Algorithm fatigue is a defining characteristic of modern music discovery. While automated feeds and recommendation systems can point listeners toward new sounds, they lack the soul, context, and human connection that define true music culture. Looking to challenge this digital status quo, London’s DIY clubbing institution The Cause has announced the full programme for The Cause FM: New Frequency. Taking place at their Docklands venue on Saturday 25 July, this landmark festival is dedicated to celebrating the global independent broadcasting community, whilst simultaneously launching a brand-new streaming platform from the venue.
Every single stage at the festival will be streamed live via the newly unveiled platform, thecausefm.world. This ambitious digital expansion aims to connect global music communities directly with the broadcasters, selectors, and artists shaping grassroots scenes today, extending the dancefloor far beyond London.
For this inaugural edition, The Cause has handed over curation duties to some of the most vital independent radio stations across the globe, with each taking over its own dedicated stage. Palestine’s influential Bethlehem-based station Radio Alhara leads the international takeover, alongside Berlin’s community-driven radio hub Refuge Worldwide and Bali’s key portal for electronic music Headstream by Potato Head. They are joined by London’s own homegrown independent platform Voices, as well as a highly anticipated cross-continental stage collaboration between Seoul Community Radio and Keep Hush.
The programming brings together an exceptional array of international DJs, producers, and live performers. Firehouse Recordings founder Kim Ann Foxman, UK bass pioneer L-Vis 1990, and Australian selectors Tornado Wallace b2b Fantastic Man lead the DJ bill alongside Amsterdam’s genre-blurring Upsammy, Seoul-based Didi Han, and Berlin underground mainstay Sansibar. On the live front, audiences can expect cutting-edge performances from Melati ESP, Pouya Ehsaei, and TOUMBA, with further support throughout the day from Nihal, Cousin, Sooyeon, 7IP7O3, Amjad & The Teddybears Picnic, Big Hands, DJ Sweet6teen, Elijah b2b Yemz, Jameson Jameson, Jonny Rock, Sophie McAlister, Stella Zekri, Teki Latex, and TRYB b2b Holy C.
The festival arrives at a critical juncture for independent music. By bringing together grassroots broadcasters, curators, and creators from different continents, New Frequency serves as a vital physical and digital intersection. These stations do not just play music; they champion local scenes, preserve regional identities, and offer a space for genuine cultural exchange. The event also marks the opening of an exciting new chapter for the venue’s own broadcasting wing, signalling the official relaunch of The Cause FM station later this summer.
Since its inception in 2018 as a single-room DIY space in a former Tottenham mechanics’ workshop, The Cause has established itself as one of London’s most respected independent music institutions. Now situated in a multi-room cultural hub in the Docklands, the team continues to champion emerging talent and support grassroots promoters. Crucially, the organisation remains committed to social impact, having raised significant funds and awareness for homelessness, mental health, and grassroots cultural development over the past eight years.
To keep the festival accessible to the artists, broadcasters, and music fans who keep these independent scenes thriving, tickets start from just £11.50. Tickets and further information are available via supportthecause.co.uk, and audiences worldwide can tune in to the live broadcast at thecausefm.world.
