26 May 2026
Think about the last live music event you went to.
Chances are, a drink was part of it — at the bar, in someone's hand, woven into the whole experience.
For a lot of people, that's fine. For many others, it's a reason not to go at all.
Shaun Kenny thought about that gap for a long time. Then he did something about it.
Shaun is a recovery worker at WithYou's Glasgow North West hub, frontman of indie band Hazy Sundays, and one of the co-founders of the Recovery Collective, the charity behind Recovery Connects, an alcohol-free music festival held each summer at Queen's Park in Glasgow.
What started in 2019 with a crowd of around 400 attracted almost 2,500 people last summer. Past acts have included Bez of Happy Mondays, Chris Helme of The Seahorses, John Power of Cast and Alan McGee, the Creation Records founder who discovered Oasis, as well as The Bluetones and Leeroy Thornhill of The Prodigy.
This year, the legendary Pete Doherty is headlining.
Shaun's own experience of substance misuse is part of what brought him to this work, and part of what gave him the clarity to see that recovery shouldn't mean giving up the things you love.
You shouldn't have to be in recovery to come to a gig. It's for everyone, families, music fans, anyone who just wants a good day out.
Shaun set up the Recovery Collective in 2018 with friends Derek Watt and Eddie Clarke, each bringing something different.
Eddie, who works for Abbeycare, a drug and alcohol rehabilitation provider and one of the festival's main sponsors alongside WithYou, looks after partnerships. Shaun focuses on the music and logistics on the day.
In 2024, that included a support slot for Hazy Sundays.
Recovery Connects is never just about the acts, though. Organisations from across the recovery sector set up stalls, giving people a chance to find out what support is available, often in a way that feels less daunting than walking through a service door for the first time.
"Someone might wander past a stall and pick up a leaflet," Shaun explains. "They might get talking to someone. That can be the moment something changes. You never know."
It's a philosophy that runs through his day job too. Shaun's path to recovery work began in 2016 through volunteering and an SVQ placement in East Dunbartonshire. He joined Glasgow North West as a full-time recovery worker in 2018.
"Some people are working towards abstinence. Some want to manage things differently. Everyone's recovery looks different."
For WithYou, sponsoring Recovery Connects reflects something Shaun feels strongly about. Being present in community spaces that feel safe and welcoming matters just as much as what happens inside a service.
This summer, Recovery Connects returns to Queen's Park on Sunday 5 July, with author and rapper Darren McGarvey confirmed as MC. Entrance is free.
If you or someone you know needs support with drugs or alcohol, Shaun and the team at Glasgow North West are here to help. Find out more about our free, confidential support at wearewithyou.org.uk/local-hubs/north-west-glasgow