Annual Conference
DMC hosts the annual Dumfries Music Conference, which is a three-day event, featuring film, discussion, workshops, Q&As, live music and exhibition. Since DMC launched in 2012 they have aimed to give the Dumfries & Galloway music scene a voice on a national level, by establishing a strong network of partners and friends from organisations that span the music industry in Scotland and beyond. The Dumfries Music Conference is a vital component in that. DMC programmes contemporary practitioners and experts to discuss the most important topics in music, running in parallel with engaging online workshops, live music and art. Now running year round, events range from reasonably priced, to completely free.
The Plaza
Acting on their own independent research, DMC found ‘music venue provision’ to be the number one priority for the development and fruition of local bands and solo artists. In an act of re-imagining what the music venue is and can be, The Plaza has been established as a peripatetic, or ‘roving’ music venue. The Plaza, which takes its name from a former dancehall and concert venue on Dumfries High Street, takes over underutilised spaces, not normally used for live music performance, and showcases local talent. Every few months, the Plaza seeks out unusual, empty, abandoned or even wild spaces, to find the places where music could, and should, live.
DMC and The Plaza facilitates a greater understanding of the contribution live music makes to the local economy, and how a ‘DIY’ ethos can lead to the creative community flourishing. The Plaza affords DMC the opportunity to encourage, support and develop careers aside from music-making in photography, film, event management, programming and installation.
The Plaza and DMC have also constructed an online Toolkit for live music promotion, which provides an invaluable resource for anyone looking to promote a DIY show.
Dripfeed
Dripfeed is a new digital video library from DMC and funded by DG Unlimited, as part of their Regional Arts Fund.
Dripfeed features 30 short videos presented by contemporary music industry practitioners, curating an insightful series of e-learning sessions. Dripfeed aims to inspire and develop independent creative skillsets in young people, offering advice and insight on a range of topics and discuss concepts and contemporary issues within several different fields in the music and creative industries.
Videos cover topics such as music photography and videography, DIY shows, staying creative in a rural area, music publishing, song writing tips and the importance of lyrics. The video library is part of DMC’s shift from an annual conference to year-round programming and support activity.
