International Festival Forum 2019 In London Sells Out

800 festival and agency professionals have confirmed their participation in the 5th edition of IFF, Sept. 24-26, which means that the festival conference and talent showcase sold out in advance.

ILMC MD and IFF co-founder Greg Parmley expects delegates from 40 markets to make the journey to London’s Camden district, where they will be able to witness some 40 agency showcases presenting the hottest up and coming talent around.

The packed conference program includes a keynote interview with Herman Schueremans, founder of Belgium’s flagship festival Rock Werchter and head of Live Nation Belgium.

 

IFF 2019 has doubled the amount of networking space around the main venue, Dingwalls, and introduced pop-up agency offices on both days.

 

“We’ve grown a bit again this year, so have had to pay off a few market stall holders to make room,” said Parmley. “Looking back over the last five years we’ve been very lucky – not just with the weather, but fortunate to have had tremendous support from our agency partners, many who’ve backed IFF since year one.”

 

IFF partner agencies include 13 Artists, ATC Live, CAA, ITB, Paradigm, Primary, Solo, WME, UTA and X-ray Touring. Artists confirmed to perform during the various agency showcases include Squid, Sports Team, Life, Happyness, Chinchilla, Niklas Paschburg, Easy Life and multi-platinum-selling rockers The Darkness.

 

Conference topics at IFF 5 include festival billing, consolidation, competition from new market entrants, gender splits on line-ups, and niche events. New elements at the event include Knowledge and Green Hubs featuring innovative suppliers and sustainability experts. 

Speed meetings and a delegate portal, supported by the Department of International Trade, return for the third year.

IFF isn’t the only event celebrating an anniversary: with Wacken Open Air turning 30, and Japan’s Summer Sonic turning 20 this year, there will be a joint birthday party on Sept. 26.