Growing into the leading electronic music conference across Ireland, AVA Conference in association with Output Belfast, is a free event committed to driving forward the countries ever-expanding electronic audio visual arts. Taking place on June 2nd, as part of AVA Festival’s first day, the Conference shines a light on the local people and institutions who are pioneering across the country, as well as inviting international industry leaders, brands, artists and more to educate with insider knowledge. AVA Conference in association with Output Belfast, is pleased to reveal the first phase of the programme; with performances, talks, masterclasses, workshops, panels and more from the likes of Native Instruments, Leftfield’s Neil Barnes, Jeff Mills, Renaat Vandepapeliere (founder of R&S Records), Resident Advisor, Moxie, New Jackson, Native Instruments and more. AVA Conference is 100% FREE to attend for all those that register, so there’s no excuse to miss this. Register now here.
Expanding on previous years, the Conference sees a range of activities from artists, thinkers and professionals at the top of their game. Kicking off the impressive bill is techno pioneer Jeff Mills, where AVA will dig deep to understand his work with lighting designer Guillaume Marmin – the detail and process behind their collaboration. This comes ahead of their UK & Irish debut of audio visual sensory experience; Close Encounters Of The Fourth Kind – set to be an unmissable insight into their world. Joining them will be Leftfield’s Neil Barnes, discussing the everlasting impression that the duo have left and the release of the acclaimed Leftism 22 remaster. Leading the way since the early ’90s, Leftfield created a movement bringing electronic music from the underground into the charts. Once described as the ‘the single most influential production team working in British dance music’ by Mixmag, this keynote is not one to miss.
Another anticipated session comes from Renaat Vandepapeliere of R&S records. After over 37 years as the head of the prolific label, Renaat is still on the voyage of personal discovery and his quest for authenticity has helped create and sustain the R&S imprint. An A&R responsible for finding some of our scene’s figureheads, Renaat was one of the first to welcome the Derrick May and Joey Beltram from America. Across the conference, the Craneview room also plays host to panel discussions exploring the relationship between music and film with Sony’s main video commissioner Elizabeth Doonan, Good Vibration’s Glen Leyburn and a panel exploring the maximization of an artist output through utilising digital platforms, radio and royalty collection services, with Onloop founder & DJ Moxie plus more.
AVA’s leading tech partner are innovators Native Instruments who bring their New Identities and Native Sessions series to the iconic warehouse venue in Belfast’s docklands. Panels here provide an exploration into the new wave of Irish talent, delving into the development of their sound, their progression and what lies ahead, with Hammer, ELLLL, New Jackson, Hybrasil and Jordan. On an interactive tip, the Native Sessions series invites conference attendees to get involved, testing products such as KOMPLETE, TRAKTOR and MASCHINE. Through workshops, discussions and social exchange, Native will explore the future of music making. Native Sessions encourages participants to broaden their music-making horizons.
The Outlook Area is provides a platform to the key thinkers from across Ireland and the UK to share their thoughts, ideas and knowledge on key issues, art and culture. Four Four Magazine will host a panel comparing and contrasting Northern and Southern Ireland’s licensing legislation and This Greedy Pig will facilitate discussion around the relationship between music makers and video directors. On top of this, industry leaders discuss the future of electronica, with Resident Advisor Head of Ticketing Saoirse Ryan.
For the first time this year, AVA is teaming up with leading UK charity Help Musicians, who assist professional musicians of all genres, from starting their career through to retirement. At AVA they offer an area detailing Help Musicians range of services, opportunities, drop in workshops, ‘1 to 1’s and more. Adding to the range of educational and interactive sessions, AVA Pro is a networking event for delegates held in Bullitt Hotel. The round table networking event aims to connect people, creating new business opportunities. Reps from ADE, RA, RBMA, Mixmag, Extended Play, Greedy Pig, SoundSpace, Shine plus more attend. The AVA Pro is an Ideal environment to launch a new product, with specific music press in attendance.
In addition to all of this, attendees can maximise their AVA experience with Tech Drop ins providing access and advice, Pioneer flexing the best ways to use they new equipment, Ableton’s Push playground where attendees can test top of the range equipment. Then there’s the Beat Emporium offering techniques of moving productions into the realm of live DJ performance, throughout the day, demonstrations will be taking place from Patchblocks, as well as on Euroracks Modular Synths. For the crate diggers, AVA also boasts it’s own record fair – a dream hangout including Belfast Underground Records, Quiet Arch, Rudimentary Records and a host of other sellers. And did we mention before that this is all totally free to attend!
