On Nov. 22-24, the leaders of North American music festivals will gather in Santa Barbara, CA at FestForward—a three-day B2B Festival conference. The event aggregates the burgeoning music festival industry, a multi-billion dollar market in North America. Set at the Fess Parker Resort on the “American Riviera,” the conference has a trendy and thought-provoking atmosphere for festival influencers to share, create, collaborate and unwind while networking with fellow leaders in the industry.
The FestForward attendees are the influencers in live music that promote, manage and curate the leading music festivals in North America. They are the gatekeepers of the largest growing cultural events today. Special guests include SXSW executive director speaking on the occasion of their 30th anniversary Mike Shea, Glastonbury Festival’s Robert Richards, Live Nation President Maureen Ford, “Disco Donnie” Estopinal, Vans Warped Tour founder Kevin Lyman, Dave Mason and Alice Cooper.
Speakers include leading producers, promoters and directors of Festival brands such as: SXSW, JayZ's Budweiser Made in America, Lollapalooza, Live Nation, Summerfest, Global Citizen Festival, Coachella, Electric Daisy Carnival, Austin City Limits, Life Is Beautiful, Vans Warped Tour, Disco Donnie Presents, AfterShock, Glastonbury, Bottle Rock, Stage Coach and many more...
There will be inspirational industry panels, discussions, networking, a tech hackathon, a chance for a festival to win a $10,000 sponsorship contest, a wine and beer tasting, art installations, live performances in music, dance, poetry and cooking, memorable special events and an industry award program, Best of The Fests.
Individuals to be honored at "Best of the Fests" include a Lifetime Achievement Award to music manager and “Supermensch" Shep Gordon, presented by Alice Cooper; a Champion of Music Award given to rocker Dave Mason (who will be performing his Traffic hits) presented by producer Stephen Nemeth for music; and a music festival award to Kevin Lyman, creator of Vans Warped Tour, the longest touring music festival in North America and Chef Roy Yamaguchi, of Roy's Fusion and The Hawaiian Food & Wine Festival.
For more information, visit AboutFest.com
If you want to nominate your fest for "Best of The Fests,” visit aboutfest.com/best.html.
Register for the fest at: eventbrite.com.
For travel information, visit aboutfest.com/travel-information.html.
