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`The weekend of April 15 – 18 in downtown Lancaster was quite a boisterous one. Throughout the course of three days, more than 175 bands were all over the city. From every building and street corner to the Marriott’s Freedom Hall Convention Center and Chameleon Club, music was a force this weekend.
The second-annual Launch Music Conference, founded by Rick Gadd (of Decadent Suite Records) and Jeremy Weiss (of CI Records), was a combination of networking, live entertainment, and an extensive amount of music industry knowledge led by many notable professionals in the industry.
Launch had something for musicians and non-musicians alike. Fans could hang out, talk to bands one-on-one, and stick around for several shows later in the day. Music industry professionals had the opportunity to catch up with one another and meet up-and-coming artists. Students were provided with an educational view of the industry and the opportunity to connect with bands and professionals on an informative and intimate level.
A few of the bands included Sudden Ascent, Digital Elvis, Johnny Action Figure, Darry Miller and the Veil, Texas in July, An Early Ending, Free the Fallen, With Life in Mind, This or the Apocalypse, The Beggar Folk, Greene Reveal, Kingsfoil, Ace Augustine, and more. A few Millersville University student bands were also included in the lineup on Saturday evening – Yesterday’s Listeners and Ghost House.
Speaking to bassist Matt Corey of “Greene Reveal”, he was thrilled to see how popular the Lancaster music scene was. He was also grateful that such an extensive conference was held to promote local and state-wide bands.
Panels, workshops, and seminars were held by industry professionals in an effective and informal manner – many of these individuals were open to all questions and genuinely wanted feedback from audience members. A few of the many speakers included Tom Bejgrowicz from Man Alive Design (who designed for bands like The Fray), Matt Friction from “The Pink Spiders,” David Silbaugh (the Rock Committee Chair and Chapter – Board Advisor for the Grammys), and Bruce Warren (WXPN Program Director and Executive Producer of the World Café). The speakers were honest, blunt, and refused to sugarcoat their responses. They were also incredibly approachable and open to meeting people post-discussion.
The informality of the conference is what made the weekend so memorable and beneficial. The connection made between students, fans, professionals, and musicians was the whole point to the conference. It was an excellent opportunity to expand knowledge of the music industry, share stories with others, and support local bands. It was an ideal weekend to join with those who share in the passion and love of music.
Launch Music Conference was something that should not have been missed. The excitement could be felt through every live performance and seen in every face. It was a busy weekend, but I cannot wait to see what Launch has in store for next year’s conference. For more detailed information of the 2010 Launch Music Conference, including a lineup of speakers and musicians, please visit www.launchmusicconference.com