Uniting individuals by way of dwell music – and serving to rising stars 


Si Blatchly – dwell music organiser

Fifty persons are crammed collectively as their vivid outfits sparkle below the stage lights. Horns blast, strings pluck, guitars ring out and drums pound, because the UK’s largest people band explodes with power. “It was epic,” recollects Si Blatchly, who’s also called Si Chai. “The group went completely ballistic. There was a lot pleasure within the room and each single particular person on the stage was totally beaming.”

Blatchly is recalling the second The Conservatoire Folks Ensemble, made up of an ever-rotating variety of college students from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, took to the Chai Wallahs stage for the primary time. “A few of these youngsters had by no means even been to a pageant earlier than, not to mention performed in entrance of two,000 individuals,” he says. “So, to see them completely smash it was such an enormous rush. It offers me such a kick to see that. It’s such an exquisite factor to witness that I can get fairly weepy typically.”

Blatchly has been concerned with Chai Wallahs since 2004, when he got here up with the thought of mixing his two passions. “I needed to introduce individuals to well being merchandise and issues like pure incense, goji berries, wheatgrass and juices,” he recollects. “And I used to be additionally passionately into music, so I merged the 2.”

Initially it was a stall that served up brews, juices and natural pictures, together with DJs spinning tunes, however by 2007 it had developed right into a touring dwell stage. Since then, Chai Wallahs has been a staple at festivals throughout the UK, resembling Inexperienced Man, Kendal Calling, Secret Backyard Occasion and Shambala, placing on the likes of Ezra Collective, Portico Quartet, Kae Tempest, Rag & Bone Man and actually 1000’s of different acts.

Chai Wallahs has at all times been a spot of solace and discovery away from the hustle and bustle of busy most important levels, he explains, according to his purpose to present a platform to up-and-coming artists – potential stars of tomorrow.

“We’ve at all times been about supporting unsupported artists,” says Blatchly. “However offering them with a very skilled platform, wonderful sound, nice hospitality and a pleasant venue. In order that new audiences can interact and listen to that music the best way it was meant to be heard and open individuals’s minds as much as the truth that you don’t must go and watch the headliner. There’s a lot expertise at this degree.”

Nevertheless, occasions are robust on this planet of music festivals. The Affiliation of Impartial Festivals experiences that the UK misplaced 78 of them in 2024 alone. Unprecedented strains on the dwell music sector, significantly on these working at a smaller degree, has made issues particularly difficult of late.

“The grassroots scene has been below a variety of strain,” admits Blatchly. “An enormous rise in infrastructure prices, the cost-of-living disaster and a complete string of different points has principally rinsed any out there cash out of the business. Some drastic steps had been wanted, so we thought: ‘Why don’t a bunch of us get collectively and pool all of our abilities, expertise and data?”

The result’s Grassroots Rising, a brand new Group Profit Society (CBS) enterprise that’s billed as a ‘pageant of festivals’ and is meant to place energy again within the fingers of the independents. A crowdfunding marketing campaign will launch this August and, if profitable, in June 2026 a bunch of unbiased festivals, venues and promoters will be a part of forces to create a collaborative occasion over one weekend in Cambridgeshire.

This mannequin will make it extra reasonably priced, and permit us to create a showcase for grassroots music. This can be a true return to pageant tradition – a blueprint for the longer term

“If all of us be a part of collectively, our collective energy and attain is big,” says Blatchly. “The mannequin will assist scale back working and ticket prices, making it extra reasonably priced, and permit us to create a showcase for grassroots music. This can be a true return to pageant tradition and that’s what we have to return to, as a result of the prevailing mannequin doesn’t work for the overwhelming majority. This could be a blueprint for the longer term.” 

Luke Potter, a singer songwriter who performs as Potter, has seen up shut simply how essential these areas will be for aspiring musicians. “What Chai Wallahs has achieved within the final 20 years is exceptional,” he says. “It’s saved my life on multiple event. Si supported my band for 10 years taking part in there and I nonetheless sing on that stage yearly. It isn’t only a venue or a assist platform for bands, it will possibly actually be a lifesaver for individuals.”

Regardless of the continued difficulties that the business faces, the infectious spirit, exuberance and magic that dwell music can produce is the factor that retains Blatchly pushing ahead. He stays passionately searching for moments that may create a buzz much like seeing 50 smiling younger musicians packed on to a stage.

“Music is a common language,” he says. “You’ll be able to categorical a lot by way of it and it’s an incredible type of communication and schooling. However it will possibly additionally present a lot pleasure that it will possibly evolve your soul – which is basically what it’s all about.”

Images: Sam Bush