Speakers: Kim Hawes (Confessions of a Female Tour Manager), Cecilia Chan (Wasserman Music), Donald MacLeod MBE (Nordoff Robins) & Ray Paul (The Playmaker Group)
It’s been a tumultuous few years but we’ve weathered the storm and are pleased to see sunnier days on the horizon. Our panel will discuss the impact on our live sector including our mental health, festival backlogues and how we can proactively protect the future of live music. Hear from those working across the sector on future proofing and the new look live scene which as an industry will have to adapt to.
Kim Hawes (Confessions Of A Female Tour Manager)
Kim Hawes has worked in the music industry for over 30 years with some of the biggest and baddest bands there are. She blagged her way into working merchandise for Elvis Costello which led to a job merching Rush all around Europe. She spent many years sleeping underneath Lemmy from Motorhead….on a tour bus. She toured with Black Sabbath just as Ronnie James Dio entered the band and they unleashed Heaven & Hell on the world. She threw Madonna of her stage, turned Courtney Love down, had to say no to Nelson Mandela, and had to deal with the aftermath of Chumbawumba drenching the deputy Prime Minister John Prescott. Yes there are tales of Sex, Drugs & Rock’N’Roll, debauchery and fights, suitcases full of cash and Hells Angels….there might even be a TV thrown out of a window, but Kim’s story is so so much more. Her memoir Lipstick & Leather will be published by Sandstone Press in June 2023 and will be a rollercoaster ride of Rock’N’Roll anecdotes as well as being a serious introduction to the world of touring and the struggles that Kim faced as a woman in a male-dominated industry and how she refused to compromise…ever!
Cecilia Chan (Wasserman Music)
Cecilia Chan moved to London in 2005 to work in the fashion industry, and moved into music four years later to help set up independent agency The Pool. She joined Primary Talent International as assistant to agent Cris Hearn, and followed him to Coda in 2015. Alongside Hearn, she worked with artists including Mark Ronson, Gary Numan, Tricky, Planningtorock, and Above & Beyond, and is especially proud to have helped develop Kaytranada's live touring show since the beginning of his career. Chan is a mentor with British charity Youth Music, and has been involved in sustainability projects within the agency and through industry group Music Declares Emergency. She has signed artists including iamamiwhoami, Amy Wiles, Moon Boots, Shimza, BluePrint and recently added LF System to her roster.
Hadyn Park-Patterson (Artist)
Haydn Park-Patterson is a musician and songwriter from Glasgow. Formerly of The Ninth Wave, his main creative outlet since the age of 7, he and his bandmates released two albums and three EP’s, three of which were shortlisted for the Scottish Album of the Year Award and the AIM Award. Now focusing on a solo project and going under the name Last Boy, as well as working on the upcoming debut album from Lucia and The Best Boys, he continues to be a part of the rich and diverse musical output coming from Scotland.
Ray Paul (The Playmaker Group)
Ray has been working in audio and content creation for over 30 years. He was one of the initial start up management team for BBC 1Xtra and began tThe Playmaker Group in 2010 after 20 years at the BBC. Specialising in Event and Live music, he tour manages and works alongside some of the biggest artists and events including Damian Marley and stage management for Glastonbury
Donald MacLeod MBE (Nordoff Robbins)
Donald (MD of Holdfast Entertainment Group and CPL) has been a driving force of Glasgow’s celebrated nightclub culture and Scotland’s live music industry. He owns two of Glasgow’s most iconic clubs, The Garage and the Cathouse Rock Club which are still going strong after 32 years. As live music venues, both clubs have hosted thousands of gigs including famous names such as: Prince, Coldplay, Anthrax, Pretenders, One Direction, Fun Lovin Criminals, Barns Courtney, Queens of the Stone Age. As a veteran promoter with CPL, Donald has been personally involved with hundreds of acts and some of the world’s biggest names, including: Oasis, Fall Out Boy, PANIC! At the Disco, Black Stone Cherry, Rob Zombie, Rammstein and Marilyn Manson.
In 2020, Donald was appointed an MBE for services in Music and Charity. He has been an integral part and driving force of Nordoff Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland, previously being both the co-chair of the Board of Management and Chairman of Fundraising. He continues to play a key role as Chairman of the charity’s Scottish Fundraising & Events Committee. Responsible for delivering the hugely successful Scottish Music Awards (SMAs), which since the beginning 22 years ago, has celebrated the works and achievements of many of Scotland’s talented array of musicians, artists and bands. Names such the Simple Minds, Emeli Sandi, Biffy Clyro, Amy Macdonald, Dougie Maclean, Paolo Nutini, raising an incredible amount in the process to support and maintain vital music therapy services in Scotland. He has helped to oversee a significant growth in music therapy provision and is pivotal in attracting funding for Nordoff Robbins work through fundraising events and corporate partnerships. He champions the work of the charity through his significant network of contacts in the music industry, business world and on the political platform.
More recently, he has become a leading voice and champion of Scotland’s night-time economy, live music scene and hospitality sectors and during the pandemic was a strong critic of many of the UK and Scottish government Covid-19 restrictions and lockdowns.