Category Archives: UMC UnderDogs

Apply to These 2026 Festivals & Conferences

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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!

Finding a Deeper ‘Innerstanding’ (ft. Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess)

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Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess is a spoken word poet, speaker, author, and mindset coach whose work begins from within. Jazzy’s raw transparency makes her a force to be reckoned with: a creative’s creative whose ability to lean into her truth inspires the community around her.

Jazzy makes her Quinn Spinn debut today to chat about a variety of topics, including creativity in the age of AI, the inspiration found through love, and the importance of doing our own inner work.

Opening theme: REVEL 9 – All I’ve Become

Follow Jazzy: ⁠⁠https://instagram.com/goddessmindsetjazzy⁠
More about The Quinn Spinn: ⁠⁠https://umcworldwide.com/thequinnspinn⁠

Exploring the Intersection of Business and Art (from NOLA MusiCon)

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One of the many highlights of NOLA MusiCon — seriously, we UnderDogs will be talking about this one for months — was the chance to sit down with David Adams and the folks at Elation Entertainment to join the live NOLA MusiCon broadcast of the Elation Podcast.

My interview — part of an epic three-hour episode featuring folks from around the conference — starts at 1:51:30. We discuss the ways environments like NOLA MusiCon give creatives a seat at the table, the importance of building genuine community in the music industry, and the one decision that defined my (and UMC’s) year.

TUNE IN: UnderDogs Across Borders, Live from New Orleans!

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The UnderDogs are in New Orleans, getting ready to take the Big Easy by storm all week long during NOLA MusiCon.

It starts tonight at 5 p.m. with a double round of Have You Met…?, featuring interviews with six creatives from Nashville and beyond. Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess interviews Yonna Jones, Joe Baze, and yours truly at 5 p.m. Then, our friend Mandy Ortiz from DAWn Audio will sit down with DJX, Amelia Ray, and Mac Infinity beginning at 6 p.m.

Then, stay tuned as we present UnderDogs Across Borders: Live from New Orleans beginning at 7 p.m. A stacked lineup of artists from New Orleans, Nashville, and beyond will take the stage at Cafe Istanbul (2372 St. Claude Ave., New Orleans), and we have plenty of surprises in store. Tune in below, and don’t forget to donate to help our artists elevate in their careers!

THIS MONDAY: UnderDogs Across Borders Reaches New Orleans!

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Before NOLA MusiCon officially kicks off this Tuesday, we invite you to get a head start on the festivities — whether you’re in New Orleans, or anywhere in the world with internet!

Immediately following our Have You Met…? interview broadcast, we’ll stay put at Cafe Istanbul (2372 St. Claude Ave., New Orleans) to offer you a special UnderDogs Across Borders lineup, featuring artists from across the Southeastern U.S. Several UnderDogs are making the trip to perform alongside rising stars on the New Orleans local scene, offering an exciting preview of the magic to come throughout the week.

The event is open to the public for a $10 suggested donation, which will directly support our ongoing UnderDogs Across Borders campaign. And, if you can’t attend in person, we have good news: this one will be broadcast on YouTube, as well! Funds from this campaign help us connect our creative community to amazing opportunities across the musical landscape — just like those we’ve helped create this year in the Big Easy!

As for the lineup? We think you’ll like it! It features performances from (in order of appearance):

Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess
Ja Fearce & Azure Skyz
Yonna Jones
DJX & DJ Agie Gee
Kelsey Muse
Kyle Alexander

Want to reserve your spot? Get tickets here, or make your donation to support UMC as we bring our UnderDogs Across Borders once again!

Meet the UnderDogs (and Special Guests) Monday Night in New Orleans!

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We’ve been talking about NOLA MusiCon for months, and it’s finally almost time to take the Starship UnderDog down to New Orleans and do this thing!

We’ve already told you about this amazing conference, and the official Crescent City Crossroads showcases that we’re co-producing alongside our friends at DAWn Audio and Tunetrax.

But… what if we told you there is more to the story? (Around here, there always is!)

Before the conference officially gets underway, we’ll be at Cafe Istanbul (2372 St. Claude Ave., New Orleans) this Monday, October 27 as we preview this year’s NOLA MusiCon with a special UnderDogs Across Borders live event. Join us in-person or online beginning at 5 p.m. CT, as we present two rounds of our popular Have You Met…? interview series. Round 1 (5 p.m.) will feature some of our Nashville crew, while Round 2 (6 p.m.) will highlight creatives from the Big Easy and elsewhere!

Round 1 (5 p.m.):
Host: Jazzy the Uncontrolled Goddess
Guests: Yonna Jones, Joe Baze, Gerard Longo

Round 2 (6 p.m.):
Host: Mandy Ortiz (DAWn Audio)
Guests: DJX, Amelia Ray, Mac Infinity

You’ll want to stick around after that. Beginning at 7 p.m., we’ll remain at Cafe Istanbul to bring you an UnderDogs Across Borders interstate showcase, featuring live performances from an array of artists. We’ll be dropping that full lineup a bit later this week, so stay tuned!

Da’ Healerz, Guidance Whiskey Team Up on ‘Everybody Need Some Guidance’

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Back in August, Da’ Healerz treated us to the live debut of their then-forthcoming single, “Everybody Need Some Guidance,” released in conjunction with Tennessee’s own Guidance Whiskey.

In case you need a refresher, here’s a video of that performance.

As it turns out, the studio version goes just as hard. Released on October 17, “Everybody Need Some Guidance” is a stadium-ready anthem which commemorates the launch of Guidance Whiskey’s Guidance Music imprint. It’s only appropriate that the first release is a celebration of ambition, creativity, and community — complete with a toast over its hard-hitting instrumental.

The release comes as Da’ Healerz get set to join us in New Orleans for Crescent City Crossroads, NOLA MusiCon‘s official after hours showcases presented alongside our friends at DAWn Audio and Tunetrax. The showcases take place Oct. 28 and 29 at two unique Big Easy venues, and full details are here.

Standing Tall Above the ‘Whispers’ (ft. Kelsey Muse)

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Kelsey Muse grew up in the music industry. Along the way, she’s had the opportunity to uncover her true artistic voice. On this episode of The Quinn Spinn, we dive into Kelsey’s journey, and how she maintains focus through all of the ‘Whispers’ along the way.

Opening theme: REVEL 9 – All I’ve Become

Follow Kelsey: ⁠https://instagram.com/kelseymusemusic⁠
More about The Quinn Spinn: ⁠https://umcworldwide.com/thequinnspinn

An Exclusive Talk with Nashville’s Rising Star, Blvck Wizzle

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Hey UMC Fam, it’s your girl SADGURL!

This summer, I had the pleasure of partnering with Melodic Convos (part of the Mobile Melody Show) for an exclusive talk with Nashville’s most beloved rising star, Blvck Wizzle. This Nashville native has captured the hearts of the city and held the public’s attention since the moment he began sharing his signature songs at open mics in 2015. Blvck Wizzle mixes guitars, storytelling, and unforgettable rhymes to create a refreshing and undeniably catchy sound.

Wizzle has had a whirlwind summer, from being featured on the album Step Brothers 4 Life with Tennessee legends Starlito and Dontrip, to Mayor Freddie O’Connell dubbing Wizzle’s record “Cashville Be Ballin” the new city anthem!

Watch this interview for a closer look at this country boy’s inspirations and the pivotal moments that initiated the unfolding of this superstar in the making.

Everything You Need to Know About Tonight’s UMC Events in Nashville

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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!

BECOME AN UNDERDOG!
ENROLL IN UMC ACADEMY
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