Soar Sound at Riverside Festival – Sunday Voices and Stories from the City

The second day of Leicester’s Riverside Festival 2025 brought a relaxed Sunday vibe with warm sunshine, busy walkways, and a steady stream of visitors exploring the stalls, entertainment, and riverside attractions. Soar Sound was there once again, broadcasting live from the De Montfort University campus and talking with the people who make this event such a unique reflection of Leicester’s diverse communities.

Our microphones roamed through Bede Park and along Western Boulevard, where stallholders and charity groups shared insights into their work, their passions, and why being part of this year’s festival matters. From community health projects and environmental campaigns to craft makers and local traders, we captured the voices of people who are working to make a difference in Leicester every day.

Visitors to the festival also stopped by to speak with our presenters—families enjoying their annual tradition of a day by the river, young people discovering new music and food, and older residents reminiscing about how the festival has grown over the years. Their stories added to a rich mix of lived experience and shared celebration.

For many, the festival was not just a day out—it was a space to reconnect after a difficult few years. Several groups told us how much it meant to be back out meeting people face-to-face, sharing their causes and celebrating community life. Our team of Soar Sound volunteers captured these moments with care, bringing empathy and energy to every conversation.

As a community radio station, we believe that the most powerful stories come from everyday encounters. Sunday at the Riverside Festival gave us a window into what matters to people in Leicester: friendship, creativity, wellbeing, and pride in place.

You can catch up with all the interviews and highlights from our two days of outside broadcasting in the upcoming Soar Sound Riverside Festival podcast. Follow us for updates and listen in as we continue sharing stories that speak to the heart of our city.