21 Aug 2026
The brainchild of local DJ, songwriter and music producer Lauren Cumberpatch, The 1111Fest at The Pioneer Club was the latest and biggest of her St Albans pop-up DJ sessions to date with more than 250 people coming through the doors on Saturday.
Pioneers commercial director Jon Prayer said: “Lauren and I have been working together for around 18 months now and we’ve been trying to find the right project and this is definitely it!”
Lauren made a start her musical journey at The Pioneer and put on the event as a fundraiser for the youth charity.
She said: “It’s honestly quite surreal to see how quickly this has grown. At Christmas, the 1111 Club was just an idea I had to start putting on little daytime raves in coffee shops around St Albans. We sold 25 tickets to the first one, and a few months later we’ve somehow gone from that to selling out an entire festival at The Pioneer Club.
“What’s become really clear to me is that the success of the 1111 Club isn’t just about the events or the music — it’s about community. So many people have given their time, skills and support simply because they believe in what we’re trying to create, and the people of St Albans have really got behind it. I don’t think any of this would have happened without that.
“Being able to use something that brings people together while also raising money for The Pioneer makes it even more special. It’s an organisation that does incredibly important work for young people and the wider community, so knowing that a day where hundreds of people came together to dance and have fun can also help support that work is something I’m incredibly proud of.
“The messages and kind words I’ve received — often from complete strangers — have been quite overwhelming. There seems to be a real appetite for events that bring people together and create that sense of connection locally.
“Going from 25 people in a coffee shop to a sold-out festival in a matter of months is pretty mad, but more than anything, it makes me feel like we’ve stumbled upon something really special. And genuinely, I feel like we’re only just getting started!”
On the day revellers were treated to a line-up of local DJ talent including Kazia, Adelphi Music Factory, DJ Hercules, Hayes and of course 1111 herself. There were also food vendors, face painters and children’s games and activities as well.
Jon added: “The money raised from this event is so important for us here at Pioneer and will enable us to continue our youth programmes and events. It was such a great day. Lauren put so much into this and we are also grateful for her help and support.”
Follow 1111musicuk on Instagram to see where Lauren is popping up next!
