Nick Hall: Music in Devon Initiative and The Devon Music Scene

Nick Hall and Dave Knox of Music in Devon Initiative (MIDI) share the story of a decade spent building the infrastructure Devon's music scene never had, and reveal the two city centre spaces that are changing what's possible for musicians in Exeter.

Nick came to Devon via Somerset, London's Britpop years, and three years living in Senegal, where he absorbed West African music and met his partner. Back in Exmouth, he built a following playing at pubs and festivals, and set up MIDI in 2016.

Dave arrived through MIDI TV — the live performance platform MIDI built during lockdown to keep Devon artists connected with audiences — and has since co-directed the Devon-wide Battle of the Bands, managed recording projects, and helped grow the organisation's reach across the county.

MIDI has now run nine editions of the Exeter Street Arts Festival, delivered Soundtribe music sessions for children outside mainstream education, and helped over 500 artists take their first steps. In 2026 they have opened two new spaces: Source Studio, a basement recording studio, and the Source, a community music hub on Paris Street designed for open jams, beatbox workshops, and whatever the network brings through the door.

Nick and Dave talk about the day their open house became an all-day jam, why Devon's music scene is richer than it knows, and what the city needs to do to stop it being a missed opportunity.

Get Involved

• Music in Devon Initiative website
• MIDI on Facebook
• Exeter Street Arts Festival
• The Source Studio basement recording studio under Concord House, South Street, Exeter (below Casper's Dessert Shop). Contact MIDI via the website to book sessions.
• The Source community music hub is at 21 Paris Street, Exeter.
• Volunteer opportunities available — stewarding, fundraising and admin. Contact info@musicindevon.org.
• MIDI TV archive of Devon artists and live sessions available on YouTube. Search MIDI TV Devon.