UK: Face value ticket resale platform Twickets is to undertake a fundraising campaign to enable the business to build on its already impressive growth and expand the platform internationally. In the UK Twickets has seen nearly half a million users either download the app, sign up to its website or follow on social media since it launched. Original backer, Chrysalis Records co-founder Chris Wright, is to lead the investment, while other original backers and further significant investors will be announced soon. Wright commented: “Online ticket touting is damaging to the industry and deeply affects loyal groups of fans who are…
Author: Festival Insights
UK: From April 14 – 16 2017, Salford’s Islington Mill will see the return of Fat Out Fest, a three-day glitter-coated celebration of independent art and music organised by the city’s preeminent experimental DIY promoters’, Fat Out Til You Pass Out. Taking place at Islington Mill and two surrounding warehouses on Regents Trading Estate, Fat Out will curate a stage on each day of the festival, whilst opening up its festival to their collaborators giving them full curatorial control over the programming of its stages. Its chosen international collaborators include Lisa Meyer (Supersonic Festival, Birmingham), Anthony Chalmers (Baba Yaga’s Hut,…
UK: Manchester based service provider VME and its sister event company Creation Live provided sound reinforcement for Edinburgh’s first outdoor dance festival, FLY Open Air, on September 24. A 3,000-capacity semi-circular amphitheatre, set within Princes Street Gardens, was taken over by the local Fly Club, and VME were brought in since its premium Martin Audio MLA system would be able to meet the inevitable offsite noise restrictions imposed by the council. “Given the fact that this was the first outdoor electronic dance promotion, operating between midday and 10pm, the event was highly sensitive,” said VME Head of Sound, Mark Cleator.…
UK: Safe As Milk, a brand new music festival set to launch in North Wales from April 21 – 23, has revealed the first group of acts that will be appearing at its debut edition. Leading the announcement is English folk legend Shirley Collins, who is releasing her first album in 38 years this November on Domino Records, and Syrian dabke vocalist Omar Souleyman who’s latest Four Tet produced record ‘Bahdeni Nami’ was described by The Guardian as “irresistible, hyperactive electronica”. Joining them at Safe As Milk will be legendary San Fransico experimental art collective The Residents, indescribable Japanese group,…
USA: Monster Energy Aftershock made its triumphant return to Discovery Park in Sacramento, CA from October 22 – 23, celebrating its fifth year with a sold-out crowd of 50,000 over two days in California’s capital city. With 35 bands on three stages, Monster Energy Aftershock’s genre spanning line-up was packed with rock and metal legends, newcomers, and rising stars. Fans were treated to a rare US festival performance from Tool on Saturday, a festival closing set from Avenged Sevenfold on Sunday, plus Slayer, Korn, Primus, Disturbed, Puscifer, Meshuggah, and more. Monster Energy Aftershock showcased Sacramento’s status as America’s farm-to-fork capital,…
UK: The organisers of Sheffield’s Outlines Festival have announced the first wave of talent for 2017’s event, with Jagwar Ma, Slow Club, Lady Leshurr and The Selecter among the key names so far. The multi-venue metropolitan festival will return to Sheffield City Centre for its second year from March 3 – 4 2017, showcasing a blend of established artists and up-and-coming acts. The event is programmed and promoted by some of the team behind the city’s much-loved Tramlines Festival, and was created with the aim of serving as a little sister to Tramlines during the colder months. After the success…
USA: StreetTeam, the peer-to-peer sales software for live entertainment, has announced that it has hired event marketing specialist Jeff Kreinik as VP of Live Entertainment for North America. Formerly Head of Festivals at TicketFly and Chief Operating Officer at Huka Entertainment, Kreinik has a deep understanding of the events market, with more than 20 years’ experience building successful ticketing, promotion and technology businesses. Kreinik will now focus on growing StreetTeam’s US and Canadian presence. “I’m delighted to join StreetTeam and return to my roots in marketing,” said Kreinik, whose appointment begins immediately. “Peer-to-peer is a great sales channel but many…
UK: Boiler Room, the pioneering music broadcaster, is partnering with Inception, a creator of immersive VR content, to launch the worlds first VR venue – designed and built exclusively to film music events in virtual reality. Boiler Room has built an audience of millions of people who tune in to watch music events they can’t be at in person. Virtual reality offers the biggest evolution yet of Boiler Room’s ability to transport fans right into the heart of an event. Through the partnership, Boiler Room will be able to create an interactive destination on the Inception platform that reflects and…
UK: Festival Republic has announced that Natasha Haddad is stepping down from a full time role with the company to a consultancy position after four years with Latitude Festival so that she can spend more time in the USA. Haddad joined in 2013, working on the renowned music and arts festival located in Henham Park, Suffolk. Confirming the change, Festival Republic MD, Melvin Benn said: “Natasha has become an integral part of the Festival Republic team, and will be greatly missed in that role but we obviously welcome her continued participation and advice in the consultancy role. Her work on…
Antonio Valero is the Head of New Business Models at StubHub, one of the world’s largest ticketing marketplaces. In addition to its work with venues, sports rights holders and promoters, StubHub has also partnered with events such as Cruïlla Festival, Eastern Electrics and Standon Calling. Every year, various brands work with festivals to position themselves in a positive way with key audiences for the business. It is too easy to just put some logos of the brand at strategic areas of the festival. But, is there a smarter, more effective way to position a brand at an event? The smartest…