Beth Roberts: Early Career Promoter Fund
Three events at Circomedia with female-led artists from different communities, alongside a programme of artist-led and community-focused music workshops.
Beth Roberts is co-director of Cuculi Records and event co-ordinator for their Bristol gig series ‘Cuculi Presents’. Rooted in Bristol’s grassroots folk music scene, Cuculi champions underrepresented artists and cultivates spaces where music is experienced with care, depth, and connection. With a strong commitment to women and gender-minority musicians, Cuculi prioritises creativity, inclusion, and emotional resonance over commercial successes. The project is known for curating intimate, high-quality live events that encourage deep listening and shared presence, often spotlighting artists who reinterpret traditional material in bold, accessible, and socially engaged ways. Cuculi has become a trusted home for adventurous and community-led music making, valued by artists from all levels of the industry, strengthening Bristol’s reputation for thoughtful, boundary-pushing live music.
During this ECPF-funded period, Cuculi will build on the successful relationship formed with Circomedia through Beth’s initial ECPF grant, continuing to develop a series of listening-focused and community-centred music events. These evenings are conceived as shared experiences rather than conventional concerts, weaving together performance, participation, learning, and connection. Alongside the main programme, Cuculi will also be launching a new workshop strand offering skill-sharing, co-creation, and mentoring opportunities for local musicians and participants. We will also explore new modes of promotion, including artist interviews and local media partnerships.
Events will be extended, inviting audiences to spend more time together through workshops, shared meals, and collective listening. Responding directly to audience feedback, Cuculi plans to introduce food as a core part of its events, with early conversations underway with Amos Trust to support this aspect. The programme will feature artists such as Alkanna Graeca + tlk, plus more TBC. The events will aim to grow a sustainable, values-driven model for grassroots music, where artists and audiences alike feel deeply invested in, and supported by, their community.