Rob da Bank (Bestival)

post on: March 16, 2017

Legendary DJ, promoter and Solent University teaching fellow Rob da Bank was born in in Portsmouth and grew up in Warsash. He is now an Internationally respected music festival owner, radio DJ and music industries innovator. He has been a music journalist, record label owner, radio and club DJ and co-founder of music festivals Bestival […]

Jon Davies (Shazam)

post on: March 16, 2017

Jon Davies is Director, Music Partnerships at Shazam, one of the world’s most popular apps with more than 300 million active users worldwide. Jon connects Shazam to a wide contact base of major and independent labels, music services, agencies publishers, management, and promotion teams, Jon has led several strategic partnerships with some of the leading […]

Speech Debelle (rapper, musician)

post on: March 16, 2017

Mercury Prize winning British rapper Speech Debelle received huge critical acclaim for both her debut album Speech Therapy (2009) and her second album, Freedom of Speech (2012).

Jen Long (Radio 1, NME, DICE)

post on: March 16, 2017

Jen Long is a writer, broadcaster and DJ based in London. Jen worked extensively for the BBC presenting a new music show on Radio 1 and their flagship festival coverage on BBC Three, as well as providing the voice for the now online channel. She has written for Clash, NME and The Line Of Best […]

Flora Ward (Youth Music)

post on: March 16, 2017

Flora is currently a Grants & Learning Officer at Youth Music, looking after grants in the North West and North East of England. Her specialism is around ‘Coldspots’, with particular interest in furthering the pursuit of gender equality, especially in the music industry and music education, and the de-stigmatisation of mental health issues. She’s previously […]

Amanda Maxwell (Boiler Room)

post on: March 16, 2017

Amanda Maxwell has for the last three years been known as Office Manager with a multi facing role offering PA support to the CEO&Founder as well as the COO to Boiler Room, alongside handling HR for the company and looking after the London, Berlin and New York office. Outside of Boiler Room Amanda is a […]

Alan Pell (former director or A&R EMI, consultant)

post on: March 16, 2017

Alan worked as music supervisor for ‘Four Weddings And a Funeral’ and ‘Bridget Jones’ Diary’ before moving to EMI as Director of A&R to work with Fun Lovin’ Criminals, Diana Ross, Iron Maiden, Robbie Williams and more.

Ian Easton & The Widowmakers

post on: March 16, 2017

Performing as The Widowmaker, Ian Easton launched his debut album Soundtrack to Reality at SMILEfest 2010. Since then he’s played festivals like Glastonbury, Blissfields and Camp Bestival, released a second album, The Wink and the Gun, and gained huge critical acclaim along the way. For SMILEfest 2017 Ian is back to launch is third album True […]

Olivier Behzadi (Head of Digital Production, Sassy Films)

post on: March 16, 2017

Olivier worked as head of A&R at Sony Records for eight years. He currently works as Head of Digital Production for Sassy Films where his clients include Universal Records. He also acts as Social Media Consultant and Content Creation manager for Gibson guitars. Started life in music as a drummer, and soon realised that in […]