Panels unveiled for new livestreamed music conference from university and Low Four Studio

Soundcheck, produced in partnership with UK Research and Innovation, will consist of four filmed expert panels taking place at Low Four Studio, Deansgate Mews, Manchester over Thursday 18 and Friday 19 April, concluding with performances from emerging Manchester bands Nightbus and Sugarstone on Saturday 20 April. 

Tickets can be bought for each panelled event in person or guests can stream the events online via YouTube in this unique conference that will assess the state of Greater Manchester's music economy and debate the pressing issues faced by our music communities.

Daniel Parrott, Co-Director of Low Four Studio and Programme leader of BA Music Management and Creative Enterprise, said: "We are delighted to unveil our new music conference which will be a one-of-a-kind event that will be accessible to all who work in and care about Greater Manchester's music industry.

"Our lively panels will debate and dissect the big issues facing artists, venues, recording studios and the wider economy, to how Higher Education institutions can continue to ensure a continued pipeline of students into our unique musical ecosystem."

Soundcheck's four panels are the following:

Pathways to prosperity for small music venues

Thursday 18 April, 15:00

A panel of industry experts, policymakers and venue owners will answer the question; Is running a small music venue a viable business in 2024? They will scrutinise how policies and initiatives are either bolstering venues' survival or contributing to their struggles.

Hosted by Sarah Unwin, Teaching Fellow at the University of Salford and Lecturer at BIMM University.

• Pathways to Prosperity for Small Music Venues in-person tickets
• Pathways to Prosperity for Small Music Venues livestream

Follow the money: Funding music in Manchester

Thursday 18 April, 18:00

Music is one of Manchester's biggest exports, a driver for much of the night time economy and a huge part of its cultural identity. With recording and live industries in decline, what support is available, who is making the funding decisions, how is it being spent and are we getting value for money?

Hosted by Professor Alan Williams, Professor of Collaborative Composition at The University of Salford.

• Follow the Money: Funding Music in Manchester in-person tickets
• Follow the Money: Funding Music in Manchester livestream

Recording in Manchester: Can we compete?

Friday 19 April, 12:00

Greater Manchester is famed for its prefusion of musical talent in all areas of popular and classical music. This panel discussion takes stock of its technical infrastructure and askes whether it can compete with other international music cities' provision of recording studios, post-production, sound design houses, production suites and mastering facilities. The panel will ask the question; in the face of an ever-changing music economy what can aspiring creative music technologists do to develop their practice in the city they call home?

Hosted by Dr Brendan Williams, Reader in Music Technology at The University of Salford and Co-Director of Low Four Studios.

• Recording in Manchester: Can we compete? in-person tickets
• Recording in Manchester: Can we compete? livestream

Sustaining music higher education in Manchester

Friday 19 April, 15:30

Representatives from Greater Manchester's Higher Education institutions come together to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing our unique musical ecosystem. The panel will discuss the current motivations for studying and working in music Higher Education, the funding landscape for music research, the changing power dynamics between theoretical and practical work, and best practices for equipping students for the future. 

Hosted by Dr Maria Perevedentseva, Lecturer in Musicology and Co-Founder of the Music and Online Cultures Research Network.

• Sustaining Music Higher Education in Manchester in-person tickets
• Sustaining Music Higher Education in Manchester livestream

Sugarstone recording

Following the panels, a special live-stream will take place on Saturday 20 April with Manchester’s Nightbus, the dark, melancholic trio, recently named as a 'One to Watch' by The Guardian as well as Salford alumni outfit Sugarstone, who recently performed at Maida Vale for BBC Introducing.

• Nightbus and Sugarstone recording: watch them live in-person tickets
• Low Four Soundcheck livestream

This year's conference follows on from a pilot event from Low Four Studios in 2022, co-funded by UK Research and Innovation, that featured contributions from the likes of YES, Porij, KSR, Dave Haslam, The Albert Hall, The Stoller Hall, United We Stream, Reform Radio and Manchester Collective.