Un-Convention’s Line Up Announced with StreamGM

Un-Convention’s Full Line Up Announced.

Un-Convention has partnered with StreamGM to livestream the sold-out Manchester music conference with speakers including: Radiohead’s Ed O’Brien, and Stuart Braithwaite from Mogwai, alongside a host of music organisations and other industry professionals. 

The 106th Un-Convention is taking place at Manchester’s O2 Ritz venue on July 8th and 9th, featuring many industry professionals who have been instrumental in supporting the independent music sector over the coronavirus crisis, including Mark Davyd and Bev Whitrick from the Music Venue Trust, Paul Reed (Association of Independent Festivals), Annabella Coldrick (Music Managers Forum), Lucie Caswell (Music Publishers Association), David Martin (Featured Artists Coalition) and Kelly Wood (Musicians’ Union).

Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham will be giving a keynote speech, and  elsewhere the programme will explore everything from the reopening of regional music scenes to the challenges of Brexit, with panellists including artists Laurie Vincent (Slaves), Sara Leigh Shaw (The Pearl Harts), John Robb (The Membranes), Rowetta, Elisabeth Elektra, Kapil Seshasayee, Cariss Auburn, Steve Lawson, LNA, Stewart Baxter (LIFE), Thom Rylance (The Lottery Winners) and Andy Carthy (Mr Scruff), as well as managers such as Trevor Dietz (Fontaines DC), Shikayla Nadine (Rebecca Garton / Levelle London), Caroline Trout (Everything / Django Django) and Conrad Murray (Blossoms / The Coral / The Courteeners), plus a host of independent promoters, labels, venues and festival organisers. 

Marie-Claire Daly, co-founder of StreamGM said: “StreamGM is delighted to be the official streaming partner of Un-Convention, helping people around the world access the brilliant line-up and important conversations scheduled over the two-day conference. 

“As we continue to clarify the role of streaming in the post-lockdown world, we expect this type of hybrid partnership to become the norm, bringing audiences unbound by geography to physical events and opening up vital conversations to people who might not be able to be in the room.

“The quality and ambition of the two-day programme speaks volumes about the ongoing importance of Greater Manchester to the UK music industry and we’re proud to be partnering with the team on making this the biggest Un-Convention to date”.

The first in-person conference of its kind in the UK since the outbreak began, the event will look at how the independent music sector has reacted to the crisis, the lessons that have been learnt and to explore what happens next.  

With physical tickets having sold out in advance, and due to limited in-person capacity at the venue, for the first time ever Un-Convention will be making the entire conference available to access live online, anywhere in the world, and for free. 

Un-Convention co-founder Jeff Thompson said: “We decided at the beginning of the year that it would be really important to have a conference in July as it was clear that we’d be at quite a pivotal point for the independent music sector.

“We always knew it would be challenging to pull together; however, we’ve been absolutely overwhelmed by the support we’ve received from the team at the O2 Ritz, our industry partners, funders and of course the speakers and delegates who are joining us.

”Naturally, the delaying in the lifting of restrictions has meant that we’re working to a lower capacity than we might have otherwise expected, and it’s a shame we can’t have more people joining us in person. However, we’re absolutely delighted to be working with StreamGM to ensure we can still connect with those unable to make it to Manchester this time round.”

The conference itself will have a truly international reach with the stream also being hosted by partner organisations in the US, Europe and South America. 

The conference takes place in person over two days at the O2 Ritz in Manchester and will be streamed live on the StreamGM and Un-Convention Facebook pages from 10.15am – 5.30pm on Thursday 8th and Friday 9th July.