MUSIC NEWS Scotland (Apr23-5)

music news scotland page 3
Legendary label founder Simon Williams joins Wide Days
2023 speaker lineup, plus more conference sessions added
Scotland’s international
music convention Wide
Days is pleased to
announce an inconversation
with Simon
Williams, founder of Fierce
Panda Records, who will
also be signing copies of
his autobiography,
Pandamonium - How Not
To Run A Record Label.
In addition, this year’s 'Local Hero' will be Regular
Music’s Moira McKenzie, interviewed by Bruce Findlay.
The news comes as organisers add more speakers and
sessions to the event, which is supported by The
National Lottery through Creative Scotland’s Open
Project Fund and takes place in Edinburgh 13-15 April.
These include a rare opportunity to hear what booking
agents look for in artists and what musicians should
be asking to ensure they end up working with the
right person. Moreover, a panel featuring
representatives from several industry conferences,
will discuss setting a minimum standard for
showcases, as well as outlining what their respective
events offer. The session includes representatives
from Waves Vienna (Austria), Mad Cool Pro (Spain),
Future Echoes (Sweden) and M For Montreal
(Canada).
Moreover, in a special presentation, immigration
lawyer Brian Zabinski (Tamizdat / Covey Law) will
outline the different requirements for being able to
legally perform in the USA.
A previously announced round table focusing on how
the music industry can work effectively with
government and the public sector, sees the addition of
presentations from Dr Adam Behr (Newcastle
University) and Lena Ingversen, managing director of
the Music Cities Network. She will provide a range of
recommendations about how to incorporate music into
the heart of local policy, which are set to be included
in a handbook published later in the year.
This session combines an informal workshop format
with short case studies, with the aim of fostering
ideas, identifying challenges, establishing an ongoing
dialogue and fostering collaborations.
The 15 Minutes of Knowledge programme also sees
several additions covering a broad range of topics.
They include:
* Making A Music Metaverse (on a budget)
* Working with Adaptive & Interactive Sound
* Fan Engagement - From Stone Age To Space Age
* How Not To Get Synced (avoiding the most common
mistakes)
* Five Steps Towards Equitable Streaming
12 Months In The Music Business
Starting out as a fanzine editor in the 1980s, before
graduating to NME and XFM, Simon Williams went on
to launch Fierce Panda Records, one of the UK’s most
enduring indie labels responsible for early releases by
Coldplay, Green Day, Keane, Placebo and Death Cab
For Cutie, as well as Idlewild and numerous Scottish
acts. Over more than two decades he also promoted
festivals and hundreds of gigs. On the final day of
2019 he survived a suicide attempt and went on to
write Pandamonium - How Not To Run A Record Label,
an autobiography told through the prism of a life in
Simon Willilams
music.
His interview takes place on Friday afternoon and a
full schedule is available at www.widedays.com. The
conference also offers the opportunity to book
meetings with speakers and other industry delegates
via the event app. This will be launched later this
week along with the database.
Following the previously announced Montreal quintet
Choses Sauvages and 2019 Polaris Prize nominee
Laurence-Anne, M for Montreal are also bringing to
Edinburgh the intimate sparkling sounds of Club Bibi
and soulful pop from Laroie. Another Saturday
highlight is the Focus Wales Festival Takeover
showcase presenting folk-tinged, wondrous indie pop
musician Aisla Tully and Welsh drill artist Sage Todz.
Further additions to the Friday night’s New From
Scotland lineup are Glasgow punks Humour, multiinstrumentalist
poet Iona Zajac, indie folk singersongwriter
Tommy Ashby and an alt rock four piece
Uninvited.
Platinum pass holders, speakers and event partners
will also be invited to participate in a programme of
daytime activities on Saturday 15 April. This includes
a music-themed walking tour of Edinburgh, a delegate
brunch, a record shop tour and both a whisky and
exotic soft-drink tasting.
www.widedays.com
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www.facebook.com/widedays
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