The UK’s Great Escape Unveils Full Conference Schedule

The UK’s Great Escape Festival, which returns to Brighton, England, May 15-18, has announced the full line-up and schedule for its music industry conference: four days of content, with a series of keynote in conversations and a stack of panels, plus parties presented by TGE’s industry partners and networking sessions.

Among the new speakers and sessions announced are Colin Newman (Wire), and Malka Spigel-Newman (Minimal Compact), “The Dotty Show” host, and lead cultural curator of Black Music UK, Dotty, as well as Izzy Bee Phillips from indie rock band Black Honey. They join recently announced Chvrches frontwoman Lauren Mayberry, and others.

See: Chvrches’ Lauren Mayberry To Speak At Revamped Great Escape, UK

Collaborators from the music industry that shape this year’s program include The Association of Independent Music (AIM), The Council of Music Makers, The Night Time Industries Association (NTIA), BBC Introducing, and Youth Music, who’ve all activated their networks of industry experts.

The Association of Independent Music (AIM) will kick things off Wednesday, May 15, with sessions covering the latest innovations from the independent music sector. Later in the day, for The Great Escape’s opening keynote, UK label exec Darcus Beese will have a conversation with Apple Music host Dotty to reflect on an incredible career.

May 16 will focus on the people behind the music in collaboration with The Council of Music Makers. Key themes will include getting credited, and paid as a music creator, touring sustainably, and how to build and manage a team.

Colin Newman and Malka Spigel-Newman will talk about their experiences in acclaimed post-punk bands; owning your rights as an artist; and a life experimenting in music.

On May 17, the UK’s Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) will highlight the importance of the country’s fifth biggest industry – the night time industry – bringing the unique concerns of venues, live entertainment, and the night time economy to the fore. Panels will cover global perspectives on the night time economy, music recognition technology, mental health and addiction, empowering the youth, and safe queer spaces, with a keynote from Sacha Lord OBE, the Night Time Economy Adviser for Greater Manchester, and a live conversation from podcasters They Think It’s All Sober with special guest Izzy Bee Phillips from Black Honey.

The program of the final day at The Great Escape is presented by BBC Introducing, and Youth Music, “the perfect day of information for artists, entrepreneurs and professionals starting out on their career,” according to The Great Escape’s progam announcement. Topics covered will include “building your artist and management team to marketing on a small budget, mental health, and much more, including a chance to meet some of the main music industry funding bodies such as Arts Council, PRS Foundation, Youth Music and Help Musicians.”

Closing out the week are two keynotes from Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker, and a conversation with Lauren Mayberry.

This year’s lead country partner Spain will host panels including “Spain: Land of Many Festivals”, hosted by Mad Cool, and ‘Pressed for Success: Navigating the Vinyl Frontier’ with Vinyl Alliance, which brings together vinyl development experts to tell attendees how to get their tracks on wax.

Rory Bett, CEO of MAMA Festivals, which runs The Great Escape, said, “It’s been amazing to see this year’s conference line-up come together. With our new collaborators bringing in specialists on everything from tech to funding, management and live, you can expect the latest cutting-edge information alongside the bread and butter of how to break artists and build a career in music – not to mention show-stopping keynotes from cultural icons and industry legends. We can’t wait to see the new-look event in action this year. See you in Brighton.”