Become an official Liverpool Sound City ambassador and earn tickets and exclusive experiences by selling tickets to Liverpool Sound City 2019
By becoming an ambassador you’ll be able to earn the following rewards:
How Does the Program Work?
You’ll earn points for every ticket that you sell to your friends. You can then use these points to redeem rewards in a shop within your ambassador dashboard. The more points you earn the more rewards you can earn for you and your friends.
Our Community Manager will also be available throughout the campaign to answer any questions, give you advice on how to make more sales and provide you with important Festival updates!
How do I make sales?
What to become an ambassador? You can sign up here: bit.ly/2yYRCZ0
If you would like anymore information before signing up feel free to email george.ces@verve.co and George will be able to answer any questions that you have!
If you’re already a member you can sign in here: bit.ly/2yYRCZ0
Over the next few weeks we will be providing one-to-one professional advice and practical, positive support as a part of our artist development scheme!
Keep an eye on socials for more information.
The music video to the vicious trio’s latest single ’Slowly’ is out now. SPQR’s vigorous melancholic approach to songwriting and grooves has the power to bend your mind and grip your heart. Witness it first hand at Sound City in this May!
Grab tickets: http://bit.ly/2repcqt
Born into a ‘musical dynasty’ (Dazed), daughter of pop icon Nenah Cherry and legendary producer, Cameron McVey, star-blooded R&B artist Mabel seems destined for nothing but the top. Burning a vibrant and authentic path into the R&B scene, Mabel has composed both a musical style and identity that is completely and unapologetically her own, her early release Finder’s Keepers rightly taking its place in the UK Top 10 with a sound and energy that is difficult to believe comes from an artist who is only just starting her career.
Self-confessed 'loner’ (Vogue) growing up, Mabel channelled all of her energy into her music, building an attitude of bold defiance that is already 'flipping the male gaze of the industry’ (Ref) and paving the way for female artists to join her at the top of festival line ups, claiming that 'there’s definitely more work to be done’ (Vogue) for women to take up long deserved space in the music scene. One to watch - for a journey that is definitely never going to be boring.
Mabel is set to headline the stage at Sound City 2019 which is a huge milestone for the festival having its first female headliner since it began in 2008. Sound City is the lead UK festival partnered with the Keychange movement, led by PRS Foundation. We believe in the empowerment of women in music; encouraging that all festivals should have a 50:50 lineup by 2022 or earlier. Other female acts that have been announced in the first wave of the Sound City lineup include; Our Girl, Saltwater Sun, Molly Rainford, Benin City, and Sophie and the Giants. With 100s more artists to be announced in January 2019, we are excited to showcase more talented female acts and we will continue to support the Keychange movement to ensure talent is recognised!
Come and join us in 2019 to see Mabel and other amazing and emerging female acts! Tickets are available here.
From Nov 14th we are proud to launch the first Sound City Surgery, a service to support emerging artists from across the North of England over 12 months, with the aim to help them to develop sustainable professional music careers.
Offering advice and career management, one to one mentor sessions with music industry professionals, funding options, showcase opportunities and much more, Sound City Surgery will take place across a number of sessions at Sound City HQ, establishing artists career development, targets, aims, objectives, management infrastructure and evaluation.
If you are an artist/band with a professional outlook aiming to develop your career in the music industry please email surgery@soundcity.uk.com with a full artist EPK including links to music, social media and a brief biography including career highlights to date.
Applications close on November 9th and all successful artists will be notified by November 14th.
After four showcase festivals from Italy, Hungary, Germany and the Czech Republic joined the Innovation Network of European Showcases (INES) in June, the network is pleased to welcome another member from Great Britain!
FOCUS Wales is now the second INES member from the United Kingdom and will be located in Wrexham, North Wales for it’s 9th edition. The international multi-venue showcase will be representing more than 200 bands across 20 stages in Wrexham and will be taking place the 16th through the 18th of May in 2019. Not only will FOCUS Wales be hosting acts from all over the world, but also a plethora of up-and-coming domestic acts as well. And in addition to all of the presenting artists, an interactive conference programme will present panels and discussions with experts from the music industry!
INES is a European cooperation project co-funded by Creative Europe that aims to create a unique exchange network between European showcase festivals to facilitate transnational artist discovery and career development, while promoting digitisation.
With the announcement of its participation in INES, FOCUS Wales opens the applications for INES#pro and INES#festival. Musicians and music professionals from all over Europe can apply until December 1st to perform at or visit the festival and network with other music professionals.
