Aimed at 16–25-year-olds and part of Lancaster Music Festival, this free event is an opportunity for young people to find out more about different pathways to a career in music and the arts sector from industry professionals.

You’ll get to hear about their pathways into their careers, what they learned along the way and get to ask them the questions you want to ask as a part of a panel and in smaller breakout groups.

This event is for you if you want to learn more about what careers exist in the music industry and what steps you need to take to get there.

Hosted by More Music

Supported by the  Gregson Centre, Lancaster Music Festival and Lancashire Music Hub.

MUSIC INDUSTRY GUESTS

Lois

From finding escapism in dance floors and dark corners to reclaiming her identity and self-liberation, Northern alt-pop riser Lois is taking power back through her music: one two-step at a time.

Born in the small, seaside town of Morecambe, Lois started songwriting as a way of processing some of the difficult experiences she faced at a young age. What began as bedroom demos quickly led to local pub gigs and signing a record deal at 19. From the diary-like confessions of her debut EP ‘Strange Men’ to the bold reclamations of her identity on sophomore project ‘SEVEN’, the now Leeds-based songwriter has proven herself as an artist who continues to evolve and change.

Introducing a new side to her artistry, Lois’ third project embraces moments of joy in the everyday. Between social commentary on Northern nightlife and issuing tongue-in-cheek bite-backs at former lovers, it channels influences from Blondie and Scritti Politti to Self Esteem, while creating a sound that’s uniquely her own. Arriving alongside a support slot with Sophie Ellis-Bextor and appraise from Elton John, ITV and BBC Radio 1, the project finds Lois exactly where she’s meant to be.

Marianne Barraclough

Marianne is Executive Director of More Music, one of the longest running community music and education charities in the UK. More Music run a year-round programme of inclusive musicmaking activities involving all ages and abilities, gigs from nationally and internationally renowned artists plus community events and festivals.  Marianne joined More Music in 2024, following 18 years leading creative music programmes and as Deputy Chief Executive at Sinfonia Viva, a not-for-profit orchestra and music education charity based in the East Midlands. She has a wealth of experience in designing and delivering community music programmes in a wide range of settings, along with strategic work with funders including Arts Council England.

Max McGuire

Max is an accomplished composer trusted by storytellers across video games, films and television, with Ivor Novello and Grammy Award wins plus Bafta nominations to his name.

As a frequent collaborator to acclaimed composer Stephen Barton, Max has contributed as a composer and orchestrator to some of the industry’s most recognisable franchises, including Star Wars Jedi: Survivor (Grammy and Ivor Novello winning, BAFTA nominated), Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 and Star Trek: Picard.

Max has also worked as an orchestrator on Academy Award nominated composer Harry Gregson-Williams’ score for Gladiator II.

Max’s music has featured on major primetime productions including; BBC’s Panorama, Scam Interceptors and BBC Spotlight, Channel 4’s Dispatches (BAFTA-winning), and Mindhouse’s America’s New Female Right.

He composed the score for Channel 4’s true crime series The Body Detectives, narrated by Anna Maxwell Martin, and his music has been recorded at world-renowned studios including Abbey Road Studios and AIR Studios in London, as well as the Sony Pictures Scoring Stage and Warner Bros. Scoring Stage in Los Angeles.

His work has also been broadcast on Classic FM.