Youth-led festival showcases local talent

A youth-led grassroots music festival aimed at giving opportunities to young people has been held.

TOR-VYBZ was created with the support of the social enterprise Sound Communities CIC which works with young people.

The event was held at Princess Gardens, Torbay, Devon, on Saturday.

Jarvis Rohr, event creator, said: "I love knowing that so many other young people will get the chance to build their creative careers in a festival run by us and for our community." Torbay councillor Jackie Thomas said the event had a "fantastic atmosphere".

The event was funded by Ardonagh Community Trust with further support from Arts Council England, Youth Music, and the National Lottery Community Fund.

Forty young people were involved in the festival's pre-production, with 25 young people running the festival on the day itself.

Twenty-seven young grassroots musicians from the South West performed.

Rohr said it was "born out of seeing a lack of creative opportunities for young people in the south Devon area".

Lewis Jackson, a singer/songwriter from Paignton, who performed at the festival, said: "I've struggled a lot with my mental health. I've got ADHD and autism and sometimes life can get a bit hectic and my mind goes all over the place.

"I've always found performing has been able to level me out and keep me on the straight and narrow."

The event was also live-streamed online, for anyone not able to attend in person.

Daisy Lloyd, part of the technical team, said: "It's been created for young people, by young people... it's genuinely incredible to kind of see it all work out."

She said: "When I first discovered Sound Communities CIC, I didn't really have many friends, and now I feel like I'm part of the family.

"When I became ill and developed a chronic condition, Sound Communities CIC was really there for me."

Thomas added: "This gives them [young performers] that platform to showcase their talent... and hopefully leave that legacy here in Torbay."

Organisers said they hoped the event would be back in summer 2027.

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