Sound City + Set For British Music Experience, First Panels Announced

12 February 2018 - Press release

This year’s Sound City + conference will take place at the British Music Experience in Liverpool’s historical Cunard Building.

The annual Sound City + business event is the UK’s leading independent conference for new music - founded to champion the rich and diverse creative output of the North of England, in particular, but welcoming and celebrating exciting artists and leading executives from all over the world every year.

Landing on Friday, 4^th May, Sound City + 2018 will offer a day of panels, workshops and InConversations from a wide range of industry professionals.

Panellists confirmed for the event so far include Steve Tilley (Kilimanjaro Live), Tim Ingham (MBW), Peter Bradbury (Sky), Nicky Bignell (BBC), Simon Pursehouse (Sentric Music), Nick Michault (Push Management), Steve Vondy (I Love Live Events), Lee Mitchell (Sort Touring), Alex Von Harsdorf (Gigmit), Andy Kettle (Steaming Kettle PR), Sophie Small (Music Gateway), Shadez The Misfit (Ne+Label) and Patrick Cloherty (Sentric Music).

Sound City conference attendees will descend upon the British Music Experience, which tells the story of British music through costumes, instruments, performance and memorabilia, all housed in the iconic, grade II listed Cunard Building on Liverpool’s UNESCO World Heritage Site waterfront. 

The Cunard Building is a fitting venue for Sound City +. Completed in 1917, it was a hub of emigration throughout the 18^th and 19^th Century and therefore a key contributor to Liverpool’s historical and present-day status as a creative exporter and a melting pot of music, culture and business from across the globe.

The Sound City + conference is a precursor to the Sound City festival, which will take place across numerous intimate venues within Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle and Baltic Market.

More than 250 artists will perform during the two-day festival on 5^th and 6th May, with the first wave of acts having already been announced including, DMA's, The Slow Readers Club, Picture This, Idles, Wye Oak and Black Honey, Peace, Sunset Sons, Yellow Days, Baxter Dury, Jaws and Dermot Kennedy.

Discussing the new partnership between Sound City, The BME and Signature Living’s Cunard House, Jo Whitty, Sound City+ Director, said: “We are extremely excited to be teaming up with the BME and Signature Living to bring Sound City’s international music conference back into the heart of Liverpool and to one of its most iconic buildings. Our aim is to create a hectic, energised environment for our delegates and the BME naturally creates the perfect atmosphere. Our conference is aimed at the new kids on the block, those who want to shake things up and embrace change. Sound City+ is a place to meet people, be inspired, have arguments and do some amazing business.”

Kevin McManus, Curator of the BME, said: “The British Music Experience is delighted to be working with Sound City and Signature Living in hosting the Sound City + 2018 industry conference here. Our museum tells the story of British rock and pop and how it has been influenced by society, culture and technology, so it is the perfect setting in which to welcome senior music industry figures and music fans from across the world. I’m sure it will make what is already a well established and well regarded event into something even more memorable.”

Managing Director of Signature Living Kris Mochrie, said: “Signature Living are delighted to be working in partnership with the fantastic Sound City. The Cunard Building is an incredible setting for this highlight in the 2018 music calendar and I'm looking forward to working with the team over the next few months.”

The conference will announce further speakers, panels and activities over the coming weeks.  

Conference Only Tickets: £20 

Conference and Festival Tickets: £70

Tickets are available from See Tickets on this link.