"I have some important news about my live music series Daylight Music. So here I am again with sad and challenging news that earlier this week, in mid-May, I got an update from the Arts Council to say that our latest attempt at funding had been unsuccessful, not worth funding at this time. To mention again, and to put in context, you may be aware we've been attempting to apply and re-apply for Arts Council England funding for what seems like a lifetime, but is in fact since early 2025.

Ultimately despite having received funding a number of times since we return post covid, we are now in a place where we’ve hit at least a temporary brick wall…which is a little gutting after we’ve worked as hard as possible writing, submitting, adapting, re-submitting and battling their vintage online computer portal.The reason we’ve worked so consistently hard to get this money is that is at the moment it’s the only way we ‘could’ have got enough support in funding to make a year’s worth of events across London & Kent happen.

We will continue though. Although slow and very tentatively. We desperately need every event to be well attended, needing to sell a good number of refreshments and a reasonable amount of merchandise.

The request? Could you as a member of the Daylight Music community, consider supporting the series if you have the means to do so? Also if you are listening to or reading this and have a social media platform, please do share some part of this message or the JustGiving fundraiser link directly. As an artist or audience member I think it’s fair to say you’d miss us if we didn’t exist, or that’s the hope!

Daylight will return for our solo summer show on July 4th, beyond that is up to what we can achieve together from the crowdfunder.I hope to see you there with a mug of tea in one hand and a slice of cake in the other.

Despite our struggles, every event this year has been a joy and I don’t expect this one to be any different. 

You have to fight for what you love, right?"

Ben
Daylight Music