2021 Industry Conference
BMF presents a first-of-its-kind for a local festival – Byron’s first ever music industry conference!
Held at Byron Theatre on Sunday 20 June, this is a music industry conference with a twist – uniquely drawing back the curtain for the public to be part of conversations that would normally only be held amongst those in the industry itself.
Unlike other music industry conferences that are usually restricted to industry only, this program is inclusive for all, giving audiences the unique opportunity to be part of conversations about how the industry works, what challenges it faces, and how you can help support the future of music in our region.
Whether you are an artist with a message, a music lover who wants to consume music more consciously, or an industry professional looking for inspiration and to connect with the movers and shakers in the region's music scene, the BMF Conference has something for you.
Sunday 20 June will feature a diverse line-up of keynotes, panel discussions, and performances from high-profile and local industry representatives and artists excited to share their stories and insights with the wider community.
Byron Music Festival Industry Conference Program
Gemma Clarke, Conference MCs :
Gemma is the founding editor of Global Hobo, a freelance journalist and an avid maker of playlists. Having formerly worked as an editor for triple j’s Annual magazine and Your Friend’s House, she’s now co-hosting a Bay FM show with Paige and running writing workshops around Australia. Originally from the Gold Coast, Gem has been blowing around the Byron shire since the start of COVID.
Paige Leacey, Conference MCs :
Freelance writer, workshop facilitator, podcast enthusiast and Bay FM's Thursday morning breakfast radio host. She has given words to brands in the tech start-up realm, health & wellness, finance, fashion, human behaviour and – most recently – sexuality. A big lover of no-BS conversations, Paige is soon to release her latest podcast Losing My Cool – a series of conversations about intimacy and trying to stay warm in a world full of “cool” people.
Panel 1 : Byron, the Festival Town: The Value of Arts to our Region
Byron's inaugural music industry conference kicks off with our region's foremost arts and media professionals, who will be discussing the unique and rich cultural profile Bunjalung country boasts, how music and the arts have contributed to tourism and the economy, and why we need to protect our region's creative industries for the benefit of our communities.
Peter Wood, Executive Director, Arts Northern Rivers :
Peter has over 25 years experience in the arts and creative industries. He has worked in senior marketing and communication roles for Sydney Opera House, Company B Belvoir, Bell Shakespeare Company and Historic Houses Trust NSW. in 2009 he became the Marketing and Sponsorship Director for Melbourne International Comedy Festival. In 2011 Peter put up his hand for the role of CEO for Arts Northern Rivers.
Nathan Kaye, Musician :
An influential part of the Australian Roots music scene & the world’s first didgeridoo-beatboxer, Nathan Kaye is a multi-instrumental one-man-band who thumps out songs on slide guitar, slide-didge & electric footdrums. As an actor, Kaye’s starred in award wining feature films, hosts a popular Bay FM radio show (Living Your Arts Off) & produces music for acts in his eco-friendly studio.
Leigh Carriage, Senior Music Lecturer, SCU :
Leigh is an Australian songwriter, vocalist, a consummate performer, and educator. She completed her PhD, Doctorate in Philosophy (Composition) at Sydney Conservatorium of Music. She has captured the hearts of audiences at festivals including the prestigious Monterey Jazz Festival (USA), Byron Bay Blues and Roots Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, Noosa Jazz Festival…
Naomi Moran, Koori Mail :
Naomi Moran is a Nyangbal, Arakwal and Dunghutti woman from New South Wales, and is the General Manager of Australia's only independent Indigenous newspaper, the Koori Mail. Her career in Indigenous media spans over 20 years, and includes experience in print, television and radio.
Chair – Louise O’Connell, General Manager, Byron Community Centre :
Louise is General Manager of Byron Community Centre, which includes Byron Theatre, Community Arts Programs, Markets and BAY FM as a tenant. She is a passionate arts supporter, frequent punter in the audience and a tragic bass player. Louise sees first hand the impact of Arts in this region and beyond both professionally and personally.
Panel 2 : Empowering Youth Through Music
In conversation with Arakwal country's leading Youth Mentors and Multicultural Leaders, we discuss how music can break through barriers of connection to empower, inspire, and enliven some of the most disadvantaged and disconnected members of our youth community.
Mark Robertson, One Vision Productions :
Recognised as a global thought leader, innovative change maker and world-class film-maker, Mark has worked with disengaged and at-risk youth for more than 15 years. He founded One Vision Productions on the principal of ‘Empowering Youth To Make Positive Life Choices, utilising film and music as a platform to raise awareness and create social change and was named 2018 grassroots organisation of Australia.
Jarmbi, Cultural Facilitator :
Jarmbi is a regional custodian of the Northern Rivers on the east coast of Australia. Through his own journey of healing and deep connection with culture and spirit, Jarmbi guides people to the natural wisdom of who they are through culturally informed trauma healing, ceremony, earth connection and social activism. His teaching is a way of being and knowing that is grounded, connected and engaged.
Andrea Plooy, Byron Multicultural Inc :
Andrea is a teacher, an active member of Byron Bay Taiko drumming group, a foundation member of Japan Festival Byron Bay and a representative for Byron Multicultural Inc. She has spent many years travelling and living in Japan. For the past 21 years she has been involved with programs educating local youth about Japanese culture and language.
Christian Tancred, Byron Youth Service :
Christian Tancred is a creative producer specialising in community and cultural development projects. He has 15 years as a professional creative spanning community radio, film and video, music and community arts. Christian uses contemporary arts engagement and rigorous curatorial process to address community needs through place-based arts. Christian is currently manager at Byron Youth Service.
Chair - Naomi Moran (as above)
Keynote : Drawing Back the Curtain: How to be a Conscious Music Consumer
Music is the soundtrack to Australian culture and way of life. A music fan’s choice for how they consume music – songs, recordings and live shows – has real impact. Hear how, where and when you spend your $$$ impacts creators’ livelihoods, and the planet's sustainability, as the music industry rebuilds from the disruptions of the pandemic.
Leanne de Souza, Co-owner, Nightlife Music/Trustee, QPAC/Chair of the Electronic Music Conference Advisory Board :
Leanne is a Co-Owner and Non-Executive Director of Nightlife Music, a trustee of the Queensland Performing Arts Trust (QPAC) and Chair of the Electronic Music Conference Advisory Board. Artists and music have been central to many of her projects over decades. Currently Leanne is a ‘Guardian of Purpose’ for the songwriter and recording artist Lydia Fairhall.
Panel 3 : Reflect and Reimagine: How the Past Can Shape our Future
This panel will look to both young and old to draw inspiration, stories and real-life insights into how we can co-create a sustainable future for musicians and industry in our region in this new post-pandemic environment.
Hear delightful and outrageous stories from industry veteran Rusty Thorpe, AKA 'Rusty Nails' (Bluesfest, Triple J), and see the live music scene through the eyes of a passionate fan and fashion designer, Jenny Bannister, who threads creative industries together with stories from Australia's live music heyday, alongside the juxtaposition of two incredible local go-getters - Narayan Wallace of LUSTRE, who is building a label empire here in Byron, and musician Tanisha Cook, who will share unique insights into touring and creating in the Northern Rivers with her all-female band The Oogars. Together, they are leading the way for the next gen of artists and industry professionals.
Rusty Thorpe, Bluesfest :
RUSTY THORPE is an 11-year senior staffer at Bluesfest, Byron Bay, and currently serves as Marketing Manager. In his 50+ year career he has been a DJ, drummer, vocalist, manager, accountant, PR, negotiator & international Tour Manager for bands in the UK & Australia. Career highlights include staging 300+ shows in the UK for bands like TISM, Tim Freedman, Lachlan Bryan & The Wildes, Aronas and co-hosting Live Aid with Molly Meldrum in 1985.
Narayan Wallace, LUSTRE :
Narayan Wallace is the founder of LUSTRE. LUSTRE is a creative agency providing Artist Management, Music Publishing and Record Label services to Artists, Songwriters and Creatives in the Music Industry. It’s stable of clients include Grammy-nominated creatives, and a niche list of acts who have achieved a combined 500 million + streams across roster-wide catalogue to date as well as being supported by BBC Radio 1, KCRW, triple j, COLORS Studios & Flux FM.
Tanisha Cook, Artist :
Tanisha Cook is a Northern Rivers-based artist currently performing and co-managing the all female surf-psych quartet, The Oogars. Over the last three years she has gigged extensively around Australia and Europe and is extremely passionate about curating unique events and bringing the creative community together.
Jenny Bannister, Music Fan :
Jenny is an Australian fashion designer who spent her teenage years studying music and dance, whilst discovering The Beatles, Stones, Hendrix, Joplin, Dylan through film and vinyl. Jenny says that “fashion and music go hand in hand,” Jenny says “What the musos wore; Janis, Jimi, Bowie, Keith, George - set worldwide fashion trends”. Jenny made clothes for bands as a fashion student and then dressed many a performer through her long career in the fashion industry.
Chair – Leanne De Souza (as above)
Panel 4 : Sound Healing: Sustaining Wellbeing in Music
Music is a universal healer and connector, yet there is a hidden cost of providing that healing for those working in the industry. Australian musicians and industry professionals are five to ten times more likely to experience anxiety and depression than the general population (Support Act, 2019). This panel will explore how we might promote well-being from multiple perspectives - artist, industry and the individual and examine the impact of media, industry and public expectations on those working in the creative arts, and how we can overcome them.
Louise Sawilejskij, Support Act/Nala Music Management :
Louise Sawilejskij is a passionate music artist manager, booker and promoter based in Gosford. She was GM for community arts space and live music venue The Rhythm Hut, from 2013 – 2018. Over the past eight years, she has worked in venue management, artist management, events, bookings, promotions, stage management and festival work. She also works part time for music-based charity Support Act in fundraising, marketing and community development.
Lissie Turner, Fmr Triple J Announcer/Author/Yogi :
Lissie began her career in radio 20 years ago at Triple J, hosting the segments Drive and Mel in the Morning where she interviewed some of the big names in music, including Radiohead, REM, Mike Patton, Lou Reed, Blondie and Grandmaster Flash. She worked on The Producer Series (ABC) leading to a book deal with Harper Collins based on her global search for the world’s greatest music producers. Lissie turned to focus on her passion for writing, yoga and wellbeing, creating The Yoga Shack and delivering classes, courses, therapy and consulting.
Kyle Lionhart, Musician :
Kyle is one of Australia’s most beloved singer songwriters best known for his honest and emotive writing with his voice being a distinguishing factor, raising comparisons to Jeff Buckly & Matt Corby. Lionhart started his career back in 2015, busking the streets of Byron Bay, which built him a sizable & loyal fan base. Six years on and his music has amassed over 45 million streams, sold out headline tours nationally and internationally, got him festival slots at Splendour In The Grass, Byron Bay Blues Festival and personally chosen to share the stage with Niall Horan, Foy Vance & Xavier Rudd.
Chair - Sarah Howells, Broadcaster ABC radio :
Broadcaster, publicist, MC, writer, DJ, voice over artist, traveler, explorer. She hosted and produced Weekend Lunch and Roots N All, and was the voice of the roots music scene in Australia for nine years. The program showcased the best blues, reggae, soul, funk, alt-country and world music from Australia and internationally. She hosted Evenings across Queensland in 2016, melding talkback with her expert knowledge of music and journalism and currently presents Stir It Up on Double J.
Panel 5 : Music Changemakers: In Conversation with the Tambah Project (special feature: film, panel, performance)
As history would suggest, musicians are better placed than most to influence cultural and societal change. So how can we use music in support of something greater? In this panel we will talk to the founders of The Tambah Project, a music platform that brings local artists together to create community-driven songs that re-wild the earth. Learn more about the artists involved in this project and hear how they use their music to support, as Gandhi would put it, 'the change they wish to see in the world.'
Kyle Lionhart (as above), Artist
Nidala Barker, Artist :
NIDALA is a Aboriginal singer-songwriter born of the Djugun people of the coastal Kimberley, now living in Byron Bay. Blending indie-rock, blues roots and soul, she self describes her music as an anthem for open hearts and raised fists. Inspired by musicians like Julia Jacklin, Billie Holiday and Samia, she mixes strong emotive vocals with low-fi instrumentation to create stripped-back live feel tracks.
Ed Foster, LUSTRE :
Ed has worked in and around the music industry for 10 years, formerly at respected label and publisher Kobalt in the UK before moving to Australia where he teamed up with LUSTRE, a local creative agency offering artist management, record label and publishing services to artists. Ed believes in music and is committed to helping create sustainable careers for artists so that they can create great art whilst also being driven by the potential of music to make a difference in the world.
Billy Otto, Artist/Producer :
Billy Otto is a Byron Bay-based singer-songwriter, record producer, podcaster, surfer, iconoclast and environmental activist. With his confessional lyrics, sun-drenched vocals, vulnerable presence and earnest desire to inspire his audiences, it doesn’t take long to feel enamoured with the ethereal sound and expansive reflections he’s channeled over the past season of his eclectic life.
Chair - Emily Toner, Wye in the Sky Records :
Emily is a Byron-based musician with a professional background in clinical and ecological psychology and a research background in behavioural neuroscience and positive psychology. Emily blends her love of music, mindfulness and psychology to give talks and workshops on the topics of mindfulness, meditation, performance psychology, growth mindset, spiritual activism and overcoming climate grief. In 2018, she founded indie-folk label Wye in the Sky Records to help support musicians to care about their health and that of the planet. She is also co-founder of The Tambah Project. Emily represents the 4% of female musicians who are also music producers.