Unprecedented Demand to Perform at This Year's Hanwell Hootie

Over a thousand acts have applied to take part

Emerging local acts have been encouraged to come forward

February 12, 2026

The Hanwell Hootie says it has received the highest number of artist applications in its history, with a record-breaking 1,220 bands and solo performers putting themselves forward to play at this year’s festival.

Organisers say the unprecedented level of interest reflects both the Hootie’s growing reputation and the increasingly urgent need for platforms that support grassroots musicians at a time when independent venues across the country are closing at an alarming rate.

Founded in 2013 as a free community festival celebrating Hanwell’s musical heritage — particularly its links to Jim Marshall, the “Father of Loud” — the Hootie has grown into one of London’s largest free one-day music events. Spread across pubs, clubs, churches and outdoor stages, it has become a vital showcase for emerging talent, drawing thousands of visitors to the area each spring.

This year’s surge in applications, organisers say, tells its own story.

“It’s our largest number ever,” said Music Director Andy McRobbie. “That number alone shows not only how much The Hootie has grown in reputation over the years, but also just how strong the demand is from artists for spaces like this to exist.”

McRobbie said the volume of submissions highlights a wider national issue: the shrinking number of opportunities for new artists to perform live. “With so many venues closing across the country, our ethos since day one has been to do everything we can to push back against that decline. The benefits — culturally, creatively, and socially — are huge, both for artists and for the wider community.”

The festival operates as a Community Interest Company, with its core team working voluntarily and part-time. Artists are paid, venues make a profit, and audiences attend for free — a model organisers say is often misunderstood but central to the Hootie’s mission.

McRobbie added that being open about the scale of demand also helps manage expectations among musicians. “Many don’t make it through, and some understandably feel disappointed or entitled to play — but the reality is that we are working as hard as we can to showcase as many new, young, and emerging artists as possible, and to give a genuine platform to voices that might otherwise go unheard.”

He described the selection process as both challenging and inspiring.

“Going through over a thousand applications has been intense, but also incredibly rewarding. It’s a privilege to see so much emerging talent, and we’re doing everything we can to curate a festival that supports new artists and brings the community together through live music.”

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