An Important Update From Wide HQ

After almost 20 years of being part of the Wide team, Michael Lambert will be stepping down as a director from the beginning of July. The move will see him focus on the expansion of digital marketing agency Aimless Play, which he co-founded in 2021, while continuing as an artist manager with A Modern Way. 

From first coming to a Born To Be Wide night as an aspiring teenage indie-popstar in 2006, Michael was part of the core team working on the inaugural Wide Days in 2010 and with founder Olaf Furniss, set up the community interest company in 2012 which became Wide Events CIC. A year later, they launched the Off The Record youth initiative, while continuing to grow Scotland’s music convention and a programme which now includes talent and sector development, music export and a range of UK and international partnerships. 

With the onset of the pandemic they were one of first music organisations in the world to move online, bringing together hundreds of artists and industry professionals for a range of digital events from April 2020. This work laid the foundation for a range of international partnerships which continue to develop.

Michael’s previous responsibilities will be split between Olaf Furniss and Kitt Carr, who becomes a director of the company, while community manager Callai Watson’s role is extended as community and events coordinator. 

Michael Lambert says:

“It has been such a privilege to guide Wide Events alongside Olaf.  My first opportunities in the music industry came from turning up to the Born To Be Wide nights at The Street and Wide Events has brought so many brilliant people into my world, opened countless doors and shown me some of the best times.

Making the music industry a better place for emerging artists and industry professionals in Scotland has always been our motivation, and I’m really proud of everything that’s been achieved so far. It's been a massive challenge along the way, and I'm glad to be stepping out at a point where the organisation has real stability thanks to multi-year funding from Creative Scotland and PRS Foundation, not to mention the support of so many incredible partners and champions.

None of it would have been possible if it weren’t for the time, energy, and belief of the Wide team past and present - and the community of people around the organisation who have shown up for us time and time again. 

I’m forever grateful to Olaf (The Chief) for his generosity, encouragement, tenacity and friendship, which has kept me going through the years. Though sad to be leaving, I’m really pleased that Kitt Carr is stepping into a new director role and Callai Watson is becoming a permanent member of the team as community and events coordinator. I can’t wait to see what comes next. 

Olaf Furniss says:

“I first met Michael more than 20 years ago when he came down to a Born To Be Wide evening with his bandmates. Like other regulars, he soon ended up helping me to put up posters, but I’m sure he never envisaged being roped into building our business from what was then a music scene social night, into what it is now. 

Put simply, without Michael there would be no Wide Events. Few people would have shared the drive and vision to overcome the many obstacles we have encountered over the years. Beyond the business, Michael is also one of my best friends and I wish him great success with the new role at Aimless Play and look forward to taking Wide Events into a new chapter with Kitt, Callai and the amazing team we have built.”