New music festival to showcase overlooked talent

A new music festival aimed at showcasing artists who organisers say are often overlooked in the industry is set to begin this week.

The first ever Void Fest will take place over three days, from Thursday 7 May to Saturday 9 May, at the Lab on Charles Street in Northampton, featuring 34 acts.

The event has been organised by A Void Collective, a group of musicians who say they want to create a more inclusive platform for "marginalised groups".

Festival co-organiser Alex Botton, who is autistic, told BBC Northampton: "We thought this is a good opportunity to put bands on that wouldn't otherwise have got festival shows."

The festival will also be helping to raise money for the small venue, which has a capacity of 120.

Jordan Jones, the frontman from Northampton-based band The Keepers - who are performing on Saturday - said making a living in the music industry was "hard work".

The band played an average of one gig a month and said musicians now had to take part for "the love" - rather than the money.

"The great thing about A Void Collective is that they give bands, who are somewhat marginalised... they're really helping us out.

"We have so many bands in Northampton but not enough gigs to give them," he added.

Void Fest starts at the Lab on Thursday at 19:00 BST and runs through to Saturday.

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