Alumni Case Study Alfie Beer

Alfie Beer is a shining example of the DIY ethos that defines the Brighton music scene. He has wasted no time embedding himself into the fabric of the UK music industry and is currently a pivotal part of the production team at iconic local venues, the Green Door Store and the Rossi Bar. 

His role is vast and varied, covering everything from event promotion and artist liaison to managing social media and even creating memes. Beyond venue management, Alfie organiser of Homegrown Festival and a musician in his own right with his band, Goodbye. From cleaning up after late nights to selling out festivals, Alfie’s journey is a testament to the power of getting stuck in. 

For Alfie, the road to WaterBear wasn’t a straight line. Having briefly attended two other universities, he found himself searching for an institution where he wasn’t just a number. 

“At other places, you feel anonymous to the staff and institution as a whole” Alfie explains. “It’s the personal approach to WaterBear that really sets it apart—you matter when you’re a student there, and even after, you continue to be checked in on.” 

He chose WaterBear for the chance to follow his passion in a genuinely supportive environment, noting that the college offers the unique freedom to focus entirely on creativity before full-time work and life commitments take over. 

While Alfie’s course covered performance, songwriting, and production, he found himself surprisingly drawn to the academic side of the degree. The essay assignments proved to be the most enriching aspect of his studies, catering to his specific learning style. His standout moment was his final dissertation, a deep dive into the cultural impact of high-profile artists and addiction.  

He describes his time at WaterBear as “the perfect space to give it a go and have a crack- you can also ask for advice from any of the incredible lecturers who’ve all done it themselves before!”. Alfie found the tutors and staff to be supportive, who truly want the best for you from a professional and a pastoral perspective.  

Alfie credits his time at WaterBear for reshaping his perspective on success and failure – a crucial developmental step for any creative. He recalls making mistakes with previous bands (including a premature tour where they played to three people in Liverpool) as vital experiences. 

Since graduating, that resilience has paid off. His career highlights are enviable: he has helped sell out Brighton’s Homegrown Festival in its first two years and launched the wildly popular “i f***ing h8 clubbing” nights at Green Door Store – a genre-hopping, unpretentious night that resonates with the post-genre streaming generation. Alfie has now found his joy in grassroots music, crediting its sense of passion and community as a key factor that drives him in his career. 

Musically, his band Goodbye has achieved significant milestones without a label or agent. By being methodical and building hype through exclusivity, they sold out their debut show and landed their debut single on BBC Radio 6 Music and KEXP. An impressive major highlight includes supporting the Lambrini Girls at Electric Brixton in April 2025. 

 Event & Festival Production 

Content Creation 

Strategic Release Campaigns 

Performance (musician and ‘accidental DJ’)  

Industry Networking 

Identifying Opportunities