Eurosonic gets a green agenda

EuroSonic Nooderslagis now one of Europe’s most important music conferences and is joined to a massive European live music showcase which is all held in Groningen the Netherlands from Wednesday 11^th to Saturday 14^th January 2012. The whole show kicks off this year on Wednesday 11^th January at 18.00 with the European Border Breakers Awards (hosted by Jools Holland and live on NTR TV in the Netherlands) and then at 20.00 its time for the European Festival Awards – and the special recipient this year is Michael  Eavis, organiser of the Glastonbury Festival, who wins the Lifetime Achievement Award.There are two key green panels this year in the conference programme organised by GO Europe and the first looks at communicating the "green" message and the second looks at the different international standards that can be used by green events: There are quite a few other panels at the conference which might be of interest to our readers and we have highlighted some below. Highlights of the live showcases include Border Breaker winners James Vincent McMorrow (IE), Anna Calvi (UK), Elektro Guzzi (AT), Boy (D) and Selah Sue (BE) along with many many other performers including Ice Age, The Medics, Niki & The Dove, Animal Kids, Battlekat, Death Letters, Lilian Hak, Blaudzun,  Baskerville, Effi, Haas, Krystl, Bombay Show Pig, LeMaitre, We Are Evergreen, Wolfendale, The Cyborgs, Pinkunoizu, Lucy Rose, Tove Stryke, Henzel & Disco Nova, Daughter and Reptile Youth.Some of the Conference panels:

Thursday14.30 - 15.30 THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF MAJOR EVENTS ON LOCAL REGIONS: Do you know the full economic value of your event and how to use this information effectively? Economic impact can form a persuasive argument when dealing with local authorities, sponsors and suppliers and others. This session will look at different ways to measure the economic impact of your event and why this is becoming increasingly important. Using real case studies, the discussion will focus on practical applications you can adopt and use. With Chris Maughan (De Montfort University, UK), Colin Rodger (T In The Park Festival, UK) and moderated by Teresa Moore (Bucks New University, UK).

Thursday 15.00 – 16.00  ACTS OF GOD – ISSUES FROM WEATHER AT FESTIVALS: It would be hard to miss the terrible disasters this year - the deadly storms at the Sugarland show at the Indiana State Fair, and at Pukklepop in Belgium  and the weather related stage collapses at the Cheap Trick show and at Bluesfest  in North America. With Sabine Funk (Rheinkultur/IBIT, D),  Henrik Neilsen (Roskilde Festival, DK), Gary Latham (DF Concerts, UK) and moderated by Professor Chris Kemp (Buckinghamshire New University, UK).

Thursday 16.30 – 17.30 NEW EUROPEAN UNION SUPPORT FOR THE CULTURAL AND CREATIVE SECTORS with Ann Branch from the EU Commission, moderated by Willem van Zeeland (VPRO, NL)Friday 12.30-13.30 LESS TOURS, LESS TICKETS? With Rob Chalice (Coda UK), Charlie Presberg (Pollstar, UK),  Eric van Eerdenberg (MOJO, NL), Sebastien Vuignier (Paleo Festival, CH), Stephan Thanscheidt (FKP Scorpio, D) and moderated by Allan McGowan (UK).Friday 13.30-14.30 GREEN FESTIVAL COMMUNICATION with  Julia Gudzent (Melt! Festival D) and Carlijn Lindmulder (ID&T, NL) moderated by Holger  Jan Schmidt (Rheinkultur/Green Events Germany, D)Friday 15.00 – 16.00  THE DEBATE ABOUT DISCOUNTING TICKETS  with Stewart McKie (UK) and Will Page (PRS for Music, UK) and moderated by Greg Parmley (Intellitix, UK)Saturday  12.30 – 13.30 GREEN INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS IN EVENT MANAGEMENT WITH Rachael Saunders (Sustainable Events, UK)  and moderated by Jacob Bilabel (Green Music Initiative, D)http://conference.eurosonic-noorderslag.nl/en/home/