Line-up is key to seaside success

WITH AN audience predominantly made up of teenagers, Margate promoter Steve Lye of Gig4 says picking the right bill of emerging talent is more crucial than ever.

Promoting once a week at the town’s 300-capacity Westcoast venue, he has organised shows by the likes of Elliot Minor, Skindred, Attack! Attack! and The Ghost Of A Thousand.

(See the full story in Issue 126)

Roundhouse and EMI Team-up to help acts

APPLICATIONS ARE expected to double for a programme which aims to help emerging talent through advice, live opportunities and a recording session.

Now in its second year, 30/30 is organised by the management at London’s 3,300-capacity Roundhouse, in association with EMI.

Co-ordinator Oli Kluczewski says he anticipates around 300 acts will send submissions for the 30 places available, up from 150 applications last year.

(See the full story in Issue 126)

New venue named after living legends

WOLVERHAMPTON’S MOST famous musical sons, Slade, were the inspiration for the name of a new venue in the town, which is focussing on emerging talent.

Owned by the city council through its Civic Halls complex, The Slade Rooms can cater for between 200 and 550 people.

It replaces The Little Civic (cap. 120), which closed in June.

(See the full story in Issue 126)

Teens ready to rampage

YOUNG ACTS from the south-west are being offered the chance to perform at September’s Bristol Festival (cap. 30,000), via a competition called Teenage Rampage, which is only open to teenagers.

(See the full story in Issue 126)

NXT feature              

Promoting talent

In a climate where record labels are waiting ever longer for proof that an act has talent, the live music sector is having to work together more to help the better artistes break through, with promoters at the sharp end … as usual.
James Drury reports

“A GOOD live promoter can now be as important as an A&R person in helping an act hone their skills and break through,” says Steve Tilley of Kilimanjaro Live, who promotes shows by acts such as Marina and the Diamonds, Frightened Rabbit and Band of Skulls.

With major label investment backing fewer artistes and generally coming at a much later stage, more acts than ever have no choice but to go it alone.

Fortunately the live sector is still relatively healthy and there are plenty of promoters, both local and national, who are keen to develop their business careers alongside new artistes – some of whom will not even have found an agent.

“As well as booking gigs, I offer festival opportunities, advice, encouragement and spread the word to key media, to help the act grow,” says Tilley. “The aim is to plant our flag in the sand at an early stage, saying ‘I want to be involved’.”

He adds, “But you can’t say one model fits all. It really is on an act-by-act basis. An artiste should look to build a relationship with a promoter who shares their vision, who they get on with.”

 (See the full story in the current issue)