YTL Arena community stage will showcase local talent

Up and coming musicians will have the opportunity to perform at YTL Arena on the same night as artists on a sold-out, world tour.

The community stage at YTL Arena will support local performers at the very beginning of their career. The chance to perform to a live audience is a huge opportunity for local, unsigned artists. Live shows allow artists to build up their fanbase, contribute to their income and give them invaluable experience to develop as a performer. While new artists are able to connect with their audiences through social media, Spotify and YouTube, live shows are a great way to engage people by giving them an unforgettable, in-person experience.

The community stage will be in Runway Bar, a space that celebrates the very best of Bristol with a wide variety of local food and drink, and a vibrant place to socialise before heading into a show. With a capacity to hold more than 3,000 people, performers on the community stage will be able to showcase their talents to a wide audience. Local artists will have the opportunity to share their music with a new audience.

Bristol has a history of supporting bands at the very beginning of their careers. The first time The Scissor Sisters played The Louisiana, they were the support act to a local Bristol band, but by the third time they played, they had to be escorted to the stage so they wouldn’t get mobbed. When The National first played at The Louisiana, it was to 20 people, now they regularly play to more than 20,000. Since opening in 1982, The Fleece has welcomed the likes of Oasis, Radiohead, Queens of the Stone Age and White Stripes through its doors, while The Exchange has hosted a wide array of artists including The 1975, Haim, George Ezra and Rag n Bone Man.

From their first gig on the community stage to a sold-out show in the main arena, we want to support local artists from the very beginning of their journey. To get the latest updates, follow us on social media @ytlarenabristol.