MixMaster2016 receives state funds to promote business training for musicians, announces sign-up dates

Conference focused on empowering local musicians scheduled at Lawrence Public Library

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LAWRENCE, KS — March 29, 2016 — Locally-organized music conference MixMaster2016 (#MXM2016), taking place April 15-16th at Lawrence Public Library has been awarded a grant from the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission to support the “music community event that brings local artists and music industry professionals together to share information, connect and collaborate.” Grant funds are awarded through the Lawrence Public Library Foundation, and will support the 2 day conference, now in its third year and for the first time taking place in Lawrence Public Library’s auditorium and Sound+Vision Studio. A Songwriter Night and special performance by Victor & Penny are scheduled in Five Bar & Tables on the evenings of Friday April 15th and Saturday April 16th respectively.

#MXM2016 includes music production workshops, demo dips, copyright and legal discussions, business training, marketing and networking support for local independent musicians. Presented in partnership with Lawrence Public Library and Artist INC, and with support from a wide variety of industry and non-profit partners, #MXM2016 is curated by local independent music collective, Silly Goose Records.

“MixMaster2016 is a community event that places independent artists at the center of the conversation,” said Nick Carswell, Creative Director of Silly Goose Records. “Our aim is to empower local musicians to make the best music they can, and to pursue their careers with the best advice we can collectively gather. It’s a rare chance for the music industry to come together, connect and learn about the challenges that independent artists face. That doesn’t happen too often!”

MXM2016 is also a valuable time for local and regional industry to connect with new artists. “[MixMaster2016] tears down the walls and cuts through a long string of perhaps unanswered emails because we’re all in the room together now,” says Chris Haghirian (Ink Magazine, Middle of the Map, The Bridge 90.9FM). “I suggest all young bands and young musicians make plans to attend MXM2016 and take advantage of the opportunity to help their band on a better path.”

How musicians can get involved

While the main conference on Saturday April 16th is a free event (registration is recommended via www.sillygooserecords.org), additional programs including Production Workshops and Songwriter Night have limited space and are expected to sell out. Registration for these programs opens on Thursday April 7th at 12 Noon. Attendees are recommended to stay up to date with Silly Goose Records on Facebook and visit www.sillygooserecords.org for updates on schedule and program participants. Confirmed guests include representatives from Folk Alliance International, Mudstomp Records, Midwest Music Foundation, The Bridge 90.9, KKFI 90.1FM, BizFuel, Middle of the Map Fest, and KVCLAA.

About MXM2016 & Silly Goose Records:

A project of Silly Goose Records, a Lawrence-based independent music collective, MixMaster conference began in 2014 and has been supported by Community Arts Grants from the Lawrence Cultural Arts Commission and with the support of sponsors Five Bar & Tables, Mass Street Music and Blue Collar Press. MixMaster2016 is supported in part by the Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, which receives support from the National Endowment for the Arts, a federal agency.

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For more information:

Nick Carswell (785) 424-5236, sillygooserecords@gmail.com

www.sillygooserecords.org/mxm2016/