goNorth 2008

goNorth is a festival for contemporary and cutting edge music of all genres. It aims to highlight the best emerging talent from Scotland and some of the best new contenders from the rest of the UK and further.



goNorth was launched in 2001 so acts from Northern Scotland and the Highlands & Islands could showcase in front of music industry and media representatives, on their own patch. The event also features seminars and Q&A sessions aimed at helping emerging artists, managers and labels.



Traditionally hosted in several venues on Aberdeen's Belmont Street, goNorth has become the largest newcomer festival in Scotland, with over 60 bands performing over two nights in 2008. GoNorth 2008 will be in Dundee on June 5-6, 2008. Sonicbids will be sponsoring a stage this year - and all 8 performance slots will be reserved for Sonicbids artists. The Sonicbids stage will feature rock n' roll artists only; however, electronic, acoustic, singer/songwriter and folk artists may apply for consideration for other stages at the festival.

goNorth features acts from all contemporary music genres, with the line-up split equally between artists from the Highlands, other parts of Scotland and the rest of the world. In recent years bands from the USA, Scandinavia, The Netherlands and the Basque Country have performed. Selected artists are compensated with a small payment for their performance. Moreover, the event boasts strong links with a number of international partners including Music Export Norway, Moving on Music Northern Ireland with which it jointly hosts an event at Manchester's In The City. Since 2004 goNorth has featured dedicated showcases hosted by several labels and publications including: The Fence Collective, Is This Music? and Planet Boo.



The event boasts media partnerships with The Fly, Record Of The Day, BBC Radio 1 Evening Session in Scotland, Is This Music? Music News Scotland and Music Week, with the latter producing a cover mount CD.



All goNorth gigs are free and open to the public. Music industry and media are asked to register.



Sister events, also supported by Highlands & Islands Enterprise include goHI, goBasque and goMoscow.