Not Another F*cking Online Event!
After 18 months of pandemic, we know you’re very likely to be getting tired of online events where your only option is watching people in small rectangles and interacting by text. That’s why at Wide Days we’re doing it differently with a very big focus on bringing people together to talk in one-to-one meetings, in round tables and even after panels.
Our conference programme taking place on 12-13 August is as varied as ever and features four themes:
Useful Stuff: learn how to be ready to make money from sync and the latest developments in the sector, and the return of our 15 Minutes Of Knowledge with quick-fire presentations on topics including PR and digital releases. Our lifelong parters PPL are also back with a session on how to get paid.
Doing Good Stuff: interviews with: Chi-chi Nwanoku, founder of Europe’s first black and ethnically diverse orchestra and how to make the live music sector more accommodating for disabled artists and crew.
International Stuff: we look at how platforms and approaches adopted during Covid will be integrated into the physical space and top tips on cultural idiosyncrasies to effectively do business around the world.
Local Heroes: Shining a light on people promoting Scottish talent. Fiona Dalgetty from Gaelic music organisation, Fèis Rois and celebrating 30 years of pioneering Glasgow label, Soma Records, an interview with its founders.
And not only can you book meetings with many of our speakers, we also have industry professionals from around the world who are signed up just to connect with others, regardless of whether you are a company director or in your first band.
2021 Artist Line-Up
In 2020 we filmed the first performances in a proper venue (the amazing Leith Theatre) after Scotland’s Lockdown v1.0. And this year week we have got another huge honour as were given access to Edinburgh’s iconic Usher Hall, to shoot the first acts to grace their stage since March 2020!
A team of dedicated tastemakers from Scotland made a shortlist of 23 acts from over 120 applications, with an international panel including bookers from SXSW, ESNS, New Colossus Festival and ART Mania, selecting the final six who will also take part in our artist development programme supported by PRS Foundation. A heartfelt thanks to the many amazing musicians who applied (be sure to apply a bursary, details below).
And congratulations to this year’s cohort: dreamy pop artist, Alex Amor, experimental folk artist Constant Follower, poetic crooner Hamish Hawk, anthemic rockers Mason Hill, trad-infused jazzer Matt Carmichaeland jazz DJ-producer and label founder, Rebecca Vasmant. Their shows will stream on Thursday and Friday evenings and we will also be screening performances by 2020 artist Magpie Blue, who was forced to cancel, as well as her last-minute replacement, Scout.
Find out more about the 2021 line-up
Delegate passes are £50 (rising to £75 on 9 August) with proceeds paying the freelance team working on the event, many of whom lost most of their music work over the past 18 months.
Scottish Artist & Industry Bursary
If you are a musician or music professional based in Scotland who has been adversely affected by the pandemic, we also have free bursary passes available.