Florida Music Conference brings aspiring artists, ‘buzz bands,’ industry to Orlando
Musicians and industry professionals from Florida, Nashville and beyond will congregate at Ace Cafe this weekend as the Florida Music Conference lands in Orlando.
Two days of networking, seminars, conversations and live music arrive in downtown Orlando on June 24-25 as the new event takes shape. The conference, which features two stages and 25 artists, is presented by the same minds behind Florida Music Festival, which ran for 18 years beginning in 2000.
“We were serving multiple sides by educating students, giving artists a chance to showcase and bringing the industry to town,” said Sean Perry, founder of the Florida Music Festival and co-owner of aXis Productions
& Events. “We had the biggest people in the business, like the guy who started Bonnaroo, the guy who started Warped Tour. We had CEOs of record labels. We brought them all here to Orlando.”
In addition, Perry recalled some of the headliners from Orlando’s live
music heyday and past festivals.
“We had 14-year-old Taylor Swift play for 50 people. We had Pitbull and Zac Brown ask to play,” he said. “We wanted to give artists the chance to get the exposure and make that contact for the next level. We’d end the night at Wall
Street Plaza with Third Eye Blind or Flogging Molly.”
Following a four-year hiatus, the event is returning as a more concentrated conference and festival that focuses on local musicians while also highlighting artists who’ve made it big. By bringing together both emerging talent and established acts with Florida roots, conference organizers hope participants can share knowledge and make connections.
“This is something new. It’s a new idea, not this grandiose 125-band kind of event,” said Jonnie Morgan, a conference organizer who will also perform with his band. “This is an experience where up-and-coming artists can come and learn from bigger acts, ‘How did you do it? What did it take?’ ”
On Friday evening, an industry conference and mixer will open the conference, followed by a singer-songwriter showcase with free general admission, which will feature Central Florida artists including Dan Taylor, Theo Moon and The Beat Brothers Band.
Saturday involves keynote discussions from musicians Brock Berryhill, John K, The 502s and Kyle Lemaire (aka Circa). After another industry mixer, an evening of live music will commence as John K, The 502s, Cat Ridgeway and the Tourists, Wilder Sons,
Ashley Picanza and more take to the festival’s stages.
“We started with the premise of focusing on celebrating the artists regionally and telling their stories, making those connections … I think it will be a very productive 48 hours,” said Perry, as Morgan added: “Florida hasn’t had anything like this in a long time, so it’s our way to give back. The community needs it right now.”
IF YOU GO
The Florida Music Conference is 5 p.m.midnight June 24 and noonmidnight June 25 at 100 W. Livingston St. in Orlando. An all-access pass costs $15 in advance or $25 once the conference begins. Tickets for the Saturday night concert cost $10 in advance or $15 on the show date. For more information and tickets, visit flamusicconf. live.