Discover what makes a great song tick. In this hands-on session, budding songwriters will explore the building blocks of music, from melody and harmony to the lyrical hooks that stick in your head for days. Whether you're picking up a pen for the first time or already crafting your own tracks, you'll leave with fresh ideas and new techniques to take your writing further.

Get behind the decks and learn to mix like a pro. Led by Radio Killerz’ own DJ Tony Wathen, this hands-on session covers the essential skills and techniques of live DJing across a range of electronic genres, from DnB and Jungle to more. No experience needed, just a love of music and a willingness to have a go.

Pick up your guitar and get playing. This workshop takes you through the key techniques every guitarist needs, lead and rhythm parts, performance confidence and what it really feels like to play as a band. Work towards a live performance and recording on Sunday and discover what it means to make music together.

Find your voice, and learn how to use it. This session dives into vocal technique, harmonies and performance confidence as you work towards a live showcase and recording on Sunday. Whether you're a bathroom singer or a stage regular, you'll develop your skills and discover what it feels like to perform as part of a live band.

Feel the beat and lock in with a live band. This session covers essential drumming technique, timing, groove and performance skills, with everything building towards a live showcase and recording on Sunday. A brilliant introduction to what it really feels like to perform on stage.

The moment it all comes together. At this live music showcase, young musicians perform the songs they've been developing across the weekend's workshops, and experience what it's like to have that performance captured in real time. A proper, full-circle live music moment, built from scratch over just a few days at CarFest.

Ever wondered how computer games are made? In this creative session, you'll get under the bonnet of two simple games, including the specially made-for-CarFest Race 'n' Dodge, adding your own hand-drawn characters for instant gameplay. Compete against each other, explore how in-game audio works, and bring your own creations to life live from The Talent Lab stage.

All you need is your phone. In partnership with the National Film and Television School's outreach programme, this high-energy session puts you in the director's chair for a mini-documentary challenge. Armed with a single object from the natural world, you'll uncover its hidden story, write a presenter-led script and shoot a 1–2 minute natural history short using real documentary techniques. Lights, camera, CarFest.

Ever wondered how cartoons come to life? In this hands-on session, young artists will learn brilliant drawing techniques and simple animation tricks to create their very own characters, then see them move. Get a real insider's look at what a career in animation actually involves, explore the world of viral content creation, and find out what it takes to build an audience from scratch. Creative, inspiring and a whole lot of fun.

Cold July are an award-winning UK band from Surrey that writes timeless, 3 part harmony-driven, Indie-Alt. Pop, with Americana and classic singer-songwriter influences that resonates across multiple generations of music fans.

Dutch-born, London-based pop artist Elfi makes deeply personal, cinematic pop that pulls you in closer. In 2023, she left her corporate career to study at the Academy of Contemporary Music (ACM) in London.

After selling out venues like the Spice of Life (London) and Cinetol (Amsterdam), she is touring Europe this summer with shows at venues including Paradiso and The Grace. Melodic Magazine compared her to Taylor Swift and Gracie Abrams, while Marie Claire named her “one to watch.”

ELLISSÉ is a R&B and soul artist from East London. Her discography consists of emotive, powerful yet fun songs, with the aim to take you on a journey with her lyrics.

ELLISSÉ creates music that blends timeless influence with a contemporary edge.

HUBSCZ is self produced Indie Rock and Bedroom Pop artist from Hertfordshire. Through his heavy inspiration from the 80s and love for synthesisers, HUBSCZ creates catchy and sparkling tracks which you just can’t get out of your head. He is currently studying production at ACM as he continues his journey to break on to the scene and make a name for himself.

Izzy Victoria is a passionate pop/jazz/soul singer-songwriter from Norfolk. Encapsulating popstar qualities with soulful feeling, emotion is at the forefront of every performance, as Izzy prioritises audience connection and quality of sound over anything else. There are many things to come, so stay tuned… (and drop a follow on tiktok (@izzyvicki) or instagram (@izzyvictoriaaa))

Jamie Norton is an indie-pop singer-songwriter whose EP ‘Rose Tinted Vision’ weaves emotional lyricism with a rich, full band instrumentation whilst still embracing his acoustic roots. Tracks like ‘So Confused’ and ‘Thinking About You’ showcase Jamie’s ability to capture raw personal conflict, while remaining sonically expansive. His music often described as having the emotional pull of Ed Sheeran with the energetic guitar-driven sound of The Kooks and The 1975; Jamie is quickly carving out his place in the UK indie scene with both solo acoustic, and full band performances.

Jolie Skye is a London-based singer-songwriter whose sound draws from folk, pop, and jazz influences. Following the release of her debut EP in 2022, she has continued to refine her artistic direction through collaborative writing sessions and studio work on an upcoming EP project. Inspired by artists including Lizzy McAlpine, Norah Jones, and Eloise, she performs with her band featuring Otti Kinsman and Seb Robinson on bass and drums with acoustic-led arrangements.

