More than 500 shows are being organised across 14 cities in the UK and Europe for the next edition of Surface, including gigs in London, Portsmouth, Bristol, Cardiff, Swansea, Birmingham, Nottingham, Oxford, Manchester, Liverpool, Newcastle, Glasgow, Barcelona and Budapest with organisers highlighting subtle eligibility changes to broaden the scope of acts involved.

"Previously Surface was open to unsigned bands, but we've realised that a lot of artists simply don't want to be signed to a deal these days and in ...