2024 ROUND UP
A ROUND-UP OF THE YEAR THAT MARKS A DECADE IN HACKNEY WICK!
// 136 LIVE EVENTS // 110 CLUB NIGHTS
// 136 LIVE EVENTS // 110 CLUB NIGHTS
We’ve always viewed Grow as a garden, taking time to mature and put down roots. Our 10th year was a chance to celebrate what’s been ‘grown’ with partners and patrons, old and new, and what we need to do to give us the best possible chance to thrive as we move towards our future.
It was also a year, to be honest about our financial challenges, and we are not alone. Stats show us that 1 music venue a week is closing in the UK at the moment. It’s true to say it’s not easy but also never boring! Take a look at just some of what we achieved in 2024.
If you’re one of the thousands of people who came down to Grow to enjoy a birthday or work gathering or for the live music or dance the night away, we really hope you enjoyed it too. If you didn't manage to get down, we hope you'll join us in 2025 to see what we’re all about.
JANUARY - JOIN IN!
We started with our Join in Jan campaign where we opened our doors for free for all our events across the month programming some excellent DJs and having our regular Jazz Jam. We also had special food and drink offers, all to help you shake those January blues and be able to get out, have fun and not break the bank. We’re also doing it again next year, check out what's coming up and get your friends out for a dance, be social and don’t let January get you down, we’re here to lift you up!
FEBRUARY - WE ARE PART OF A ‘GROWING’ ECOSYSTEM OF STUDIOS
The studio eco-system grew with new studios opening in one of Newham’s most historic buildings located on Stratford’s historic High Street - old firefighters accommodation in Alice Billing House. In addition to the studios, we’ve been working with the Creative Land Trust and Heritage Lottery Fun to host cultural activities, including the Speculative Archive. To find out more, join us at ‘Speculative ReMemory on Tuesday 18th January.
MARCH AND APRIL - LOTS OF LIVE MUSIC
We had a lot of live music over these months! We kicked off with a Love Music Hate Racism fundraiser; reinvigorated our Roots Programme which explores music outside the mainstream and had a Latin American Weekend. We also continued our Sunday canalside sessions with Williams Cumberbache and Live Jazz with Stratos, where the quality of musicians is astonishing, and great value too!
MAY - LETS BE HONEST ABOUT MONEY
After another extremely difficult year financially, we reached a point where we felt we had no option but to explore new ways to raise vital funds to pay for actions that could help us implement ways to become more financially sustainable. It’s tough in culture and hospitality but coupled with our ethos of people and planet over profit, it becomes even harder to maintain values and pay the bills. Our plan was ambitious yet essential: to invest in solar power, fortify our infrastructure, and transition to a Community Interest Company (CIC). Whilst we didn't hit our target, our generous supporters got us overline and helped us make enough changes in the summer to get us in a better position to survive the winter.
JUNE - DIGGERS DIG DEEP
We pride ourselves that we take risks with our musical genres but what is guaranteed is quality. We’re fortunate to work with many DJs who exude passion for what they do. DeepDig this year become a regular fixture in our programme doing 11 events with highlights from the legendary Patrick Forge, Miche, Poly-Ritmo, Millie Mckee, Dean Bryce, Wolf Music, Mr Redely, and many more incredible artists who dug deep into their collection bringing some of the best nights of the year at Grow. We can’t wait to share with you what we have installed for next year
JULY - GROW’S ICONIC 10th BIRTHDAY PARTY
We marked 10 incredible years of Grow being open with a weekend-long celebration that brought our community together in the heart of Hackney Wick. It was a powerful reminder of the journey we’ve been on—filled with creativity, resilience, and meaningful connections.
Friday paid homage to our roots, showcasing the artists and collaborators who’ve shaped both Grow and Hackney Wick’s artistic legacy. Saturday continued the energy, with a lineup that spanned genres, bringing new and familiar faces together in true Grow style.
This milestone wasn’t just about celebrating the past—it was about the people, music, and art that make Grow what it is. Here’s to a decade of unforgettable moments and many more to come!
AUGUST - REFRESHMENTS BY THE RIVER!
As people came chill on by the canal and watch the River Lea, visitors enjoyed our carefully selected drinks menu which provides something for all tastes, be a delicious and cold beer from Cornish-based Brewers, St Austell or from Walthamstow’s Signature Brewery, a chilled glass of organic wine from our suppliers Vintage Roots, diving into our cocktail menu with a Spicy Paloma or delightful Spritz. The non-alcoholic options of Kombocha, CBD drinks from InTune, our coffee from Union and tea from Hackney Herbal. We had something on offer for every pallet and preference to accompany long summer days and warm evenings.
SEPTEMBER - OPEN STUDIOS AND LONDON FASHION WEEK
A busy month with Open Studios which was part of the London Open House Festival, which saw hundreds of visitors seeing the work that goes on behind closed doors and we welcomed new audiences with London Fashion Week spotlighting our events and venue as one of London’s unique creative communities, independent businesses.
OCTOBER - RECLAIMING THE NARRATIVE WITH BLACK HISTORY MONTH
Working with collaborators and partners, we hosted a series of events, including a panel talk, workshop, spoken word and live music. All events had the focus of this year’s BHM theme ‘reclaiming the narrative’. Supported by funding from Hackney Council.
NOVEMBER - LOVE IS EVERYWHERE!
For EFG London Jazz Week we did an extra special live jazz event with the Donovan Haffner Quintet followed by Tina Edwards's party Love is Everywhere which returned with a jazz dance lesson and performance from Masumi Endo and the Foot Notes crew, soundtracked Tina Edwards and Jazzy Sport.
DECEMBER - NEW YEARS EVE!
Join us for the final and biggest event on our calendar for an unforgettable New Year’s Eve celebration. This promises to be the ultimate party of the year! This is the place to be for a night filled with fun, electrifying live music, and the best of Hackney Wick's underground DJs—without breaking the bank.
This New Year's Eve, we want to honour our homegrown talent and musical community. We are incredibly excited to present a Grow event featuring artists we consider family—those who have graced our stage and DJ booth throughout our decade of being open.
Get ready for an exceptional night of music with Tumbaito, the Afro-Latin jazz powerhouse led by Williams Cumberbache, blending rhythms. Opening and closing the party, Hackney Wick locals Petra’s Dream bring their signature high-energy beats, keeping the dance floor alive until 3 AM!