DEBT RECORDS WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR VIEWS ABOUT THE NORTHWEST LIVE MUSIC SCENE FOR A SPECIAL UNCONVENTION PUBLICATION

Un-Convention is series of music events aimed specifically at the grass roots of the industry, the goal being to bring together like minded individuals to discuss the future of independent music.

Whilst a great deal of the weekend’s discussion is concerned with the recorded side of the industry, Debt Records (one of Un-Convention’s entertainment curators for the Salford event taking place on 1st, 2nd and 3rd October this year) is more interested in how current industry practices affect the live circuit - after all, historically it has always been the live scene that has shaped the trends of music market as a whole.

One of the things that makes Un-Convention so different from other music industry conferences is that each event is place-specific. Over the years they have run panels all over the world, working with local practitioners to tailor the occasions to fit the concerns of the region.

So, in light of this interest in context as well as content, Debt Records is compiling a document that aims to sum up the North West live scene, with particular reference to the Manchester and Salford circuits whose combined cultural legacy has been cause for celebration and derision in almost equal measures over the years.

Label co-founder Louis Barabbas says “I strongly believe that Manchester and Salford combined have one of the most inspiring live music scenes on the planet - that’s why I moved up from the South in the first place. I’ve now been involved in the live circuit for a while (both as promoter and performer) and that core belief hasn’t changed. I’d be lying, however, if I said it hadn’t been shaken a few times.”

The view of the Debt team is that better communication is key to maintaining a healthy live industry. Venues, promoters and artists all have to work together, they are all crucial components in a very delicate setup that has to keep one eye on the bank balance and the other on the cultural zeitgeist.

“The first step is for people to listen to one another” says Debt Records’ Events Director Biff Roxby. “Everyone has an idea of what the live experience should be - we all have a connection with it on some level, be it as a gig reviewer or as a commuter who walks past a busker on their way to work. We should share those ideas more.”

Debt are interviewing venue owners, performers, bloggers, photographers, band managers, promoters and anyone else who works in the live music business with the aim of bringing all the opinions into the same forum and hopefully facilitating the beginnings of a dialogue that may one day put to rest some of the sticky politics at the heart of what could be the best live scene in the world.

If you have an opinion about Manchester music (good or bad) Debt would like to hear about it. Please email any thoughts to info@debtrecords.net with the subject LIVE MUSIC

Debt Records will be curating the People’s History Museum Stage at Un-Convention on 2nd October 2010. Creative Director Louis Barabbas will be speaking on the “Building a Sustainable Career in Music” panel at 2.30pm the same day at Sacred Trinity Church.

For more information visit www.unconventionhub.org

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