Joe is a Promoter at Futuresound, where he promotes shows for artists from first steps through to Arena level across Yorkshire, as well as booking and delivering Festivals including Live at Leeds in the Park, Live at Leeds in the City and Gold Sounds.

With almost 15 years experience in the Live Music industry, Joe began his career in Hull promoting shows independently whilst at College/University until starting full time as in-house promoter at The Welly, Polar Bear and Fruit and working on Humber Street Sesh, which he has continued to do, before moving to Futuresound in 2018.

Joe has a keen on eye on new and emerging artists, he was a panellist for BBC Sound of 2024

Leeds-based pianist & composer Simeon Walker has quickly emerged as a leading light in the burgeoning Modern Classical scene, performing and touring extensively across the UK and Europe. He has supported S. Carey, Neil Cowley, LYR, Submotion Orchestra, Loscil & Erland Cooper and performed notable live sets at Latitude & Timber Festivals. In addition to his acclaimed first two albums 'Mono' and 'Winnow', he will conduct a 28-date UK tour in Autumn 2023 in support of his latest 'Imprints' release, whilst his piece ‘Reverie’ features on the first official Piano Day compilation by Berlin-based LEITER label, alongside Nils Frahm, Olafur Arnalds and Chilly Gonzales.

Regularly broadcast on BBC Radio 3, BBC 6Music, BBC Introducing, KEXP and Scala Radio, his music has received overall listening figures in excess of 30 million streams across platforms. He also founded and curates Brudenell Piano Sessions - an intimate and varied live music series highlighting the diverse music being composed and performed on the piano, hosted at Leeds’ iconic Brudenell Social Club.

Having received funding support from Help Musicians, PRS Foundation and Arts Council England for his work as an independent artist, Simeon also performs regularly across numerous genres and contexts, whilst also working as a freelance session musician, composer & arranger, educator and consultant.

Amy is one half of alt-indie band, Sunflower Thieves, whose debut EP, ‘Someone To Be There For’ has surpassed 1.2 million streams, received huge airplay support from the likes of Radio 1’s Sian Eleri and 6Music’s Steve Lamacq. Sunflower Thieves were previously longlisted for Glastonbury’s Emerging Talent Competition, named as PRS’ Magazine's ‘Ones To Watch’ and have played shows with Flyte, Say She She, Nell Mescal, Lewis Watson and Haley Blais.

Amy is an Artist Marketing Consultant for 7476 [Matilda Mann, Lexie Carroll, tinyumbrellas], working to ensure successful delivery of artist campaigns across marketing, social, creative and A&R.

Amy is also Events and Social Media Manager for The Attic, a raw event space playing host to gigs, photo/video shoots, workshops, songwriting, rehearsals and various other events.

Amy has several years’ experience across event/venue management, music PR, social media and artist liaison, working with the likes of: Sofar Sounds, DocFest, Bradford Lit Fest, Hanglands, Live at Leeds, Superfriendz, Leeds BID, Leeds 2023, Fever, etc.

Amy is on the FAC Artist Council, and has made numerous speaking appearances at industry events, including Abbey Road’s 'Equalise' and the Launchpad Talent Development Conference. With her experience as an independent artist and promoter, Amy can advise on designing, booking and being creative with live shows, with a special focus on nurturing an industry where the artist experience is a top priority. Amy can offer creative guidance on merch, release campaigns and personal career development.

Simon Rix has been in Kaiser Chiefs since they began in 2003. Throughout their career Kaiser Chiefs have achieved two number one albums, a number one single, and countless top ten credits. The band have achieved many accolades including 3 Brit awards and a prestigious Ivor Novello for debut album Employment. Before that he was involved in the Leeds Music Scene working in various bars and venues in the city as well as playing in other local bands. Since 2003 as well as Kaiser Chiefs. Simon has released records by other musicians via his label Chewing Gum records and more recently with Launchpad Plus. He now manages and mentors a number of emerging acts including Youth Sector and Treeboy Arc under his management company, Holy Moly.

Simon works with Amnesty international on various projects as part of his role as an ambassador. He supports Leeds United, is president of the Leeds United Trust and produces about podcast about the team.

Lucy is a Creative Producer and accredited Coach based in Manchester, specialising in live events and artist development across the jazz and improvised music sector.

Current roles include Festival Director at Lancaster Jazz Festival, an annual five day festival taking place in September, and as Network Manager for the Jazz Promotion Network, a network bringing together everyone working in the jazz sector across the UK and Ireland. Lucy has previously worked as Programmes Manager for Jazz North and Festival Manager of Manchester Jazz Festival.

As a freelance consultant, Lucy has worked with organisations such as Edition Records, Matt and Phreds, Attitude is Everything and Walk The Plank.

As well as the specialist subjects listed below, Lucy is able to advise on portfolio/freelance careers and work/life balance challenges.

Lucy is an accredited coach and a trained mental health first aider.

Lins Wilson is a music creator, sound designer and project producer. Her experience working in the creative industries over almost two decades has taken her to places far and wide - from performing at SXSW to supporting The Pixies; producing music video sets for Nicki Minaj and Corinne Bailey Rae to theatre shows at The Barbican; fundraising, booking and self-releasing as psychy-alt-rock band Magick Mountain, to creating cello-led soundscapes for installations as Buffalo Sound Design, plus composing as a solo cellist.

She has played a huge amount of live and recorded sessions (including performing at the Brudenell Social Club in 10 different bands!) and secured funds for her own work including Help Musicians, Arts Council (DYCP + Project Grants), Francis Chagrin Award and ReBalance. Lins has also supported other artists to successfully apply for funding.

Having been described as a ‘cultural-polymath’, Lins is hugely passionate about creating and connecting people through music and culture. She does this via current roles as Project Operations Manager / Lead Mentor for Music Local / Launchpad and mentoring for Mastered's Music Skills Bootcamp. Lins is keen to impart knowledge and support early stage artists, especially those from Yorkshire/the North/ marginalised backgrounds. She is always working away at developing new music, projects and performances, and being mum to Iggy.

Samuel Nicholls or whiskas as he is mainly known in the music industry, is a Senior Lecturer in Music at Leeds Beckett University, founding the BA Music Industries Management course and the founder & director of Music Local, responsible for Music:Leeds and Launchpad.

Previously, whiskas has run a music venue and live promotions company, founded the Dance To The Radio record label and was guitarist in the band ¡Forward, Russia!, signed to Mute / EMI Records in North America as well self-releasing in Europe, achieving two UK Top 40 singles.

Managing projects such as Live At Leeds Unconference and Under The Owls, a free music & live art festival in Leeds, led him to be appointed as an advisor for organisations and groups such as Yorkshire Festival, Leeds 2023 Artistic Programme, PRS Foundation and Yorkshire Sound Women Network.