Association of Independent Promoters & atom present
Promoter Masterclass: Venues & Promoters
How to build a programme of events
Live on Facebook & Zoom
With: Jon Dunn (Parallel Lines), Brian Reynolds (432 Presents), Laura Davison (Amigas) & Laura Barton (music writer & broadcaster)
We’re back to full capacity at last! Come on! In the latest of our promoter masterclasses, Jon Dunn (Parallel Lines), Brian Reynolds (432 Presents) & Laura Davidson (Amigas) will discuss the value that promoters add to venues: the knowledge, the connections, the passion, the delivery. Without promoters, many venues simply would not be open.
Presented by the Association of Independent Promoters & atom promotions as part of an Arts Council England project, the mission of the promoter masterclass series is to:
Educate upcoming promoters & the wider music industry
Support independent promoters & freelance workers
Help concert promoters to deliver remarkable events
About our panel:
Jon Dunn
is a London promoter, with over thirty years experience, he began his promoter life working in regional venues/arts centres during the nineties, and then in 2004 joined Live Nation where he curated and booked festivals for eight years (Latitude, Electric Picnic, The Big Chill) alongside having a touring roster of around hundred acts (Arcade Fire, The National, M.I.A, etc), in 2013 he left to form Parallel Lines, who now promote shows between 50 capacity - 20,000 capacity, the company promotes acts such as Jungle, Glass Animals, Future Islands, Parquet Courts, Rina Sawayama, etc
Brian Reynolds
Is the founder and director of 432 Presents. He also founded The National Whisky Festival, The Great Western (Glasgow) and Great Eastern (Edinburgh) Festivals, as well as the much-loved Glasgow venue The Hug and Pint. Brian has recently launched a new promoter company with Joel Thomson in Newcastle in the north east of England. Brian also books Doune The Rabbit Hole Festival among many others.
Brian started his music career in 2001 managing bands. During this time spent almost two years on Jobseekers Allowance with Stephen Pastel providing mentorship under the government's New Deal scheme setup by Alan Mcgee. He then went on to work in booking jobs for The Barfly and the legendary multi-arts venue The Arches before becoming self-employed in 2012.
Laura Davison
Has over twenty years of experience within the live industry, starting out as a promoter in Brighton and later launching Goldenvoice UK festivals and concerts for LA-based AEG Presents. She has worked with the likes of Sam Smith, Ellie Goulding, FKA Twigs,
Wolf Alice, Disclosure and more. Davidson also co-founded, launched and booked London’s
All Points East and was then appointed head of artist bookings at AEG before leaving to become freelance.
Laura recently announced the launch of her brand new consultancy, Amigas, offering a variety of live services including artist development, live consultancy, and bespoke and curated events. The consultancy consists of industry-leading women professionals such as promoters, producers and curators with an aim to build back the live sector in a new way.
Working alongside artists, management, labels, agents, venues and brands, Amigas will consult on live services covering everything from marketing and promotion to strategy and events with a focus on sustainability, inclusivity and innovation. On the announcement, Davidson said: “Amigas was born from a desire to rebuild the live sector – not exactly as it was, but anew. The pandemic has meant that we are all looking at our lives, and what we want to go back to. For me, that’s live music and I see this as an opportunity to do it differently.”
Laura Barton
Laura Barton is a writer and broadcaster, specialising in music. A former staff writer and music columnist for the Guardian, she now writes for a variety of publications including The Guardian, The Observer, Uncut, and 1843. She is a regular contributor to BBC Radio 4, where her Notes on Music series will return this Autumn. Her next book, a study of music and sadness, will be published in 2022. She also moonlights in A&R for Blue Raincoat/Chrysalis, runs the spoken word stage at Green Man festival, and sits on the advisory board for Sea Change.