Renowned singer/songwriter and Embrace front man Danny McNamara will be heading to Manchester Academy on Saturday 17th May 2008 with O2 Undiscovered regional workshops. Now in its 3rd year, the UK’s leading music programme that has evolved to open up careers in the music industry to people through out the UK.

The Manchester workshops will include expert speakers such as A&R supremo Nick Godwyn from 19 Management, who helped pioneer Amy Winehouse to the top as well as Agent and Publicist Paul Carey who has worked with an impressive roaster of musicians including David Bowie, The Who and Shirley Bassey. In addition to the main talks there will be selected one to one sessions where attendees can bring along their music to be professionally A&R’d plus managers and producers will offer individual advice on making it in the music business.

As well as Danny McNamara there will be a legion of stars supporting O2 Undiscovered including Dave Stewart, Bobby Gillespie and Ian Brown. O2 Undiscovered 2008 will start with Undiscovered Workshops at The O2 Wireless Weekenders throughout May, where they will be at hand to offer expert advice to anyone looking to get into the music industry.

The O2 Undiscovered Regional Workshops will visit Newcastle Academy (3rd May), Glasgow Academy (10th May), Manchester Academy 2 (17th May), Birmingham Academy 2 (24th May) and Bristol Academy (31st May). Limited free places for each workshop are available at www.o2undiscovered.co.uk along with a full running order for each event.

Each of the O2 Undiscovered Regional Workshop events will be open from 11am-3pm and provide access to a panel of seven experts: A&R, artist management, musician, producer, music lawyer, promoter, venue owner and music agent. Each panel member will give talks, answer questions and provide advice to any musicians or individuals wanting a job in the music industry. So whether attendees want to be the next Radiohead, Timbaland or Malcolm McLaren there will be someone to help make daydreams a reality.

Experts confirmed for the O2 Undiscovered Regional Workshops include Dave Stewart, Danny McNamarra (Embrace) and Eugene Kelley (The Vaselines and Eugenius).

These will be supported by experts who have managed and produced some of the biggest names in the music business including Roddy Woomble (Idlewild), Grant Dickson (View Manager) Vince Power (Mean Fiddler Founder), Paul Carey (The Who) and Nigel Jones (Kylie). A full list of the panel is on the Undiscovered website.

Wireless Weekender Cinema Screenings

As well as the O2 Undiscovered Regional Workshops there will be cinema screenings with films dedicated to music of each city. These will include:

Manchester Cornerhouse, 18-May, Control, 8.30pm

The O2 Undiscovered workshops at the Wireless Weekenders will be the first of a full programme of Undiscovered activity that aims to de-mystify the music industry and provide advice and access to anyone who wants a career both on the front of a CD or in the credits.

Other elements of O2 Undiscovered 2008 will be a series of work placements in the music industry and a O2 Undiscovered bespoke stage created at the O2 arena where unsigned bands can apply to play via the O2 Undiscovered website.

O2 UNDISCOVERED AMBASSADORS AND PANELISTS MANCHESTER

  • A&R Man, Nick Godwyn, 19 Management,
  • The Agent/Publicist, Paul Carey, Client: David Bowie/The Who/Shirley Bassey
  • The Manager, Karen Boardman, Crisis Management
  • Radio DJ, Natalie Eve Williams, BBC Manchester,
  • Radio DJ, Michelle Hussey, BBC Manchester
  • The Musician/Songwriter, Danny McNamara, Singer/Songwriter Embrace
  • Gig Promoter, Alex McCann, Designer Magazine,
  • The Producer, Tim Thomas, Blue Print Studios
  • The Lawyer, Andrew Booth, Client: Ian Brown
Journalists can contact the Virgin Media O2 press office on:
press@virginmediao2.co.uk 01753 565656
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