our story

iluvlive is a live music and artist development platform that has been running since 2004. We are a not for profit company supported by Arts Council England and received four Grants for The Arts Awards before becoming an NPO (National Portfolio Organisation) in April 2015. We support the development of emerging artists and practitioners working in Black music genres and are regarded as an essential conduit between the subsidised and commercial music sectors.

Initially a London based showcase platform hosted by Ras Kwame and Twin B, iluvlive provided new acts with their first experience of performing with a live band, and grew to deliver 70+ events a year across six UK cities supporting 350+ acts and reaching an audience of 7000+ on the ground and two million+ online annually. ILUVLIVE supported the emergence of Emeli Sande, Wretch 32, Jessie J, Tinie Tempah, Ghetts, Chip, Ed Sheeran, Krept and Konan, Tom Grennan, Mahalia, Ella Mai, Ms Banks and Little Simz, to name but a few, years before they were signed.

In 2014, having successfully launched Izzy Bizu utilising the inhouse team at iluvlive, we officially launched our artist development programme with funding from Arts Council England taking up to three acts a year. Alumni include Nao (when she was part of the Boxettes), Laura White, Lylo Gold, Jords and Emmavie, all of whom subsequently signed recording and/or publishing deals. We also went on to manage Izzy Bizu for seven years encompassing achievements including a Brits Critics Choice nomination, BBC Introducing Artist of the Year Award and a stadium tour of the US supporting Coldplay.

We provide real-world, genre-specific professional development, instilling a resourceful spirit and invaluable knowledge in the artists we support and bringing much-needed visibility to true artistic talent.

Our overarching efforts have contributed to changing the landscape of British Black music.

Jessie J

Professor Green / Tinie Tempah

Wretch 32

Ms Banks

Tinie Tempah

N-Dubz

Mahalia

Here’s what our alumni have to say…

“iluvlive is one of the first music nights where I performed my songs, so it holds a special place in my heart. It's an amazing night for the UK music scene the vibe, the atmosphere was always on so creative. Lovely.”

Jessie J
“iluvlive provides a great opportunity for young, up and coming artists to get their music heard by industry insiders and music lovers. It's a great and necessary platform.”

Tinie Tempah
“iluvlive was a great platform for me. One of the first times performing alongside a live band, it really opened my eyes to it all as I always wanted to use a live band. I can remember I was really excited when they asked me to perform I nearly brought my whole estate along to watch lol.”

Wretch 32
“iluvlive put me on really early in my career but as soon as I had been on, I really took off! It's a great opportunity to give UK artists exposure.”

Chip
“I’ve supported iluvlive a number of times over the years because I think it's important that credible nights that support new talent are given support by more established acts too. I even curated an event for them in January 2012, which was crazy. It's always a great crowd at iluvlive.”

Kano

our story

“iluvlive is one of the first music nights where I performed my songs, so it holds a special place in my heart. It's an amazing night for the UK music scene the vibe, the atmosphere was always on so creative. Lovely.”

“iluvlive provides a great opportunity for young, up and coming artists to get their music heard by industry insiders and music lovers. It's a great and necessary platform.”

“iluvlive was a great platform for me. One of the first times performing alongside a live band, it really opened my eyes to it all as I always wanted to use a live band. I can remember I was really excited when they asked me to perform I nearly brought my whole estate along to watch lol.”

“iluvlive put me on really early in my career but as soon as I had been on, I really took off! It's a great opportunity to give UK artists exposure.”

“I’ve supported iluvlive a number of times over the years because I think it's important that credible nights that support new talent are given support by more established acts too. I even curated an event for them in January 2012, which was crazy. It's always a great crowd at iluvlive.”