APPLICATIONS OPEN SEPTEMBER 2026
Grassroots Music Programme
We are launching a new programme at Crag Pit Studios! This week-long residency is a place where musicians can come to write, play and create together. We are looking for early career professionals who want to write songs, develop an album or try our new ideas. We are also open to later career musicians with wild new ideas or new collaborations they want to explore. Each week will end in a live video and demo recording session in our stunning, acoustically treated barn space.
Dates
Solo Musicians
2nd – 7th November 2026
£150 for private accommodation, rehearsal space and final LIVE SESSION recording.
Call Opens 15th August 2026
Bands
16th – 21st November 2026
£350 per band for up to three rooms, rehearsal space and final LIVE SESSION recording.
Call Opens 15th August 2026
Time to Create
You will be given private accommodation in the huge and rambling house at Crag Pit where there is time and space to work with your band, meet other musicians, try out new ideas, share with like-minded individuals and explore new ideas. There is a gentle structure to each day with time for personal development and for trying out ideas with people. There are also periods during the day where people can use the equipment to record demos with a basic set-up.
Live Sessions
Each incubation week will end with a final LIVE SESSION, with a professional video set up and sound recording with a sound engineer. Each artist will leave with at least one demo track and video content for promotion.
Inspiring Location
Crag pit Studios is situated beside a nature reserve, with walks down to sea and to the local village. There is a large garden with private spaces, such as the greenhouse and the Shepherds Hut. The house has multiple communal spaces and is warm in winter, with underfloor heating in the barn and fires in the living room.
About the Space
The Architects who designed and built our barn space also built the Pro Corda studio at Leiston Abbey with Derek Sugden – the acoustician responsible for Glyndebourne and Snape Maltings. Our space was converted using similar dimensions and materials, resulting in a perfect live recording space.
How we Programme
We are open to all music genres, but each week we will be curated to match-make artists, creating useful long lasting connections and a professional community. We are focused on building the programme up to be as diverse as possible in terms of gender and background. As the music scene can often be very male dominated, we encourage female and non-binary applications and all our workshop leaders will be there to encourage and maintain a welcoming and open atmosphere.
How Much?
This programme is being sponsored so we can keep prices low. The price for the week for a solo musician is £150 for a private room and for a band of 2 to 5 people is £350 for up to three rooms. If you are in a band of over 5 people then please outline that in your application and we will contact you to give you a customised rate.
There are also bursary places available which cover this fee and your travel to the residency. The bursary places will be for people who meet any of the following criteria.
- Identify as working class
- From the South East of England
- Female and non-binary
- Members of the global majority
