SONGS & WHISPERS Festival on Tour 2012

This SONGS & WHISPERS circuit is a unique “ready to go” 7 day tour across Germany organized by [ps] promotion. A total of four artists will be touring together and S&W is seeking 1 Sonicbids artist to participate in the self-guided tour for this circuit over the course of a week. This circuit will run from July 9- July 15, 2012 and will include a performance at the SONGS & WHISPERS stage at the Breminale Open-Air Festival.

This circuit offers an opportunity that includes six shows, in cities within 150 kilometres of Bremen with a set length of 35 – 45 minutes per show per artist. S&W is also offering free accommodation at their artist flat in Bremen and covering petrol from the first to the last show up to a total amount of $250 USD (Please read the Overview of SONGS & WHISPERS section below for more details). Bands will also have time for busking at the festival site and will retain 100% of merchandise sales.

SONGS & WHISPERS is specifically seeking acoustic, alternative folk, alternative country, Americana, bluegrass, rock, singer/songwriter, and soul acts, but would consider some other, more eclectic/unclassifiable performers as well. Just note that some of the venues are small spaces that do not allow drums or very loud acts.

This is a great opportunity for bands from the US, UK, Europe, and elsewhere to tour in Germany, build a fanbase in a new area, make new friends/contacts, and take their career to the next level. The selected band will be travelling and sharing performance dates with the other three artists on the circuit.

About Breminale Open-Air Festival

Breminale is a five day open air festival that has been running since 1987 and presents over 100 local, national and international musicians and all sorts of artists and performers on five stages. Stages are protected against wind and rain and an average of 150,000 people visit throughout the five day festival. SONGS & WHISPERS is running the Breminale opening stage on Wednesday, July 11, 2012, and the Breminale closing stage on Sunday, July 15, 2012.

For video footage of the SONGS & WHISPERS Festival on Tour 2012 take a look at the YouTube Playlist

Overview of SONGS & WHISPERS:

• Selected artists are booked on a 7-day tour circuit and given a detailed itinerary


• During the tour, all artists will drive together in a car provided by SONGS & WHISPERS. Car rental, insurance and fuel is covered from the first to the last venue the artist plays at. S&W will cover up to a total amount of $250 USD split between all artists. If this budget is not needed in total, the difference remains property of SONGS & WHISPERS.


• Bands are provided lodging at the artist flat in Bremen, Germany, which will be in driving distance of most gigs.


• Nearly all venues provide a free meal and drinks


• Bands can sell merch at shows and keep 100% of the income


• Bands will be promoted through email blasts, local radio/TV, press releases, posters, flyers, and more


• SONGS & WHISPERS maintains a 24/7 support hotline in case of any issues.

Check out previous SONGS & WHISPERS performers on their YouTube channel.

History of SONGS & WHISPERS:

Facing the fact that most labels, venues or promoters could or would not take the financial risk of working with an unknown artist, [ps] promotion decided to set up an infrastructure to promote, release and support music they like. Out of that, SONGS & WHISPERS began as a 5-day tour in January 2009 and had already grown into a 3 week circuit put on every single month by January 2010.

Compensation:

S&W shows are usually free of charge. A hat will be passed around by artists to collect tips during or after the show. S&W will give artists guidance about how to do this best. Bands may also collect live performance royalties through their PRO. Note that the "pass the hat" method is standard in Germany and generally brings in more than tips during performances than it might in many other countries.

Merchandise/busking:

Artists can sell any kind of merchandise during the show and keep 100% of the income. Artists typically sell CDs at shows and additional money can be made by busking and selling CDs on the street. It is doable and acceptable in most of the German city centres, even if its not 100% legal. The maximum amount of CDs sold while busking was 400 during a 6-week circuit. Former S&W artist Cajita says, "You will sell more CDs than you expect. Bring a lot."

Venues:

Shows take place in all kinds of traditional and non-traditional venues like music clubs, bars, hostels, record stores, churches, cinemas or even an organic farm. The list of venues for each circuit is very similar, and SONGS & WHISPERS has long-standing relationships with many of the venues, which range in capacity from 30 to 300. That makes arrangements for transportation and general logistics simpler, and some venues even have a built-in draw from local fans that come out to each SONGS & WHISPERS night at their local venue.

Transportation:

Any air or train travel will NOT be covered by Songs & Whispers

The artist will tour by car along with other artists, guided and backed up by a well planned schedule and travel book. There is a 24-hour hotline for artists to reach SONGS & WHISPERS for anything they need and bands will be greeted by a SONGS & WHISPERS rep upon their arrival and at multiple gigs throughout the circuit. Check out their Google Map for more information on the location of tour stops, lodging, transportation, and other useful stops like music shops, pharmacies, and recreation areas.

There is a 6-bed flat provided for artists in Bremen, Germany, which is in driving distance of most gigs.Please remember that bands must provide their own travel/air fare to get to the region, while transportation and accommodation during the tour is provided.

Promotion:

SONGS & WHISPERS promotes each of their circuits using messages to their email list, press releases to local media, posters and flyers distributed across Northwestern Europe, and through other means.

PA system/backline:

A sound system will be provided for all shows. Please keep in mind that, depending on the size of the venue and your repertoire, backline and amplification has to be adapted and stripped down to the local situation. Please note that there is no backline available in the venues, however S&W can provide a basic backline for an additional fee.



Testimonials:

• "After that first tour, I came back to the UK and did a few gigs. People commented on how much better and more confident I was live than before the tour. All I could think of was going back for more gigs in Europe. In 2010, I went back to Germany six times for various festivals and gigs. In 2011, I've already been three or four (once for the full tour again), and have plans to go back for more.... Suddenly, through S&W, the idea of being a performing, touring musician for a living has become a viable option." -Cajita [UK]




• "The amount of venues you get to play in such a short space of time [is what makes Song & Whispers special]. Personally, I’m very excited to play in venues that aren’t normally venues, so playing in art centers and theatres and wherever else. It means you play to audiences that normally don’t come to gigs." -Roger Illingworth of Buzzard Lope [UK]