Archieven: Conference

Steven Matrick is owner of artist management company Kepler Events, Co-Founder of the New Colossus Festival and the Berlin/NYC based record label Dedstrange.

Kepler Events has managed Brooklyn Noise Rock legends A Place to Bury Strangers for the past 17 years as well as upcoming Brooklyn Psych Rock band GIFT who recently released their 2nd album, ‘Illuminator’ on Captured Tracks.

Steven is one of the founders of the New Colossus Festival, a 5 day showcase festival the week before SXSW featuring 150 bands at 8 independent music venues on the Lower East Side of NYC. Its sixth edition is coming up March 4-9, 2025.

Steven regularly attends showcase conferences as a panelist/speaker and talent scout including Reeperbahn Festival, Finland Music Week, Ireland Music Week, Tallinn Music Week, M For Montreal, Iceland Airwaves, Mondo NYC and many others.

Steven has also recently founded Dedstrange, a record label in partnership with Oliver Ackermann of A Place To Bury Strangers and Berlin DJ Mitch O’ Sullivan whose roster includes Berlin Punk Rock bands Jealous, Plattenbau, The Pleasure Majenta & Data Animal as well as Wah Together, GIFT, Randy Randall of No Age, Lunacy, Pons, Goblin Daycare, Eazyhead and of course, A Place To Bury Strangers.

Steven has also been a reknowned Talent Buyer for the past 15 years at Pianos, Berlin, Lola, Santos Party House and Monkey Town having previously worked with Woodstock Promoter Michael Lang on Woodstock ’99, Amsterjam and many other festivals and events.

Steven Matrick is owner of artist management company Kepler Events, Co-Founder of the New Colossus Festival and the Berlin/NYC based record label Dedstrange.

Kepler Events has managed Brooklyn Noise Rock legends A Place to Bury Strangers for the past 17 years as well as upcoming Brooklyn Psych Rock band GIFT who recently released their 2nd album, ‘Illuminator’ on Captured Tracks.

Steven is one of the founders of the New Colossus Festival, a 5 day showcase festival the week before SXSW featuring 150 bands at 8 independent music venues on the Lower East Side of NYC. Its sixth edition is coming up March 4-9, 2025.

Steven regularly attends showcase conferences as a panelist/speaker and talent scout including Reeperbahn Festival, Finland Music Week, Ireland Music Week, Tallinn Music Week, M For Montreal, Iceland Airwaves, Mondo NYC and many others.

Steven has also recently founded Dedstrange, a record label in partnership with Oliver Ackermann of A Place To Bury Strangers and Berlin DJ Mitch O’ Sullivan whose roster includes Berlin Punk Rock bands Jealous, Plattenbau, The Pleasure Majenta & Data Animal as well as Wah Together, GIFT, Randy Randall of No Age, Lunacy, Pons, Goblin Daycare, Eazyhead and of course, A Place To Bury Strangers.

Steven has also been a reknowned Talent Buyer for the past 15 years at Pianos, Berlin, Lola, Santos Party House and Monkey Town having previously worked with Woodstock Promoter Michael Lang on Woodstock ’99, Amsterjam and many other festivals and events.

Joss Yerbury is an artist manger from the UK, working for the management arm of End of the Road Festival. Their current roster incudes Ezra Furman, The Orchestra (For Now), Modern Woman, The Golden Dregs and Personal Trainer who he has worked with since the Big Love Blanket campaign. Starting his career at Kartel Music Group, over the last 15 years plus he has worked across PR, management, distribution and record labels, including starting his own small imprint Nothing Fancy.

Joss Yerbury is an artist manger from the UK, working for the management arm of End of the Road Festival. Their current roster incudes Ezra Furman, The Orchestra (For Now), Modern Woman, The Golden Dregs and Personal Trainer who he has worked with since the Big Love Blanket campaign. Starting his career at Kartel Music Group, over the last 15 years plus he has worked across PR, management, distribution and record labels, including starting his own small imprint Nothing Fancy.

John Harbison runs London based management company Balance Artists. Our current roster includes Ugly, Terra Twin and producer Michael Smith. We are dedicated to building long-term, sustainable careers for emerging artists. We focus on strategic growth, audience expansion, and securing industry partnerships that empower artists to thrive in today’s evolving music landscape. We have curated festival stages at SXSW and The Great Escape – as well as running regular new music nights in London showcasing breaking acts.

John Harbison runs London based management company Balance Artists. Our current roster includes Ugly, Terra Twin and producer Michael Smith. We are dedicated to building long-term, sustainable careers for emerging artists. We focus on strategic growth, audience expansion, and securing industry partnerships that empower artists to thrive in today’s evolving music landscape. We have curated festival stages at SXSW and The Great Escape - as well as running regular new music nights in London showcasing breaking acts.

Hendrik Wittock is a creative all-rounder with 10 years of experience in content creation and branding, currently working as Music Communication expert at Ghent (BE) Arts Centre VIERNULVIER. 
Previously he has worked in the (content) marketing teams of VICE Media in Amsterdam and Brussels, and as the Festival Coordinator for the Brussels based Fifty Lab Music Festival for emerging talent. 

