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Stormzy will receive a Doctorate in Law from the University in June in recognition of his work towards education, music, sport and literature. This will be the second honorary doctorate the rapper receives, following his first from Exeter University back in 2022.

Back in 2018, the UK artist launched the Stormzy Scholarship at Cambridge which was set to fun two black British students every year by covering their tuition fees and maintenance costs. The rise of black students in Cambridge has since seen a rise of 50%.  Indeed, in 2021, the programme saw itself being expanded after bank HSBC UK agreed to support an additional ten students per year. Today, there are 55 students that have benefited from the scholarship. This project led to a rise in applications across the UK, often referred to as the ‘Stormzy Effect’.

To be eligible for a Stormzy Scholarship, applicants must:

1. Have one of the following categories of ethnicity:
   • Black African
   • Black Caribbean
   • Black Other
   • Mixed – White and Black Caribbean
   • Mixed – White and Black African
   • Other mixed background (to include Black African, Black Caribbean or Black Other)
2. Have a confirmed place for entry to the University of Cambridge for a first undergraduate degree, and due to commence study in October 2024. (You can check the status of your offer on UCAS Hub.)
3. Be a UK student and have been assessed for fee status as ‘home’. You were advised of your fee status in the offer letter issued to you earlier this year. If you are in doubt, please contact the Cambridge College that has offered you a place.
4. Have applied to Student Finance (England, Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland) for a tuition fee loan and maintenance loan, and have received confirmation that you have been assessed and will receive financial support. An income assessment must have been conducted and consent given to share the information with the University. Please note that if you are awarded a Stormzy Scholarship you will be able to reduce the amount of loan you take out to zero, but you will still need an income assessment from Student Finance to be able to receive the Cambridge Bursary.

Other honorands on the day include the likes Sir Simon Russell Beale, Professor Angela Davis, Lady Arden of Heswall, Dame Katherine Grainger, Sir Oliver Hart, Maria Leptin and Sir John Rutter.

New music, two new tracks in fact, out now.

Victim / The Bear.https://t.co/9OA01XKkJz pic.twitter.com/FSuutiIjrg

— Lonely The Brave (@lonelythebrave) September 14, 2023

What We Do To Feel is set to hit the shelves on 10th November and Lonely The Brave are busy ramping up the excitement ahead of the date with the release of two singles, together with ‘The Lens” that was shared last month. Lonely The Brave have also given their UK fanbase reasons to earmark February in the calendar, as the band plan to tour the country throughout the month.

Vocalist Jack Bennet has described “Victim” as an anthem for those who feel that the world is against them while guitarist Mark Trotter has weighed in on “The Bear,” saying the song “alludes to discussion around the anxiety and fear associated with potential loss of a loved one, and the release of that emotion when that comes good.”

The new album promises to showcase the band’s continued growth as musicians and collective, allowing listeners to hear the development of the band’s maturity over the course of their career to date. Elaborating on the process of making the record, Trotter explained, “you can plan it out as much as you want, but you’re just along for the ride. That’s the most exciting part, seeing what it decided to be. With this album, we’re certainly more mature as people and as a band. That make sense with everything that has happened since our last one.”


Forming in Cambridge in 2008, Lonely The Brave quickly set about making a name for themselves with their debut album The Day’s War achieving almost instant success, arriving at number 14 on the UK charts. The band’s follow up effort, 2016’s Things Will Matter received widespread critical acclaim, with many commentators citing it as the band’s best work thus far.

The band was rocked with the news that original vocalist David Jakes was leaving the band two years after the release of Things Will Matter. The singer cited ongoing struggles with mental health as his reason for stepping down, which were exacerbated by the touring and live performance lifestyle that challenges many bands.

Lonely The Brave were determined to continue however, drafting in Bennett to take over full time vocal duties. The band released their third album, The Hope List to favourable reviews with many critics citing the band’s transforming abilities of tough experiences into powerful, emotional art.

Lonely The Brave will begin their UK tour in Brighton on 7th February. Tickets can be found here. A pre-order of What We Do To Feel can be purchased here.

Lonely The Brave UK Tour:

10/11/2023 – Pryzm – Kingston Upon Thames
11/11 – Truck Records – Oxford
13/11 – Portland Arms – Cambridge
14/11 – Crash Records – Leeds
07/02/2024 – Chalk – Brighton
08/02 – The Fleece – Bristol
09/02 – The Globe – Cardiff
10/02 – The Garage – London
14/02 – Rescue Rooms – Nottingham
15/02 – SWG3 – Glasgow
16/02 – Gorilla – Manchester
17/02 – Cluny – Newcastle
29/02 – J2 – Cambridge

Sadly, the managers Matt and Justine Hatfield recently announced that they have been giving six months to vacate the premises. They have been living above the pub for over 20 years. In a statement on Facebook, they said that they were “deeply saddened to announce that, despite the public outcry and overwhelming love and support for our gorgeous grassroots music venue ad real ale pub, the developer (our landlord) has issued us with 6 months notice to vacate our home and the business premises that is the Flying Pig in October 2021.”

After having raised money through a crowdfunding campaign and thanks to Arts Council cultural recovery grant to face the pandemic, “we were just getting back on our feet, and business was looking healthy with our music back in the garden. We can’t regret a moment of the last 24 years, and as soon as we know what the future holds for us, we will let you know”, they added.

In 2019, thousands signed a petition to save the pub. The plans then changed to keep the site intact, but they now have been rejected. Pace Investments’ chief executive Jonathan Vincent told the BBC: “I’ve spent the last two years working with Justine and Matt, and others, and I was desperate to keep the pub – but that was refused. The only planning consent in place involves the demolition of the Flying Pig – so we either appeal the refused plan, or we go ahead with what has been approved.”

Meanwhile, Pink Floyd’s Roger Waters posted the liner notes of “Animals” reissue, claiming that his ex-band member Gilmour wanted them removed because of credit disputes.

The festival will celebrate its sixth year now extended over two days at its new site of Childerley Orchard. Organisers announced the change, writing: “The UK’s tastiest festival is back for a full-weekend feast of Music & Youth Culture, in all their full flavour – bringing the sweetest vibes to our fresh Cambridge site”.

18-19 September 2021
We’re back. The #YearOfTheParty is LIVE

All tickets are rolled over – so if you still need to grab yours, move quick! Demand is mad, 1st Release are gone.

Save the date. We can’t wait to see you all… #festivals #festival #summer pic.twitter.com/5D1MksYApc

— Strawberries & Creem Festival (@SandCFestival) March 4, 2021

The festival is known for featuring a mix of names across hip hop, house, drum and bass and more. This year’s festival will be spread across three stages. The 2021 line-up will include PARTYNEXTDOOR, Bugzy Malone, and Sean Paul to name a few.

The festival is known for featuring artists across genres such as Hip-Hop, Afrobeats, Dancehall, House and much more. Previous headliners have included Ms Dynamite, Stefflon Don, and Sean Kingston.

Strawberries and Creem joins a slew of festivals including Neighbourhood Weekender, Splendour, Standon Calling, and Reading and Leeds that have planned to go ahead this year. Many of these festivals have been delayed to later in the summer in the hope that restrictions will have loosened, and they are able to go forward. Independent festivals across the UK have previously warned they may be forced to cancel if they do not receive government-backed insurance which protects the sector in the event that Covid-19 prevents them from taking place.

Tickets rolled over from Strawberries and Creem 2020 are valid for the Saturday of the festival however they can be upgraded for a discount.

Tickets for Strawberries and Creem 2021 are still available to buy here.