Studio Monkey Shoulder Returns To Boost Uk Grassroots Music Scene For A Second Year

Max Persad
May 7
2 min read

BBC DJ Giles Peterson says a "privilege" watching local music communities in the UK "come to life" as Studio Monkey Shoulder are once again inviting grassroots music communities from the UK to apply for a £10,000 grant to spearhead a growing music project to spotlight their scene on a global scale.

The initiative, set up by the popular Monkey Shoulder Whiskey and Worldwide FM, are back to positively empower grassroots music scenes which are planting their feet into their community.

The movement aims to create an epicentre where people can connect and engage over their love of music; a safe space for all to enjoy.

Studio Monkey Shoulder is now re-joining forces with celebrated Peterson to grant one UK community the opportunity to turn their dream project into a reality this summer.

The BBC Radio 6 host helms independent record label Brownswood Recordings, and is the founder of online radio station Worldwide FM, which you may be familiar with as a staple station on GTA V.

Peterson knows all about craft, being experimental and the promotion of new innovative material. A pioneer for pirate radio, he regularly taps into his love for jazz, hip-hop and electronic music.

Peterson speaking on the news said: “It’s been a privilege to work with the communities we supported in 2024, seeing their projects thrive and come to life. I’m excited to uncover more amazing community-driven projects in the UK and witness the talent that comes with it as the project evolves in year two.”

Last year's winners, Gut Level, a Sheffield-based event series aiming to create an affordable and inclusive nightlife space prioritising women, queer and marginalised groups, spoke on the importance of Studio Monkey Shoulders work.

They said, “Studio Monkey Shoulder came to us at a crucial time. In all honesty, the Chapel Walk space would not have survived the summer without it, so we owe a huge debt of gratitude to Gilles and the team.”

Applications to the UK Studio Monkey Shoulder fund opened on 28th April 2025 and close on 1st June 2025. To find out more and apply, visit the Monkey Shoulder website

Comments

INTERVIEWS

The four part quartet returns with a starkingly fresh twist on timeless R&B

Confessions Of A Loverboy - No Guidnce on Harmony, Brotherhood, and Balancing Emotional Risk with Release

There’s something profound about a confession. Providing equal parts risk and relief, the desire to be vulnerable lies at the core of Confessions of a Loverboy , the latest offering from London-based quartet No Guidnce. Across five tracks, the group offers open-hearted manifestos on modern masculinity, confidence, and heartbreak.

Nippa unveils his third EP, Hope She Hears This

Masculinity in Minor Keys, NIPPA Takes a Deep Dive Into his new EP (Interview)

Nippa is one of UK R&B’s most compelling new voices—genre-blurring, emotionally astute, and refreshingly self-assured and has arrived with his highly anticipated third EP, Hope She Hears This. Hailing from Tottenham, north London, his music fuses buttery smooth melodies with sharp, rap-adjacent lyricism, rooted in a rich palette and wide ground of sonical influences that fall between the genres of Motown to US and UK rap.

Destin Conrad Speaks About Representations of Queerness, His Debut Album 'Love On Digital' and How Technology Has Transformed The Dating Space

Destin Conrad is one of the most talked-about young artists in the R&B genre right now, and for good reason. He has just released his highly anticipated debut studio album Love On Digital, to rapturous acclaim from fans and critics alike. The aforementioned album is a body of work that pays homage to many of the pioneers of the genre in the 2000s before him, whilst still managing to throw in his unique flair to each song.

Greentea Peng Goes In On 'Tell Dem It's Sunny' [Interview]

A complete maverick, she’s an artist who refuses to allow external sources to influence her

One Day It Will All Make Sense - Steel Banglez on Legacy, Blending Culture, and his Production Process

For the first instalment of New Wave Magazine's Hitmaker Series, a brand new look into producers in the industry who are behind some of...

Artisanal One Presents Journal 01, First of a Series of Visual Poem by Adémidé Udoma

“Universe talks, soul listens,” he writes in Journal 01, offering a guiding ethos for the practice. It is this listening to self, history and the unseen that shapes the output of Artisanal One. Whether through print, textile, installation or performance, Udoma’s work invites quiet reflection and thoughtful engagement, reminding us that creativity, at its core, is a form of devotion.

Inside the 2025 Met Gala’s Monumental Celebration of Black Fashion and Tailored Identity

The 2025 Met Gala, held on May 5 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, was a landmark celebration of Black sartorial excellence, themed “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style.” This year's event, co-chaired by Pharrell Williams, Colman Domingo, Lewis Hamilton, A$AP Rocky, and Anna Wintour, with LeBron James as honorary co-chair, paid homage to the rich history and contemporary expressions of Black dandyism. Although absent due to injury, Lebron James's influence was

10 Things We Love About Isaiah Falls

It’s no secret why Isaiah Falls is one of R&B’s most exciting new voices, nurturing a distinct sound rooted in his Orlando hometown,...

Summer Walker Returns With Dazzling New Track "Spend It" and A Cinematic Twist

Summer Walker steps boldly into a new chapter with the release of her latest single Spend It, an alluring and fiercely confident track that signals a fresh artistic direction for the acclaimed singer. The song arrives in three distinct forms, the original alongside two reimaginings titled Spend It Diamonds and Pearls Version and Spend It Rent is Due Version.

Loewe, COS and Kendrick Lamar Lead the Charge in Lyst’s Q1 Fashion Index

As the fashion world continues its high-stakes game of creative musical chairs, consumers are paying attention. Global shopping platform Lyst has just released the Q1 2025 edition of its influential Lyst Index, a quarterly ranking of the hottest brands and products in fashion.

2 3 4 5

NEW WAVE MAG