A SMILE of success
Monday 7 March 2011
Southampton Solent University's SMILEfest 2011 was a resounding success. With over 40 bands performing in nine city venues and more than 100 students taking part in course related challenges and assessments, music students gave industry professionals a run for their money.
Solent Music Industries Live Event (SMILE) is a five day festival of live gigs, industry guest talks and challenging projects, designed to raise the stakes for students who want to carve out a career in the music industry.
Throughout the week, students came face to face with key figures from the international music industries, during an eclectic mix of tasks and trials which saw them performing, producing and promoting.
Music festival ace Mark Cann – right-hand man to Glastonbury guru Michael Eavis – talked through the organisation of a top event; rock photographer Pat Pope gave an insight into the stories behind his shots, including Radiohead and Bowie; and special acts – including Gallows and Reverend and the Makers - also dropped in to share their experiences.
At the beginning of the week, Production and Performance students took over Solent’s music studios to record an album in a day which received maximum exposure through an online campaign put together by music promotions students.
A team of Popular Music Journalism and Magazine Journalism and Feature Writing students produced a magazine in one day. Under the direction of Carl Loben, deputy editor of DJ magazine, and Lestyn George ,former news editor of NME and features editor of GQ, the 20 page magazine, Audio Addict, surpassed all expectations.
Music promotion, media and performance students staged gigs at music venues across the city including Hamptons, The Joiners and Pop. Students and the public were given the chance to catch some of the region’s most exciting live acts, including Morning Parade, The Laurel Collective and Identity Thief.
The festival culminated at local venue, the Soul Cellar with performances by some of the University’s hottest acts, including The Widowmaker and Fly Frankie Fly.
Course leader for Music Journalism and SMILE founder, Dr Martin James, said: We’ve had a fantastic week. The gigs went down really well and the album in a day was brilliant. Many thought it couldn’t be done, but the students did an incredible job in just nine hours!
“Through interaction and collaboration with the industries our students were able to experience the processes involved in being a part of a professional team and what the industry will expect from them once they graduate.”
For further information contact the Media Office on +44 (0)23 8031 9040