Pirate has announced the second iteration of their Residency scheme, a talent development programme open to bands, solo artists, and DJs in the UK, US, Germany, and Ireland. The scheme sets out to create paid performance opportunities for emerging live acts and DJs at festivals and venues, as well as guest slots and airplay on radio stations.

In 2024, a brand new cohort of UK and EU residents will perform at a variety of festivals across the country, including Parklife, Truck, Tramlines, Y Not, Forbidden Forest, and El Dorado. Similarly, in the US, resident artists will take the stage at festivals such as Shabang, Cascade Equinox, and the Empire State Music & Arts Festival, as well as LA nightlife venues Catch One and El Cid. The Residency scheme also offers the chance for residents to fill guest DJ slots and to have their tracks played on partner radio stations, namely London’s Voices and LA’s dublab.

Rebecca Mason-Evans, Residency Lead at Pirate, commented on the programme’s progress: “With Residency’s launch last year, we saw over 30 of our artists play at festivals, some for the first time. Our is aim to keep widening these paths for new talent to reach new audiences.”

London-based DJ Rodney played her first festival show at Boomtown as part of the 2023 Residency scheme and has since been building gigging momentum across the UK, even throwing her own parties in the capital through her newly launched promoter, Circuit. “Honestly, getting to play Boomtown through the Pirate Residency still feels so surreal to me. It was literally a dream from start to finish. Seeing my name on the lineup with such heavy hitters and being able to play my favourite tunes to such a big crowd was insane. The backstage area was such a vibe too; it felt like a sort of base where you’d start and finish your days. I met so many incredible people there — DJs, film crews, promoters, the Pirate team, etc. The opportunities since then have been massive too.” – Rodney, 2023 Pirate Resident

Applications to the Pirate’s Residency scheme opened on 29 February and will close on 17 March. As well as filling in a short form, live acts and producers must submit original music, and DJs must submit a mix. This year, the programme is set to expand its impact, aiming to offer more comprehensive career support for artists by offering mentorship from industry veterans, studio access, and promotion through Pirate’s extended network of partners, as well as gig and radio opportunities. The goal of the Pirate’s Residency programme is to foster a supportive community that enables artists to grow, collaborate, and propel their careers forward, reinforcing Pirate’s role in supporting the next generation of music talent inside and outside of the studio.

Applications for Residency 2024 are now open until March 17th. DJs, bands, producers, and vocalists can apply for the scheme here: https://pirate.com/en/artist-hub/residency/

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