Seminars, Speakers & Showcase Acts Announced
Eric McLellan
(Sire Records)
Claire O'Neill
(A Greener Festival)
Codruta Vulca
(ARTmania Festival)
Chris Cook
(CMU)
Award-winning music convention, Wide Days, is pleased to announce its first seminars, as well as a showcase line-up which ranges from synth pop to black metal. Moreover, a majority of this year's acts are fronted by women.
Taking place on 22-23 April in Edinburgh, panel topics include the rise of city-based festivals, how to make outdoor music events more environmentally friendly and the popularA&R You Brave Enough? demo feedback session.
The conference will also feature a presentation by PPL and a talk hosted by Chris Cooke, founder of industry consultancy, CMU Insights. He will explain how artists can get the most out of streaming services and outline how influential playlists can generate income for artists and labels.
Other speakers include festival promoters Codruta Vulcu from Romania’s ARTmania event, Katch Holmes [Knochengorroch], Paul Cardow [Stag & Dagger / PCL], Martin Elbourne [The Great Escape / Glastonbury] and Nick Roberts [Electric Fields]. They will be joined by Eric McLellan, director of A&R at seminal US label Sire Records, Claire O’Neill [A Greener Festival] and Gemma Lawrence [Creative Carbon Scotland].
2015 saw former Wide Days acts do particularly well, with Kathryn Joseph winning the Scottish Album of the Year award, Honeyblood supporting the Foo Fighters at Murrayfield stadium and C Duncan nominated for the Mercury Music Prize.
This year’s programme presents a diverse snap-shot of some of Scotland’s most exciting new artists, selected in consultation with a team including promoters, journalists and A&R scouts.
The showcases feature Be Charlotte, Best Girl Athlete, Elle Exxe, The Van T’s,Tongues and Scumpulse, and are open to the public, with a limited number of free tickets available for each act. Gigs begin at the Pleasance Theatre, followed by La Belle Angele and ending at the Electric Circus.
The Wide Days professional convention passes costs £80. It includes food at Friday’s conference and showcase, as well as access to Saturday’s networking activities. These begin with a guided coach tour and are followed by a talk, barbecue and low exertion sports.
Day passes for Friday are available at a concession price of £25 for students, emerging artists and those starting out in the business. An Under 18s ticket costs £18 and covers the conference and the first showcases in the Pleasance.
