14th annual Launch Music Conference & Festival takes over Lancaster from April 14-17
From a press release:
The 14th annual Launch Music Conference & Festival has announced its artist lineup and list of panelists appearing on Thursday, April 14 through Sunday, April 17 in downtown Lancaster.
This year’s speakers include Rob “Blasko” Nicholson (Black Veil Brides, Zakk Wylde), Randy Nichols (Underoath, Bandsintown), David “5-1” Norman (Tyler the Creator, Fallout Boy), Mike Mowery (Ice Nine Kills), Jamall Anthony (Chris Brown, Jordin Sparks), Suz Paulinski (mindset and productivity coach), Deborah “Zuke” Smith (vocal coach and artist mentor), Brianna Ruelas (strategy consultant for performing artists), Jeanne Hoffmann (intellectual property and business litigation), Jason Spiewak (president and founder Noble Steed Music), Eric Tobin (Hopeless Records), and Joe Caviston (Electric City Music Conference in Scranton, Screaming Infidelities: Emo Night), among others.
At night, there will be over 130 performances on 10 stages at different venues throughout the city. Set It Off, Guardin, I Set My Friends on Fire, Stereotytans, and Scranton emo rockers The Maguas are among the notable mentions.
Launch founder and director Jeremy Weiss said the conference grows with more acts and speakers every year.
“Launch enters its 14th year, having staged over 2,200 artists and presented more than 525 music industry professionals in our first 13. As ’14’ approaches, we are as excited and motivated as ever,” he stated.
“Launch is a collaborative effort. This community that we’ve built – comprised of industry colleagues, performers, attendees, and staff – we cherish it. It’s open to all, and all who contribute are open to real connection. Yeah, it gets me in my feelings. There is nothing I’d work harder for, there is no more ‘satisfying exhaustion’ than that which results in real, genuine professional and personal bonding. We’ll learn, we’ll play, and we’ll party. And you’re all invited.”
Established in 2009, Launch has been an annual staple in the historic town of Lancaster, bringing a bustling crowd to the community for an experience that feels like a relaxed SXSW. Over the years, it has welcomed noteworthy panelists such as Kevin Lyman (Vans Warped Tour), JB Brubaker (August Burns Red), Ryan Soroka (United Talent Agency), Spencer Charnas (Ice Nine Kills), Chad Taylor (Live), James Lynch (Dropkick Murphys), Holly Skiadis (iHeartRadio), Ryan Soroka (United Talent Agency), Eric Tobin (Hopeless Records), and more. The festival has also brought in Billboard-charting artists, from the likes of Panic! at the Disco, Twenty One Pilots, and Big D and the Kids Table to Smokepurpp, (hed) p.e., Ice Nine Kills, Rusted Root, August Burns Red, Frankie Ballard, PnB Rock, and YFN Lucci.
Tickets and badges for individual events as well as the entire weekend are on sale now at launchmusicconference.com, where the daily schedules and full lineups are also posted.
Jeremy Weiss is the founder and owner of The CI Companies, the umbrella brand of his career endeavors: CI Records (label), Launch Music Conference & Festival, CI Productions, CI Design & Printing, and the CI band management arm. Since 1987, CI Records has signed notable acts such as August Burns Red, Texas in July, The Pink Spiders, Hawk, Carousel Kings, Vision, Sense Field, The Pavers (Scott Reynolds), and many more.
CI Productions, a production company Weiss started at the age of 15, has staged more than 2,000 live shows, formerly at the Chameleon Club in Lancaster and the CI-owned all-ages venue The Champ in Harrisburg while also producing shows in Pittsburgh, Allentown, Philadelphia, and select out-of-state locations. The company/Weiss is currently serving as house talent buyer for the historic Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center (HMAC). CI Productions produces the Christmas Burns Red Festival in Freedom Hall at the Lancaster County Convention Center annually in partnership with the members of August Burns Red. The festival has enjoyed more than 4,000 attendees in recent years.
