As the start-up drum and bass festival enters its fifth year, the organisers discuss plans to grow its grass rooted success.  

Rosa Festival was set up during lockdown by its seven core organisers who saw a gap for an electronic music festival in the Peak District. 

Organisers of the festival, based near Middleton-by-Youlgrave, explained the major jumps the festival has experienced each year. 

Joe Meehan, 27, Co-director of Rosa, said: “We went from one tent in a field to two stages with 500 people and then had to move off our site because we’d outgrown it.”

The festival, which takes place on the 7th to the 10th of June, has since grown to accommodate 650 people in its fourth year. 

Thomas O’Keeffe, 24, Co-director of Rosa Festival, said: “If we had funding, the first thing we would start to do is booking out proper bands with a proper set up and really invest in advertising.

“At the minute it is pretty much all organic. It is something that I’m proud of that we have done it all organically.”

Despite the appearance of financial success, the organisers explained that their aim has been to break even each year. 

Mr O’Keeffe said: “We are so close to success. We’ve got 600 people there but the extra 400 people would make the event.

“Once you get 1000 people there the event isn’t expensive to run anymore and it goes straight into the production.”

The organisers explained plans to incorporate unique things and places to relax in order to create more of a maze and detail to the site. 

Mr Meehan, coordinator for logistics and infrastructure said: “Our ultimate goal is to have a bit of theatre to it. The festivals like Boomtown have full production scale theatre which is something that we definitely take inspiration from. We hope to grow that aspect.

“The core component will always be what can be considered underground music.”

Deadbeat UK, from Sheffield, has been a DJ for over 10 years, he closed the festival on Friday night at the Vibes Marquee Stage last year. 

He said: “It seems like a good bunch of people running it and I can see the potential for it to grow and evolve as a festival as they do more. I would love to come and play there again in the future.”

The organisers have created a launch event for Rosa 2024 on March 16th at Dryad Works showcasing some of their DJs. 

Ameya Khan-Forbes, 19, has attended Rosa two years running and will be attending the launch event.

She said: “My experience of volunteering was amazing, everyone was really welcoming and I still had loads of time to enjoy Rosa, so it was definitely worth it.”

The production and marketing co-ordinator for Rosa, said: “Our ethos is to make something which stands the test of time.

“We want people go because it is a cultural happening that runs every year, getting to that point is what we want to create.” 

For tickets to Rosa Festival visit the site.