12-09-2007 @ 22:22
Europe's most prestigious showcase event expects record breaking program
The 2008 edition of the Noorderslag Weekend, taking place 10, 11 and 12 January in the Dutch city of Groningen, has encountered a record breaking number of submitted bands before the deadline of September 4. In a combined effort with Sonicbids, a total of 2117 bands and artists is now confirmed to have submitted their details for a spot at the festival, which will result in at least 250 new and upcoming bands performing at the event.
EuroSonic program director Robert Meijerink: 'It's a pretty amazing number of bands and the quality is awesome: ten years ago, you wouldn't have expected such great bands to come out of middle and eastern Europe. EuroSonic is living proof of the emancipation of European pop and rock music. And even better: this year, a record number of bands have been submitted by the EBU radio stations and that means that the radio support for EuroSonic is on an unlevelled scale.'
Comprising of the EuroSonic and Noorderslag festivals and the Noorderslag Seminar business conference, the Noorderslag Weekend takes three days, features over 30 stages in the city of Groningen and expects at least 2500 professional participants. The conference is supported by the IMMF managers forum, the Network Europe association of European independent live music promoters, the Yourope festival platform and the European Broadcasting Union.
Focus on Sweden
This years's edition of EuroSonic / Noorderslag focusses on Swedish music talent and on the Swedish music industry. At least fifteen Swedish bands are performing at the event, while the seminar program of the event will also focus on the Swedish music industry and the intricacies of doing business there.
The focus on Sweden is set up in co-operation with a.o. Export Music Sweden, STIM/Svensk Musik, P3 Swedish Radio and Hultsfred festival.
Showcase heaven
Praised by professionals, press and audiences, the Noorderslag Weekend has grown dramatically over the last few years. The 2007 edition received airplay by over 13 European broadcasting stations while performances by Oh No Ono (dk), zZz (nl), Goose (b), The View (gb), Enter Shikari (gb) and Lonely, Dear (s) led to festival shows throughout Europe and beyond. The 2008 edition of the Noorderslag Seminar business conference will also focus on new possibilities for European talent, new business models for exploiting music and new developments in the concert industry in relation with European regulations.
European Talent Exchange Program
2008 will also see a new edition of the European Talent Exchange Program (ETEP), the Buma Cultuur and Noorderslag initiatieve to support European talent abroad. The 2007 edition of ETEP has resulted in 181 festivals shows on 54 festivals throughout Europe - and counting. For 2008, a new selection for ETEP will take place at the Noorderslag Weekend. More info at www.etep.nl
REGISTER FOR NOORDERSLAG AT www.noorderslag.nl
DEADLINE: 175 Euro before October 1
ETEP: European Talent Exchange Program
Aimed at stimulating the careers of European artists, the European Talent Exchange Program (ETEP) is a unique co-operation of 51 festivals, 24 EBU national radio stations, the European Music Office (EMO) and the international festival organisation Yourope. Between 2003 and 2006, ETEP has been instrumental in staging close to 400 festival shows by 110 artists from 15 countries. Some of the acts booked at EuroSonic that did remarkably well at the ETEP festivals in 2006: Disco Ensemble (fin), Editors (uk), Infadels (uk), GEM (nl), Jose Gonzales (s), Rhesus (f), The Kooks (uk), Wir Sind Helden (d), Within Temptation (nl).
Selection for ETEP takes place during the Noorderslag Weekend out of the artists performing there, by the ETEP festivals booking teams themselves.
LAST YEAR: NOORDERSLAG WEEKEND 2007 FACTS
-2200 professionals
- 36 nationalities
- 93 journalists and media
- 240 acts performing
-28 radio stations
-54 ETEP festivals represented
'Three days of live excellence' Music Week (uk)
'If you're in a band and want to impress the music industry, then you must prove your worth at EuroSonic' Sunday Tribune (irl)
'An excellent opportunity to see new artists' Record of the day (uk)
'A highly regarded talent-spotting outing for European professionals' IQ Magazine (uk)
'This festival is a brilliant idea' Liberation (f)
www.noorderslag.nl
www.eurosonic.nl