A crowdfunding campaign to support this year’s High Tide Festival in Twickenham has been launched.
The annual, not-for-profit festival will return on Sunday 26 July, with the crowdfunding campaign ensuring artists performing are fairly compensated while keeping the festival free for everyone to attend.
High Tide has become one of the biggest free music events in London, with an estimated 30,000 people attending last year’s 16 stages to watch 102 performers.
Kevin Jones, High Tide organiser and co-founder of Eel Pie Records, said: “I probably say this every year, but High Tide 2026 will be the best one yet.
“We have so many great artists coming to Twickenham this year and with 19 stages and venues it’ll definitely be the biggest yet.”
High Tide is run primarily by volunteers and all money raised goes exclusively towards paying the artists and staging costs.
The festival is supported financially by Discover Twickenham BID, Richmond Council, The Arts Council, and Twickenham businesses as well as crowdfunding, with 350 people contributing to the campaign last year.
High Tide prides itself as being by the community, for the community, with 94% of people responding to audience surveys last year agreeing it helps promote community wellbeing.
Thecommunity-led approach seeks to embody the independence and free spirit of Twickenham’s cultural heritage, which saw bands such as the Rolling Stones perform live at Eel Pie Island during its heyday.
Since its inception in 2019, High Tide has consistently hosted music from a diverse variety of genres and performers.
This year’s line-up includes Ankora, a London-based female eight-piece ensemble embodying the jazz legacy of musicians such as Freddie Hubbard, and VC Pines – the performing name of Jack Mercer, an alt-soul singer-songwriter originally from Twickenham.
The festival will also host three street markets featuring artisan producers from the area.
For more information on the campaign, which includes unique rewards, visit High Tide Festival’s Crowdfunder page.
Featured image: Used with permission from High Tide Twickenham CIC
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