Good morning, Brighton. Hope you’re all smiling today. 24hrs until world book day (Thursday) where we inspire kids around the world to read for fun. So if you have kids or have friends with kids, why not grab them a book from a charity shop or the library. Never know, it might change their life.

Anyway, onwards. In today’s Brighton Scoop:

- Phil Reynolds

🎸 Grassroots venues, bands and fans in Brighton are basically a three-way life support system: each needs the others to thrive. Bands draw fans, venues draw bands, fans return to venues – and that’s how a proper music community is born and kept alive.

Brighton isn’t “lucky” to have this in abundance; it’s the result of graft, care and sheer love of DIY music. From sweaty dive bars to cosy attics, there’s always something loud, new or beautiful spilling onto the streets, inspiring the next wave.

Because the city’s venues are packed into walking distance, you get the intimacy of a village scene with the quality of a big city. Homegrown Festival, on the 11th April spread across nine beloved venues, is a celebration of this tightly knit, gloriously noisy ecosystem. Tickets

🩻 Brighton A&E consultant Professor Rob Galloway has launched a new medical research charity, Rare People – The Research Charity, inspired by his two-year-old daughter Frankie’s diagnosis with DeSanto-Shinawi (DESSH), an ultra-rare neurodevelopmental condition with no known cure.

After AI helped identify a promising repurposed drug, Galloway set up Rare People to fund rigorous clinical trials for DESSH and other rare diseases that would otherwise never happen. All running costs are covered by the founders and trustees, so every donation goes directly to research.

The charity’s launch fundraiser at Rockwater in Hove featured scientists, families, Brighton and Hove Albion owner Tony Bloom, head coach Fabian Hürzeler and several players, raising tens of thousands of pounds and marking the start of a Brighton-born initiative with global ambitions. What an inspiring father and story. Read more about Rare People or Donate Here.

👩‍❤️‍💋‍👩 Brighton & Hove is gearing up for a lively International Women’s Day weekend in 2026, with celebrations starting on Saturday 7 March. The main event is the Network of International Women’s annual gathering at Brighton Unitarian Church on New Road, from 11am to 4pm.

It’ll bring together local groups focused on empowering women, with live music, international food, children’s activities and plenty of chances to meet community organisations supporting women’s rights and wellbeing. Everyone’s welcome to drop in throughout the day. 👏

Other Events Include:

Reigning Women Festival, The Old Market, Hove Running from 4–8 March, More Info

The Fearless and Fabulous Women of Brighton & Hove, The Old Courtroom – 6 March More Info

PinkNicky’s Annual Big Swim – 14 March More Info

SheSays: Celebrate International Women’s Day, Brighton Dome – 4 March More Info

University of Brighton: Future Women Leaders event Students and local leaders will come together for an event designed to inspire the next generation of women changemakers.

☀️ | 📈 15 | 📉 8 | ☔️ <5% | 🌬️ 6mph SE | 🌊 0-1ft

☀️ | 📈 14 | 📉 9 | ☔️ <5% | 🌬️ 9mph SE | 🌊 0-1ft

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Brighton has endless festivals, conventions and get-togethers year round for everything from coffee, music & trees, to animation, food, Pride and of course the might fringe. Be sure to scan over this each week to see what’s’ on the beautiful horizon.

Great to have you follow the Scoop today. If you liked it, do share us with a friend. There’s a beer on me if you spot me in town.