NEWS

Supporting Young Musicians

Jan 9, 2026

We’re excited to announce a brand-new collaboration with three Ealing high schools for The Hootie 2026 — and hopefully even more in the years to come!

Huge thanks to Marshall

Jan 6, 2026

A HUGE thank you to Marshall Amplification for their continued support and sponsorship of the Hanwell Hootie right from the start! FB Marshall Amps

London’s Largest Free 1-day

London’s Largest Free1-day Music Festival

The Hanwell Hootie is a free, volunteer-led music festival celebrating Hanwell’s legendary link to Jim Marshall, “The Father of Loud.” Run by a Community Interest Company (CIC), the Hootie brings live music to pubs, parks, and public spaces across the area, showcasing new talent and keeping the spirit of live music available for all.

Our Philosophy

We exist to amplify opportunity—for artists, audiences and our local community. By creating a platform for new UK talent and keeping music accessible, we’re building something bigger than a festival: a movement rooted in creativity, inclusion and local pride. Every note played helps support the next generation of live music. Right from the beginning, we are proud that we have paid all our musicians, something that not all festivals do.

Our CIC is run by volunteers and is not-for-profit, with 100% of our funds used to keep the festival going, year on year.

Community at Our Core

The Hootie is powered by people. With over 100 bands playing across multiple venues in pubs, cafes and green spaces—it’s a true celebration of local spirit. We work hand-in-hand with local businesses, volunteers and residents to create a festival that’s not just for the community, but built by it.

The Story of the Hanwell Hootie

1962 – After requests from Pete Townshend, Jimi Hendrix and others, Jim Marshall OBE (‘The Father of Loud’) and his son Terry build the first Marshall amplifier in Hanwell, shaping the sound of global rock music.
2012 – Local residents create the Hanwell Hootie to celebrate this heritage and put Hanwell back on the music map
2013 – The first festival takes place across three local pubs
2014–2020 – Rapid growth to 19 stages and 100+ artists, with a strong focus on emerging talent and community spaces
2022 – The Hootie marks 10 years alongside 60 years of the Marshall amp, expanding to two days with a major stage at Viaduct Meadow
Today – We are still volunteer-run, community-driven, dedicated to supporting new artists and helping new bands gain exposure, record deals and touring opportunities.

All artists are paid, venues make profit and the live music is free and accessible to all. Welcome to the official ‘Home of Loud’