Un-Convention Manchester 2024
Carmel Smickersgill, Tours & Activities Editor
Since 2008, the Un-convention has been bringing artists and industry professionals together from across the music industry to discuss ideas, share practices and try to create a better ecosystem for the UK music scene as well as here in Manchester. This year Band on the Wall will be hosting the revolutionary day of independent music creators, curators and coordinators.
Over two days in November there will be a series of events looking at the current state of the sector. Where is it failing, where it is doing really well and where it can be predicted to go in the near future. All of this is built around conversations about how individuals and venues can build a sustainable existence in music. It is no secret that we live in a country which massively values music whilst simultaneously having a state that takes the culture and infrastructure of music for granted without seeing the need to support and maintain it.
Managers, labels, promoters, festivals and artists from over 50 towns and cities across the UK attend the conference, making it a unique place to meet people and grow networks, whatever perspective you’re coming at it from. Part of the beauty of the event is the grace with which it flips between issues faced on a national level as well as niche problems faced by local scenes.
Previous speakers have included Little Sims, Jane Weaver, Andy Burnham and Lay Full Stop as well as representatives from indie labels through to Sony, Universal and the music managers forum. It’s a real melting pot of a room with people from all walks of musical life. The event is also a chance for showcasing some of the finest new music from across the country.
It’s worth noting that Un-convention usually sells out fairly fast so getting those tickets ahead of time is well worth it.
