It may be November and the winter is starting to set in with cold weather and grey days but to cheer you all up it’s time to start thinking about some of the 2014 summer specifically the festivals. Liverpool’s Sound City Festival is the first festival of the season and year and they are already starting to announce events, concepts and plans for this year’s festival.
Last year saw the biggest festival to date and 2014, their seventh year, they are aiming even higher. With 41,500 people attending last year to see the likes of AlunaGeorge and Noah and The Whale among many more while 3,500 delegates attended the music, media and technology conference that runs alongside it that saw the likes of Bastille’s Dan Smith, manager of The Rolling Stones Andrew Loog Oldham and Simon Moran, the founder of CEO and SJM Concerts speaking over the course of the weekend.
The first piece of news to be announced this week along with the dates of this year’s festival – 1st to 3rd May just FYI so keep those dates free. The applications to play this year’s festival are now live and ready for up and coming acts not just from the UK but from all over the world. Whatever genre of music you play it doesn’t matter get applying and you could be picked to play to the crowds that will be pouring into Liverpool over the first weekend of May. And how do you apply I hear you ask, well visit Liverpool Sound City’s website:liverpoolsoundcity.co.uk and click on the ‘Apply to Play’ button to apply and find out more information about the festival and the application process. Applications for the 2014 festival close on 31st January 2014 so if you are a band or you know someone who is that would like to play the festival then direct them to the website ASAP.
The second piece of news is to do with the concept of this year’s conference, this year’s themes are: football, music and style – the three cornerstones of Liverpool’s identity. The point of the conference is to redefine the current music/media conference structure with more focus on inspiration and ‘In Conversation’ events which will inspire, motivate and bring together new thinking. Manager of The Rolling Stones, Andrew Loog Oldham, who spoke at the conference last year will be back again this year as lead curator and will be helping to bring world-class speakers, guests and innovators from the worlds of music and style to Liverpool.
Andrew had this to say about his new role and returning to the festival in 2014: “I had the most educating and entertaining time at Sound City last year. It helped remind me of what was and the possibilities of what can be. We make the future together. I look forward to being there again and playing an active role in shaping the event.”
While music and style guests are still being booked and approached to be brought in, the football side of things is starting to come along with content provided by the award winning The Anfield Wrap, the Liverpool FC inspired podcast, website and digital magazine. It may be months away but it seems like the festival and bookings for it are coming along thick and fast and it is looking like it is going to be another big and exciting year for the brand. The conference side of the festival runs on 1st and 2nd of May at the Hilton Hotel and the Liverpool ONE centre and you can already pick up early bird passes for a limited time from the website now.
To find out more about the festival and to find out about all festival goings on as they happen visit the Liverpool Sound City website, the festival’s Facebook page or follow the festival on Twitter – @SoundCity
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