Liverpool Sound City announces more conference names

Wayne Coyne, Scott Booker, Julian Cope, and Viv Albertine

By Scott Williams | Published: Wed 11th Feb 2015

Liverpool Sound City 2015 - The Flaming Lips
Photo credit: Karen Williams

Liverpool Sound City 2015

Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th May 2015
Bramley Moore Dock, Liverpool, Merseyside, L3 0AP, England MAP
£65 for festival wristband
Daily capacity: 25,000

Liverpool Sound City have announced  the first music speakers for this year’s conference focusing on the key theme of The Unsung Hero, focusing on the mavericks and mayhem makers who have helped shape the face of rock and roll.

Taking place in the Rum Warehouse at The Titanic Hotel, Stanley Dock from 21- 22 May, the international music conference will debate, discuss and highlight key issues with the contemporary music business.

Saturday night headliner Flaming Lips front man Wayne Coyne will be in conversation with his long term manager Scott Booker.  They will be looking in depth at the way they have worked together over an illustrious career and revealing the ups and downs of the journey so far. 

Art rocker, Julian Cope returns to his old stomping grounds to explore some of the more abstract themes of his musical career spanning four decades. He’s also joined on the conference bill by post-punk luminary Viv Albertine who, hot on the heels of her recent memoir ‘Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys’, will be examining the role of the unsung hero in popular culture and how their influence can massively outstrip initial recognition.

First to be announced as part of the conference line up, under 2015's theme of 'The Unsung Hero', are The Fall’s front man Mark E. Smith,  NYC punk and Ramones manager Danny Fields and James Barton, creator of Cream.

David Pichilingi, CEO of Sound City, said, "We have made a seismic change to the whole profile of Sound City this year and that includes the conference. The Titanic Hotel is a splendid setting and certainly matches the new vision for Sound City.  As ever we’ve cut through the staid, formulaic conference format that so many other industry events desperately cling to. Our aim is to spark debate, to explore the controversial, to stimulate business relationships and for people to genuinely get something from it, to leave inspired, energised and entertained."

The conference site will be a festival in its own right with live bands performing, a VIP showcase and, for those who don’t want to miss out on the live music action, Sound City delegates can jump on a boat and be jetted from the conference venue direct to the festival site.

Panels this year include Another Brick in the Public School Wall, The Rise of Toff Rock that will examine the perceived decline of the working class music hero and the rise of the privileged few; Change a Word and Get a Third, Songwriting in the 21st Century, an in-depth look at the pitfalls of making – or losing – money in the modern industry and Bands & Brands, The Power of Rock & Roll Data exploring the pros, cons and potential revenue opportunities when aligning with corporate entities and advertising. More panel themes will be announced closer to the event. 

Sound City has also announced a partnership with Mediterranean cousin – Primavera Pro. (27-30 May). As part of this partnership they are offering discounted tickets to the Primavera Conference for all delegates who attend Sound City 2015.

Taking place on Thursday 21st and Friday 22nd May, the international music conference will debate, discuss and highlight key issues with the contemporary music business with seasoned veterans and younger voices, the commemorative John Peel World Cup, and legendary keynote speakers and special guests. LSC also helps the creative industry to grow and evolve is an integral part of LSC's ethos, with networking, education and skills development a central part of the main event.

buy conference tickets now >

A Liverpool Sound City Conference Full Delegate Pass is priced at £120.

Headliners The Vaccines, The Flaming Lips, and Belle & Sebastian are joined by Roni Size Reprazent, Thurston Moore, Gaz Coombes, Fucked Up, Evian Christ, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Sean Lennon's The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger, Dum Dum Girls, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Stealing Sheep, Dutch Uncles, Slaves, All We Are, Jane Weaver, Dave McCabe & The Ramifications, The Serpent Power, Bad Breeding, Apes, Single Mothers, and many more

Now in it's 8th year Sound City is held from Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th May 2015.

buy tickets now >

Tickets for the music part of the festival are now on sale priced at £65 or £35 for a day ticket.




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