BBC Introducing Mixtape and Robert Bruce from CapitalXtra.
Since forming in Bristol in 2019, Stay Lunar burst out of the gates with their polished bedroom-pop sound, receiving plaudits all over the world, notably from Spotify, Starbucks, BBC Introducing, and many more. Combining upbeat instrumentation with sombre lyrics, the synthy, guitar-soaked quintet create a juxtaposition in their music that allows for a deeper connection with their dreamy pop-driven songs.
Lisbon-born, London-based artist Ana De Llor fuses her synesthesia with dark brooding melodies, doused in electric left-field Portuguese mysticism. Her visual art and remote Portuguese routes inspire avant-pop songs told by a heartfelt voice from within. Adufe rhythms bring her melodies to life inviting you into De Llor’s world.
"Ana De Llor, is creating a dark and electrifying world filled with a rebellious, hypnotic allure" - NOTION Magazine
“Eccentric and highly promising" - BBC Radio 6 Music
With a clear sense of purpose, 21-year-old London-based singer, songwriter and guitarist Rosie Frater-Taylor blurs the lines between jazz, folk, pop & soul. Think Joni Mitchell meets Pat Metheny, Lewis Taylor teams up with Emily King or a female version of John Mayer.
With ‘Better Days’ accumulating 120k streams to date, the first three singles have caught the attention of the likes of Gilles Peterson, Jordan Rakei, Michael League, Rosie Lowe & Gretchen Parlato amongst others, with Complex Magazine, Bandcamp, Jazz FM, Worldwide FM, Jazz re:freshed and global platform Pickup Music championing the young musician too.
Honey began writing music at just 11 years old, influenced by the songwriting greats, whilst also consuming contemporary pop music to create her own unique style that combines retro aesthetics with modern embellishments and that has seen her recently partner with London jewelry brand Missoma.
Last year saw the singer and songwriter in the studio, writing a new collection of tracks to be released in 2021, still finding time to team up with another one of the UK’s most exciting Neo-Soul/R&B acts in Sam Wills for their track ‘Traingazing’, which was heavily supported by BBC Radio 1Xtra, Jamie Cullum, Beats1 and other key tastemakers.
Oh Papa emerged from the embers of the Sheffield music scene in the late 2010s, after years of watching beloved local venues change hands and crumble into obscurity. Sheffield, it seemed, had had its heyday. With the hyper-masculinity of the male guitar band setting the template for many young artists striving to get their voices heard, Oh Papa wanted to change the perception of what it means to be an indie band from the North.
With comparisons to the rootsy Americana of Kevin Morby, the wry lyrical content of Andy Shauf and Courtney Barnett, and the subtle intricacies of Blood on the Tracks and Harvest, Oh Papa are continuing a tradition of intimate and insightful songwriting for a new generation.
MEI, who Complex hail an 'R&B Wonder’, is a South London vocalist, songwriter, producer and bassist with a unique blend of R&B, rap, alternative and electronic elements combined with soul-baring lyrics. She creates a sound that she describes as, 'honey for your ears, medicine for your fears'. MEI has crafted a distinctive sonic world that develops with each release, showcasing her commitment to growth and discovery.
Continually garnering key support from the likes of Clash, Complex, CMU, Gal-Dem, Earmilk, Record of the Day, The Line of Best Fit, Elevator, Noctis Magazine, Equate Magazine, and many more, MEI's trajectory is elevating further with every release. With her most recent EP making it to No.2 in Jamz Supernova's EP Top 5 on BBC 1Xtra - with her last single also receiving the Jamz seal of approval - and with previous support from BBC Introducing and BBC 6 Music too, MEI's music is continually finding itself shared amongst the best tastemakers in the industry.
With an artistry built entirely on being DIY, Dominic Wolf produces, writes and plays everything himself. Described as a genre-defying artist Wolf creates a world that pulls you in and takes you somewhere else. The deeper you go the more you will find. His fiery live performances have earned him the reputation as a must-see act in the London scene
Panpsychist philosopher Philip Goff is the front man and wordsmith of Number and Number and will be the first ever philosopher to both speak and sing at How the Light Gets In. Number and Number have been sharing ‘guitar explorations of the human condition’ with philosophers up and down the country since 1998. Shunning fame and fortune, they have preferred to tour philosophy departments sharing both the comedy and the tragedy of existence.
“A delightful soup of bleeps and beeps” - NME
"Loud edgy rock n roll meets philosophical reflection. What's not to like?" - John Worrall, Professor of the Philosophy of Science, London School of Economics.
“Edgy sounds with angsty lyrics. A band for troubled times.” - David Papineau, Professor of Philosophy, King’s College London
A self produced band emitting funk grooves, laptop beats, and emotional dance tracks, Bristol + London based Tungz operate out of a home-studio-come-head-office where the core values are sleek minimalism, clean lines and future-funk breakdowns.
The company line continues to be towed by means of a loungecore French-dance aesthetic coloured by 70s AM rock synths, tightly tuned percussion and guitar licks so richly sophis- ticated they ought to have a Beverly Hills postcode
'Tungz bring something genuinely unique to the new music scene' - NiteLifeOnline
Rosehip Teahouse began back in 2016 as the bedroom laments of Frankie Pavitt. Struggling with identity, loss and poor mental health, bandcamp born EP 'I Got Out of Bed Today' was created as a means of escaping the grey every day that life had melted into.
Years, a new Testogel prescription and a couple of synth players later, Frankie, Will, Tony, Josh and Grindle stand proud as the soft, queer group of indie boys that you never really knew you needed. Rosehip Teahouse will remind you what melancholy means and have you whistling along for good measure.
Expect a kaleidoscope of colour and an electric atmosphere when cabaret comes to HowTheLightGetsIn. Each sunset brings with it a dazzling array of new performers. At London last year, slick and subversive duo Bourgeois and Maurice brought the house (or tent) down with their sizzling routine, and we'll be smuggling in more provocateurs to sow scandal this September.
As well as a line-up of world-class music acts and a host of underground acoustic talent, our DJs will commandeer the decks to keep the party going well after the sun has set.
The vinyl-spinning pedigree is unmatched: Ibiza regular Ewan Pearson, legendary beatsmith Andrew Weatherall, and scandalous club-night institution Savage have all worked their magic at recent festivals.
Expect another talent showcase this September - we'll be releasing our line-up soon.
HowTheLightGetsIn London will feature a full programme of daytime performances by a mix of hugely talented artists from around the UK. Taking place in The Stage from Saturday morning to Sunday night, the Day Sessions programme is full of diverse, up-and-coming talent and our tips for the new bands to watch.
A Truly Unique Offering
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