More info here: https://www.ines-festivals.eu/festivals/focus-wales-2019/
Help Musicians UK (HMUK) have announced it has partnered once again with Music Venue Trust (MVT) for this year’s Venues Day, which takes place on Wednesday 17 Oct at Islington Assembly, London.
The UK’s
leading independent music charity has teamed up with MVT for its annual Venues Day event, which has built a reputation as a
pivotal national networking
event for grassroots music venues. Venues
Day will see MVT members congregate for a day of panels, presentations and working groups to discuss challenges for venues on themes such
as wellbeing, contracts,
advertising and promoters.
HMUK’s partnership with MVT will see the charity offer travel bursaries to Northern Ireland delegates, specifically representatives of grass roots venues in the region who might not otherwise have the resources available to attend.
The charity’s own Head of Health & Welfare Joe Hastings will also participate in a wellbeing panel to discuss the responsibilities of the venue industry in supporting the wellbeing of its own workers and artists, including a discussion on riders, alcohol and mental health support.
James Ainscough, Interim CEO of Help Musicians UK said “Venues Day serves a huge purpose in sustaining and connecting a successful grass roots venue community, so we are proud to partner with MVT once again. Through our work in mental health via our Music Minds Matter service, as well as holistic support and development for music creators, the charity will continue to invest in the wellbeing of the industry. Working together with our partners to make a difference for our beneficiaries in the music industry is a huge part of our continued commitment.”
Mark Davyd, Founder and CEO of Music Venue Trust said “We are delighted to have Help Musicians UK returning as a partner for Venues Day 2018. We have serious concerns about the health and wellbeing of venue owners and staff working in this sector, with stress, financial worries and poor working conditions creating significant pressure on the sector. HMUK have launched a number of initiatives, particularly around mental health, which are important examples for our sector, and we are especially pleased to have them presenting a panel about these issues.”
Several thousand bands and musicians from the participating 12 countries (Austria, Germany, Luxembourg, Great Britain, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, Spain, Slovenia, Hungary, Czech Republic) have applied for the second year of the INES#talent support program. Now the 104 new #talents have been announced - including Mavi Phoenix, Hope and ShaoDow!
Applications were being accepted until July 31, 2018 which were available to all bands and musicians from the participating countries. From all applications received, the festival partners have now nominated the best young musicians from their respective countries for INES#talent 2019. And now that three new members have been added into the network since this past June, INES#talents from Hungary, the Czech Republic and Italy will officially be there for the first time!
With INES#talent in 2019, the most promising young artists in Europe will have the chance to perform at up to 12 showcase festivals and thus present themselves to an international audience, but above all to the international music industry.
A total of over 100 slots will be available exclusively for the sponsored artists at all participating events in the coming year.
The participating festivals are:
c/o pop, Germany
Budapest Showcase Hub, Hungary
Enea Spring Break, Poland
Linecheck, Italy
Live at Heart, Sweden
Liverpool Sound City, United Kingdom
MENT Ljubljana, Slovenia
Monkey Week, Spain
Nouvelle Prague, Czech Republic
Sonic Visions, Luxembourg
Waves, Vienna, Austria
Westway LAB, Portugal
The first cycle of the young talent promotion programme is still underway - with particularly successful participants such as We Bless This Mess, Cari Cari and Haiku Garden.
Further information about INES#talent can be found at: https://www.ines-festivals.eu/talents/
Listen on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/rebydtbgiilg2789j22w4fsm4/playlist/3t5veMfy69efgBPmfKcZBN?si=EcYCrewGSEuPIG0dw7prBg
INES is the European Showcase Festival Network that promotes the careers of artists and music professionals in the European markets. INES is co-funded by the Creative Europe Programme of the EU.
‼️CALLING ALL ARTISTS ‼️ You can now apply to play Sound City 2019! Just follow this link: https://www.gigmit.com/gigs/liverpool-sound-city-festival-in-liverpool-sound-city-14801
Artists can now apply to showcase at two of South Korea’s most important industry events, MU:CON and Zandari Festival, as part of the Sound City Korea initiative.
APPLY NOW: https://form.jotformeu.com/61935061241348
Supported by Arts Council England, this is the fourth year that Sound City will take artists to MU:CON and Zandari, providing a gateway into the exciting Korean music market.
Taking place from October 5 – 7, Zandari Festival and its conference focuses on the live and independent sector, with 200 emerging artists performing in 22 venues to 3,000 industry delegates and 15,000 music festival attendees.
MU:CON 2018 will take place in late September (dates TBC) and showcases 150 artists to an industry audience of 3,000 at its conference. It has a particular focus on publishing and sync licensing.
Over the first three years of Sound City Korea, 73 UK artists and industry professionals attended and showcased at Zandari Festa and MU:CON. Industry executives who have attended the showcases to date boast a combined audience reach of 3.2 million across markets including China, Korea, South Korea, Thailand, Mongolia, Russia, Germany, Spain, Serbia, Denmark..
The Sound City Korea initiative invites artists plus a member of their team to apply and includes funding to attend the showcases. Artists should be based in England and include details of their current UK and international activity in their application as well as links to their music. Applications are open until 6pm on July 27, to apply go to: https://form.jotformeu.com/61935061241348
Sound City is one of the UK’s leading music brands for developing artists and business in Asian territories, and today announces details of the 2018 edition of its Sound City Korea showcase initiative as well as opportunities for UK artists to play at events China and Japan.
For artists and industry interested in breaking into these territories, Sound City is also delighted to partner with Liverpool Vision and the Department of International Trade to deliver a high impact programme of discussions and how-to sessions focusing on opportunities in the Chinese, Korean, Indian and Japanese markets as part of this year’s International Business Festival.
Sound City works closely with its partner Modern Sky Entertainment - the largest independent record label in Asia, and China’s largest festival promoter – to provide the most effective conduit available between Asian and western markets for artists and music businesses.
International Business Festival 2018: Discovering Real Business Opportunities In The Asian Markets
Taking place at the Exhibition Centre Liverpool on June 27, Sound City’s Discovering Real Business Opportunities In The Asian Music Markets programme at the International Business Festival will feature industry executives from high profile companies from each of the above territories. Attendees include Layli Odamura of Japan’s biggest concert promoters, CreativeMan; Ed Peto of Outdustry, which has helped companies including Beggars Group to set up in China; and Ivor Novello Award winning songwriter Diamond Duggal, who has 20 years of experience producing, writing and licensing music for major artists and labels internationally with a key focus on India.
They will be joined by UK companies that have done business and found success in the vibrant region.
For more information and a full line-up for the Discovering Real Business Opportunities In The Asian Markets programme, visit www.ibfmusicday.com
Register for the day here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sound-city-discovering-real-business-opportunities-in-the-asian-markets-tickets-41945708744?aff=es2
Sound City Korea
Artists can now apply to showcase at two of South Korea’s most important industry events, MU:CON and Zandari Festival, as part of the Sound City Korea initiative.
Supported by Arts Council England, this is the fourth year that Sound City will take artists to MU:CON and Zandari, providing a gateway into the exciting Korean music market.
Taking place from October 5 – 7, Zandari Festival and its conference focuses on the live and independent sector, with 200 emerging artists performing in 22 venues to 3,000 industry delegates and 15,000 music festival attendees.
MU:CON 2018 will take place in late September (dates TBC) and showcases 150 artists to an industry audience of 3,000 at its conference. It has a particular focus on publishing and sync licensing.
Over the first three years of Sound City Korea, 73 UK artists and industry professionals attended and showcased at Zandari Festa and MU:CON. Industry executives who have attended the showcases to date boast a combined audience reach of 3.2 million across markets including China, Korea, South Korea, Thailand, Mongolia, Russia, Germany, Spain, Serbia, Denmark.
Sound City Korea has also encouraged Korean labels, distributors and publishers to work with English acts.
Read a full report on the impact of Sound City Korea here. (LINK)
The Sound City Korea initiative invites artists plus a member of their team to apply and includes funding to attend the showcases. Artists should be based in England and include details of their current UK and international activity in their application as well as links to their music.
Applications are open until 6pm on July 27, to apply go to: https://form.jotformeu.com/61935061241348
Sounds Of The Xity and Tokyo International Music Market
Sound City will also take one UK act to perform at both Sounds Of The Xity 2019 in Beijing and this year’s Tokyo International Music Market, which takes place from October 22 – 24.
Hosted by Sound City partner Modern Sky, Sounds of The Xity (SOTX) is the biggest music trade event in China and the only Chinese platform with a long-term commitment to the joint development of both Chinese and Western music industries.
Attracting top festival executives every year, the event covers not just music but technology, fashion, design, and documentary, and consists of both an expo (SOTX EXPO) and festival (SOTX FEST) element.
Meanwhile, Tokyo International Music Market (TIMM) is the largest music business event in Japan. Hosted by the Japanese label association PROMIC, it is a central meeting point for the Japanese music industry.
More information about the opportunity to play both of these events will be provided at the Discovering Real Business Opportunities In The Asian Music Markets element of the IBF on Wednesday, June 27.
