Now in its 19th year, the annual First Music Contact-organised event has changed its name from Hard Working Class Heroes Festival
Artist applications now open
Ireland Music Week is calling on Irish artists to apply to play at this year’s festival. It will take place across five days in October, with the music showcases taking place on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th.
Log onto https://www.irelandmusicweek.com and click on the “APPLY TO PLAY” button – applications will be through the artists’ Breaking Tunes profile. Closing date for applications is June 16th.
50 acts will have the chance to play and take part in this internationally-recognised event which runs in a variety of venues across Dublin showcasing Ireland’s best emerging talent.
For artists of all levels, the conference at the festival 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. IMW has planned a number of new approaches to the conference that will make sure attendees can get the most out of the event no matter what stage of your professional development you are at.
This year, additions to this core programming will include dedicated B 2 B conference elements 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.
First Music Contact, who run Ireland Music Week work with Irish acts from the very beginning of their careers. This annual showcase is an opportunity to offer Irish acts some vital exposure provided by the stellar mix of influential Irish and international delegates who attend including avenues for agent, label, management deals and more.
“Ireland Music Week is a key moment in the talent pipeline for the best emerging artists in our country and plays a key strategic role in how we are helping develop Irish artists and Irish music to become world beaters” says Angela Dorgan, CEO of First Music Contact. “We would encourage artists who feel they are ready for international development to apply for Ireland Music Week, so we can start this story with them “
FMC also run Music From Ireland, the Irish music export office.
Artist applications now open via https://www.irelandmusicweek.com/apply
Some of last year’s big successes to progress from the festival include Just Mustard, The Wood Burning Savages, Wild Youth, 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, the festival 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, Talos, Le Boom, Loah, Soak, Ham Sandwich, All Tvvins, Otherkin and many more.
Ireland Music Week is supported by The Arts Council / Culture Ireland / Dublin City Council Local Enterprise Office (LEO) ||
