SY.Gigs, Shrewsbury’s community-focused, not-for-profit live music initiative, is delighted to announce it has been awarded a £1,400 grant from Shrewsbury Town Council’s Communities & Environment committee.
The funding, ratified on April 1, will support the continuation of SY.Gigs’ highly anticipated 2026 Season 4 programme, ‘For the Curious’, which activates underused heritage spaces across the town with world-class, alternative, and experimental live music.
Since its launch in 2022, SY.Gigs has delivered over 30 events, attracting thousands of attendees and building a dedicated following. Artists have included Shabaka, Tara Clerkin Trio, Fabiano do Nascimento, Cerys Hafana, and Mary Lattimore.
By transforming iconic spaces such as St Alkmund’s Church, the Unitarian Church, and Shrewsbury Library into intimate concert venues, the initiative makes diverse cultural experiences accessible without the need for alternative music fans to travel to major cities, where ordinarily these artists would normally perform.
The £1,400 grant will help subsidise production costs, venue hire, and artist fees for the remainder of Season 4, ensuring ticket prices remain affordable, including concessions for those under 25.
This latest support builds on the continued backing of key partners and funders including Opus Media Productions, Berrys, Glou Glou, Launch Return, and Creation Group, whose contributions have been instrumental in sustaining SY.Gigs’ programme this year.
Upcoming highlights for the 2026 season include:
May 16 – The Unitarian Church: A night of deeply considered, choral-laced experimental ambient electronic music from Dylan Henner and Nigerian sound artist Ibukun Sunday.
September 13 – Shrewsbury Library: An orchestral reimagining of the 1930s silent film People on Sunday, performed by Haiku Salut in the setting of the former Shrewsbury School Chapel.
October & November – Shrewsbury Library: Two further concerts featuring soon-to-be-announced artists.
“We are incredibly grateful to Shrewsbury Town Council for their support,” said Chris Taylor, Founder of SY.Gigs. “Without regular grants and the support of our existingfunders and sponsors, these events simply would not be sustainable. We are also heavily indebted to the community support for helping and sharing events.
"Our mission has always been to create safe, welcoming spaces that bring our community together, environments that gently support wellbeing while celebrating the unique, historic, and resonant architecture that we have in Shrewsbury.
"This funding allows us to continue pushing musical boundaries not typically catered for commercially in the town, keep ticket prices accessible, and bring world-class artists to our doorstep who would otherwise be heading to larger cities.”
“We’re really pleased to be able to support SY.Gigs through the Community Grants Fund,” said Councillor Jamie Daniels, Chair of the Communities & Environment committee.
“They do fantastic work bringing innovative live music into some of our most distinctive historic spaces, creating experiences that are both culturally enriching and accessible to the community. Initiatives like this play an important role in strengthening Shrewsbury’s creative identity, and we’re proud to support their continued growth.”
With between 600 and 800 residents expected to benefit directly from the Season 4 programme, SY.Gigs continues to demonstrate that high-quality, thoughtfully curated live music can act as a powerful catalyst for community resilience and social connection.
For more information, to sign up for the SY.Gigs newsletter on substack, or to purchase tickets for upcoming Season 4 events, please visit:
