Face The Music is back for 2016. This time around though there is a whole new look to it – a new logo, new programming and new ideals. Recently Forté got the opportunity chat with Zac Abroms, one of the curators for this year’s program (alongside Ashley Sambrooks). As you would expect, it’s been a busy time with the recent launch of this year’s massive program.
“It’s a little bit calm before the storm for us this week. We just launched the program for the 2016 Face The Music Summit,” Abroms says.
“I feel like this is the first day that my routine has gone somewhat back to normal in the great many months we’ve been seriously booking and planning this event.I think when you’re in a process of brainstorming these ideas, and you’re contacting so many people at once, you’re so deep in it, it’s hard to step back and see the bigger picture.”
The last time I attended Face The Music was back in 2010 and although it was a rocking establishment back then, this year sees big changes, with the conference heading in an exciting new direction. For the first time ever, Face The Music is teaming up with Melbourne Music Week, which also sees a change of venue from the Arts Centre to the Festival Hub at the State Library on the corners of Latrobe and Swanston Street.
“The majority of Face Of Music will take place within the hub so we’ve had access to the beautiful Queens Hall, The Reading Room, The Dome of the State Library so really some pretty fantastic settings for these discussions and performances to take place,” he says.
“It’s all going down right smack bang in the middle of the Melbourne CBD, right in the middle of Melbourne Music Week, and we’re anticipating quite a lot of buzz and energy around it this year.”
For the uninitiated, Face The Music is a two day conference that lends its hand to giving people in the music industry a leg-up on their way to stardom. From keynote speakers, to live performances and everything in between at such a low cost, this is one of the best conferences in the Australian music industry. One of the most exciting sessions is the Songwriter in the Round concert, which takes place on the first day. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity to see Nai Palm from Hiatus Kaiyote, Ainslie Wills and Alex Lahey stripped back, sharing stories in an almost camp-fire scenario.
“One thing that I think’s really cool about these keynotes and conversations are is that the international guests are as strong as the domestic guests,” he says.
“The opportunity to meet people like the head curator of Bandcamp, the music editor of Pandora, or Gemma Pike from the triple j music library first hand and have a chat about your career or your music is something that makes Face The Music so so special. It’s just a melting pot of really knowledgeable people who are dedicating and donating their time to give back to the industry that they love.”
There’s a lot happening throughout Melbourne Music Week (11th – 19th November) and with so much on at this year’s conference, you’d be mad to miss it.
Written by Tex Miller
When & Where: Face The Music @ Melbourne Music Week Hub, Melbourne – November 17 & 18
