Join us at The Great Escape festival conference from 16th - 18th May
The Music Support team are pleased to be returning to The Great Escape for our third year at the conference. We will be exhibiting throughout the day from Thursday – Saturday in the Leonardo Waterfront hotel atrium (please come and say hi!). We are also hosting two panels in Room 2 at the Leonardo. We’d love to see you there…
Friday 17th May at 4pm:
HOST - Matt Thomas
Music Support co-founder, industry veteran and passionate advocate for recovery through his personal and professional journey. He has worked in and around the music industry since 1991 with 16 years in major labels followed by five years co-managing Squeeze and various other artists. Find out more about Matt here.
The panel
Denise Devenish
Music Industry Therapist with lived experience of the highs and lows having toured herself as a singer. Denise works with major labels and independents and is passionate about raising awareness of the mental health issues the industry faces. Find out more about Denise here.
Eoghan O'Hagan
Music Support’s Family Support Manager who brings his expertise as an artist/producer to supporting the charity’s beneficiaries. He has worked in the industry for more than 10 years, collaborated with some of the UK’s biggest producers and accumulated over two million streams independently. Find out more about Eoghan here.
Tom Pitts
Musician and Tour Manager who made a call to Music Support that turned his life around and now inspires others to navigate their own recovery while touring. He currently plays drums in Mozart Estate and creates his own music under the moniker Tid Pao. Find out more about Tom’s relationship with Music Support here.
Find out more about Music Support’s Family and Friends service here.
Saturday 18th May at 1.45pm
HOST - Andy Franks
Multi-award-winning Tour manager who overcame his own addiction challenges to co-found Music Support. He has worked his way through every backstage role in live music and toured with everyone from Depeche Mode and Robbie Williams to Coldplay and Roger Waters. Find out more about Franksy here.
The panel
Chula Goonewardene
Clinical Director, Psychotherapist and former musician who brings his lived experience to his work in providing mental health support to the music industry. Chula provides clinical consultancy, training and supervision to institutions such as Steps2Recovery, Music Support, Help Musicians UK, and the Centre for Social Justice. Find out more about Chula here.
PEACH.
Brighton-based non-binary artist. An activist as much as they are an artist, PEACH. wants intersectional equality, representation, safe spaces and empowerment. Since emerging onto the scene in Spring 2023, PEACH. has had support from Jazz FM, 6 Music and many more. Performances include The Great Escape and BBC Live Lounge. Find PEACH. on Instagram here.
PRIDO
Manchester Singer/Songwriter and Rapper who is igniting the scene with his electrifying blend of storytelling Afro anthems! He has had airplay on BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra as well as recognition from the like of Capital Xtra, Unity, Pie Radio and Reprezent. Find PRIDO on Instgram here.