CROATIA: Zagreb’s INmusic festival is set to build a one of a kind festival stage in tribute to David Bowie and Nikola Tesla, which will be operating within a 100ft tall construction replica of the original Tesla’s Wardenclyffe tower. The Tesla Tower Stage at INmusic festival will be the first of its kind ever built in the world, exactly 99 years after the historic original was torn down in 1917 in Long Island, New York. Nikola Tesla was born in Croatia in 1856, and throughout his life did loads of cool science stuff. In 2016 the 160th anniversary of Tesla’s…
Author: Festival Insights
CANADA: Launched to popular acclaim last year, the FEQ Pop-Up series presented by Sirius XM will return to the 49th Festival d’été de Québec. In this innovative concept, free shows lasting about twenty minutes spontaneously pop up in unexpected places, starring artists who are only revealed at the very last minute. Like last year, the first FEQ Pop-Up will help promote the Festival outside the province of Québec. The first surprise show will happen in downtown Moncton, followed by Toronto a week later. The series then brings the popular free shows to Québec City, before and during the Festival. The…
UK: Willowman Festival has announced a bunch of new activities for its 2016 edition, including a 1950s style funfair for children, willow weaving, and the building of a Kundalini structure that will be symbolically torched on the Sunday evening. Attendees will also be treated to Turkish steam rooms, vintage clothing stalls, chill out beds, a selection of real ales, a hall of mirrors, various children’s entertainment, a parade, trick Sherpa cyclists, plus a David Bowie tribute act and an accompanying fancy dress theme of ‘stars and space travel’. Willowman organiser Steve Williams said: “In the seven years since we first…
SPAIN: BIME – a Bilbao based conference and festival that focuses on the nexus between music, tech, gaming – has announced the first speakers and events for its fourth edition. The conference component will take place from October 26 – 28 at the BEC in Bilbao, and has 1,500 industry delegates already confirmed to attend. Described in Music Week as a meeting place for professionals from the worlds of music, tech and gaming, the event will once again focus on new trends in music, technology, and entrepreneurship, with ample opportunities for networking with peers and new business contacts. During the…
UK: London International Festival of Theatre has travelled the world to curate its programme for 2016, which promises to feature ‘stylish, bizarre, moving, flirtatious, sensory’ performances, as LIFT celebrates the world in London and London in the world. LIFT’s Artistic Director Mark Ball said: “Does art help us belong? I have met pioneering artists and performers from around the world who connect to the astonishing range of international communities that make up London, and, asking that very question, have made a Festival that investigates how this amazing mix of people adds up to the London I love. The cultural influences…
UK: Chris Martin led the chorus of acclaim for the ‘team’ which helped to make BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend such a spectacular success, and Showsec played a key role in ensuring the experience was every bit as good as the glorious bank holiday weather for music lovers. The crowd management and event security specialist was part of the team that delivered a memorable two-day event for over 50,000 people in attendance and reached a particularly special finale as Coldplay’s Martin enjoyed a triumphant homecoming to his native Devon. The band’s lead vocalist sang the praises of all the staff…
George Kapellos is Head of Marketing & Partnerships at Mativision, a Shoreditch based company that provides brands and entertainment businesses with the ability to film and broadcast in full 360˚ vision and virtual reality. In this article, Kapellos writes about a recent Years & Years show that the Mativision broadcast live in conjunction with Samsung and its Gear VR headsets. “We are buzzing; the show was like nothing we’ve done before.” This was the reaction of four-time BRIT Award nominees Years & Years to a groundbreaking gig they performed recently at the Hospital Club in London. Technology giant Samsung was…
FINLAND: Flow Festival has announced the line-up for its experimental music programme The Other Sound, taking over the festival’s small and intimate Tiivistämö space from August 12 – 14. The Other Sound will feature Swedish singer and multi-instrumentalist Anna Von Hausswolff; explorer to the further reaches of pop and electronic music Holly Herndon; ambient composer William Basinski; Ian William Craig with his mixture of choral, ambient and noise influences; as well as Norwegian Megalodon Collective, who mix jazz, classical and noise. Also on The Other Sound line-up are Orpokotijuhlat Saarella, The Sultans, Elatu Nessa, Draama-Helmi, Myttys, Tsembla, Pink Twins, Destroyer2048,…
SPAIN: Marking its ninth edition, the first day of IMS Ibiza was kick-started with a mixture of insightful topics, panels and keynotes. Exploring the huge growth in today’s electronic music industry, which was encapsulated with the 2016 business report, subjects such as streaming, major labels, and the emotional closure of Space were also covered – with a candid vinyl exchange between Seth Troxler and Dave Haslam closing the day’s schedule. Opening with this year’s business report compiled by Kevin Watson, key findings revealed the following: The electronic music industry is now worth $7.1 billion, a 60% increase from three years…
SWEDEN: Since its inception, one of Pukkelpop’s guiding principles has been to help launch new talent, and it will do so more effectively this year with the addition of two new stages: the Lift and the Booth. Both stages will accommodate up-and-coming artists and DJs whom the organisers think will become extremely successful in the coming years. Pukkelpop organiser Chokri Mahassine said: “Nothing is more awesome than booking budding artists for Pukkelpop, and then watching them play a great show and making it to the big time in the following years. That memorable show in 2004 by Amy Winehouse in…