News.
Spotlight launches new grassroots live music showcase at Howard Assembly Rooms with Midnite Pharmacy, Burgz and more on November 19th
1st October 2026
New live showcase puts emerging and unsigned artists centre stage with intimate 200-capacity event
A new grassroots live music showcase is set to launch with Spotlight Unsigned, a new platform created in partnership with Play One We Know (POWK) to shine a light on some of the most exciting emerging and unsigned artists.
The inaugural Spotlight Unsigned event will bring together a selection of independent artists and bands for an intimate 200-capacity live show, featuring Burgz, Midnite Pharmacy and more, before the night continues with a DJ set.
Designed to give developing artists a platform in front of a live audience, Spotlight Unsigned aims to create a regular space where new music can be discovered, celebrated and supported, connecting artists with audiences while helping to strengthen the grassroots live music ecosystem.
Opening up the showcase is Burgz, a musician and producer deeply rooted in the West Yorkshire hip-hop scene. Bringing together classic hip-hop fundamentals with a distinctly Northern perspective, Burgz places storytelling at the heart of his music, delivering a sound shaped by his experiences and surroundings.
Joining him are Midnite Pharmacy, the live electronic project formed by Leeds-based musicians Liam Jones and Si Martin. The pair combine influences from electronic music, indie, house and techno, performing as a two-piece live act while sequencing and playing multiple instruments between them. Their approach brings the energy and production of electronic music into a live band setting.
With more artists set to feature, the first Spotlight Unsigned is designed to offer audiences an opportunity to discover artists at an important stage in their development, while allowing emerging acts to perform in an intimate, dedicated live environment.
The event is being delivered in partnership with Play One We Know (POWK), the grassroots music platform working to create more sustainable opportunities for independent artists, venues and music professionals.
Spotlight Unsigned will support POWK’s wider commitment to grassroots music and create meaningful opportunities for artists to connect directly with audiences.
As the first event gets underway, Spotlight Unsigned aims to establish itself as a regular showcase for the next generation of artists, bringing together live music, discovery and community under one roof.