Pitch 2023: Scotland's Premier Hip Hop and Underground Culture Conference Reveals Initial Lineup

Pitch, Scotland's highly anticipated international conference of hip hop and underground culture, has announced the first wave of artists and speakers set to participate in the event. Taking place over the weekend of Saturday, August 19th, and Sunday, August 20th, across three venues in Glasgow, Pitch 2023 promises to be an immersive and dynamic experience for music enthusiasts.

The inaugural day of Pitch 2023 will feature captivating performances by Lamaya and Oakzy B, two charismatic artists who have been making waves in the Scottish music scene. Lamaya, a Nigerian-Scottish artist known for her fusion of drill and R&B, has already impressed Glasgow audiences with her unique sound. Oakzy B, a talented grime MC from Calton, recently showcased his skills at the Braehead Arena for the debut PRTY festival. These performances will mark the end of the first day, which primarily focuses on local musicians and creatives working in Scotland.

The second day, known as Pitch360, will shift the spotlight to the global stage, featuring performances by Ogun from Wales, Theolodge from the USA, and Canada's Kxng Wooz. This diverse lineup showcases the conference's commitment to highlighting talent from around the world.

Pitch 2023 has also provided a platform for emerging artists. Through a call-out for submissions, four Scottish acts and three international acts will be selected to perform at the showcases. The chosen Scottish artists will receive development grants of £500 from the PRS Foundation, along with performance fees, delegate passes, and mentoring sessions, further supporting their artistic growth.

Since its inception as a one-day conference, Pitch has rapidly expanded and evolved into a full weekend event. The upcoming edition of Pitch is expected to attract delegates and artists from the USA, Canada, Sweden, Portugal, and all four nations of the UK, solidifying its position as a key date in Scotland's music calendar.

Richy Muirhead, Co-founder of Pitch, expressed his excitement about the conference's growth, stating, "Our big ambition is to create a unique platform for artists and industry professionals at all stages in their career to build relationships, learn, and embrace an array of talent from Scotland and beyond."

The conference will take place across Saint Luke's, Many Studios, and Drygate Brewery events space. Attendees can expect panel discussions, music feedback sessions, one-on-one interactions with industry figures, open mic sessions, and live performances from musicians, dancers, and spoken word artists.

Ticket registration for Pitch 2023 is now open, and the full program will be revealed in July. The conference will also feature events focusing on mental health and well-being, as well as the development of rap and underground music scenes outside of London.

Pitch 2023 has attracted an impressive lineup of speakers, including Sanjeev Mann, A&R at Imvaize Music Group and artist/activist Supermann On Da Beat. Other notable speakers include rap/poetry creative Bee Asha Singh, founder of the mental health charity Spit It Out, Lloyd Ross, who raises awareness of drug violence through his work as hip hop artist Kryptik, and soul-jazz musician Call Me Unique.

International perspectives will be provided by Peter Astedt from Sweden's showcase festival Future Echoes, Andrew Ogun from the Arts Council of Wales, Bernardo Queiros from Portugal's Westway Lab Conference, Denise Allan from 677 Media Management in Glasgow, and Durell Peart, an artist manager and music industry consultant.

Pitch's partnerships with Music Nova Scotia (Canada), FOCUS Wales (UK), New Skool Rules (Netherlands), and other influential organizations will contribute to the conference's global outlook. Over the past year, Pitch, presented by the Scottish Alternative Music Awards (SAMA), has successfully promoted Scottish artists abroad, showcasing talents such as AB, Bee Asha, Bemz, Kryptik, Namesbliss, Vagrant Real Estate, Psweatpants, and Clarissa Woods.

With its diverse lineup, enriching panel discussions, and focus on fostering connections within the industry, Pitch 2023 promises to be an unmissable event for music lovers and professionals alike.

Showcase tickets priced £10 and free day passes are available at https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pitch-scotland-2023-scotlands-conference-of-hip-underground-culture-tickets-655745661927?aff=oddtdtcreator