About Sound City and Modern Sky
In 2016, Sound City announced a long term and strategic equity partner deal with Modern Sky Entertainment - the largest independent record label in Asia, and China’s largest festival promoter. The deal involves expanding Sound City in global markets as well as increasing the size and scope of its UK event. This investment partnership has so created over £1.2 million of investment as well as a new company, Modern Sky UK, which releases the music of artists including Slow Readers Club, The Blinders, Calva Louise, SPINN, No Hot Ashes and has introduced brands including Super Dry into China.
INES#conference panel “Music Journalism” at MENT Ljubljana, can be watched in full length at ines-festivals.eu/conference
Photo: Matija Brumen Berlin, 9 th May 2018
The Innovation Network of European Showcases, INES, starts an initiative to make knowledge imparted at music business conferences more sustainable and accessible by providing the filmed content all in one place online.
● INES#conference video platform launches the 9th of May on ines-festivals.eu/conference
● Platform will host over 120 recordings from conference sessions all over Europe to educate music professionals in Europe beyond the borders of showcase festivals conferences.
The music business is one of the hardest to start your career in, because quality music business schools and education programmes are rare to find. Most of the important hands-on knowledge transfer by music professionals is happening at music business conferences throughout Europe.
Those events are usually limited to a certain professional audience, since not everybody has the means to afford the conference ticket neither to travel to the events. And even if they could, the number of chairs in a conference room would always be limited.
In an age of digital uptake, this needs to be changed and democratised.
That is why the eight INES partner showcase festival conferences and project leader gigmit started INES#conference, as part of the Innovation Network of European Showcases (INES), which is co-funded by the CREATIVE EUROPE programme of the European Union.
The idea is as simple as effective: filming conference sessions and providing them online on a easy to use video platform . Over the next two years, more than 120 videos from at least eight conferences will be added and sorted.
Established music professionals, as well as artists or starters in the music industry, will be able to use this rich source for free and benefit from the knowledge, insights and outcomes that are created at the panels,workshops and keynotes all over Europe.
“In today’s ever-changing digital music landscape, it’s more important than ever for professionals to stay informed about emerging trends . New platforms launch and fold, revenue streams dry up and new money fountains explode, international networks become more and more important. Anyone not paying attention is quickly left behind.,” says INES project coordinator Magdalena Zschunke.
“That’s why we started this initiative and hope to grow it into Europe’s central source of decentralised music business knowledge.”
The #conferences of MENT Ljubljana in Slovenia are already available online. More videos will join constantly over the next weeks and months.
INES #conference dates for 2018:
MENT Ljubljana 31.01.- 03.02.
Westway LAB 11.04. - 14.04.
Enea Spring Break 19.04. - 21.04.
Liverpool Sound City 04.05. - 06.05.
Live at Heart 02.09. - 08.09.
Waves Vienna 27.09. - 29.09.
Sonic Visions 16.11. - 17.11.
Monkey Week 22.11. - 24.11.
Free INES#pro accreditation on ines-festivals.eu/pro
———————————————————————–
// more information:
Website: www.ines-festivals.eu
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inesfestivals/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/inesfestivals
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inesfestivals/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UClbxK9mDpZDmcbWrfay-new/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/user/rebydtbgiilg2789j22w4fsm4
14:30-15:00 Presentation - UK Young Artists
15.15 - 16:00 Panel - Touring in Europe
16.15- 16:45 Panel - Opportunities to live & work in Europe
17:00 - 17:30 European festivals - in conversation with Supynes festival, Lithuania
17:30-19.15 Drinks Reception with performance from Seafoam Green
19:15- 19: 35 Jessica Ray (UK)
19:45 - 20:05 Science of the Lamps (Norway/ UK)
20:15 - 20:45 Papaver Cousins (Hungary)
21:00 - 21:30 Garbanotas Bosistas (Lithuania)
21:30 - CLOSE DJS
This year, Liverpool Sound City welcome a host of European Artists, Industry Speakers and Delegates to the festival as part of the Innovation Network for European Showcases (INES)
INES is a cooperation project initiated by eight international showcase festivals below and gigmit - the European digital platform for artist booking co-funded by the CREATIVE EUROPE program of the European Union.
27 European Artists selected from INES#talent talent-pool will play across the Sound City weekend
Sound City + will play host to 10 INES focused panels including :
British Music Experience Main Stage
09:45-10:15 PASSPORTS OPEN & BOARDING CARDS READY: A GUIDE TO SECURING A SLOT ON THE EUROPEAN FESTIVAL CIRCUIT
10:20-10:50 CAN I SPEAK TO THE MANAGER PLEASE? in association with Leeds College of Music
11:30-12:00 DIY - IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC! In association with BA (Hons) Music Production at Edge Hill University
13:00-13:30 IT’S A MATCH! In association with Liverpool Business School at LJMU
15:20 - 15:50 LET’S GET THIS SHOW ON THE ROAD in association with Sort Touring
Discovery Room
11:25 - 12:10 DISTRIBUTING MUSIC IN THE EUROPEAN AND INTERNATIONAL MARKETS
12:20 -13:05 BRIGHTER SOUND AND KEYCHANGE PRESENT: THE IMPOSTERS SESSION
15:10 - 15:55 THE ART OF MAKING RECORDS hosted by Funnel Music and the Music Producers Guild.
