Our SXSW 2026 adventure continued into the following week, as we had a couple more performances left in us before we got on the road back to Nashville.
This time, we were just up the road from where we left off at Sahara Lounge. There, we were joined once again by the good folks at Rhythm & Soul Radio — curators of yet another a magical experience — and the Rollin’ Souls house band, whose immeasurable talents were the wind beneath our wings, creating a send-off fit for an UnderDog.
It was there that Kelsey Muse brought the “Whispers” all the way to Austin, generating plenty of buzz that is still carrying weeks later.. Joining her on the bill was Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess, who graciously stepped into an available slot at the last minute to deliver poetry spoken straight from the soul.
Last month, the UnderDogs took a trip to Austin, TX to take part in this year’s SXSW week festivities. It was a chance to connect with old friends, make new ones, and bring the light of our community to the Texas Capitol.
We also lined up some performances for our artists, in conjunction with our friends at Rhythm & Soul Radio out of New York and featuring the wonderful talents of The Rollin’ Souls house band.
First up was a day at Kenny Dorham’s Backyard, operated by the East Austin Creative Coalition. A beautiful, sunny Saturday lent the perfect energy to this unique, all-outdoor artistic space — the perfect backdrop for UnderDogs like Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess, Nicólas Soul, and Yonna Jones to showcase their unique abilities and connect with new fans.
Enjoy these shots from this fantastic afternoon, and stay tuned. Part 2 is coming soon…
Such a life-changing experience was bound to have a sequel, and you had to know that we’d be running it back in the Live Music Capital of the World in 2026!
We’re teaming up with our friends at New York-based Rhythm & Soul Radio — who we met at another one of our favorite conferences, NOLA MusiCon — on two showcase events in Austin during SXSW week. The first one — titled Music, Art, Life — takes place on Saturday, March 14 at Kenny Dorham’s Backyard (1106 E. 11th St.) beginning at 12 p.m. This one features UnderDogs Yonna Jones and Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess as part of a full day of music. You can RSVP and find full lineup info here!
Then, join us on Monday, March 16 for The Rendezvous in ATX, taking place at Sahara Lounge(1413 Webberville Rd.) beginning at 5 p.m. That’s where you’ll catch UnderDogs Kelsey Muse and T.R.A.N.E. Spitta in their element as part of another full lineup.
Want to hang with us before the live music kicks off? We’ll also be at The Long Play Lounge (704 W. St. John’s Ave.) on Friday, March 13 between 8-11:30 p.m. for The Array Party. This special evening will feature the opportunity to network with creatives from around the world, while you listen and dance to tunes spanning multiple genres and decades.
Of course, we’ll be in town from March 11 all the way through the 16th, so there will be plenty of opportunities to connect throughout the city of Austin. Follow along here at The Blog, as well as on Instagram and YouTube, for updates before and during the big week!
Austin Breckenridge is the Executive Director of The A&R Foundation, a 501(c)(3) Texas nonprofit entity dedicated to transforming creative passions into sustainable businesses, by providing independent musicians and creative arts businesses with tools, resources, and education on entrepreneurship.
The A&R Foundation offers the Music Business Accelerator cohort, a 12-week program which teaches musicians and creative entrepreneurs the fundamentals of building their businesses. Austin joins us on The Quinn Spinn to discuss the program, which is coming to Nashville for the first time this spring, alongside details on how to apply.
A New Year has begun, and with it, you’ll find plenty of opportunities to connect with the music industry (and the creative world at large) throughout 2026.
We have seen first-hand that venturing out into the world and exploring the greater creative landscape can be transformative, leading to new ideas, partnerships, and collaborations that will elevate not only your creative platform, but those of the people around you. Not to mention, traveling gives you an opportunity to see new places, meet new people, and create unforgettable experiences.
With that, we’re here to give you a list of some of our favorite music industry conferences and festivals that will be well worth your time to check out in 2026.
You know about this one, right? Going strong since 1987, SXSW is the crossroads where creatives from all over the world come together to push creativity, technology, and society forward. Music is still very much a core component of the annual conference and festival.
The networking opportunities at SXSW — and all throughout Austin that week — are second to none. In our travels last year, we connected with so many new friends and collaborators whom either led to or enhanced our involvement in some of the other events on this list. If you’re looking for a tone-setter to kick your year into overdrive, this is the one!
