Amp up your February half term by getting involved in Signals Festival.
Following the success of last year’s debut event, Signals, Rotherham’s youth music festival, is back for 2024. And it’s set to be bigger and better than before as it expands throughout the town centre and the borough.
Signals Festivals is a series of free events, workshops and performances that has been developed by a collaboration between Children’s Capital of Culture, Rotherham Music Hub and RMBC Events.
Rotherham Music Hub’s community music manager, Liam O’Shea, says Signals is about co-producing a large-scale event with and for young people in Rotherham
“There’s a two-fold approach to Signals Festival: to celebrate the creative talent we have in Rotherham, and signal what to expect from Children’s Capital of Culture in 2025 as we gear up for our 365-day festival.
“We want our young people to feel proud and excited about their hometown, to have ambition, and to realise that Rotherham has some really cool stuff happening.”
The festival starts on Saturday 10th February with Launchpad, a pathway to industry event hosted at University Centre Rotherham. For any young person serious about a creative career, this is not to be missed. Industry professionals have been invited to share advice and deliver workshops about how to build a sustainable career in the music industry.
Throughout the festival, you can catch young musicians performing in unusual places all over the borough from supermarkets and hair salons to trams and football stadiums. You can also improve your own musicality at various music making workshops.
Head over to Magna to see Particle Shrine. This incredible, immersive, walk-in installation turns solar particles passing through the space into sound and light patterns, surrounding you in music and changing visual patterns, projections and undulating mirrors. There will also be a live feed from the Super-Kamiokande neutrino observatory in Japan.
The Saturday Shindig on Saturday 17th February is sure to be a festival highlight. This all-day event in the town centre includes the AMP Up! talent showcase in All Saints’ Square, sound and light installations at Rotherham Minster, and a trail of activities happening across multiple venues such as New York Stadium, Grimm & Co, Over The Rainbow, the Imperial Buildings, ROAR and Chapel on the Bridge.
Signals Festival Rotherham
Saturday 10th – Sunday 18th February
Free gigs, workshops and art installations across Rotherham
What’s on:
Pop Up and Play
Busker style performances from young musicians aged 10-25
Various locations including New York Stadium, Nova City, Rotherham Interchange, and Supertram Parkgate
Pop In and Make
Music making workshops designed to introduce new experiences to young people
Particle Shrine at Magna
Free to visit throughout Signals Festival
Explore the connection between music and science as cosmic rays are turned into audio and light.
Launchpad at University Centre Rotherham
Saturday 10th Feb
Talks, workshops and advice from music industry professionals
AMP Up! in All Saints’ Square
Saturday 17th Feb
Rotherham talent showcase with young bands and artists in a big heated marquee
Emergence Collective at Grimm & Co and Rotherham Minster
Saturday 17th Feb
Interactive music workshops at Grimm & Co and live instrumental performance at Rotherham Minster
After Party at the Bridge Inn and Cutlers’ Arms
Saturday 17th Feb – Over 18s only
Live music all night long
