Shaftesbury has announced the return of Soho Music Month, a free festival celebrating the music and cultural history of two London districts: Carnaby and Soho.
The month-long occasion will run throughout July and Shaftesbury, the landlord for many properties in Carnaby and Soho, said it was working alongside over 50 of its retailers and restaurateurs to encourage footfall to London’s West End.
The festival features a series of live talks, exhibitions, and music history tours. There will also be activations, promotions, collections, new cocktails and dishes across a host of stores and restaurants in Soho and Carnaby.
“Shaftesbury is delighted to bring Soho Music Month back this year,” Shaftesbury head of group marketing and communications Karen Baines said.
“The campaign highlights the rich music heritage of Carnaby and Soho, and we are excited to work with our shops, bars, cafés and restaurants to showcase the amazing link these areas continue to have with all types of music.
“The exciting line up of activations will provide visitors with a great experience and further enhance the attraction of the West End”.
Highlights of Soho Music Month include one day vinyl market on Carnaby Street on July 18 – in partnership with Independent Label Market – and exhibitions from Ronnie Wood, Music of Youth Culture and Creative Media Network.
Shaftesbury is also funding a competition that will grant one winner the opportunity to record a song paying homage to Carnaby, to be released this winter. The judging panel includes Suggs, BBC Radio 1’s Scott Mills and Vick Hope, Soho Music Month co-founder Vincent Olutayo, and more.
Shaftesbury has also chosen to support Youth Music, a charity that works alongside children, young people and smaller youth charities to help nurture aspiring talent.
“Soho Music Month is famous for bringing exciting sounds, culture and celebration to the city,” Youth Music chief executive Matt Griffiths said.
“Thanks to our exciting new partnership with Shaftesbury, we’ll be able to spread the power of music beyond the event, to benefit young people nationwide.
“We’re really looking forward to being involved in such an iconic music event .”
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