Exclusive: We chat to Brett James one of UK’s top music festival promoters ahead of Derby Summer Sessions 2025
Brett shares insights on the flourishing music scene and the impact of Derby Summer Sessions on the city
Derby’s music scene continues to flourish and with the imminent opening of Becketwell, that is only set to be turbo-charged this year.
Derby Summer Sessions debuted in the city last year, attracting music royalty including Sir Tom Jones, Madness, Becky Hill and Gabrielle to name a few.
We caught up with Derby lad Brett James who has been instrumental in bringing the Summer Sessions series to Derby.
Meet Brett James
Brett James, 35, is from Derby. The promoter and festival booker at Cuffe & Taylor started his career in live music in 2009, booking and promoting grassroots shows across the UK, predominantly working with venues ranging from 100 to 500 capacity.
Alongside promoting, he took on booking responsibilities for Bearded Theory Festival, helping shape the festival's lineup.
He later went on to launch 2Q Festival, a multi-venue metropolitan festival held in Derby and Lincoln.
Over the years Brett has independently worked across five festival events, developing extensive experience in talent booking, event planning, and onsite delivery.
In July 2022, he joined Live Nation alongside Ian Evans, where he now works across major events including Isle of Wight Festival, Crystal Palace Park, Summer Sessions (Derby & Plymouth), and Gone Wild Festival.
Brett plays a key role within Live Nation’s festivals and outdoor events team, contributing to the booking, strategy and delivery of a diverse portfolio of outdoor shows and festivals across the UK.
We quizzed Brett about his thoughts on Derby’s music scene, how long it takes to plan a music event of this level, and how it feels watching musicians that he grew up listening to, perform live.
Why choose Derby as a base for Summer Sessions? What makes it so special?
We chose Derby because there wasn’t anything happening city centre wise on this scale.
There are other events around Derby and Derbyshire, being someone who grew up in Mickleover, Littleover and now Breadsall, I wanted a festival on our home patch.
We’ve got Becketwell that’s about to open but three years’ ago when we started talking about this, it was still a plot of land.
I saw everybody else doing it everywhere else and I knew there were some nice greenfield sites.
Derby and Derbyshire are beautiful, I don’t think there’s anywhere better, I am a local lad, my whole family is here, I’m here so I’m going to think that anyway.
I’ve been putting shows on in Derby since 2009. I used to run The Vic by the train station around the venue.
So I’ve done the 100 capacity venue, the 500 capacity venue but there was nothing past that for me to get stuck into.
When I joined Live Nation with the team on Cuffe & Taylor, we explored how to bring a different level of show into other areas.
Are there any acts playing at Derby’s Markeaton Park that you are most looking forward to?
I don’t have any particular favourites, I’m just going to reel them off. Simple Minds are playing, that was the soundtrack to me growing up, my dad is a huge Simple Minds’ fan so that will be a lot of fun.
Blossoms is my mum’s favourite band at the minute, so she’s dead excited for that one.
Human League is in my CD collection all the time, Jess Glynne is on every radio station going, Rag'n'Bone Man is phenomenal, we’re closing off with UB40 featuring Ali Campbell with Bitty Mclean. I’m excited for them all, I’ve seen them all live before.
How do you feel about meeting musicians that you grew up listening to?
It’s nice. I must thank my mum and dad actually for getting me into music at an early age. It’s exciting and I’m lucky to be in a position where I can bring these kinds of artists to the city because I know them a bit better.
How long does it take to plan a concert and what was the rough timeline for Derby?
Last year was our first year, and we were talking about all of this in around March-April of 2023.
So it does take a good 12 to 18 months or so, that gives us time to work out who’s available now, but we’re also talking about 2026. It’s never really ending, to be honest.
What are your thoughts on Derby’s music scene?
The music scene in Derby is thriving, I know Jay Dean from Dubrek, I’m still friends with a lot of people who do shows here.
Derby has, I have always felt, to have a lack of [venues] with 1,000, or 1,500 capacity space.
You’ve got Dubrek who can do 100 comfortably, then Hairy Dog and Flowerpot. I always felt once bands have sold out there, there was no other venue for them to go onto.
We had the Velodrome for a few years but there’s not been many live music shows there.
Derby’s been missing that kind of space for a while now and with Becketwell opening, and what we’re doing, I think we’re going to shine a bigger light on Derby and artists coming to Derby.
For more information about Derby Summer Sessions and to book tickets click here: