We’re changing our name and we’re so excited to announce that Hard Working Class Heroes will now be known as Ireland Music Week AND we’re expanding from three days to five. The showcase festival and music conference will once again take place in various venues across Dublin city centre but will now run from October 1st to 5th.
While Hard Working Class Heroes carved out a strong, independent and uncompromising identity, Ireland Music Week will build on that ever-growing importance and continue to project a confident and inclusive sense of responsibility for Irish music in an international context.
The key strategic importance of the event will remain – showcasing 50 of the most export-ready emerging Irish talent to the best of our national and international industry.
For artists of all levels, the conference will give them a chance to learn and develop their craft and create new opportunities with agents, labels, bookers, music supervisors and services from all over the world.
Additions to this core programming will include a dedicated B2B day to facilitate the needs of the newly formed FMC-founded, AIM Ireland, along with other offerings from new strategic partners introducing new audiences for Irish music around Europe, as well as more networking and masterclasses to be announced closer to the dates.
“The new name will more accurately represent the strategic role of the festival in launching export-ready Irish artists to global prominence at our export-supported events such as Eurosonic, SXSW, The Great Escape, and more”, says Angela Dorgan, director of First Music Contact and festival director for Ireland Music Week. “Ireland Music Week will also expand to develop the infrastructure of the Irish music industry as a whole”.
On the announcement of the new name, Christine Sisk, director of Culture Ireland commented, “Culture Ireland’s support for Ireland Music Week is based on the important role it plays in introducing the next generation of Irish talent to global audiences and strengthening the connections between Ireland’s independent music industry and international markets. Ireland’s music is known worldwide and it is important that we maintain and build on our already strong reputation. The creation of international opportunities for emerging talent is vital to help sustain careers in the music industry.”
Some of last year’s big successes to progress from Hard Working Class Heroes include Just Mustard, The Wood Burning Savages, Wild Youth, True Tides, Æ Mak, Flynn, Pillow Queens,ROE, Bad Bones, A. Smyth, Kitt Philippa, Laoise, THUMPER, Maria Kelly, Molly Sterling,Joshua Burnside and more.
Since its inception in 2003, HWCH has showcased many of Ireland’s best-known acts including Fontaines DC, David Keenan, Soulé, Daithí, whenyoung, Bitch Falcon,Jafaris, Chasing Abbey, Saint Sister, Wyvern Lingo, Jealous of the Birds, Fangclub, Touts,The Academic, Choice Music Prize winners Rusangano Family, Villagers, 2013’s breakthrough act Hozier, along with Girl Band, Jape, The Coronas, Soak, Talos, Le Boom, Loah, Ham Sandwich, Otherkin and many more.
Applications for Ireland Music Week will open in May. Details on how to apply will be posted on irelandmusicweek.com in the coming weeks.
