AIF Emerging Initiative

The Association of Independent Festivals (AIF) has partnered with several booking agencies to match emerging artists with their member festivals this season.

The purpose of the initiative, which is supported by a range of AIF’s 60 members, is to create more opportunities for emerging artists and strengthen relationships between independent promoters and agents.

Participating festivals include Tramlines, Shambala and Kendal Calling, with artists including Dead!, Fizzy Blood and Bossy Love.

Five key booking agencies were approached by AIF in late 2016 and asked to put forward two emerging acts that they wanted to push for the 2017 festival season. Participating agents include Shaun Faulkner (X-Ray Touring), Angus Baskerville (13 Artists), Cecile Communal & Clementine Bunel (ATC Live), Olly Hodgson (Coda Agency) and Chris Smyth (Primary).

AIF Membership and Events Coordinator Renae Brown said: “AIF member festivals are incredible incubators of emerging talent and this initiative underlines our commitment to work directly with agents to join the dots between exciting new artists and some of the most successful independent festivals in the UK. The response from agents has been very positive and we look forward to building on this partnership in future years”.

Emma Zillmann, Booker at Kendal Calling commented: “We’re very proud to be a member of the Association of Independent Festivals, and love to be involved in any initiative to nurture emerging talent. Bossy Love are an absolute force to be reckoned with live, and Dead! have had a fantastic start to their career which surely will only get better. We can’t wait to welcome them to Kendal Calling’s stages this summer.”