A brand-new conference from the folks at Jump Global, Hits Home bills itself as “your space to reconnect — with the music, the mission, and the community that makes it all possible.” While speakers and schedule details are still forthcoming, the conference promises an alternative approach, pledging to“feature people and perspectives instead of topic-specific panels” alongside surprise moments peppered throughout the experience. Color us intrigued!
This also fills an important need in the Nashville landscape. With Music Biz migrating to Atlanta last year (and with other planned locations in the works), Nashville was left without a music conference that isn’t genre-specific. Hits Home has the potential to become Music City’s signature industry event.
Now in its second year as the re-imagined Canadian Music Week, Departure presents an opportunity to learn everything there is to know about the music industry North of the Border. The conference’s programming continues to expand, with seven planned conference tracks spanning music, technology, marketing, and more. Speakers at last year’s conference included Bryan Adams, Shaggy, Lindsay Ell, Chantal Kreviazuk, and many more.
In similar fashion to its U.S.-based cousin, SXSW London provides a global stage for the creators driving society forward. Based in Shoreditch in the heart of East London, this event (and the city in which its based) provides you and your music a gateway to the other side of Planet Earth, as well as an opportunity to discover new artists and iconic venues.
Musikfest (Bethlehem, PA) July 31-August 9 (Conference Aug. 2-4)
Of course, this list wouldn’t be complete without the nation’s largest free, non-gated music festival (and the pride and joy of our original hometown)!
Now in its 43rd year, Musikfest features close to 500 free performances by independent artists from over the world, as well as a full slate of renowned headliners every year. This year also marks the return of the Musikfest Music Industry Conference, a three-day opportunity to network, learn, and connect within the music industry. (Did we mention that we’re already planning to be involved?)
Heading a bit further into Ontario, this three-day, all-indie festival has become a staple of our year. A community-grown effort started by Russ and Valerie Robson, Gussapolooza features three stages, a vendor and artisan village, educational opportunities, on-site camping, and plenty of opportunities to connect before, during, and after festival hours. Not to mention, the lineup always provides a healthy sampling of North America’s hungriest, most talented independent artists. Our summer simply wouldn’t be complete without this one!
The Queen City is alive with arts and culture, and Confluence does an excellent job bringing the region’s top creative minds together to explore the many gems Charlotte has to offer. Of course, this occurs within the greater context of music industry education, with Charlotte’s reputation as a financial powerhouse playing a key role in helping independent artists and other changemakers move toward building sustainable careers.
NOLA MusiCon (New Orleans, LA) Dates TBD (Late October)
For the past two years, NOLA MusiCon has served as our grand tour finale. You can bet that we’ll be back again for the third consecutive year!
NOLA MusiCon brings professionals from across the musical world to the Big Easy. Attendees have the opportunity to immerse themselves in the city’s unique culture while learning from some of the best and brightest the industry has to offer. Overall, NOLA MusiCon combines New Orleans’ rich cultural heritage with the latest industry knowledge, all while advocating for a richer and more diverse music ecosystem.
Previous speakers include Nardwuar the Human Serviette, Dawn Richard, Samantha Fish, Todd Rundgren, and many more.
After last week’s epic trip to New Orleans for NOLA MusiCon — and a year that saw UMC everywhere, from Austin to London — we’re already dreaming of more travels in 2026.
Fortunately, new adventures are always on the horizon, for both artist and educator alike. In fact, some of our favorite haunts from the past couple years have open submission processes ongoing right now. So, if you’ve been bitten by the travel bug — and want to scratch the itch by doing your thing in new markets — we’ve compiled information on a few of our favorites right here.
SXSW London
Dates: June 1-6, 2026 Location: London, UK Deadlines: November 24 (Performer), December 7 (Speaker) Notes: The European edition of SXSW — now in its second year — has an open application process for those looking to make their mark overseas in 2026. Both emerging and established artists, as well as organizers of forward-thinking lineups, are encouraged to submit for performance consideration. That deadline is coming up quick, but you still have time. If you’re a speaker, you have a couple extra weeks to get your proposal together! Link to apply:SXSW London 2026 | Public Submissions Now Open
Musikfest
Dates: July 31-Aug. 9 (Festival); Aug. 2-4 (Conference) Location: Bethlehem, PA Deadlines: November 15, 2025 (Conference), February 28, 2026 (Festival) Notes: Musikfest itself is entering its 43rd year in 2026, and is the nation’s largest free, non-gated music festival, bringing nearly 1.5 million people to downtown Bethlehem in 2025. The Musikfest Industry Conference — now in its second year — aims to put world-class ideas and music industry knowledge (like yours) in front of the artists who comprise this growing, talent-rich regional arts hub (and UMC’s original hometown). Links to apply:Festival | Conference
Gussapolooza
Dates: Aug. 21-23 Location: Cookstown, ON, Canada Deadline: January 31, 2026 Notes: Our favorite weekend getaway is on for next August! This all-independent, three-day festival — nestled just an hour or so north of Toronto — brings some of the most notable rising acts from across North America together in the name of music, art, and community. Gussapolooza also invites vendors and artisans across the creative landscape to get involved. In that spirit, we’ll include the vendor application below, as well. Links to apply:Festival | Vendor
Which events should we know about? Did we miss any? Let us know, and we’ll add them to the list!
