Beatport is taking its support for underground talent offline with a touring stage concept called The Block. Built from a converted shipping container, this mobile venue will debut at Junction 2 Festival in July 2025. After that, the stage will appear at Creamfields, then travel to The Prospect Building in Bristol for winter programming. This isn’t just an eye-catching installation—it’s a response to the ongoing crisis in UK nightlife and electronic music spaces. In the past five years, over 400 nightclubs have closed across Britain, limiting vital opportunities for emerging talent.
In response, Beatport Live—the platform’s new events arm—is stepping in to rebuild those opportunities through physical, artist-first programming. Their mission is to create real-world visibility for DJs that goes beyond followers, screen views, or digital reach. An open call for aspiring talent to submit their 60-minute set closes on July 11.
Beatport Prioritizes Aspiring Talent Giving Them A National Stage
The Block will debut on July 25 at Boston Manor Park’s Junction 2, a festival known for underground credibility and curation. Since 2016, Junction 2 has championed forward-thinking lineups, making it the perfect launch site for this mobile stage. Hosting The Block signals that Beatport is looking to uplift underground talent intentionally, not a surface-level gimmick.
The stage will stay at Boston Manor Park for extended programming before heading to Rockstar Energy presents Creamfields from August 21–24. After Creamfields, the container travels to Bristol’s Prospect Building, a cultural venue reimagined for autumn and winter electronic music events. “The Block is about giving raw, local energy a place to thrive at major events,” says Ed Hill, SVP of Beatport Live. “We’re creating spaces where new artists can be seen, heard, and celebrated—beyond the screen.”
How Can Local DJs Perform on The Block?
Beatport is inviting aspiring DJs to perform on The Block through an open call for submissions via their application portal. Entry to the competition closes on Friday 11th July at 12pm BST. Selected artists will earn a performance slot at Junction 2, along with complimentary day passes for themselves and their friends. This approach makes the lineup process more inclusive, offering emerging talent access to both the stage and the full festival experience. In today’s increasingly pay-to-play environment, such opportunities are rare and deeply valuable to grassroots artists looking for exposure. The initiative echoes the values behind Beatport Next, the platform’s flagship development program that amplifies new voices each year. Like Beatport Next, The Block emphasizes visibility, community engagement, and artist growth—only now those goals extend into the physical world.
Britain’s electronic music scene faces mounting pressure, according to the Night Time Industries Association, with threats on both cultural and economic fronts. Rising operational costs and widespread venue closures have severely limited accessible performance spaces for developing and underground DJs. Michael Kill, CEO of NTIA, called Beatport’s launch of The Block “a bold and positive step forward” in response to this decline. He stated, “Creating accessible and innovative spaces like this helps nurture emerging artists and reinforces the cultural value of nightlife.” In this broader context, Beatport’s investment in modular, mobile infrastructure isn’t just timely—it’s a necessary move for sustaining future talent pipelines.
From Stream to Stage: Beatport’s Evolving Role
Beatport has long been recognized as a global digital marketplace and discovery platform for DJs across multiple electronic music genres. In recent years, it has evolved into a full-stack ecosystem, offering both online support and live performance opportunities. Through programs like Beatport Next, the platform promotes rising artists with homepage features, curated playlists, and in-depth editorial content. These placements give emerging DJs valuable exposure, often without needing support from major record labels or management teams.
The platform also champions independent talent through Beatport Hype, a dedicated space for smaller labels and lesser-known producers. Hype gives these artists a chance to compete in genre-specific charts, which remain vital discovery tools for DJs worldwide. With the arrival of Beatport Live and The Block, these online strategies now have a physical counterpart. The container stage lets artists test their skills and sound in front of real audiences, not just online communities.
Although The Block is just one container, its impact lies in its flexibility and ability to move with the culture. It doesn’t require large venues or costly infrastructure and can pop up in parks, warehouses, rooftops, and festivals. As Beatport expands its physical reach, it will likely launch more formats that blend live performance with localized community energy. Future announcements are already underway, including new locations and additional lineup opportunities through Beatport Live.
Championing underground talent, Beatport has clear goals: smaller stages, closer connections, and a new generation of artists brought directly to your city.