A music conference designed to make the industry more inclusive is returning for its third edition.
Co-founded by Solent University graduates Matt Bisgrove and Jamie Ford, the Parallel Music Conference aims to break down barriers for people from diverse or low-income backgrounds.
Returning to Southampton on April 23 and 24, this year’s event is the largest yet, thanks to funding from Arts Council England’s Grassroots Music Fund.
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Jamie Ford, co-founder and programme director, said: "We can’t wait to champion what the Southampton, Hampshire, and Isle of Wight music communities and ecosystems have to offer, to the rest of the country.
"In addition, we’re incredibly grateful for the support from Arts Council England’s Supporting Grassroots Music fund for 2026 – enabling us to support and champion communities more than ever."
The two day conference will take place across multiple venues, including The Spark.
James Hannam, course lead for BA (Hons) Music Business and BA (Hons) Event Management at Solent University, said: "Seeing the Parallel Music Conference grow from an initial idea into a major fixture in the city’s cultural calendar has been incredibly rewarding.
"Matt and Jamie have shown real drive, creativity, and passion for making the music industry more accessible, and that aligns perfectly with what we aim to achieve at Solent.
"All of us at Solent are proud to have supported them from the start and can’t wait to see how far they take it this year."
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Last year’s conference saw nearly 70 per cent growth in attendance and featured speakers such as Ruth Barlow, chair of the Association of Independent Music, Gareth Mellor, senior vice president for global marketing and communications at Downtown Music, and James Moodie, managing director at Distiller Music.
Mr Ford and Mr Bisgrove have also hired first-year Solent student Denisha Skilton as conference assistant, giving her early industry experience.
The full line-up of speakers for the 2026 Parallel Music Conference will be announced later this month.
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