First Timers (festival) explained

First Timers
Location:
Years Active:2013 - present
Genre:Punk rock, Indie rock

First Timers is a yearly series of workshops in London, England, culminating in a two-day festival that encourages "new faces and voices in bands", in order to "do something about the lack of diversity in the music community".[1]

Background

The festival was founded by Bryony Beynon of Good Throb, inspired by similar events in North America, with the first events happening in 2013.[2]

To take part, one or more band members have never been in a band before or one or more members has never performed that role in a band before, and one or more band members has to belong to a group marginalised in society.[3] This includes being disabled, transgender, queer, non-binary, LGBTQIA+, a person of colour, or a woman.[4] [5]

Bands that emerged from the festival include Big Joanie,[6] Whitelands,[3] Charmpit, Breakup Haircut,[2] Primetime,[2] Scrap Brain,[7] Slags and Panic Pocket.[8]

Speaking with The Guardian in 2019, an organiser with the festival reported that nearly 90 bands had formed to play the festival up to that point.[9]

Beynon also organised an iteration of the festival in Sydney, Australia on 14 July 2018.[10] [11]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The events and workshops where women can kickstart their metal career. Team Rock. 13 February 2018. 3 March 2018. https://web.archive.org/web/20180227233228/http://teamrock.com/feature/2018-02-13/the-events-and-workshops-where-women-can-kickstart-their-metal-career. 27 February 2018. live.
  2. Web site: Interview: First Timers Fest. 26 February 2024. Joyzine.
  3. Web site: First Timers Workshops Return For 2024!. Get In Her Ears. Kate. Crudgington. 12 January 2024. 26 September 2024.
  4. First Timers. Maximum Rocknroll. September 2017. Creg. 412. 27 September 2024.
  5. Book: Rosie. Meade. Mae. Shaw. 117. Queering community development in DIY punk spaces. Kirsty. Lohman. Ruth. Pearce. 2021. Policy Press. 9781447340515.
  6. Web site: Women of color have always had a place in punk. Big Joanie is here to remind you of that.. Myers. Owen. The Fader. 30 October 2017. 26 September 2024.
  7. Web site: New Blood! P.E.A.R.L., HÄRDA UT, SCRAP BRAIN, PEDESTRIAN, and NERVE QUAKES. Maximum Rocknroll. 8 December 2016. 10 November 2024.
  8. Web site: Get To Know – Panic Pocket. 23 April 2018. For The Rabbits. 8 October 2024.
  9. Web site: 'I've got all this rage': the feminist punk groups demanding to be heard. The Guardian. Aamna. Mohdin. 12 April 2019. 1 October 2024.
  10. Web site: First Timers Sydney is the perfect excuse to start a band. The Brag. Allison. Gallagher. 25 May 2018. 27 September 2024.
  11. Romance - Seven Inches of… EP. Maximum Rocknroll. Alex. Howell. July 2023. 482. 27 September 2024.

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