First Spark Festival 2026
Soundart Radio is hosting its annual radio festival called First Spark Festival which marks the mid-point between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox, and takes place alongside the seasonal festival of Imbolc or Candlemas.
“This year we are especially pleased to welcome RE#SISTER from Rotterdam, with members travelling from the Netherlands to work with women and non-binary people in our community through a music workshop and a live, improvised performance.” says director Chris Booth.
Exciting Highlights of the First Spark Festival
“The festival brings together radio, live performance and collective listening, with creative responses to ideas of new light, electricity, transmission and inspiration.” says director Alice Armstrong, “come along to the performances and radio rituals on Saturday 31 January 2026, doors open at 2.30pm and performances start at 3.00pm. The event will also be broadcast on 102.5FM and online.”
Alongside the performance day, First Spark also includes a programme of artist-led workshops and broadcasts taking place before and after the event.
Director Sarah Gray: “all activities are designed to be creative and collaborative, welcoming all members of our community – listeners, supporters, local artists and anyone curious to be more involved at Soundart Radio.” Sarah continues, “Ergo Phizmiz and Lottie Depresstival, regarded internationally as maverick outsider artists, have been leading weekly Saturday afternoon workshops since October, culminating in a collaborative performance at our First Spark Festival on January 31st. Anyone can sign up to one or all the sessions in the series – you must be aged 16+ – but no experience is necessary, just a love of play and willingness to explore live on air!”
Lucinda Guy, co-founder of Soundart Radio, composer, singer and radio artist announces they will “welcome community members to visit the Skylark studio in Buckfastleigh on Sunday February 1st to sing songs for Candlemas. Skylark – Soundart Radio’s sister station – is a licensed, automated radio station for Dartmoor National Park that plays an algorithmically generated, continuous sound piece, made up of sounds captured within its broadcast range.”
Lucinda continues, “we will then be threading back to Soundart Radio to bring the songs into a participatory ritual forming a ceremony for Candlemas to close the First Spark Festival on Monday February 2nd.”
All events and workshops are listed on our website and it is recommended to register in advance, as places are limited. Everything is free of charge thanks to support from the Essential Skills fund.
You can book free tickets here:
https://soundartradio.org.uk/events/first-spark/