Hastings Fat Tuesday announce Tom Robinson(BBC Radio-6 Music) as the key note speaker at this year’s UnConvention. Plus full programme of emerging artists at Under The Radar.
At the heart of Hastings Fat Tuesday is the love of new music, the joy that comes from discovering new talent and the ability to provide a platform for young voices. Unconvention and Under The Radar both offer this in bucket loads where musicians can gain invaluable information about the music industry and then have a stage on which to perform.
Unconvention is a one-day music conference aimed at the grassroots of the industry and held at the White Rock Hotel. Panellists from across the music business will be in conversation about the future of the music industry and attend workshops on a range of key elements including practical advice for gigging, the do’s and don’ts of promotion, building a fan base, securing management and funding and how to develop a sustainable career.
Panel I – Debut – 10.30am-11.30am
For musicians and song writers just starting out this panel looks at local opportunities for mentoring and support at an early stage. Offering information and advice about how to develop musically, where to play live, and how to make your first recording.
Panel 2 – Breaking through – 11.45am – 12.45pm
Management What does it take to break an artist? In this panel, chaired by BBC Introducing the South presenter/producer Melita Dennett , we will look at what artists need to consider when developing a sustainable career in the music industry including:
Management or DIY?
Making the most of your releases
Radio play and streaming
Getting festival and support slots
The importance of developing your fan base
The do’s and don’ts of pr and social media
Panel 3 – Songtrust Presents: What Is A Music Publisher and Do You Need One? 2.00 – 2.45
If you write songs then you might be aware that songwriters often sign publishing deals…but what does this mean? What does a publisher do, do you need one and how do you get one? How do you make sure you’re collecting all the royalties you’re due as a songwriter?
Lara Baker of Songtrust explains the role of a music publisher and your options as a budding songwriter.
Panel 4 – Resilience and Well being in the Music Industry – 3 – 4pm
We work in an industry with seemingly constant pressure, one where adulation and criticism can be a daily occurrence. Financial and emotional risk are almost a prerequisite for artists and those who seek to champion them, and moreover there is often little security, structure or sense of longevity to much of it. It can be a tough gig, and that’s not always easy to deal with both mentally and physically. Here we consider the specific challenges the industry presents to our well being, and how we can help ourselves and each other to better cope.
Key note Q & A – Singer and Broadcaster TOM ROBINSON (BBC Radio 6 Music) 4.15 – 5pm
‘Giving Up The Day Job’
Born in Cambridge in 1950, Tom Robinson first became known in the late 1970s as a musician and LGBT activist with the Tom Robinson Band (TRB) who were early supporters of Rock Against Racism and Amnesty International. In 1977 their Top 5 debut release 2-4-6-8 Motorway became one of the landmark singles of the UK punk era. Other hits included Glad To Be Gay, Up Against The Wall and the band’s debut album Power In The Darkness which went gold in the UK and Japan. As a solo artist Tom had further solo hits in 1983 with War Baby and Atmospherics: Listen To The Radio, and co-wrote songs with Peter Gabriel, Elton John and Dan Hartman.
As a radio broadcaster, over the last 30 years Tom has hosted programmes on all eight of the BBC‘s national radio stations and won two Gold Sony Academy Radio Awards. He currently hosts three shows a week on BBC Radio 6 Music, was a member of the Ivor Novello Awards committee for ten years and in 2016 was awarded a fellowship of LIPA in recognition of his support for new music artists through BBC Introducing. His music blog at Fresh On The Net currently offers an open door to new tunes and free insider advice for independent and emerging musicians.
TICKETS: £10 day ticket
Under 18s free with promo card!
VENUE: White Rock Hotel 10am – 5pm
UNDER THE RADAR
New for 2020: Four stages hosting the best emerging young talent from across the UK, curated by BBC Introducing, Academy of Contemporary Music, Incubate (from The Eggtooth Project) and the Joe Strummer Foundation.
Under The Radar is an opportunity for some of the finest emerging artists to showcase themselves to a wider audience and for agents and promoters to discover new talent.
ACM (The Carlisle) ACM (Academy of Contemporary Music) is a specialist music college offering music courses in Performance, Music Production, Songwriting & Music Business in London, Guildford and Birmingham.
2.00pm Nella, 3.00pm Lost Near Blue Ape, 4.00pm Chaos In The Teahouse, 5.00pm Celine & The Blue, 6.00pm The White Lakes, 7.00pm Liza Lo
BBC INTRODUCING THE SOUTH (The Carlisle)
BBC Introducing The South brings you the best in unsigned music and live gigs from across the south. Hosted by Melita Dennett, the live show goes out every Wednesday on BBC Radio Sussex/Surrey from 7-9pm.
2.30 Sydney Rutherford, 3.30 Lime, 4.30 Kudu Blue, 5.30 Georgia Meek, 6.30 Beach Riot, 7.30 Starz N Deeza
INCUBATE (The Printworks)
Incubate is Hastings-based Eggtooth’s project for emerging creatives providing professional mentoring and live performance opportunities for young people, aged 12 – 21.
5-11pm (stage times tbc); Captivated, Kathleen, General Disobedience, Kalopsia, Bozos Band, Georgia and Agatha, Coldhearted, Izzy Withers, Connor Spencer, Bellza, Theo – aka DJ Galaxy Wolf
THE JOE STRUMMER FOUNDATION (The Printworks)
The Joe Strummer Foundation provides opportunities to musicians and support to projects around the world that create empowerment through music’ For more info please visit www.joestrummerfoundation.org
The Froggs, Lyza Jane, TDK (stage time tbc)