New Fast Track Live programme offers funding & support for UK musicians

Emerging artists define their careers performing live. Gaining a festival slot or a support slot on a tour early on in their journey can introduce them to hundreds, if not thousands, of new fans and industry contacts. But reaching that stage often comes with costs that are hard to absorb.

That’s where Fast Track Live comes in.

Launched by Help Musicians and backed by LIVE Trust Phase 2 funding, the new programme will give eligible musicians grants between £500 and £1,000, alongside a two-hour Career Clinic with a live-music specialist, helping them to make the most of important opportunities.

Supporting the next step, not just the next show

For artists, a live opportunity can mean upfront spending on travel, accommodation, rehearsal space, equipment, production and marketing, all before they’ve even stepped on stage.

That financial risk can force musicians to turn down the very opportunities that could help move their careers forward. Help Musicians’ Census, carried out with the Musicians’ Union, found that 80% of musicians had experienced at least one barrier that restricted their career.

Fast Track Live aims to reduce some of that pressure. By pairing financial support with practical, specialist guidance, the programme will help successful applicants plan effectively, creating longer-term momentum from one-off opportunities.

Why it matters for the live sector

A thriving live music ecosystem depends on new talent being able to find and perform for their audience. When emerging artists can access the right support at the right time, promoters, venues and festival organisers benefit too, with a stronger, broader pool of talent ready to step up.

The programme reflects a wider commitment from the LIVE Trust to reinvest money raised by the industry into grassroots live music, helping create sustainable careers and a more representative future for the sector.

Sarah Woods, CEO of Help Musicians, said:

“Sustainable careers are built over years of incremental growth: finding your scene, developing your sound, and building an audience, town by town and city by city. That’s why our support is tailored to where each musician is in their journey, because the next step to progress a career and the opportunity gained from it look different for every artist.”

Apply for Fast Track Live

Fast Track Live will run across two funding rounds:

Round one: applications open 7 September and close 9 October 2026.

Round two: applications open 19 October and close 20 November 2026.

Find out more and apply for Fast Track Live