Born To Be Wide presents Independent Festivals
Date: Thursday 26 February
Time: 19:00 - Late
Venue: Leith Arches, Edinburgh
Born To Be Wide returns to Leith Arches on 26 February with a panel exploring independent festivals and their role in supporting new talent and developing fresh approaches.
Speakers include Chris Knight (Kelburn Garden Party) Katch Holmes (Knockengorroch), Megan Evans (Deer Shed) and Michelle Shields (HebCelt).
The discussion will be followed by an opportunity for the broad spectrum of guests to meet and socialise, while festival bookers play a selection of tracks by artists who have graced their respective stages.
The event is supported by Creative Scotland.
Speakers
Chris Knight
Co-Founder + Head Programmer, Kelburn Arts Ltd
Chris Knight is music promoter, curator and DJ based in Edinburgh. As well as programming and promoting a string of clubs and events in the city including Departure Lounge, Samedia Shebeen and Wee Dub Festival / Edinburgh Dub Club he is also the co-founder and programmer of the Kelburn Garden Party, established in 2009 and now Scotland's 2nd largest camping festival with 12 stages, and one of the most highly regarded independent festivals in the UK, known for its hugely diverse music policy and devotion to cross-sector partnerships and club culture.
Katch Holmes
Programmer, Knockengorroch Festival
Katch is a programmer of international roots music festival Knockengorroch in Scotland and has been key in programming and marketing the event since its inception.
As an independent producer she has designed international collaborations, commissioned new music, produced residencies and promoted gigs. She represents progressive folk and crossover music acts through agency Off Site Productions. She is a qualified Relational Dynamics business coach and uses these skills to draw out the best in the artists she works with.
Megan Evans
Festival Director/ Head of Programme, Deer Shed Festival
Megan Evans is the Festival Director of Deer Shed Festival, an annual 8,000-capacity event in North Yorkshire, England, renowned for its family-focused atmosphere and multidisciplinary music programme. With over 16 years’ experience, Megan has worked across a diverse range of events, from large-scale festivals to community-led national projects, holding roles across production, operations, and creative development. At Deer Shed, she curates and books the festival’s acclaimed music programme alongside a broad arts offering, alongside responsibility for production and operations.
Michelle Shields
Artist Programmer and Board Director, HebCelt Festival
Michelle Shields is the Artist Programmer and Board director of HebCelt Festival in Stornoway, as well as being a freelance television Floor Manager working across a variety of productions including live music, quiz shows, sporting events and comedy shows. Michelle has been involved in the HebCelt festival in various roles for over 20 years, taking over programming the internationally recognised event in 2023.
Previous Panel Videos
Born To Be Wide presents Syncing Scotland
An evening dedicated to developing sync opportunities in Scotland. Dan Gautreau (First Cut Music Ltd), Isaac Allaway (Feel for Music), Lena Obara (Sector C), Lorna Hall (LALA) explore how Scotland’s musicians, labels and publishers can connect with clients who license music for film, tv, trailers, advertising and games.
Born To Be Wide presents The Power of Collectives
A Panel celebrating grassroots Music Collectives and their roles in championing a diverse range of genres and communities.
Evie Smith (The Forbidden Zone), George McFadyen (Crowded Flat), Sanjeev Mann (Hip Hop Scotland) and Vicky Kavanagh (Works in Progress) explored how collectives operate, how they work with grassroots artists and tips for setting up your own collective.
Born To Be Wide presents Community Radio
A panel dedicated to community radio and the role it plays in promoting musical and broadcasting talent.
Becca Clark (Dundee Radio Club), Jamie Pettinger (EHFM), Steg G (Sunny Govan) and Suz O’Neill (Radio Buena Vida) outlinined their approaches to programming, the opportunities they offer and off-air activities, which include training workshops, events and their own cafes.