Heathrow has teamed up with global music community Sofar Sounds, known for launching the careers of Billie Eilish and Leon Bridges, to showcase new talent on a live music stage in Terminal 5 this summer.
This initiative offers a unique platform for artists to perform for music industry executives and an audience larger than that of Glastonbury. The first performance took place last week during one of Heathrow’s busiest weeks, with 1.8 million passengers expected. This summer is set to be Heathrow’s busiest on record, with a 1,400% increase in passenger numbers from 2020.
With a record 30 million passengers anticipated between June and September, the Heathrow Introducing stage provides British artists an unprecedented opportunity. The debut event featured acoustic rock band China Bears, folk singer-songwriter The Halfway Kid, and RnB artist Olivia Nelson, Glastonbury’s Emerging Talent Runner Up.
Sofar Sounds, known for discovering future stars since 2009, collaborated with Heathrow to curate a diverse lineup of emerging artists across genres like pop, jazz, folk, RnB, soul, and rock.
Karoline Komolafe of Sofar Sounds commented: ‘The Heathrow Introducing stage isn’t just about providing entertainment, it’s about propelling careers to new heights. It’s a game-changer for those aiming to break into the industry, especially with festival season at its peak, offering exposure to execs travelling through the hub – you can only get this at Heathrow.
‘We’ve loved picking out who we think are the most promising and genuinely exciting acts that are starting out right now, and I think Heathrow passengers are going to have a brilliant time at the gigs.’
Tonia Fielding, Director of Services at Heathrow, added: ‘Heathrow has long been hailed as the UK’s gateway to the world. We’re proud that we’re providing people from around the globe the chance to experience the best of Britain’s emerging musical talent and a taste of UK culture from the moment they reach the airport, while helping British talent supercharge their careers at the same time.
‘We’re gearing up for the busiest summer on record, meaning we can give artists on the Heathrow Introducing stage massive audiences to play to. As we strive to be an extraordinary airport, delivering the best travel experience in the UK, initiatives like this support our commitment to culture, innovation and excellence’
Travelers still have two more opportunities to catch performances on the Heathrow Introducing stage, with shows scheduled for July 12 and July 24, coinciding with another expected record-breaking day for passenger numbers.
