Homegrown Festival, multi-venue across Brighton, 11th April 2026
Back for its third year to celebrate Brighton’s thriving grassroots artists, venues and community, Homegrown Festival took in 9 of the city’s favourite live rooms and offered up an eclectic mix of talent to choose from. With busy queuing for wristbands and the threat of rain, it was a trepidatious start that quickly picked up pace as the music kicked off.
First on my list were SoftTop at Daltons – their ‘soft music for soft people’ was the perfect way to start the day and proved enough to bring the sunshine out as well. A multitude of not seen often enough instruments including clarinet, cello and flute filled the stage, with understated melodies still managing to pack a punch. Shout out to Daltons too – a venue putting heaps of effort into building a welcoming space for everyone.
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Next, onto what feels like my home from home at The Hope & Ruin. Lots of buzz around My Precious Bunny, the new project by Lily from Penelope Isles and friends. Playing as a 7-piece, the camaraderie between band members was crystal clear and they sounded on point – a suitably dreamy and nostalgia-filled addition to the Bella Union roster. Their debut album A Moment In My Eyes is out next month with more dates pending if you want to check them out.
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I stuck around at The Hope to catch The Daniel Wakeford Experience, a charming and enjoyable set filled with some cleverly formed rock-pop songs. Lots of singalongs from the crowd, unsurprisingly perhaps for his tribute to Brighton, Wonderful City. A stripped back cover of Jealous Guy was the highlight for me and I’d guess for the many swaying hands in the air too.
The Daniel Wakeford Experience
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Onto another new venue that is a welcome addition to the local scene – Alphabet is situated in what was the Rialto Theatre and the decor has retained an appropriately retro Speakeasy feel. On stage, Cowboy Lyf played electronic beats through a sea of dried ice and dimmed lights, creating pockets of clubland dancers in the crowd – impressive for an early evening set.
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Back up the road to The Albert for, as expected, an accomplished performance of gritty grunge-pop and fake blood from Girl Apocrypha, a happy late inclusion on the line-up. Including a guest book for everyone to sign and a cover of MGMT’s Kids, beneath the visual gimmickry there are some strong songs and vocals, and this act feels very much like a contender for the ‘ones to watch’ list.
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Although there was much more music continuing into the night, the final visit for me was to Green Door to see AtticOmatic, a band whose musicianship is right up there and who manage to genre-hop seamlessly. Their skills are downplayed but obvious, and they manage to convey a solid sense of emotional questioning and balance. It would have been a tough act to follow and finished things off flawlessly.
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A reminder of the diverse talent and nurturing environment Brighton has to offer, Homegrown put on a formidable showcase. Please support grassroots venues – the world of music would be significantly lesser without them and the breakthrough artists they foster.
Review & Photos by Siobhan O’Driscoll – 16beasleystphotography.com | Instagram: 16beasleyst
Published 13th April 2026
Breaking Glass Magazine 