Bands gather for South African Indies Music Week
The South African Indies Music Week is to be held at the Lyric Theatre, Joburg, from 22 to 27 April, 2014. Following a call for submissions, over 30 bands comprising up-and-coming musicians from around the country will gather to showcase their music over five days, with a grand finale set for Sunday, 27 April. The event is organised by the Independent Music Exporters South Africa (IMEXSA).
IMEXSA's focus is to develop and increase the number of music exporters in South Africa by identifying trade opportunities and assisting companies to take advantage of them. Supported by Gauteng Growth Development Agency and the Department of Trade and Industry, IMEXSA has been operating over the past five years. During this time it has participated in and presented South African Unsigned and Independent Music Professionals at: Popkomm, Germany; Womex, Denmark; Primavera Pro, Spain; Canada Music Week in Toronto; and South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas. Most of those events focused on emerging talent and some acts have used them as a stepping stone to greater heights. IMEXSA found similar events to be lacking in South Africa and so created this one to bridge that gap.
Stakeholders urged to come on board
"The event forms part of our strategy to develop SA music further, and also expose it to international markets," said IMEXSA director Renneth. "We, however, urge various stakeholders who still wish to support this cause, to come on board and help build and grow the local music industry. We also invite well-established artists who may like to contribute by coming to mentor these bands. The same call goes to media to please join us and spread the word. While the event has no sponsor (is entirely funded by IMEXSA and its partners), we will definitely have it in future years, probably on an even bigger scale."
After the five days of showcasing, a few acts will be selected and announced at the finale on Sunday the 27th.Their performances will then be submitted for possible selection to various major music conferences around the world, including the likes of Womex (UK), Primavera Pro (Spain), Africa Festival, CMJ (New York) and South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas. Whilst getting selected by those major festivals is a feather in the cap for any band, for locals it will be the beginning of a longer journey as they will now have to find ways to get themselves there. Either way, their job will be
halfway done and IMEXSA will also do its best to assist them every step of the way.
The event will also include workshops daily and which will contain various lessons that the bands and all attendees will find useful in their music career.
Tickets to the event are already available at Computicket and cost only R50. There's also a whole event package for R250. Showcases start at 8.30pm Tuesday to Friday, while the workshops start from 7pm. Saturday festivities start at 7.30pm and the Sunday Grand Finale at 4pm.
Those wishing to assist or be part of this event are welcome to contact the organisers via email: az.gro.asxemi@snoissimbus or by phoning +27 (0)11 655 7082 and asking to speak to Renneth.