Over the 2-3rd June, see the finest in Ireland’s electronic music talent, play next to world leaders from the worlds of house, electronic and techno, Belfast’s premiere electronic music festival and industry event is a must for any house and techno head. More than just a festival, punters are encouraged to get fully stuck in – exploring equipment, taking part in workshops, conferences and of course, the festival itself. Belfast is a thriving hub of creativity, ready to be discovered, and with so much going on there is the opportunity to make this a completely unique experience. There are plenty of accommodation options in the cities historic centre, with hotels and apartments, plus flights at under £30 from major UK cities, AVA is a no brainer.
AVA CONFERENCE IS FREE TO ATTEND – simply register at www.avafestival.com/tickets
AVA Festival Weekend Tickets can be purchased from £60: www.avafestival.com/tickets
IN CONFERENCE:
Neil Barnes (Leftfield) // Renaat Vandepapeliere // Jeff Mills // Native Sessions // Resident Advisor // Moxie // Hammer // Saoirse // New Jackson // ELLLL // Jordan // Hybrasil // Ashley Howard // Will Edge // Ashley Howard PRS // TuneCore // Four/Four Magazine // This Greedy Pig // Elizabeth Doonan // Glenn Leyburn // Stephen Agnew
WORKSHOPS:
Native Instruments // Help Musicians // Ableton // Extended Play // Belfast Underground Records // Rudimentary Records // Modular Synths Workshops // Patchblocks // Beat Emporium // AVA Emerging Talent // Record Fair // Food Market // AVA PRO
FULL CONFERENCE LINE-UP:
Neil Barnes (Leftfield) // Renaat Vandepapeliere // Jeff Mills // Resident Advisor // Native Instruments // Help Musicians // Moxie // Hammer // Saoirse // New Jackson // Hybrasil // Ashley Howard // ELLLL // PRS For Music // Four/Four Magazine // This Greedy Pig // Elizabeth Doonan // Glenn Leyburn // Stephen Agnew // Will Edge // Native Sessions // Ableton // Extended Play // Belfast Underground Records // Rudimentary Records // Modular Synth Workshop // Patchblocks // The Beat Emporium // AVA Emerging Talent // Record Fair // Food Market // AVA PRO
FESTIVAL LINE-UP : FRIDAY 2ND JUNE
A UK & IRELAND DEBUT: JEFF MILLS & GUILLAUME MARMIN : CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE FOURTH KIND
A FULL SENSORY EXPERIENCE THAT EXPLORES THE SENSATION OF ENTERING & EXISTING IN ANOTHER REALITY – A DIFFERENT TIME AND SPACE. A LIVE AUDIO VISUAL JOURNEY THROUGH ANOTHER DIMENSION.
BEN UFO // FATIMA YAHAMA LIVE // JOB JOBSE // MOXIE // NEW JACKSON LIVE // RYAN VAIL LIVE // ELLLL LIVE // TIMMY STEWART & JMX // SWOOSE & CROMBY // BOBBY ANALOG // INSIDE MOVES // BRIEN
PLUS: IRELAND’S LEADING ELECTRONIC MUSIC & AV CONFERENCE & INDUSTRY NETWORK WITH VERY SPECIAL PARTNERS. CONFERENCE LINEUP COMING SOON.
SATURDAY 3RD JUNE:
MARCEL DETTMANN // BICEP // MIDLAND // REBEKAH (HYBRID SET) // BOILER ROOM // EJECA // DENIS SULTA // TINFOIL (SUNIL SHARPE & DEFEKT LIVE) // HAMMER // OR:LA // SAOIRSE // MYLER // JORDAN // HOUSE OF DISCO DJS // JC WILLIAMS LIVE // TWITCH DJS // MISFIT DJ’S // SUBJECT DJ’S // DJ DEECE // HOLLY LESTER // NEZ // RYAN DALLAS // JIKA JIKA // CLOCKWORK // ALICE MEAT FREE // PARAGON LIVE // CAVE DJS B2B KAPOOR // TECHNO & CANS CREW // GIRL
