On Thursday 19th March, The Vic Inn once again proved why it remains one of Derby’s most important grassroots venues,…
By K Futur LOCALIn a city often misunderstood from the outside, James Thornhill has spent years quietly-and sometimes loudly-reshaping the narrative. Music journalist, DJ, promoter and the driving force behind Psychic Dancehall Festival, Thornhill represents a strand of Derby’s creative DNA that refuses to accept the idea that great culture only happens elsewhere.
A Derby Foundation That Never Left
“I am based in Derby. I am from here, I grew up here and despite living many other places including London, I found my way back here,” Thornhill explains.
That return wasn’t accidental. It was rooted in memory-and in belief.
He came of age during a period when Derby’s music scene pulsed with national relevance. Bands like Cable, The Beekeepers and White Town weren’t just local names-they were breaking through, appearing across national media and charts. Alongside them, cult favourites such as Twinkie and Lazer Guided created a grassroots ecosystem that proved something important: Derby could produce culture that mattered.
“That instilled in me that Derby is amazing for music. It still is,” he says. “A lot of my work is about proving the negativity wrong.”
It is a mission statement as much as a reflection.
From Journalism to the Frontline of Culture
Thornhill’s journey began with words.
“I started off as a music journalist,” he says, a path that saw him contribute to respected titles including Electronic Sound, Louder, Louder Than War, Notion and Under The Radar.
But Thornhill was never content observing from the sidelines.
Alongside journalism, he built a parallel life as a DJ and promoter-a dual perspective that gave him rare insight into both the storytelling and the infrastructure of music culture. Over time, those strands converged into something larger: curating experiences, building platforms, and ultimately creating his own festival.
Today, that evolution is fully realised through Psychic Dancehall-a project that feels less like an event and more like a statement.
Moments That Define a Career
For Thornhill, highlights are not in short supply-but they are telling in what they reveal.
“Doing an early interview with Amy Winehouse in 2004, interviewing Tori Amos in the British Museum, being part of a mock protest on Parliament Square with Tim from Rage Against the Machine-they were all crazy moments.”
These are stories that would define most careers. For Thornhill, they sit alongside something more personal-something rooted back in Derby.
“Seeing the response and mass amount of joy that WFR Central and Psychic Dancehall festival gave people… putting Pram on in the Wardwick… it felt like a fitting tribute to a friend and a true musical genius.”
That friend-the late Grandmaster Gareth of Misty’s Big Adventure-represents the kind of underground legacy Thornhill continues to honour through his work.
Then there is the international scale.
“Visiting New York with Marvin’s Revenge to play New Colossus festival was like a dream.”
From Derby basements to New York stages, the thread remains consistent: connection through music.
The Reality Behind the Passion
Not every part of the journey is romantic.
“Doing what I love and balancing it with paying the bills,” Thornhill admits, cutting through the myth of creative life. “Music work doesn’t always pay the bills… if we were doing this for cash only, a lot of us wouldn’t be doing it at all.”
It is a reality familiar to anyone embedded in grassroots culture-where passion often sustains what profit cannot.
But rather than seeing that as a limitation, Thornhill frames it as a truth of the ecosystem: the best work often exists because people care enough to keep it alive.
Community as a Driving Force
If there is one theme that defines Thornhill’s philosophy, it is community.
“I am inspired by people every day for doing what they love,” he says. “The music industry is full of people doing great things because they love it.”
He points to local institutions like Dubrek Studios as examples of what happens when that ethos is put into practice-spaces built not purely for profit, but to allow music to exist.
Beyond Derby, his perspective is shaped by European festival circuits such as Focus Wales, MENT Ljubljana and SHARPE Festival.
“I leave these events having hung out with really inspiring people every time,” he says. “Giving stuff a go and collaborating is my philosophy.”
It is a mindset that feeds directly into Psychic Dancehall-a festival designed not just to showcase talent, but to build something sustainable around it.
Evolving Without Losing the Edge
With experience has come perspective.
“I’d like to say I am more considered, more knowledgeable and less gung-ho,” Thornhill reflects. “I wouldn’t start a national publication for university students like I did in 2002 with such misplaced confidence now.”
There is humour in that admission, but also growth.
“I am more focused on where my real skills are now, and far more willing to step aside for people who know more than me.”
In an industry often driven by ego, that willingness to collaborate-and to relinquish control-is part of what keeps his work fresh.
Building What Comes Next
Looking ahead, Thornhill’s focus remains firmly on growth-but on his own terms.
“Psychic Dancehall festival 2026 and on to 2027,” he says. “Also working with Marvin’s Revenge on their demos for their debut album… before their headline at the Bodega in Nottingham and a show at Splendour festival.”
And then, the tease.
“There is also something big in Derby which I can’t announce yet-but it will be huge.”
For a city constantly redefining itself, that promise carries weight.
More Than Music-A Lasting Impact
Ultimately, Thornhill’s ambition is not about status or scale.
“Entertained, informed, like spending time with it was worthwhile,” he says, describing what he hopes people take from his work.
It is a simple metric-but a powerful one.
Because in a landscape often dominated by algorithms and metrics, Thornhill’s approach feels grounded in something more human: experience, connection, and meaning.
Advice From the Inside
His final words offer a fitting conclusion-not just for aspiring creatives, but for anyone navigating uncertainty.
“Listen to advice from those who know, but also trust your instincts and ignore bad advice. It’s better to try and fail than not try at all-you won’t be remembered for the things you don’t do.”
And then, with characteristic self-awareness:
“That’s more than one piece of advice… so I guess learn to be able to count to one.”
Where to Find James Thornhill
To experience more of Thornhill’s work and the world he is building:
- Psychic Dancehall Festival: www.psychicdancehallfest.com
- Instagram: Psychic Dancehall
- Follow Marvin’s Revenge across socials for upcoming releases and shows
