Catch more than 60 Free Gigs with youbloom this June

The youbloom music festival and conference takes place in the Dame District this June – a definite must for any aspiring musician.

Despite the name it has nothing to do with flowers or Joyce – youbloom is a community of musicians, music fans and industry professionals – a global music village to connect, play, learn and explore. Its aim is to help artists sustain themselves and build a viable career in music.

The music festival and conference hits Dublin this June 12th to the 14th with over 60 artists, both Irish and international, performing on five different stages – all for free. The aim of the festival is to give established and emerging acts an opportunity to play, build a portfolio and reach a new audience.

Free gigs you say? Here’s what you need to know:

The event takes place in the Dame District, in Sweeney’s Bar, The Mercantile and on an outdoor busking stage. Acts include Corner Boy, Buffalo Sunn, LEL Brothas, Silent Noise Parade, The Quakers, Green Monkey, The Sacreblues Band, Fountain of Youth, St Simeon and The Stylites, Cramptown Spaces, The RiotTapes, Aine Cahill and more. The full line-up is still to be confirmed so keep an eye on the Facebook and Twitter feeds.

The conference segment is on in The Central Hotel Dublin, on Saturday June 13th. It covers the music bizz, from PR and social media marketing, brand creation, IP, negotiating deals, record keeping, taxation in music and monetising streamed content.

This year’s keynote speaker is Glasto’s head booker, founder of The Great Escape festival, and agent booker for New Order and The Smiths, Martin Elbourne. Steve Lindsey is discussing music publishing and Donal Scannell how to build an audience with YouTube. The conference also includes masterclasses, speed sessions and discussion panels with a host of top industry professionals. The organisers are calling it “fundamental for any aspiring artist or ambitious music marketer”. Conference tickets cost €20 and are available via PayPal online.