Mark Page comments on the realities of pulling together Humber Street Sesh Festival in Hull

As Humber Street Sesh 2026 barrels toward Hull Marina with over 100 acts across 11 stages and an expected crowd of up to 15,000 people, its co-founder Mark “Mak” Page is brutally honest: this festival is not guaranteed to exist next year. “It’s not a given, it’s not a case of like miss out this year, maybe come back next year. We need your support now.” 

This year’s Sesh isn’t just another date in the city’s cultural calendar – it’s the product of financial risk, community faith, and two and a half decades of obsession with grassroots music. Across a long, candid conversation, Mak opens up about the real costs of putting on a festival like this, why metrics aren’t everything when it comes to picking bands, and what he wants emerging artists to finally understand about treating themselves like a serious proposition.