Showcasing

Some of the showcase festivals have a territorial/regional focus (e.g. Tallinn Music Week/EE, M4Music/CH), some are visited by internationals from all over the globe (e.g. Eurosonic Noorderslag, SXSW, The Great Escape). Some festivals put a focus on certain genres (e.g. Jazzahead, WOMEX). You can find descriptions of the focus of the events that we frequently work with as well as the application criteria and deadlines below.

Most of the festivals book acts only once, so it is very important to think about the right timing. Very often bands want to play too early and therefore hurt their chances for later on in their career when they would be able to make more out of such an event.

From our point of view it does not make sense to apply for a showcase festival, if you:

• did not yet perform a relevant number of live shows, some of them already outside of Austria. Please note that you’re competing with the best new acts from dozens of countries, you should be perfectly prepared.
• do not have professional partners (manager, agency, label…) that work for you at the event and in preparation for it. You will be busy checking in, making soundcheck, hopefully giving interviews, preparing for the show – you don’t have time to do business yourself. The chance of being selected will be greater if you already have an international network of professionals working for you.

• Make an effort to select the right events that fit your export strategy at the time. Get in touch with us for advice and funding opportunities. Do your research on visas or other permits needed.
• Use the database of delegates to find the key people you want to connect with and arrange meetings with them.
• Avoid mass mailings to all delegates. It is better to focus on people that fit your profile. Start working on radio or media promotion well ahead of the event.
• As a manager, agent or label: visit the event already before you go there with your own band to know the venues and specifics of the event. If you for instance go to SXSW first, you might be puzzled and overwhelmed due to the size of the event.
• As a band be aware that a showcase audience is very different to your usual audience. The professionals are here to work and watch a lot of acts every evening. They’re not patient, so don’t start with a ten minute intro, get right to the point. If they’re leaving, it does not necessarily mean they didn’t like it – they’re heading for the next shows. Even if there’s a very small crowd – give your best. The two people in the audience might become turning points in your career. Be aware that showcasing is not fun. It’s hard work, but it might pay off.

Eurosonic (NL)
About: Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS) is the key exchange and networking platform for European music, with a proven track record for helping new acts break into the international music scene. Selling out each year Eurosonic Noorderslag attracts over 4000 delegates, including 400 international festivals.
Dates: Eurosonic Noorderslag (ESNS) takes place annually during the second half of January. In 2024, the dates are from January 17-20.

Period to apply: TBD
How to apply: You can apply online: https://esns.nl/play-at-esns/
Link: Eurosonic (NL)

Ment Ljubljana (SLO)
About: MENT Ljubljana is a three-day showcase festival of fresh artists from all of Europe and beyond, during which around 60 acts perform at different venues in Ljubljana. The international conference focuses on the music industry and creativity.
Dates: March 29-31, 2023
Period to apply: Applications open until Oct 1, 2023
How to apply: Apply online here: https://www.ment.si/en/apply23/ For all general questions and ideas please contact MENT at manage[AT]ment.si.
Link: Ment Ljubljana (SLO)

jazzahead! (GER)
About: jazzahead! is an event for the international jazz industry and a place for high-quality, contemporary jazz from Germany, Europe and overseas. The jazzahead! trade fair and the accompanying festival take place in April in Bremen (GER).
Dates: April 27 – 30, 2023
Period to apply: jazzahead! launches an annual Call for Proposals for artists that usually ends in November.
How to apply: Applications can be made via the event website.
Link: jazzahead! (GER)

Tallinn Music Week (EE)
About: An international line-up of over 200 artists will unfold in Tallinn’s best concert venues. Expect a multi-genre mix of regional headliners, up-and-coming names, cutting-edge acts, and established heavyweights from avant-garde to pop, from dance to metal and to classical music.
Dates: 10-14 May, 2023
Period to apply: until December 12, 2023
How to apply: TWM offers artist applications online; also see TWM FAQ
Link: Tallinn Music Week (EE)

M4Music (CH)
About: m4music, the pop music festival run by Migros Culture Percentage, is a gathering of the national pop music scene and a must for all music fans. The festival is the ideal place to discover new talents, get to know music business professionals and enjoy fantastic concerts by bands from Switzerland and abroad.
Dates: 24-25 March, 2023
Period to apply: Get in touch with the festival
How to apply: Get in touch with the festival
Link: M4Music (CH)

