Independent Booking Agency Upsurge expands

05 March 2024 - Press release

Since UK-based independent booking agency Upsurge’s inception by Eddie Griffiths in July 2022, they’ve grown to a team of five. Philippe Van Leuven is the crew’s latest hire and he joins from Bandwerk in Belgium as the company’s first EU agent. He brings a roster that includes Death Lens (US), Ruby Haunt (US), Trauma Ray (US), Wrong Man (BE), Soft Blue Shimmer (US), Chase Petra (US). 

Van Leuven says of the move: “Joining Upsurge is a very logical step to keep developing and growing the acts I've been working with the last few years. In an already competitive market, it also feels natural to combine forces. I very much admire Upsurge’s existing roster and their artist-focused approach. I'm super pleased to be able to reinforce the team and bring my own personal touch to the already amazing line-up."

Griffiths enthuses “Upsurge was born out of a love for alternative music and putting on shows. There's so many incredible artists coming through those scenes and the underground, so with Upsurge I wanted to provide a home for these types of artists for touring. The stellar network of independent venues throughout the UK and Europe plays a very key role in what we do and is vital to our artists. I'm stoked to be part of an incredible team of Flick, Oscar, Lee and now Philippe who all share that same passion as I do and do it for the love of it. I didn't expect things to grow like they have over such a short period of time and I'm truly honored that Upsurge gets to work with so many of our favourite artists. This is all down to the hard work of our growing team.”

Griffiths’ stellar roster of artists such as Superheaven (US), Fiddlehead (US), Wicca Phase Springs Eternal (US), Speed (AUS) and Split Chain (UK) and is bolstered by the rosters of fellow Upsurge agents Lee Bowyer - Bug Bath (US), Knives (UK), Sick Joy (UK), Pure Hex (US), Present (US), Panik Flower (US) - and Oscar Rainy - Shooting Daggers (UK), Splitknuckle (UK), Stiff Meds (UK), Out Of Love (UK), Plastics (UK), Cruelty (UK). Upsurge also works with notable artists The Movielife, The World Is A Beautiful Place & I Am No Longer Afraid To Die and Free Throw. The whole Upsurge operation is overseen by Flick Price-Thomas - the company’s tour coordinator.

In their short lifespan to date, Upsurge have booked artists on prestigious festivals such as Download, 2000Trees, Outbreak, Full Force, Resurrection, Summer Breeze, Copenhell and Damnation. They recently saw a triumphant Fiddlehead UK tour which included two sold-out nights back to back at The Garage in London. They’ve also had artists sell out many of their favourite venues including The Underworld, The Dome, New Cross Inn, Brudenell Social Club, Norwich Waterfront, The Black Heart and many more. Upcoming tours for their artists include a run from Superheaven, which includes venue upgrades in Bristol, Leeds and London due to phenomenal demand, with Glasgow sold out, as well as a The Movielife tour with special guests Crime in Stereo, of which the Leeds date is already sold out.