On November 22-24, the masterminds behind the massive music festival industry will converge in Santa Barbara, California for FestForward – a one-of-a-kind interactive business-to-business conference and networking event for music, film, and food + wine + beer festival organizers being held at The Fess Parker Resort.
The three-day conference will feature countless speakers such as leading festival producers, promoters, and directors of festival brands. Major speakers and guests for 2015 include Robert Richards (Glastonbury Festival), Kevin Lyman (4fini, Vans Warped Tour), Mike Shea (SXSW), Eliot Lefko (AEG Live), Justine Lucas (Global Citizen Festival), celebrity chef Roy Yamaguchi delivering the opening keynote, among many others.
There are various ticket passes available for purchase for FestForward, including discounted passes for students. An all-access general admission pass for FestForward is currently available for $499, with a discounted rate of $349 for non-profit and small festival attendees. One-day passes for Sunday and Monday are also available for $249 for general admission, and $159 for students. There is also an awards brunch pass for Tuesday, which can be purchased for just $139 directly through the FestForward registration site on Eventbrite.
Along with speeches by various industry pioneers, the FestForward conference will feature numerous helpful and fun festival events including industry panels, discussions, networking sessions, a 24-hour tech hackathon, wine and beer tasting, art installations, live performances in music, dance, poetry and cooking, and a chance for a festival to win a $10,000 sponsorship contest. Addressing cutting-edge technology, sustainability, innovation, safety & collaboration, FestForward will close with "Best of the Fests," a festival award ceremony recognizing North America’s best festivals in game–changing categories. Festivals that will be represented at the conference include some of the most major names in the music industry, including Lollapalooza, Summerfest, Global Citizen Festival, Coachella, Electric Daisy Carnival, Bonnaroo, Austin City Limits, and more.
In addition to the festival awards and in keeping with its theme of convergence, FestForward will also honor super-manager and producer Shep Gordon, who will be presented with a lifetime achievement award by rock legend Alice Cooper.
Laurie Kirby, co-producer of FestForward’s “Best of the Fests,” explains the choice of Gordon for the award was easy. “Shep has had a profound and positive impact on music, film and the culinary world, and we couldn’t think of anyone more deserving of a lifetime achievement award for his incredible accomplishments. He personifies the very best of the best!”
With so many great minds and event organizers in one place, ideas and opportunities will be abundant. FestForward attendees will have a tremendous amount to gain, and likewise the presenters and panelists will have multiple opportunities to swap ideas and improve and innovate for future versions of their events.
