16/01/2009

NI Bands 'Cannes Do'

Some of Northern Ireland's most successful local bands will be taking a world stage at the international Cannes Festival this year.

Duke Special, Derry's Fighting with Wire and the much hyped General Fiasco are heading to the French film festival to showcase their talent at Midem, the worlds' biggest international music industry conference on Tuesday 20th January.

The showcasing artists will be performing in front of an audience of the international music industry's key players.

The Northern Ireland Music Industry Commission (NIMIC) Chief Executive Ross Graham said: "Midem is a fantastic event for Northern Ireland artists and businesses to develop global markets.

"This showcase concert just confirms the extraordinary quality of Northern Ireland's current crop of creative music talent."

Other Northern Ireland music businesses representatives include Smalltown America Records, No Dancing Records, Emerald Music, Clann Records, Bruised Fruit Promotions and Sharpe Music.

Adding his support to the initiative, Damian Smyth, Arts Development Officer with the Arts Council of Northern Ireland said: "NIMIC has been a funded client of the Arts Council of Northern Ireland for a number of years.

"As a recipient of this additional funding, through the Creative Industries Innovation Fund, they will extend their promotion and support for the Northern Ireland Music Industry.

"The Midem conference is an excellent example of the opportunities for our creative industries to develop and co-operate, not only making international links to further creative innovation and expertise, but also to support specific artists and their personal career development."

(DW/BMcC)

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