Industry news
2014 SA Indies Music Week lineup announced
The 2014 South African Indies Music Week will be held from 22-27 April at the Lyric Theatre in Johannesburg. Organised by Independent Music Exporters South Africa (IMEXSA), 30 up-and-coming bands from around the country will gather to showcase their music.
IMEXSA's focus is to develop and increase the number of music exporters in South Africa by identifying trade opportunities and assisting companies to take advantage of those opportunities. Supported by Gauteng Growth Development Agency and the Department of Trade and Industry, IMEXSA has been operating over the past five years. During this time they have participated in and presented South African Unsigned and independent music professionals at Popkomm-Germany, Womex – Denmark, Primavera Pro – Spain, Canada Music Week in Toronto, and South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin – Texas. Most of these events focus on emerging talent and some acts have used them as a stepping stone to greater heights.
Building the local industry
“The event forms part of our strategy to further develop SA music and also expose it to international markets”, said IMEXSA director Renneth Tshisikule. “We however urge various stakeholders who still wish to support this cause, to come onboard and help build and grow the local music industry. We also invite well-established artists who may like to contribute by coming to mentor these bands. Same call goes to media to please join us and spread the word. While the event has no sponsor (is entirely funded by IMEXSA and its partners), we will definitely have it in future years, probably on an even bigger scale.”
After the five Days of showcasing, a few acts will be selected and announced at the finale on SunDay, 27 April. Their performances will then be submitted for possible selection to various major music conferences around the world, including the likes of Womex (UK), Primavera Pro (Spain), Africa Festival, CMJ (New York) and South by Southwest (SXSW) in Austin, Texas. Whilst getting selected by those major festivals is a feather in the cap for any band, for locals it will be the beginning of a longer journey as they will now have to find ways to get themselves there. Either way, their job will be halfway done and IMEXSA will also do its best to assist them every step of the way.
Workshops included
The event will also include daily workshops with various lessons that the bands and all attendees will find useful in their music career journey.
Showcase lineup:
Day 1: 22 April 2014
Amasoka
Day 2: 23 April 2014
Day 3: 24 April 2014
ESKAY
Day 4: 25 April 2014
Koketso
Salt
Day 5: 26 April 2014
DESH
Tickets to the event are available at Computicket and cost R50. There’s also a whole event package for R250. Showcases start at 8.30pm TuesDay to FriDay, while the workshops starts from 7pm. SaturDay's festivities start at 7.30pm and the SunDay grand finale at 4pm.
To assist or be part of this event, contact the organisers via email: submissions@imexsa.org.za or by calling Renneth Tshisikule on +27(0)116557082. Media stakeholders, potential sponsors and music industry stakeholders are invited to get onboard.
