Photo: Remy Connolly
Always placed perfectly in the annual calendar with a nice break after the mayhem of the summer festival schedule, one of our long-term favourite music festivals, Hard Working Class Heroes, is re-branding as Ireland Music Week for this coming October. The core elements of providing Irish music artists with an opportunity to network with a slew of local and international industry experts, plus showcasing 50 acts that are readying themselves for international exposure remain.
Additions to this core programming will include a dedicated B 2 B day to facilitate the needs of the newly formed FMC-founded AIM Ireland, along with other offerings from new strategic partners introducing new audiences for Irish music around Europe as well as more networking and masterclasses to be announced closer to the dates.
"The new name will more accurately represent the strategic role of the festival in launching export-ready Irish artists to global prominence at our export supported events such as Eurosonic, SXSW, The Great Escape, and more" says Angela Dorgan, CEO of First Music Contact. "Ireland Music Week will also expand to develop the infrastructure of the Irish music industry as a whole".
On the announcement of the new name, Christine Sisk, Culture Ireland’s Director commented –
"Culture Ireland’s support for Ireland Music Week is based on the important role it plays in introducing the next generation of Irish talent to global audiences and strengthening the connections between Ireland’s independent music industry and international markets. Ireland’s music is known worldwide and it is important that we maintain and build on our already strong reputation. The creation of international opportunities for emerging talent is vital to help sustain careers in the music industry."
First Music Contact, who run Ireland Music Week, work with Irish acts from the very beginning. This annual showcase is an opportunity to offer Irish acts some vital exposure provided by the stellar mix of influential Irish and international delegates who attend including avenues for agent, label, management deals and more. FMC also run Music From Ireland, the Irish music export office.
Artist applications for this year’s festival will open in May.
Some of last year’s big successes to progress from the festival include Just Mustard, The Wood Burning Savages, Wild Youth, Æ Mak, Flynn, Pillow Queens, ROE, Bad Bones, A. Smyth, Kitt Philippa, Laoise, THUMPER, Maria Kelly, Molly Sterling, Joshua Burnside and more.
Since its inception in 2003, the festival has showcased many of Ireland’s best-known acts including Fontaines DC, David Keenan, Soulé, Daithí, whenyoung, Bitch Falcon, Jafaris, Chasing Abbey, Saint Sister, Wyvern Lingo, Jealous of the Birds, Fangclub, Touts, The Academic, Choice Music Prize winners Rusangano Family, Villagers, 2013's breakthrough act Hozier, along with Girl Band, Jape, The Coronas, Talos, Le Boom, Loah, Soak, Ham Sandwich, All Tvvins, Otherkin and many more.
For more information on how to sign-up and keep tabs on announcements, head over to the new website here http://irelandmusicweek.com/