Picture a phoenix. majestic. ethereal...now imagine it's estranged cousin. If you’re looking for a new band who sound like Florence and The Machine took a punk turn, then look no further than Lava Pigeon! This band is easily identifiable by their vibrant outfits, and unapologetic attitude, taking inspiration from bands such as PJ Harvey, Muse, Nirvana and Bikini Kill. With Ottalie’s 'Kate Bush-esque' vocals, Indy’s catchy riffs and Jess' tight drumming, you’ll leave humming these songs and wanting more."

FLevs and Wray are two brothers blending self-produced UK garage and R&B with the energy of their Jamaican and Spanish roots. Mixing smooth vocals, raw rap flows and late-night production, the duo create music that feels both nostalgic and fresh — driven by emotion, rhythm and real-life experiences. From melodic hooks to underground garage-inspired beats, Levs and Wray bring their own sound and chemistry to every track.

Lilou is a singer inspired by jazz and pop. A singer/songwriter originating from Brighton but with French roots, she is currently studying vocals at ACM. She plays the guitar and loves to perform and she cannot wait to take the stage at CarFest 2026!

Lily Elizabeth is a singer songwriter based in Sussex. With her band, Lily performs a mix of covers and originals, spanning genres such as soul, funk and soft rock. Creating an enjoyable, easy going atmosphere for all.

Lorea is an alternative rock 4 piece from Milton Keynes. Combining influences from 90s alternative rock and grunge, such as The Smashing Pumpkins and Alice in Chains, with modern acts like Wunderhorse and Fontaines DC, the band produce an emotionally melodic, raw sound, emphasised by their live energy with gritty guitars and powerful vocals.

MANIA are an upcoming four-piece rock band known for their explosive sound and high-energy live shows. With driving guitars, powerful hooks, and a stage presence that keeps crowds moving, they’re quickly building a reputation as a band to watch.

With the release of their debut single - "Your Mama's Crazy" reaching over 4K streams in less than a month, it’s just the beginning of their journey. If you want to catch them in full force, their set at Car Fest won’t be one to miss. Expect energy, chaos, and an unmatched atmosphere of pure rock and roll power.

Noah Seleno is a 28 year old independent singer-songwriter and folk musician based in Stratford-upon-Avon, UK. She is known for her indie-folk sound, acoustic guitar, and emotive songwriting.

Rollo are a new and upcoming band who blur the edges of indie, grunge and post-punk into something restless, shadowy and hard to place.

Ruptured are 5-piece Alternative Metal and Punk band based out of Guildford and London. Having formed in July 2025, Ruptured have since performed at iconic grassroots venues such as the Boileroom, Ram Jam Records, The Queens Head, just to name a few, as well as their massive debut performance at CarFest 2025! Now, with a fresh lineup and huge additions to the setlist, Ruptured are ready to annihilate their return to the talent lab stage with a chaotic and explosive live set, full of energetic stage presence and eclectic musicality.

Samira Manners is a twenty-five year-old artist and songwriter, living in London but born and raised in the south of Sweden with an English dad and Swedish mum. Growing up mainly speaking English at home she has made her English expression a part of her sound. With a gentle voice and a personal, heartfelt touch in her songwriting, Samira takes you on an almost diary-like journey through her musical world of acoustic pop.

Samira released her debut single “Do It All Again” in 2020, getting national attention in the Swedish media. Since her acclaimed debut, Samira has competed in the Swedish National TV-show “Melodifestivalen” 2022, the entry to the Eurovision with her single “I Want to Be Loved” that placed in the Swedish charts . Samira has since released 5 singles, including her EP “Samira’s Little EP”. She has performed on a significant number of national TV-shows and tours, including playing at “Lotta på Liseberg”, “Nyhetsmorgon” and “Sommarlov”. She has also written songs for other artists and TV-shows (including up4noise and HelloMello)

Rossi&Sissi are a pop artist duo based in Essex UK. They love to bring people together through their passion for singing and like to perform with authenticity and bring creativity to their music. They have been singing professionally for as long as they can remember and want to make this dream a reality.

Stock are a three-piece rock band performing originals and crowd-favourite covers, inspired by The Rolling Stones, Foo Fighters and Bad Company.

The Certs are a 4 piece rock band from the UK, surging with new sounds and a indie punk mix. Frontman Carter Elvis Robinson started off as a one man band, with a vision to take the rock scene by storm. At ACM, he quickly found his co star, Amos Burton, who shared this vision. With recent additions Lucas Carkeek-Blakley on drums and Fin Chaney on bass, The Certs are now set to make this vision a reality. They currently have a fresh EP released dubbed, “Here Today Gone Tomorrow”, with new music and ideas constantly on the horizon.