Louder Than Words Manchester Conference Returns (14-16 November)
Music journalism conference creator and curator Dr. Jill Adam chatted to Skrufff this week about her upcoming (and second) event Louder Than Words and revealed that this year’s program of panels is being broadened to cover more genres.
“We’re aiming to reach a broader audience through the range of contributors and program content, so for example we have a Goth panel and Glam Rock contribution, featuring Don Powell from Slade,” says Jill.
“We remain committed to audience engagement and hope the breadth of content appeals to as many people as possible – we have in conversations, panel discussions, interviews, performances, workshops as well as new Louder Lectures and a host of partnership events with our friends The Quietus and our new title sponsors, Omnibus Press.”
Last year’s inaugural event included several Manchester-centric themed discussions including a lengthy though fascinating polemic by a leading Mancunian journalist on the greater cultural significance of local heroes (and c-list original punk pioneers) the Fall, so can delegates expect a similar Northern bias this year?
“Manchester is a logical home for Louder Than Words because of its rich heritage in music but we’re quite definitely a national and international Festival that happens to be located in this great city rather than a festival focused only on the history and musical offerings of Greater Manchester,” she replies.
“We’re proud to be in Manchester but our overall ambition is to bring high quality arts events to audiences from across the country and beyond.”
More than a few commentators (me included) have suggested music journalism is increasingly a dying profession- what convinces you otherwise?
“I think it’s a matter of interpretation – a traditional interpretation of music journalism, or a traditional definition of what music journalism is, is most definitely changing but that’s not to say the business is dying,” she corrects.
“We’ve got a great panel being co-ordinated by Laura Snapes of the NME ‘There is No Golden Age’ which tackles this very question – come and join us and join in the debate!”
Louder Than Words takes place at Manchester’s Palace Hotel from Friday November 14-16 and includes a repeat appearance from Wiko Johnson who talked movingly about being diagnosed with terminal cancer and facing imminent death (and has since, miraculously, fully recovered).
Jonty Skrufff: https://twitter.com/djjontyskrufff
