Creative Connectors

Aubrey Williams is the Event Director of Backwoods Festival held at Mulberry Mountain in Ozark, US. In this Creative Connectors episode, Aubrey takes us on a journey from yoga changing her life and how this brought her to the workshop space at festivals, a pivotal part in her path to becoming the Event Director. She shares how festivals acted as therapy for her and her partner and the magic they have offered her and so many others. We get the download on all the exciting things one can expect at Backwoods in 2024 along with delving into the importance these immersive events play in the lives of so many.

Gain a taste for the festival vibes in the USA and be reminded of the magic so many of us are trying to create.

It's time to sit back and enjoy the chat!

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Connect with Backwoods Festival.

Chris Williams is the Marketing and Programming Manager at Noisily Festival held in Leicester, UK. In this Creative Connectors episode, Chris takes us on a journey from his involvement in Glade Festival, through his decade in marketing and how he landed at Noisily Festival. He chats about his double life organising free raves whilst also working for the UK government and gets into the nitty-gritty of what it takes to successfully promote a festival in the modern era.

Gain insight into the state of the industry in the UK, where support is needed, along with trends, thoughts and some great festival stories.

Sit back and enjoy the chat!

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If you enjoy this episode and the Creative Connectors podcast please rate and review + share with a friend. Your support goes a long way.

Connect with Noisily Festival.

DJ Fish Eye is a Psytrance DJ, producer and co-founder of Intermind Records. In this Creative Connectors episode, we chat about his DIY days and the beginning of his connection to music and creativity. We delve into the barriers and blessings of knowledge sharing, identifying he was in the wrong career and his love for creativity. He speaks passionately about the utopian nature of the dancefloor and the freedom it offers society, whilst also getting real on the realities of being an international DJ going from country to country doing what you love.

From music to moving through creative blocks this episode has something for everyone interested in creativity.

Karen Bryant is the Chief Executive and Creative Director for Midsumma Festival which is held in VIC, Australia. In this Creative Connectors episode, Karen sheds light on the unique approach to Midsumma which provides an opportunity to choose your ownfestivaladventure across 22 days and their ongoing work in mentorship and community development. She shares her journey from theatre directing and how this took her into the world of festivals and working specifically on a festival that spoke to LGBTQIA+ communities and beyond. We delve into her role in helping Midsumma become a credible arts organisation that has grown its attendance by 66% and its focus on connecting to new communities.

We discuss the honest challenges of bringing diverse communities together and the power of giving unheard voices a safe platform to be represented along with the transformation this has offered individuals.

Sit back and enjoy the chat and discover the many facets and opportunities that Midsumma offers Victorian communities and beyond.

Jared is the Creative Director for Skydance Festival which is held in NSW, Australia. In this Creative Connectors episode, Jared talks us through what brought him and the founders to create a festival on top of a mountain post covid. We delve into the impact that other events like Burning Man and Subsonic had on his perceptions of challenging societal norms and breaking the mold through collective spaces of culture, community and conscious actions. We chat about the challenges of hosting an event in such a unique location, tales of 140km winds and the personal challenge of having too many ideas to share with the world. Jared opens up about his long-term relationship with music and creativity, what you can expect at Skydance and their intention to surprise patrons and provide opportunities for personal growth and igniting the inner child.

Sit back and enjoy the chat and let’s think of festivals a celebratory weekends.

Flufee is a Conscious Showman who is involved in the creation and organisation of Shindig Festival in the UK. In this Creative Connectors episode Flufee takes us on a wild and wonderful journey of how his life became entwined with events, performance and creative expression. He discusses the impact substances and key books had on his life path, how he ended up joining the circus, got the name Flufee and combined performance and activism. We delve into stories of festival chaos, the driving force behind his creativity and his journey with Shindig and the amazing humans who have influenced and supported his journey.

Sit back and enjoy this wide-ranging and fun chat with Flufee.

Felix Beltran is one of the Directors of Parallel Festival which is held in Spain. In this Creative Connectors episode, Felix talks about the influential experiences and festivals that inspired him and his co-directors to develop something of their own, the key role festivals play in helping us to navigate life's challenges and the importance of giving back and respecting the local community.

Felix provides insight into the challenges they've faced hosting a festival in the mountains, specifically one that is the first of its kind in the area. Hear about the magic, simplicity and intention behind Parallel and what they're all about. Sit back and enjoy the chat as we are transported to Port del Comte for a slice of the music and intimacy that Parallel Festival is known and loved for.

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Melissa Carey is a multidisciplinary artist from Perth whose art has been shown at multiple festivals across Australia and beyond. In this Creative Connectors podcast episode, Melissa takes us through her journey from the corporate world to full-time artist and the realisation she had around sharing her gifts. She discusses her love and drive to encourage others to tap into their creativity, how to move through creative blocks and her own creative processes. We chat about the know-how needed to make your art a profitable business and the beautiful moments of community and connection that her art have facilitated at festivals.

If you're looking for tips on quietening your inner critic and tapping into your creative side this is the episode for you.

Sit back and enjoy the chat.

Connect with Melissa:
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Ryan Wilmot is music producer and Director of GMC Events a UK live event production agency, specialising in festivals, music and extreme sporting events around the world. Some of the projects Ryan's involved in include Shindig Festival, The Common at Glastonbury, Circolumbia, Shambala Festival and Arcadia to name a few. In this Creative Connectors podcast episode Ryan discusses the impact the acid house rave scene and free party movement had in him finding a creative career. How open-mindedness and integrity are the fundamentals to everything he invests time in and the importance of a solid business plan for festivals to thrive. Gain insight into Ryan's perspectives on never believing the hype and following the signs of the universe, whilst also learning about social media and its deconstruction of community and impact on festivals. If you're into community, music, creativity and want to hear from someone who has a wealth of experience in successful events and festivals this is the episode for you. Sit back and enjoy the chat. Connect with Ryan and his projects via: GMC Website https://shindigfestival.co.uk https://www.uncommonrecords.co.uk https://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/check-out-the-commons-2022-line-up/ http://circolombia.com/shows/ https://www.shambalafestival.org https://www.arcadiaspectacular.com https://bristolpride.co.uk

Donna Sparx is Head Hoop Honcho at Hoop Sparx, which offer hula hoop classes, community, courses and beyond both in and outside of festivals. In this Creative Connectors podcast episode Donna takes us through the unusual path she took to running a successful hooping business, the role festivals played in this journey and how she had dreams of a different circus-related journey. Discover a new perspective and the power of the hoop as Donna delves into the benefits of moving your body in new and unfamiliar ways, along with the mirror moments and self-reflection this practice can offer.

We explore the meaning and the ways in which we can foster a sense of community in the day-to-day. The impact of small actions, the power of "I can't yet" and how Hoop Sparx and it's offering is evolving and expanding for the future.

If you're into hooping, understanding and experiencing community and enjoy fantastic tangents and meandering conversations this is an episode for you!

Sit back and enjoy the chat.

Follow Donna and the Hoop spare journey via the below links:
Instagram
Facebook
Website