October and the home stretch of 2025 are set to begin with a bang tonight, right here in Nashville.
We’ll be back at Helping Our Music Evolve (615 Main St., Suite G1, Nashville) this evening for a double dose of fun with the UnderDogs, beginning at 6 p.m. with a live taping of our Have You Met…? interview series. Join host Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess as she welcomes outstanding UnderDogs and special guests to share about their projects, processes, and the ways life informs the creative journey. Tonight’s lineup includes:
Hip hop artist, producer, and 1/2 of Da’ Healerz Foundation Mecca
DJ, sound engineer, producer, and songwriter Agie Gee
Revolutionary hip hop artist and industry educator T.R.A.N.E. Spitta
Speaking of industry education, you’ll want to stick around after Have You Met…? concludes, as we offer a special, FREE presentation of our Building Your Authentic Artist Brand workshop. This workshop — as experienced at SXSW 2025, and soon to be experienced at Confluence Carolinas and NOLA MusiCon later this month — guides musicians (and other creatives) through the steps of developing a purpose-driven, values-based creative ecosystem. Building Your Authentic Artist Brand is designed to help artists identify the unique “why” behind their work; learn best practices for attracting their true audience across three key segments (fans, collaborators, and business partners); and build a sustainable, profitable creative business on their own terms.
Want the inside track on all of these opportunities and more? Consider checking out the buttons below!
(More details on NOLA are coming soon, we promise — and they’ll definitely be worth the wait!)
Of course, it all starts from a solid foundation at home. That’s why we’re kicking off the month by bringing our popular Building Your Authentic Artist Brand workshop back to Nashville!
Join us at Helping Our Music Evolve (615 Main St., Suite G1, Nashville) on Wednesday, October 1 from 7-9 p.m. This interactive workshop — as experienced during SXSW 2025 — guides musicians (and other creatives) through the steps of developing a purpose-driven, values-based creative ecosystem. Building Your Authentic Artist Brand is designed to help artists identify the unique “why” behind their work; learn best practices for attracting their true audience across three key segments (fans, collaborators, and business partners); and build a sustainable, profitable creative business on their own terms.
Building Your Authentic Artist Brand is free to attend, and it’s all part of the work we do to educate and connect artistpreneurs through the UMC Academy. You can learn more about what we offer here!
Even when I took this photo in March, I can’t say I saw this coming so soon…
While I was in Austin a few months ago, I had a chance to learn about the first-ever SXSW London event taking place this year. The team was hosting a breakfast networking event near their bus inside of the Expo Hall, and I decided to pop by and check it out to begin my first full day in town.
Well, one thing led to another. Not even three months later, I find myself typing this at Boston Logan International Airport. My destination? SXSW London, to explore an entirely new city (and continent) on behalf of UMC. In the process, I’ll also be exploring possibilities to bring UMC and its artist community across the pond (and vice versa) in future years.
Man… what an unreal year 2025 has been so far. It started with the original #RoadtoSXSW, which produced so many amazing memories and connections. Then, we found ourselves in Toronto at the start of May for the first-ever Departure Festival & Conference (formerly Canadian Music Week). Now, we’re headed to London — and who knows where else between now and New Year’s Eve!
(OK, maybe I know at least *some* of those details. Stay tuned!)
As for this week, I look forward to the connections and conversations to come — and, in true #GoUnderground fashion, I’m excited to get a sense of what London’s music community is truly all about.
I also (finally) downloaded the Jetpack app — the one that allows me to post to WordPress — on my new phone. So, I’ll be able to provide updates on the fly throughout the event. Stay tuned here to The Blog (and of course, Instagram and YouTube) as I share the highlights, lessons, and updates from UMC’s latest international quest.
