Although a lot of people assume NXNE�s annual conference component is geared exclusively toward industry suits who wanna figure out how to maximize their profit margins, there�s actually a lot of stuff for the rest of us who couldn�t be arsed about label mergers and overhead.
And considering the theme of this year�s fest is indie culture, the panels are packed with tons of interesting discussions particularly relevant to independent upstarts � as long as you don�t mind rubbing shoulders with biz types desperate to sign the next Arcade Fire.
The high-profile celebrity interviews, which team iconic musicians with seasoned interrogators, are always a good bet. The 11th annual fest features one-on-ones with political folk firebrand (and Member of the Order of Canada) Bruce Cockburn, who chats with long-time journalist Nick Jennings Friday at 4 pm, and New York Dolls founder David Johansen, who warms up for the Dolls� Saturday-night show by dishing the dirt with T.O. radio personality, professor and critic Rob Bowman Saturday at noon.
On the indie tip, there are a whole whack of panels where major-haters can pick up advice. On Friday at 12:30 pm, check out the Indie Success Stories session, where bespectacled Canadian Idol judge (and Management Trust dude) Jake Gold moderates a discussion between folks like Skydigger/ MapleMusic co-founder Andy Maize and high-powered agent Jack Ross about how to succeed outside the mainstream.
More laterally minded folks might enjoy watching Arts & Crafts� Jeffrey Remedios and Six Shooter�s Helen Britton wax philosophical on why our country�s music scene is so hot right now during the Independent Thinkers panel Friday at 12:30 pm. And those aspiring rock stars perplexed about how to get influential ears across Canada listening to their tunes will be intrigued by Saturday�s Indie Marketing panel (11 am), where buzz generators spill on new strategies for getting your message across.
A perennial fan fave is SOCAN�s Songs And Stories panel, where a slew of singer/songwriters do their thang. This year�s version features awesome local alt-country slinger Justin Rutledge, members of prairie rockers the Waking Eyes and more, Saturday at 2 pm.
And finally, Pitchforkmedia junkies and blog lovers will have their interest piqued by the fussily titled Options And Alternatives In The Digital Age panel, which rounds up a bunch of cyber-geeks for a discussion of non-traditional online outlets. Friday at 2 pm is your chance to see what dudes like Zoilus.com blogger (and newspaper hack) Carl Wilson and Cokemachineglow.com�s Matt Stephens look like when they�re not basking in the eerie glow of a computer terminal.
