SMILE this March
Now in its sixth year, SMILEfest - Southampton Solent University’s celebration of the music business - has grown from its modest beginnings as Solent Music Industries Live Event (SMILE), to a city-wide festival.
Launched on Saturday 8 March at renowned music venue The Cellar, SMILEfest 2014 is playing host to gigs and club nights around the city, as well as a photography exhibition, workshops and guest speakers.
“SMILE goes from strength to strength. It enables students to gain valuable insights into the music industries; experience the processes involved in being a part of them; and network with some of biggest names in the business,” says Dr Chris Anderton, Course Leader for BA (Hons) Music Promotion.
Friday 14 March sees the return of the annual SMILE music conference playing host to music industry guests and a few special surprises.
In the year that Oasis’s classic album Definitely Maybe receives a re-release, SMILEfest welcomes Marcus Russell, co-founder of Ignition Management, which manages both Oasis and Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds.
Renowned music journalist Keith Cameron, XFM DJ John Kennedy and All Tomorrow’s Parties resident DJ Declan Allen, will be discussing the enduring success and influence of both Oasis’ Definitely Maybe, and the work of the band Nirvana, twenty years after lead singer Kurt Cobain’s untimely death.
Other guests include James Endeacott, who signed The Libertines while at Rough Trade and journalists Andy Perry and Ben Marshall.
Looking at the visual side of the industry will be highly regarded music film-maker, Dunstan Bruce; video director WIZ (Arctic Monkeys, Kasabian, Dizzee Rascal); and legendary photographer Tom Sheehan -famed for his photographs of Oasis, Radiohead, Mick Jagger and Coldplay.
Inspired by the work of Sound Women, Guardian journalists Laura Barton and Nosheen Iqbal, music writer Zoe Howe, and Amazing Radio presenter Ruth Barnes will take to the stage to discuss the shortage of women’s voices in daytime radio.
The conference will conclude with the annual Demo Surgery, where Solent’s music talent will be given the A&R treatment by music industry professionals Anna Moulson of Melting Vinyl, Tom Davies of Secretly Canadian, Kat Kennedy of Big Life Management, and Kerrang! magazine editor James McMahon.
To keep up to date with announcements and find out more about this year’s festival line-up visit www.smilefest.co.uk or follow ‘SolentSMILEfest’ on Twitter and Facebook.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT THE MEDIA OFFICE ON 023 8031 9079 or press.office@solent.ac.uk
About Southampton Solent University
Southampton Solent University offers more than 23,000 students over 200 qualifications ranging from HND to PhD, in subjects such as maritime education and training, fashion and design, media and television, music, health, sport and leisure, business, IT and technology. The university was awarded the 2013 Quality Assurance kitemark for quality and standards of teaching and learning. Solent was voted one of the most creative universities in the UK in a Which? University 2013 poll of students. Southampton Solent University has been awarded ‘Gold approval’ by the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). Southampton Solent University offers BA (Hons) degrees in Music Promotion, Popular Music Journalism, Popular Music Production, Popular Music Performance and Digital Music. The staff combine extensive music and media industry experience with academic research, teaching and publishing. For course information visit www.solent.ac.uk
About Solent Music
The event is presented in conjunction with Solent Music – the popular music team’s own in-house work experience and employability organisation at Southampton Solent University. Since summer 2011, Solent Music has brokered or managed over 800 work experiences and worked with a wide range of local music businesses and festivals. A recently launched website, www.solentmusic.com, celebrates the work experience and entrepreneurial activity of the students. Southampton Solent University offers BA (Hons) degrees in Music Promotion, Popular Music Journalism, Popular Music Production, Popular Music Performance and Digital Music. The staff combine extensive music and media industry experience with academic research, teaching and publishing. For course information visit www.solent.ac.uk
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