The Featured Artists Coalition (FAC) has unveiled a programme of free-to-attend FAC Artist Days taking place in Bristol, Newcastle, Leicester and Leeds.
“Presented by artists and for artists, this series of intimate one-day events will encourage artists of all experiences and backgrounds to come together to share their stories, challenges and journeys, while receiving expert advice on relevant areas of the music industry, including streaming, touring, and marketing,” said a statement from the UK trade body representing the rights and interests of music artists.
Supported by Arts Council England and PPL, the 2025 Artist Day series kicks off in partnership with Bristol Beacon on Saturday, September 13 (10-3.30pm) with talks, insights and discussions featuring Guvna B, Kelli-Leigh and Squid’s Ollie Judge.
Representatives from PPL, Emu Bands and Rightsbridge will also be at hand. The day will be followed by a post-event mixer.
The format will be repeated at Newcastle’s Cluny 2 on Saturday, September 20 (10am-4pm), in partnership with Generator and featuring local artists Jaff (The Futureheads), Ruth Lyon and Geoff Kirkwood (Man Power) as well as Mincoff Solicitors.
Further Artist Days are already booked for LCB Depot in Leicester on Saturday, November 15, in partnership with the Leicester Music Board and HQ Can, and at Leeds’ Headrow House on Saturday, November 29, in partnership with Come Play With Me.
Whatever stage of your career, if you’re an artist and you’d like to meet other artists, then please come along
David Martin
David Martin, CEO, Featured Artists Coalition, said: “We’re excited to kick off the FAC’s Artist Day programme in Bristol and Newcastle with such incredible line-ups, and with further sessions to follow in Leicester and Leeds. The UK is brimming with music talent, and it’s really important we can get out across the country to bring artists together like this to champion their role, understand their experiences and arm them with the support to navigate an increasingly complex music industry.
“I’m really grateful to Guvna B, Kelligh-Leigh, Ollie, Jaff, Ruth and Geoff for making the time to participate, and to our partners at Bristol Beacon, Generator, Leicester Music Board, HQ Can, Come Play WIth Me, Arts Council England and PPL for enabling these events to happen. Whatever stage of your career, if you’re an artist and you’d like to meet other artists, then please come along.”
Todd Wills, programme director, Bristol Beacon, said: “We’re pleased to be partnering with FAC to present this Artist Day at Bristol Beacon. A major part of our work as a charity is supporting the Bristol independent music scene, and providing opportunities for artists of all career stages to develop their practice and professional skills.
“The opportunity to hear directly from successful artists like Guvna B, Kelli-Leigh and Ollie Judge sharing their experience of navigating the music industry will be enormously valuable to developing creators. The FAC Artist Day promises attendees invaluable insights to help plan the next moves in their career. We’re delighted to be enabling that.”
Thomas Bagnall, head of programmes, Generator, said: “As the North’s leading music development organisation, Generator is proud to bring FAC Artist Day to the North East. Our region is full of incredible talent, but too often artists are held back by a lack of access to networks, knowledge and opportunities. Events like this change that – connecting artists with each other, with industry expertise, and with the tools to push their careers forward. It’s about leveling the playing field and making sure the North’s creative voices are heard loud and clear on the national stage.”
For more stories like this, and to keep up to date with all our market leading news, features and analysis, sign up to receive our daily Morning Briefing newsletter
