Award-winning rapper Aitch is launching a new scheme which will offer free train tickets to under-25 year olds.
The music star wants to help young people to get to gigs and festivals across the UK this summer.
Running for eight weeks between July and August, the alternative travel scheme will release hundreds of train vouchers worth up to £100 each, The Manc reports.
The idea is to give under-25s the ability to cover their rail travel costs to music events in different cities - helping young music fans to balance the return of music events and festivals post-Covid with the rising cost of transport and living.
Aitch is launching a free train travel scheme with Relentless. Credit: Publicity photo
His Aitch-S2 initiative hopes to make a difference by removing some of the financial barriers that might restrict people from making the most of the first summer since the lifting of restrictions.
As a northern artist who is known for supporting rising stars in his hometown of Manchester, Aitch is evidently passionate about regional scenes, talents and cultures and says he wants to help people 'break out of their city limits'.
Speaking on his involvement in the Relentless Aitch-S2 scheme, he said: “I’m really excited to launch The Aitch-S2 with Relentless - there’s so much amazing culture around the UK, but for young people to experience it, they need to break out of their city limits, which is hard to do when it's so expensive to travel outside your hometown.
"I don’t want anyone missing out on what is going to be a summer to remember, so this initiative will help young Brits get back out there and have fun, no matter the location.”
The launch of the Aitch-S2 initiative marks Aitch’s second year heading up the Relentless Without Limits campaign, which aims to inspire the next generation to live, dream, dance and create without limits.
As part of this year's without limits campaign, Aitch fans will also be able to win a day with the rapper via an on-can promotion that will be running from August.
The Aitch-S2 travel scheme will run for eight weeks from 5 July to 26 August.
Under 25s can apply from anywhere in the UK for free travel across the national rail network by visiting www.aitch-s2.com, with travel vouchers worth up to £100 allocated on a weekly basis.
Feature image - Supplied
Audio
James Blunt announces huge European tour, kicking off in Leeds
Singer-songwriter James Blunt is heading back out on tour next year, kicking off a run of arena dates here in Leeds.
The singer, perhaps best-known for his iconic 2005 pop ballad 'You're Beautiful', is hitting the road again in 2027.
The newly-announced European tour is in celebration of his new album Airplane Mode, which is set for release this autumn.
James Blunt will kick off his tour here in Leeds next spring, with a massive show at the First Direct Arena.
Then he'll head to more cities including Manchester, Newcastle, Birmingham and London.
His new album, Airplane Mode, is being released on 6 November and will, according to his press release, be 'exhilarating'.
James has already released the first single, 'Tastes Like Summer', and 'Weight Of It All', with 10 more songs to come on the record.
Airplane Mode was recorded with James’ brilliant long-standing live band, who'll be back on tour with him next year.
Speaking of the new album, and recording in Pig Music Studios, he said: "Somewhere back there, I lost my way, but found it again in a studio in Banbury."
James Blunt will be at the First Direct Arena in Leeds on 26 March, 2027. Tickets go on sale from 10am on 9 September.
Major DJ has set cancelled as overcrowding concerns continue at Leeds Festival
Clementine Hall
After closing for the entire second day, The Warehouse stage at Leeds Festival has once again been forced to evacuate.
One of the most anticipated dance acts of the day has been cancelled due to health and safety concerns just moments before the set.
Sheffield DJ Silva Bumpa was due to take to The Warehouse stage today at 1:30pm, but the set was cancelled due to overcrowding.
It's not the first time this has happened at Leeds Festival 2026, as yesterday Omar+'s set was cancelled due to the same issue and the stage was subsequently closed for the rest of the day.
The Warehouse stage is completely new for this year, and supposedly is designed specifically for dance music...which is quite ironic.
Announcing the news to Instagram, Silva Bumpa said: "So so sorry Leeds Fest but due to over crowding my set was cancelled last min I was just behind the stage and got told right before such a massive shame."
Prospa, another prominent DJ who's set was cancelled at Reading on Friday afternoon, spoke up on the situation: "We are disappointed in The Warehouse stage closure at Reading Festival. We were told it wasn't possible to play whilst on the way. This was due to too many people outside the stage.
"We have seen this happen before at larger festivals in the UK. It's time to double the capacity of tents or put dance music on the main stage."
It comes after another dance stage, LS23, was closed mid-set last night due to a health and safety hazard when all the lights suddenly switched off and ravers were forced to evacuate.
If yesterday is anything to go by, we wouldn't be surprised if The Warehouse was closed for the rest of the day which means anticipated sets from Rossi and Mall Grab will also be cancelled.
Georgina Pellant -
7th July 2022 
