– Wide Days moved to Friday and Saturday slot, with conference on Day 1
– Day 2 to include a guided tour, talk, barbecue and low-exertion sports contest
– Crowdfunder campaign includes photo-shoots and private concerts
Buy tickets @ http://www.widedays.com/tickets
Award-winning music convention, Wide Days, returns on 10-11 April with a new structure and an increased focus on networking opportunities for professional delegates. For the first time, the event will take place on Friday and Saturday, with the majority of panels, presentations and talks [details below] hosted on day one at Edinburgh’s Pleasance.
The first topics to be announced include the development of festivals, an analysis of what it costs to make an album and future models for the music business. Edinburgh College is the partner on the popular A&R You Brave Enough? session, where musicians are invited to submit tracks for feedback, and this year’s keynote interview features John Vick and David Miller, from pioneering electronic act Fini Tribe.
The Pleasance will also host the first half of the free showcase programme – which will be unveiled next week – with the second part of the evening taking place at The Electric Circus.
Having beaten competition from several large international conferences to win Best Networking Event at 2014’s Yearly Music Convention Awards, the second day of Wide Days will provide a relaxed and entertaining environment for Professional ticket-holders and speakers.
It begins with a coach tour of Edinburgh, guided by Wide Days founder Olaf Furniss, and will be followed by a barbecue, talk and low-exertion sports contest, which includes darts, croquet and swingball.
In addition to Edinburgh College, confirmed partners include PPL, Perth College, the Musicians’ Union and the Scottish Music Industry Association. However, organisers have launched a Crowdfunder campaign in a bid to raise additional funds after a previous backer was unable to commit.
The initiative is backed by several acts who have showcased in previous years and among the packages on offer are private gigs by Stanley Odd, Fatherson and The Jellyman’s Daughter. Other packages include a photo shoot with internationally acclaimed photographer, Jannica Honey, and original prints of her shots of previous Wide Days showcase acts.
“Wide Days has a track record of innovation and we are very excited about the new structure,” says founder Olaf Furniss, who is also co-director of Born To Be Wide, the Community Interest Company which organises the event. “By concentrating most of the talks into Friday afternoon we are able to offer an affordable day ticket, while also catering to professionals with the Saturday activities.”
“We are appealing to the many musicians, organisations and businesses who have benefited from Wide Days since its launch in 2010, to get behind the Crowdfunder campaign so we can continue.”
WIDE DAYS 2015
Friday 10 April, The Pleasance, 60 Pleasance, Edinburgh EH8 9TJ
1030-1730 Conference including panels
1930-2100 Showcases Part 1
The Electric Circus, 36-39 Market Street, Edinburgh EH1 1DF
Saturday 11 April
1030 Pick up from 10 Hill Place Hotel, Edinburgh EH8 9DS, followed by tour, talk, BBQ and low exertion sports contest.
CROWDFUNDER PACKAGES – http://www.crowdfunder.co.uk/wide-days
TICKETS [professional, regular + groups] http://www.widedays.com/tickets
Event Page: http://www.facebook.com/events/1552312855038370/
PRESENTATIONS
How much is the music?
What is the real cost of making an album? Three case studies look at the total amount, factoring in the time musicians spend writing, rehearsing and recording, playing gigs, promotion and every other expense.
Presentations by: Alex Knight [Fat Cat Records], Lorraine McCauley [self-releasing musician] + additional speaker TBA.
The Music Venue Trust
A look at the work of the organisation set up to safeguard venues.
PANELS
What hope for the future?
Is the music business set to reflect society, with a super rich 1% of artists and companies taking the lion’s share of the money? Can a ‘middle class’ survive and what impact will streaming really have?
Speakers: David Balfour, Record Of The Day. Additional panelists TBA
A&R You Brave Enough
A panel from music and media provides feedback on tracks submitted by acts attending the convention.
Nicola Meighan [The List/The Herald/Radio Scotland]
Alex Knight [Fat Cat Records]
Additional panelists TBA
Festival Development
A look at how the festivals are diversifying and what role they can play in developing new talent.
Cecile Communal, [2 For The Road, booking agency]. Additional panelists TBA
KEYNOTE INTERVIEW
John Vick and David Miller from pioneering electronic act Fini Tribe in conversation with Olaf Furniss. The duo look back on their ground-breaking career and forward to a new release and tour in the summer.
http://www.facebook.com/widedays
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