Simeon Walker
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.
Lucy Woolley
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
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.
Jenessa Williams
Jenessa Williams (she/her) is a Leeds-based music journalist with ten years experience in print and online press. Bylines include NME, The Guardian, DIY, Dork, and the Forty-Five, where she writes a weekly column surrounding the sociopolitics topics of the week emerging on music Twitter. Jenessa's work has strong intersections with race and gender, which supports her PhD studies at the University of Leeds. She can also be found running Pennycress, a Leeds-based zine designed to celebrate POC creatives, hosting on the [Edit Radio] podcast, and chairing various events and talks around the city.
As a music journalist, Jenessa can offer advice on how best to self-PR and identify potential journalistic outlets to contact.