Launchpad in association with Futuresound present the next Youth Showcase event, featuring 5 artists all aged 18 and under based in West Yorkshire, performing at one of Leeds most prestigious grassroots music venues. 

Taking place on Sunday 1st February at The Wardrobe, Leeds, our February showcase features the following artists are all still in school or college:

Öops 

Gazelles 

Sicarii  

Pretty Vengeance

The Maritime County

This showcase brings them together and provides audiences, friends and family the opportunity to support emerging talent, with quick fire sets of their own original music, between 4pm and 7pm. 

Tickets are:

£6 - Over 21s
£3 - 21 and under

Under 14s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

The event is part of the Launchpad Futures initiative, which has seen school visits across Yorkshire to educate young people on music industry career pathways, a collaboration with Discover Creative Careers on a video following artist Dilettante and the different roles and jobs that support artist careers, and open mic performance opportunities with Leeds Libraries and Leeds Art Gallery.

The showcase aims to become a regular event, with an open call for young performers to feature, linking to other youth centred initiatives in the city, with the intention to create a pathway to young artists to build performance opportunities and pathways to getting ahead in the music industry. 

Launchpad is delivered by Music Local, and is supported by Youth Music, with public funding from the National Lottery through Arts Council England, PPL Giving, Leeds City Council funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and PRS Foundation's Talent Development Partnership supported by PPL

 Launchpad Music Industry Careers Day at Loading Bay, Bradford City Centre on Wednesday 25th June, delivered in partnership with BBC Introducing, Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture, Bradford Music and Bradford Producing Hub. 

The day is aimed at young people aged 14-18 in full time education, and will feature talks, panel discussions and workshops to showcase a range of roles and careers in the music industry, from performers and a variety of backstage jobs across live, radio, recording and more!

Speakers will be drawn from across Bradford and West Yorkshire as well as those from further afield, working in London for major organisations. Specifically, BBC Introducing will be bringing speakers from across the BBC networks to inspire the young people in attendance.

Schedule

Welcome & Introduction to Music Careers 

Introduction and Welcome from Christian Carlisle

Short talks / presentations from:

• Jenny Harris - Bradford 25 UK City of Culture

• Carl White - Bradford Music

• Sinead Campbell - Bradford Producing Hub

• Sam Nicholls / whiskas - Launchpad.

Panel Discussion - Building A Music Career in Bradford & West Yorkshire (Session 1 + 2)

Featuring:

• Satnam Galsian - Launchpad, artist

• Ben Crick - composer, conductor

• Kel - event promoter, Teen Scene

• Joe Tilston - artist, booker St Georges Hall

• Sally Bryant - artist manager

Panel Discussion - BBC Introducing Artists Journey talk (Session 3 + 4)

Featuring:

• Christian Carlisle – BBC Introducing in Leeds and Sheffield Presenter & BBC Introducing Rock on Radio 1 Cover Presenter.

• Sinead Campbell – artist

• Kenzo Jae – artist

• Vanessa Ndukuba – artist, AfroBaby

• Tanisha Badman

All Stars Production Workshop

Featuring:

• Allstar Overview & YU-Studios DAW demo

• DJ  workshop 

• Music tech workshop

BBC Introducing Outside Broadcast Workshop featuring:

Featuring:

• Shimla Randall – BBC Introducing Apprentice

• Kayah Hazell – BBC Introducing on 1Xtra Producer

• Richard Biddulph – BBC Local Engineer

Find out more about the speakers here: