The theme for this year's Liverpool Sound City is The Unsung Hero, focusing on the mavericks and mayhem makers who have helped shape the face of rock and roll.  The event which takes place at the Rum Warehouse at The Titanic Hotel, Stanley Dock from 21- 22 May will include Flaming Lips front man Wayne Coyne in conversation with his manager Scott Booker

Wayne Coyne

Julian Cope will be reflecting on a life less ordinary and explore some of the more abstract themes of a musical career. He’s also joined on the conference bill by post-punk luminary Viv Albertine who, will be examining the role of the unsung hero in popular culture and how their influence can massively outstrip initial recognition.

Also featuring in the ‘In Conversation’ programme is will be The Fall’s prolific front man Mark E. Smith, king of NYC punk and Ramones manager Danny Fields and ‘local lad done well’ Billboard hall of fame master of EDM, James Barton, creator of Cream.

David Pichilingi, CEO of Sound City, said: “We have made a seismic change to the whole profile of Sound City this year and that includes the conference. The Titanic Hotel is a splendid setting and certainly matches the new vision for Sound City. As ever we’ve cut through the staid, formulaic conference format that so many other industry events desperately cling to. Our aim is to spark debate, to explore the controversial, to stimulate business relationships and for people to genuinely get something from it, to leave inspired, energised and entertained.”

Panels this year include Another Brick in the Public School Wall, The Rise of Toff Rock that will examine the perceived decline of the working class music hero and the rise of the privileged few; Change a Word and Get a Third, Songwriting in the 21st Century, an in-depth look at the pitfalls of making – or losing – money in the modern industry and Bands & Brands, The Power of Rock & Roll Data exploring the pros, cons and potential revenue opportunities when aligning with corporate entities and advertising. More panel themes will be announced closer to the event.

Along side the conference, Sound City has announced an incredible line-up of live acts for the festival with many more names still to be revealed:

The Vaccines, The Flaming Lips, Belle & Sebastian, Roni Size Reprazent, The Thurston Moore Band, Gaz Coombes, Fucked Up, Evian Christ, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, The Ghost of a Saber Tooth Tiger, Dum Dum Girls, Cymbals Eat Guitars, Stealing Sheep, Dutch Uncles, Slaves, All We Are, Jane Weaver, Dave McCabe & The Ramifications, The Serpent Power, Bad Breeding, Apes,Single Mothers