SAE announces live acts and panel sessions for Sound City 2026

SAE students and alumni will be performing at Sound City 2026 in Liverpool with our teams hosting panel events as part of the conference. 

Taking place 2nd – 3rd May at various venues across Liverpool, SAE is delighted to be once again working with the Sound City team. 

Earlier in the year, ICMP and SAE were unveiled as the festival’s Principle Creative Education Partner with the partnership meaning that members of our creative community have the chance to perform at the event alongside gaining invaluable event management experience too. 

Since 2022, SAE has been a partner with the 2025 edition our biggest yet. The partnership included naming rights for a dedicated stage with two daily SAE student band slots, as well as a diverse student experience programme, career development opportunities, and work placements.

These were within the Audio, Film, and Music Business management sectors, closely linked to the Sound City Festival and conference.

Castella, Cristina Hart, Electric Enemy, Ella Eliza, Fez, FreshFlowz, Madeleine May, and Montine, Roukaya B, The Viz and Saint Clair are among the artists performing at Liverpool’s legendary Jacaranda venue. 

Commenting, Nicky Williams, ADE Careers Manager (for both ICMP and SAE), said: “We’re delighted to be partnering with Sound City once again and to be contributing such a wide array of activity across the whole weekend!” 

“From industry panels and mentoring opportunities, to showcasing our students and alumni from both Liverpool and Leeds campuses, this partnership reflects our shared commitment to supporting the next generation of talent.” 

SAE events include a panel titled More Than One Job: The Reality of Modern Music Careers, held at the Spanish Caravan Courtyard. We will also be hosting The Value of the Song in Today’s Music Industry, presented by ICMP/SAE in Partnership with the Ivors Academy alongside offering industry networking and mentoring sessions.

Duncan Lewis, SAE Music Business Lecturer, said: “From a music business perspective it’s been another year of rapid developments, challenges and opportunities and conference day at Sound City is where we get the chance to hear and gain insight from leading industry voices.”

“It’s going to be a fascinating and exciting time ahead too, with the inevitable march of AI, the attention towards superfans and life beyond streaming…and vitally the survival of our grassroots music venues… see you there.”

Find out more about our Sound City partnership.

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