Today LISTEN are excited to announce further details of LISTEN LISTEN 2020, their imminent two-day conference, which will take place at the newly refurbished Brunswick Mechanics Institute on March 28 and 29. Miss Blanks will deliver a keynote address sharing news of her new agency Point Blank Group, while Ripley Kavara will introduce FAMILI – an electronic music collective of Pasifika and First Nations queer artists that recently sold out their premiere launch event. Finally, the conference will see Boonwurrung elder Aunty Carolyn Briggs join Dr Suzi Hutchings to speak on the topic of music, youth, justice, and the transmission of culture.

Neil Morris (DRMNGNOW) will also join representatives from Real Youth Music Studios (RYMS), Girls Rock!, and music therapy researchers to speak on intergenerational music practices. Local legends of Australian music and broadcasting such as Namila Benson, Thando, Lucreccia Quintanilla and Lady Lash will come together to speak on the topic of parenthood in music. PLUS international DJ heavyweights CCL (USA) and Object Blue (UK) join Raag Bhatia to tackle conversation around representation and safety in electronic music. Their round table discussion will highlight forms of activism in the club, coinciding with Cool Room’s 5th birthday party on March 28 which features LISTEN Conference Keynote speakers DJ Haram (USA), CCL (USA), and Jennifer Loveless.

This year’s conference takes a clear focus on programming sessions relevant across the age spectrum. In addition to roundtable discussions on parents and intergenerational work in music, there are workshops and panels with a youth focus. These sessions, run for and by young people, will touch on DJing, beat making, performing, and working behind the scenes.

Various workshops will explore issues such as accessibility in music venues and events, vocal technology, music journalism, and bystander intervention.

This adds to the already impressive lineup announced in January. Local and international keynote speakers will be paired with other artists and industry professionals for unique ‘in conversation’ sessions. Keynote speakers include Yamatji & Gumbaynggirri soul artist Emma Donovan in conversation with Rachael Hocking (NITV, Still Here), Philadelphia based DJ and producer DJ Haram in conversation with Roj Amedi, London based DJ and producer object blue in conversation with Jennifer Loveless, and Central Arrernte woman, social anthropologist and Indigenous studies lecturer Dr Suzi Hutchings.

Find more details and tickets for LISTEN LISTEN 2020 here.

LISTEN LISTEN 2020

Saturday 28 March – Sunday March 29
Brunswick Mechanics InstituteKeynote Conversations with:
Miss Blanks
Ripley Kavara
Emma Donovan with Rachael Hocking
Aunty Carolyn Briggs with Dr Suzi Hutchings
DJ Haram (USA) with Roj Amedi
object blue (UK) with Jennifer Loveless

Plus roundtable discussions on intergenerational music practice, youth music practices, parenthood in music, activism in the club; and workshops with Liminal Magazine, Sound School, Bandmates Victoria, and more.

With a focus on inclusivity, ticket prices include a variety of options and the conference will offer Auslan interpreting, childcare services, and disability access. As with all of their events, LISTEN will donate 10% of ticket sales to Warriors of the Aboriginal Resistance (WAR).

Find more details and tickets here.

LISTEN began in 2014, when a collective of women, gender diverse, and queer musicians in Melbourne were struck by the gender imbalances prevalent in the scene around them, and decided to create ‘LISTEN’ in response. Initially intended to be a way to re-write music history with a feminist perspective, LISTEN evolved into a dynamic collective of artists, writers, activists and everyday music fans. The collective is working towards a music industry that truly represents a broad community of women, gender non-conforming and LGBTQIA+ people, people of colour, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, people with disabilities, and other marginalised folk in Australian music.

LISTEN presents live music showcase events, community discussions and conferences, and utilises media to document and promote the work of women and gender non conforming people in the Australian music industry. LISTEN generates resources, experiences, opinion pieces, musical ideas, paraphernalia and mix-tapes that seek to spark and cultivate progress in Australian music.