What is Rising Music Festival?
WHO ARE WE?
Rising Music Festival is a collaboration created to give young artists a real, industry-level experience — not just a performance. The festival was founded by Backbeat Collective and Phoenix Arts Centre, with a shared belief that young people deserve access to professional standards, support, and opportunity within the music industry.
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In 2026, that collaboration has grown to include Seeds of Sound, expanding Rising beyond the festival itself and into year-round, paid gig opportunities for emerging artists. Together, we combine education, professional production, and real-world industry access — creating something genuinely different.
WHAT MAKS US DIFFERENT?
What Makes Rising Different? At Rising, artists don’t just turn up and play. They experience what it’s like to be part of a professionally run music festival, including: Artist contracts and safeguarding, Stage passes, schedules, and clear communication, Professional sound, lighting, and stage management. On-site artist support and guidance. This is the kind of experience young artists rarely get early on — and it prepares them for what the industry actually looks like. Rising is designed to be supportive, structured, and empowering — giving artists confidence, clarity, and a sense of belonging within a professional environment.
BEYOND THE STAGE....
Beyond the Stage Rising Music Festival goes beyond a single performance. Alongside the festival, we offer: A dedicated Mentoring Day with industry professionals, Battle of the Bands, where the winning act headlines the Saturday Truck Stage, Ongoing mentoring for the winning band, supporting brand development, confidence, and online presence. Through Seeds of Sounds, artists are also supported into paid gigs and live opportunities throughout the year — ensuring Rising is a starting point, not a one-off moment. We don’t just put artists on stage.
We support them before, during, and long after the festival ends.
WHAT IS RISING MUSIC FESTIVAL 2026
​Last year, Rising was about stepping onto the stage — inspired by Hall of Fame and the belief that you can do this.
Rising Music Festival 2026 is about icons.
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This year, we celebrate the artists who changed music by breaking rules, challenging the industry, and staying true to who they were. Each festival theme is inspired by an icon — not to be copied, but to be understood. Because the next generation of artists won’t succeed by fitting in. They’ll succeed by standing out. Rising 2026 is about learning from the past —and creating the future.