Musexpo Los Angeles (USA)
About: MUSEXPO LA offers the opportunity to meet with a wide range of representatives from the music, media and technology industries in the USA. The event will present insights into the Los Angeles music industry, especially in the areas of sync/label/publishing. An Austrian business delegation will visit the event for the first time in 2023. In addition, applications for Reeperbahn Festival International in Los Angeles will be possible at the beginning of next year.
Dates: Mar 19-22, 2023
How to apply: Interested in participating? Please contact us by email.
Link: Musexpo Los Angeles (USA)

SXSW (USA)
About: South By Southwest dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film, and music industries. The event, an essential destination for global professionals, features sessions, showcases, screenings, exhibitions, and a variety of networking opportunities.
Dates: 10-19 March, 2023
Period to apply: The application period usually closes in October; please find more details here
How to apply: Applications run via bandapp.
Link: SXSW (USA)

Westway LAB (PT)
About: Westway Lab is Portugal’s first showcase festival, featuring a PRO conference and artistic residencies yielding unique performances. The festival’s goal is to bring together acclaimed and emerging, international and national, innovative and purist artists.
Dates: April 12-15, 2023
Period to apply: Please get in touch with the festival
How to apply: via gigmit. For all general questions and ideas please get in touch with the festival.
Link: Westway LAB (PT)

c/o pop (D)
About: Founded in 2004 as a response to Popkomm festival’s move to Berlin, c/o pop has established itself as a staple on national and international festival circuits. c/o pop is considered a genuine festival for the up-and-coming: bands like Arcade Fire, Maximo Park, The Whitest Boy Alive and a host of others have played the festival long before their international breakthroughs.
Dates: 26-30 April, 2023
Period to apply: Get in touch with the festival
How to apply: Get in touch with the festival contact
Link: c/o pop Festival

Focus Wales
About: Focus Wales is a multi-venue international showcase festival based in Wrexham, North Wales, offering the music industry a selection of the best new acts from Wales and around the world.
Dates: May 4-6, 2023
How to apply: Applications close Jan 2023
Link: Focus Wales (UK)

The Great Escape (UK)
About: The Great Escape is a festival for new music, showcasing 450 emerging artists from all over the world in 30+ walkable venues across the city. It’s the first place to discover your new favourite artist and see them in an intimate setting before they go on to headline major festival stages. TGE is also attended by the music industry who are on the hunt for the next big thing. TGE runs a convention alongside the gigs featuring insightful panels, topical debates, keynote speeches and networking opportunities in abundance.
Dates: May 10-13, 2023
Period to apply: Applications are open until Feb 15, 2023.
How to apply: Apply online via the festival website.
Link: The Great Escape (UK)

Operadagen Rotterdam (NL)
About: Operadagen Rotterdam belongs to an important international opera and music theatre network. Professionals from around the world fare present during the festival, where they can monitor the latest developments in opera and music theatre, meet colleagues, exchange ideas, and find new inspiration. Operadagen Rotterdam collaborates with several international festivals, companies, and organisations to optimize the experience.
Dates: 17-27 May, 2023
Period to apply: application deadline is usually in September
How to apply: You can send proposals for projects here
Link: Operadagen Rotterdam (NL)

Primavera Pro (E)
About: Primavera Pro is a global meeting for the music industry of today. For 5 days the present and future of the music business are debated with experts in the field, dozens of newcomer bands and all the tools necessary for the professionals from all around the world who attend the meeting. Reduced prices for Austrian delegates are usually available for the Primavera Pro Basic and the Primavera Pro Premium accreditation. Please note there is a limited quantity of accreditations, and they are running fast due to the high demand.
Dates: May 31 – June 4, 2023
Period to apply: Get in touch with Austrian Music Export
How to apply: Get in touch with Austrian Music Export
Link: Primavera Pro (E)

Reeperbahn Festival (D)
About: Since its debut in 2006, the Reeperbahn Festival has grown to become one of the most important meeting places for the music industry worldwide, and, as Europe’s largest club festival, it boasts a broad spectrum of emerging and more etablished artists. In addition to some 600 concerts by international artists held in a wide variety of venues, the festival programme includes events in the fields of fine art, film, and literature. The Reeperbahn Festival conference programme is designed for professionals active in the music and creative digital industries and features sessions, showcases, networking events, or awards ceremonies. Reeperbahn Festival also runs a series of international events throughout the year. With the support of the German Foreign Office, Reeperbahn Festival International offers a group of small and medium-sized companies, as well as promising new artists, a way into established and emerging global markets.
Dates: 20-23 September, 2023
Period to apply: until 11 August 2023
How to apply: online via application form
Link: Reeperbahn Festival (D)

