Sound Roots

Sound Roots is delighted to announce the appointment of David Agnew as its new Chief Executive, following an extensive national recruitment process. David’s dedication and curatorial vision have been instrumental to the organisation’s growth and success since its founding. We have every confidence that, as Chief Executive, he will continue to drive Sound Roots forward, building on the outstanding work of his predecessor, Tom Besford. David has been with the organisation since its inception, launching the Homegrown festival in Bury and later founding the Manchester Folk Festival in 2018, which runs parallel with the English Folk Expo. He has also worked with The Met in Bury, first as Director and later as Artistic Director, while establishing the independent production company So It Is. In 2020, David joined Sound Roots as Artistic Director, a role he will continue alongside his new appointment. Please join us in welcoming David as our new Chief Executive! 👏

We're #hiring a new Chief Executive Officer 📢 Sound Roots are looking for a dynamic individual to lead the charity through the next period of growth and change. The successful candidate will be entrepreneurial, friendly, well networked and self-motivated. Using your passion, experience and love for folk, roots and acoustic music, you will provide leadership to all aspects of the organisation. View the job to find out more or share this post with your network.

📢📢📢 After 14 years with English Folk Expo, latterly Sound Roots, including 7 years as Chief Executive, I'll be moving on to my next challenge after WOMEX - Worldwide | Music | Expo this October. It's been a real joy to work with such fantastic colleagues, stakeholders, partners, musicians and all round wonderful people. For now, the search for a new Chief Exec has begun and I would be grateful if you could share the below link with your networks: https://lnkd.in/eqpi9jn4

Greater Manchester is supporting the growth of the region’s SMEs at SXSW. 🤝 Becki Coen, Programme Manager for the Digital, Creative & Tech Sectors as part of the Create Growth Programme at GM Business Growth Hub has attended as part of the Manchester delegation with four of the regions SMEs. Tom Besford, Chief Executive of Sound Roots; Natasha Hawthornthwaite, Co-Founder & Director at Northern Heart; Mike Todd, Chief Executive at Near-Life™; and Lucy Smith, Head of People and Growth at Doodledo have had the opportunity to develop relationships in the US and make the most of the SXSW festival. #SXSW #GMBGH #GreaterManchester #UKSPF Greater Manchester Combined Authority Marketing Manchester Sarah Wilkinson

Great meeting with the Texas Music Office this morning where we discussed regional music export, future partnership working, WOMEX - Worldwide | Music | Expo and more. Thanks to Steve and Brendon for inviting Tom along. Greater Manchester Combined Authority GM Business Growth Hub SXSW

Our Tom Besford is having a great first day at SXSW. Thanks to the GM Business Growth Hub and Greater Manchester Combined Authority Music Commission for the support!