What is Routes South West?
Routes South West is a consortium led by Bristol Music Trust that will work with a network of venues, promoters, producers and artists to develop music opportunities in folk, jazz, roots, electronica and experimental both regionally and nationally.
The scheme will work across all areas of the music business to enable exciting and innovative tours to take place. Routes South West will also work with new and emerging musicians to provide funding of up to £6k to deliver 2-3 regional tours per year. Alongside this work the Bristol Music Trust are working with the South West Music School to deliver a training and mentoring programme for five South West based artists.
Previous touring projects have included:
Philip Henry and Hannah Martin winners of this years South West Music Awards and described by Seth Lakeman as: “Authentic, Haunting roots music from a first class duo”.
Scottish Celtic Folk band Rua MacmillanTrio, kora virtuoso Seckou Keita and Trembling Bells with Bonnie Prince Billie.
The programme has four main strands:
• Artists mentoring
• Development days for venues and promoters
• Pitching and networking opportunities days for producers
• Showcase tours for new and emerging artists
Who is it for?
Artists
- For musicians funding has been identified to deliver 2 – 3 regional tours per year focussing on young and emerging artists, this is open to artists from across the country not currently in receipt of ACE funding to tour.
- Bristol Music Trust is also working with South West Music School to deliver a training and mentoring programme for 5 South West Based Artists
Venues and Promoters
- For venues and promoters from across the country there will be:
Development days looking at: new ways of working and audience development
- Focussed networking opportunities with established producers
- For South West venues there will be a chance to decide which artists are awarded Routes South West Touring Funding
Producers
- There is the opportunity to pitch to venues and promoters this is open to producers and agents working regionally and nationally and across a range of art forms
- Networking sessions
- An opportunity to book a one to one with an ACE representative to discuss your Grants for the Arts or Strategic Touring Fund application
“Bristol Music Trust is very pleased to be acting as lead organisation for Routes South West. We are committed to making great music available right across the region and are grateful to the Arts Council for funding this exciting new venture”
Louise Mitchell - Chief Executive Bristol Music Trust
‘‘I am delighted that we can support Routes South West to bring together venues and producers to ensure that the best left field music reaches audiences across the region. It is a great project to develop the talent of artists based in the South West.”
Phil Gibby – Arts Council England’s Director for the South West
Quotes from recent participants :
“This tour project aimed to present two very different groups in a context that felt unique and exciting. The tour tried to have local and global concerns and pre-occupations at its centre and I felt this resonated with the public, the show was also meant to be intimate and inspiring. …… Neither group nor Qu Junktions had much of experience touring their music in the S/W of England at this scale and we looked forward to the challenge. Without the RSW fund we would not have had the focus, contacts or financial support to do this tour of the S/W so we where very pleased to have the support. Connecting directly with venues at the network day was useful and some promoters spread the word to other S/W venues etc, which worked.” Chiz Williams, Qu Junktions, Bonnie Prince Billie and Trembling bells Tour .
“The pitching day gave a clearer understanding of the work - in an environment that was conducive to making decisions - usually we are bombarded with emails about artists we don’t know and consequently a lot of pitches go straight into the delete file. - It has enabled us to take a risk on shows we otherwise would not have been able to book. We have wanted to develop this strand of the programme for some time but haven't because of a lack of funds. This subsidy gave us the confidence to do so."
For further information please contact mijanou [dot] blech [at] colstonhall [dot] org
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