Waves Festival (AT)
About: Waves Vienna is the city’s first club- and showcase festival. The festival motto is „East meets West“; numerous international alternative, electronic, rock, and club acts will be performing around Vienna’s 9th district. Additionally, local artists and sophisticated musicians from Eastern Europe form an essential part of the festival’s programme. The Waves Vienna Music Conference constitutes a part of the festival and offers the possibility to attend lectures and panels and participate in workshops. International delegates can apply to take part via the INESpro program.
Dates: September 7-9, 2023
Period to apply: Please get in touch with the festival
How to apply: Apply via gigmit – the application is free of charge.
Link: Waves Festival (AT)

MaMa (F)
About: MaMA is a music festival and convention for the international music industry based in Paris. This event offers a gateway to the French music market and offers a place to meet majors or independents, producers and promoters, venues and festivals, bookers and agents, record companies, publishers, promotion companies, media… – and obviously artists!
Dates: October 11-13, 2023
Period to apply: Please get in touch with the festival
How to apply: Please get in touch with the festival here
Link: MaMa (F)

WOMEX
About: The music fair WOMEX – the World Music Expo – is the most international music meeting in the world and the biggest conference of the global music scene, featuring a trade fair, talks, films and a showcase festival. Since 1994 WOMEX has been traveling all across Europe. Its 2023 edition will take place in Galicia, Spain.
Dates: 25 – 29 October, 2023
Period to apply: WOMEX launches an annual Call for Proposals for the Showcase Festival via its newsletter.
How to apply: Please get in touch with the festival here
Link: WOMEX

Iceland Airwaves (IS)
About: Halfway between North America and Europe, Iceland Airwaves brings together emerging Icelandic talents and the most promising acts from around the world. Every November, Reykjavik comes to life for a four-day conference and non-stop music. The deadline for international bands to apply for Iceland Airwaves is usually end of June.
Dates: November 2-4, 2023
Period to apply: until June 15
How to apply: Please apply via the festival website.
Link: Iceland Airwaves (IS)

Nouvelle Prague (CZ) About: Nouvelle Prague is the first-ever showcasing festival in the Czech Republic, primarily focused on overseas bands. Nouvelle Prague is held in the Staropramen Brewery in the heart of Prague. With its central European locations, terrific flight connections and storied history, Prague is an ideal location for a boutique, exclusive and targeted showcase event.
Dates: TBD
Period to apply: Please get in touch with the festival
How to apply: Apply via the festival website here.
Link: Nouvelle Prague (CZ)

Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (UK)
About: hcmf is an annual, international festival of contemporary and new music, over 10 days consisting of approximately 50 events, including concerts, music-theatre, dance, multi-media, talks and film, with a related Learning and Participation programme devised and implemented to reflect the artistic programme and respond to regional need.
Dates: 17-26 November, 2023
Period to apply: for “shorts” program, until March 24, 2023
How to apply: Please get in touch with the festival here
Link: Huddersfield Contemporary Music Festival (UK)

Linecheck (IT)
About: Linecheck is a music festival and meeting point for industry professionals, held in the Italian city of Milan. Forming part of the wider Milano music week, Linecheck presents an extensive programme of talks, showcases, discussions that explore Italy’s music industry and its relationship with the global scene, featuring international players and the major protagonists of Italian industry, with more than 40 guest speakers.
Dates: 21 – 25 November, 2023
Period to apply: Please get in touch with the festival.
How to apply: Please get in touch with the festival.
Link: Linecheck (IT)

Pin Music Conference (MZ)
About: PIN is a two-day international music conference and showcase
festival of new artists from the Balkan region and Europe, which takes place in the Youth Cultural Center in Skopje. It is the first and only international music conference in Macedonia.
Dates: More information will follow.
Period to apply: November 30–December 2, 2023
How to apply: until April 15, 2023. Apply here.
Link: Pin Music Conference (MZ)