MEET THE BOOKERS
THURSDAY 9TH JANUARY
Session 2: 11.40am – 12.40pm
BEACON @ FUTURE YARD
MEET THE BOOKERS
We have gathered together a panel of bookers and promoters, based in different towns and cities, to discuss the realistic opportunities they have for bands and artists outside of their region. How they go about filling slots and what the expectations are for those they book. We’ll be discussing what makes potential bookings stand out and how to put yourself forward in an appealing manner in an area that has great competition.
Our guest speakers:
SANTANA GUÉROUT
Santana Guérout is Chief Programming Officer at Band on the Wall in Manchester.
Santana joined the programming team at Band on the Wall in 2016 and been involved in hundreds of incredible shows and tours and in venues across the country and festivals. As a national promoter Santana has worked with Artist such as Cory Wong, Fatoumata Diawara, and Sammy Rae & the Friends or as a festival partner to Manchester Jazz Festival, Sound from Other Cities, Bluedot festival and Manchester International Festival. Since 2023, Santana has joined the Senior Management team at Band on the Wall as Chief of programming and taken on the programming at another venue, The Brewery Arts in Kendal.
Her future ambition is to create a community inclusive World festival in Manchester reflective of all Manchester migration heritage and champion those values throughout her shows and promotions.
BEN LEWIS
Ben Lewis is Managing Director of Leeds-based promotions company Super Friendz.
From promoter to musician, DJ, venue manager, marketer, and much more Ben Lewis has worked pretty much every role you can across the live music sector. Starting out promoting his own nights at The Cockpit in Leeds in the early 2010’s before joining Futuresound to programme, market and deliver festival, live and club events.
In 2015 Ben joined Super Friendz to oversee the programming of Belgrave Music Hall and Headrow House as well as number of other live projects, developing and launching new event space Project House in 2023. In this time Ben has been responsible for bringing names like Loyle Carner, Little Simz, Jungle, Sampha, Run The Jewels, Floating Points, Big Thief, Glass Animals, Ezra Collective, Jorja Smith and many more to Leeds.
Since 2022 Super Friendz is now a full service events and marketing company with clients across the hospitality, cultural and corporate sectors as well as still promoting their own cutting edge bookings, where Ben is now Managing Director. As a musician, Ben has worked, and continues to work on projects that have received critical acclaim from the Guardian, Radio 1, NME, Pitchfork and more as well as touring internationally.
CHRIS COBAIN
Chris Cobain is the Venue and Programmes Manager for Tees Music Alliance, a non-profit music development organisation serving the Tees Valley area. He oversees and curates events for the 300-capacity Georgian Theatre and its smaller sister venue, The Green Room. Chris is also a co-organizer of the multi-venue festival, Stockton Calling.
Throughout his career, he has worked with artists such as Sam Fender, James Bay, English Teacher, Chrissie Hynde, Self Esteem, Fat White Family, and numerous other UK and international acts.
With over 15 years of experience in programming, stage managing, and mentoring emerging promoters, Chris plays a pivotal role in developing the local music scene. His contributions include one-on-one mentoring with local artists and involvement in larger initiatives such as the On Point Music Conference, The Green House music residency, and music industry taster days.
MEGAN EVANS
Megan Evans is the Festival Director of Deer Shed Festival in Thirsk, North Yorkshire.
Megan’s festival career spans the last 15 years. During this time, she has been involved in a multitude of events, from large-scale festivals to smaller community projects, holding a variety of roles that cover everything from production to creative.
In her current role as Festival Director for Deer Shed Festival, Megan is Head of Programming, booking across the music and arts programme, as well as operations and production manager. As part of this role, a core element has been running an artist development programme to shine a light on undiscovered talent and nurture marginalised artists – something she cares passionately about.