ALONGSIDE its stellar live line-ups and exciting array of new musical talent, Liverpool’s Sound City festival has also gained plaudits over the years for its internationally renowned music industry conference.
Celebrating its tenth anniversary on Friday 26th May, the acclaimed Sound City+ promises a particularly impressive programme this year full of of high profile speakers, debate panels, workshops and 1-2-1 meetings. With the announcement that this year’s theme is ‘Revolutions’, speakers are set to explore the wider context of British rock and roll while looking back at some of the largest cultural explosions of the past fifty years such as the 60’s British Invasion, Punk Rock, Brit Pop and Acid House.
Keeping in line with the revolutionary theme, high profile speakers will include influential bass player and Public Image Limited founding member Jah Wobble, veteran DJ, filmmaker and Big Audio Dynamite member Don Letts, legendary and often outspoken DJ Andrew Weatherall and controversial avant-garde musician Peaches. Drawing from their own individual experiences, each artist will offer their own knowledge and expertise on the music revolutions discussed.
Elsewhere, iconic photographers Kevin Cummins and Tom Oxley will discuss the power of the image in addressing changing regimes and societies while acclaimed author and journalist Hattie Collins will provide a fascinating insight into UK grime culture. The day will be hosted by author & DJ Dave Haslam and rock ’n’ roll historian Jennifer Otter Bickerdike.
Being the event’s special tenth anniversary year, organisers have announced that they will take a selection of the discussions to the live festival site where music fans will be given the once in a lifetime opportunity to hear the legendary John Cale as guest speaker. Headlining the Friday night, Cale will perform his seminal album Velvet Underground & Nico in full with a series of guests. Widely regarded as one of the most influential albums of all time, the performance will celebrate its 50th anniversary and will be a European exclusive.
Sound City CEO Dave Pichilingi said “It is a huge year for us and for our 10th Anniversary we wanted to do something very special. We are bringing Sound City+ to the very heart of the creative quarter of Liverpool. The Baltic Triangle is synonymous with everything that is innovative and cutting edge that is coming out of Liverpool right now, it is part of the fabric of the city. The zeitgeist is here! We want to show the thousands who come to the conference what the fuss is all about and send them home with an amazing impression of Liverpool.”
Tickets for the conference can be found here, while tickets for the Sound City festival can be found on the official website here.
