Un-Convention is a series of music conferences and showcases for the makers and champions of independent music. Our goal is to bring together like-minded individuals to discuss the future of the sector and to generate new models for sustainable careers.
UNCON#105 | Manchester | March 2020
Un-Convention returns to NIAMOS in Manchester for our 105th event on the 4th, 5th and 6th March 2020.
OUR WORK
Over the last ten years we have produced over one hundred music conferences and events to bring together those working in the independent music sector. As a result of these events we have set up a national gig network that includes artists from 85 towns and cities across the UK, helped to establish a number of music co-operatives in Africa, developed long-term projects to engage with young people and curated festival stages to showcase emerging talent. If you are interested in working with us, or finding out more then please feel free to contact us.
Following our sold out 2019 event, which brought together artists and music professionals from 44 towns and cities across the UK, as well as 17 European countries, our goal is to once again bring together 400 of the most proactive people working in independent music to develop new ideas for the sector and to help those passionate about music to build more sustainable careers and scenes.
Joining us at the wonderful NIAMOS Theatre this year will be a host of pioneering record labels, artists, managers, venues and promoters, with the likes of Partisan Records (IDLES, Fontaines D.C.), Matador (Queens of The Stone Age, Interpol) and PIAS (Enter Shikari, White Lies) exploring current release strategies, as well as industry organisations such as The Association of Independent Festivals and Featured Artist Coalition looking at the challenges faced by the independent music sector. There will be insights from artists such as Jeremy Pritchard (Everything Everything) and booking agents and managers including Adam Gainsborough (Beans on Toast) and Ellie Giles (Bill Ryder-Jones).
Once again, we will be exploring a wide range of topics over two days of panels and talks, from developments in the live sector, to mental health and even a look at why our brains love music. As well as that, we will be showcasing a swathe of incredible independent music with artists like The Futureheads, Honeyfeet, Saytr Play, Blanketman, Jack Found and more performing. We also have a very special opening evening with Ivor Novello winning songwriter Cherry Ghost talking about creativity.
Most importantly though we will be bringing together hundreds of people working at the coalface of independent music – promoters, venues, labels, managers and artists from Glasgow, Edinburgh, Newcastle, Middlesbrough, Leeds, Hull, Birmingham, Liverpool, Coventry, Nottingham, Brighton, Hastings, Cardiff, Bristol, Cornwall and everywhere in between. This year we are particularly excited to have a panel introducing a new Regional Music Scenes Network we are developing with partners from across the country and are also delighted to be welcoming music professionals from across Europe as part of the JUMP Music Market Accelerator.
If you're involved in the independent music sector in any way then we hope you can join us for two days and three nights of inspiration, ideas and new opportunities.
Un-Convention Manchester opens with a special welcome event on the evening of the 4th March 2020, with the conference and showcases taking place on the 5th and 6th March.
If you make or champion new music then we really hope you can make it.
Un-Convention 105 will take place at NIAMOS, Warwick Street, Manchester, M15 5EU, starting on the evening of the 4th, and running until the 6th March 2020. The event will be two days of panels and workshops and three evenings of live music. Tickets are available at: https://www.universe.com/unconvention2020