16:05 - 16:50 THE AGE OF STREAMING AND WHERE IS THE MONEY? Hosted by Exit Live
Cunard House
13:00 - 16:30 MEET THE INDUSTRY SESSIONS
The European Commission and Lithuanian Embassy are delighted to work in partnership with Sound City to deliver ‘Sound of Europe’- A one day event on touring and festival opportunities in Europe.
Thursday 10th May, 2pm - 12pm, District, Baltic Triangle, Liverpool
As the UK continues to face an uncertain future in regard to Brexit and how it will affect daily life and aspirations, the music industry is likely to be one of the most affected areas as artists touring from and into the UK and promoting their music beyond boundaries is essential to keeping music diverse.
But in the face of uncertainty, there are surely still opportunities for UK and international artists to work together and to tour and for young people who want to work in Europe to do so.
Hosted by the UK’s leading independent festival for new music, Sound City, ‘Sound of Europe’ is a one day event which will explore the possibilities that continue to exist in Europe and will bring together artists and industry professionals to meet, discuss and create new opportunities.
The day will start at 2pm at District, Baltic Triangle, Liverpool with panels featuring UK and EU representatives on:
Working in Europe
Touring in Europe
Festivals in Europe
A drinks reception will follow at along with artist performances from Garbanotas Bositas (Lithuania) and Papaver Cousins (Hungary) until late
Please RSVP to: angie@soundcity.uk.com by Monday 7th May to confirm your attendance.
* ‘Sound of Europe’ is dedicated to the Europe Day which is an annual celebration of peace and unity in Europe. This event is free of charge and organised on behalf of the European Commission Representation in the UK. It was made possible by the cooperation of Lithuanian Culture Institute, Lithuanian Embassy in the UK and Sound City.
Web: https://ec.europa.eu/unitedkingdom/home_en
Twitter @EULondonRep
Facebook @ECinUK
Instagram @EUinUK
#SoundofEurope #EuropeanCommission
Now in its eleventh year, Liverpool Sound City 2018 proudly marks the start of the UK music festival season. Taking place in the city’s creative quarter The Baltic Triangle, the line-up includes BIMM Brighton graduates Black Honey (who are playing most festivals this year,) as well as 11 acts from across our colleges. They are Gathering of Strangers, Working Men’s Club, Carl North & The Lonely Hearts, Nish Goyal and Olly Flavell (all from BIMM Manchester), Fontaines D.C (BIMM Dublin), The Villanovas and Casey Lowry (both from BIMM London), Temple Keys (BIMM Bristol) and SheBeat (BIMM Birmingham).
This year sees even more performance opportunities for our current students with our official showcase at the Red Brick Vintage on Saturday 5 May 2018 between 5-8 pm (stage times below), and three buskers - Casey Lowry, Nish Goyal and Oli Flavell - performing as part of an acoustic lineup at Unit 51 (stage times below).
There are also plenty of invaluable placements in store for BIMM Manchester’s non-performance students. In the months leading up to the event, festival organisers will be recruiting exemplary individuals to fulfil roles in Production/Event Management and Marketing, as well as a Conference Assistant.
And for those looking to get their hands dirty with more practical roles at the festival, there are plenty of logistics positions up for grabs too, including Stage Manager Assistant, Runner, Artist Liaison Officer, Conference Assistants and Backline Tech Assistants.
Music Journalism students will also be playing a big part in the festival by having the chance to cover the festival on a press angle, with follow-up blogs, social media posts and artist reviews.
Red Brick Vintage Venue is located in the Robert Cain’s Brewery Building:
Fontaines D.C. 20:40 - 21:00
The Villanovas 20:10 - 20:30
Temple Keys 19:40 - 20:00
Gathering Of Strangers 19:10 - 19:30
Working Men’s Club 18:40 - 19:00
Carl North & The Lonely Hearts 18:00 -18:25
Stage 13 Unit 51 Buskers Stage:
Casey Lowry 15:45 - 16:15
Nish Goyal 15:00 - 15:30
Olly Flavell 14:15 - 14:45
