New music conference to offer key advice to artists, labels and promoters

A new industry event designed to offer support and advice to Bristol’s aspiring and fresh-faced music professionals is coming to Bristol Beacon.

The venue has partnered with the Association of Independent Music (AIM) on Above the Noise, a conference which will offer guidance on funding, royalties and rights.

Artists, producers, managers, promoters and those running record labels and venues are invited to attend the day event which will also provide advice on setting up an independent label and promoting releases, along with talks from Bristol musicians and music media.

The day will finish with a live showcase of  South West artists. Beacon resident artists Holysseus Fly and Waldo’s Gift join Nat Oaks – who has been recently longlisted in the Glastonbury festival emerging talent competition – in a performance in the Lantern Hall, serving up a show spanning ethereal pop, soulful hip hop and angular jazz.

“It’s wonderful to be launching Above the Noise in collaboration with AIM,” said Owen Parry, the Beacon’s creative producer who is overseeing the event.

“This event is a launchpad for what promises to be a fruitful partnership that will bring huge value and new possibilities to our work supporting Bristol’s thriving music scene.”

The PRS Foundation, Help Musicians and the Musicians’ Union appear on the programme as well as Notion music magazine, music discovery and youth culture platform Mixtape Madness, and the Line of Best Fit, one of the world’s biggest independent music magazine.

Alt-pop artist Emily Magpie is one of several Bristol musicians speaking at the conference – photo: Emily Magpie

Record companies attending on the day include Because Music, home of Shygirl, Christine and the Queens and Manu Chao, and Partisan Records, the label of PJ Harvey, Femi Kuti and Idles.

Eva Greene, co-director of Bristol-based independent label and music company Black Acre – who herself represents Jamz Supernova, Alfa Mist, Manuka Honey and Mermaid Chunky – will speak on the day.

Artists giving talks on the day include Pete Cunningham, the saxophonist and band leader of Ishmael Ensemble, producer/vocalist Grove, Booty Bass founder, DJ and musician NGAIO and alt-pop multi-instrumentalist Emily Magpie.

Eva Greene is an artist manager and co-director of Bristol’s Black Acre, an independent label and music management company that is proud to be artist-centred in the way they operate – photo: Eva Greene

The event complements the Beacon’s Talent Development programme which provides a selection of emerging artists and others working in the music industry with essential career tools.

Next Level, their 18-month programme delivered in partnership with SWU.fm, Team Love, Love Saves the Day, Pirate Studios, Hey! What? creative agency and Out of Hand, supports Bristol’s upcoming vocalists and MCs making original music and aged 18-30.

The 2025 cohort, who will be taking part in a creative week at the Beacon over April  7-16 and performing both individually and collectively in a showcase on April 16 features rapper and producer Addi P, vocalists Badliana
and TIA, rapper Hulton, artist and editor Kwazi, and producer and engineer Jabani.

Above the Noise runs from 11am to 6pm on Thursday, April 3. Find more information and book tickets at bristolbeacon.org/whats-on/above-the-noise

Main image: AIM x Bristol Beacon (L-R_ Jade Keane, Char Walsh, Fi Alaka, Nina Radojewski, Todd Wills, Sophie Netter, Ben Wynter, Simon Metcalfe, Owen Parry, Callum Johnson, Gee Davy, Dan Hewitt, Esta Rae, Serena Bhardwa)