He’s an active member of the Antwerp drag and party collective Send in the Clowns, and DJs as rostgoed. As a DJ he’s known for his energetic and predominantly queer selection, which landed him gigs alongside artists like Romy, I.Jordan, Trixie Mattel, Coucou Chloe, Chippy Nonstop and many more. 

Hendrik Wittock is a creative all-rounder with 10 years of experience in content creation and branding, currently working as Music Communication expert at Ghent (BE) Arts Centre VIERNULVIER.
Previously he has worked in the (content) marketing teams of VICE Media in Amsterdam and Brussels, and as the Festival Coordinator for the Brussels based Fifty Lab Music Festival for emerging talent.

He's an active member of the Antwerp drag and party collective Send in the Clowns, and DJs as rostgoed. As a DJ he's known for his energetic and predominantly queer selection, which landed him gigs alongside artists like Romy, I.Jordan, Trixie Mattel, Coucou Chloe, Chippy Nonstop and many more.

My name is Chantal Neeten and I’m Head of Publicity at Epitaph / ANTI- Records (home of artists like Bad Religion, Architects, Sleep Theory, Mannequin Pussy, Mamalarky, Tom Waits, MJ Lenderman, Waxahatchee, Sam Akpro and Curtis Harding to name a few)
From our HQ in Amsterdam I coordinate all press and radio/TV promotion for the UK and Europe, working closely with a selection of indie PR teams in each territory, creating and executing album and tour publicity campaigns together.

My name is Chantal Neeten and I’m Head of Publicity at Epitaph / ANTI- Records (home of artists like Bad Religion, Architects, Sleep Theory, Mannequin Pussy, Mamalarky, Tom Waits, MJ Lenderman, Waxahatchee, Sam Akpro and Curtis Harding to name a few)
From our HQ in Amsterdam I coordinate all press and radio/TV promotion for the UK and Europe, working closely with a selection of indie PR teams in each territory, creating and executing album and tour publicity campaigns together.

Tim van der Zalm is the manager of popular Dutch band DI-RECT.

Tim van der Zalm is the manager of popular Dutch band DI-RECT.

My name is Stephanie. I’m a music journalist and currently working for Vera On Track, a Dutch radio programme airing at 3FM, specializing in alternative, indie and pop music. I am the programme’s editor, which basically means I’m responsible for all things content-related: from preparing (and sometimes doing!) interviews to creating items for the radio show and social media channels. Before this, I wrote for 3voor12, and wrote a master’s thesis (at the EUR ;)) on music’s role in shaping the identities of biracial youth.

My name is Stephanie. I’m a music journalist and currently working for Vera On Track, a Dutch radio programme airing at 3FM, specializing in alternative, indie and pop music. I am the programme’s editor, which basically means I’m responsible for all things content-related: from preparing (and sometimes doing!) interviews to creating items for the radio show and social media channels. Before this, I wrote for 3voor12, and wrote a master’s thesis (at the EUR ;)) on music’s role in shaping the identities of biracial youth.

Sam Sumpter is the brains (and brawn!) behind Bands do BK — a blog, book (2022) and newsletter documenting the faces and places of the New York City music scene. She’s also an on-air radio host at 90.7 WFUV in NYC, where she interviews bands and hosts concerts and studio sessions. On the live front, she books, produces and promotes shows and showcases on stages (and in living rooms) across the city. And for the last four years, she’s been proud to manage Brooklyn punk band Mary Shelley, whose sophomore album ‘Bloodhounds’ is out now.

Sam Sumpter is the brains (and brawn!) behind Bands do BK — a blog, book (2022) and newsletter documenting the faces and places of the New York City music scene. She’s also an on-air radio host at 90.7 WFUV in NYC, where she interviews bands and hosts concerts and studio sessions. On the live front, she books, produces and promotes shows and showcases on stages (and in living rooms) across the city. And for the last four years, she’s been proud to manage Brooklyn punk band Mary Shelley, whose sophomore album ‘Bloodhounds’ is out now.

Puck studied Music Management at the HKU and gained experience during her studies working at, amongst other, Paradiso and Excelsior Recordings. After graduating, she started as a booking assistant at Mojo, where she recently made the step to booker. As the youngest in the team and with a passion for alternative music, she is committed to emerging talent within the Dutch music scene.

Puck studied Music Management at the HKU and gained experience during her studies working at, amongst other, Paradiso and Excelsior Recordings. After graduating, she started as a booking assistant at Mojo, where she recently made the step to booker. As the youngest in the team and with a passion for alternative music, she is committed to emerging talent within the Dutch music scene.

Melissa Janssen has been working in the music industry for seven years at Trix, an Antwerp-based music centre with multiple venues and an extensive creative workspace. As Coordinator of the Werkplaats, she is responsible for all educational and artist-support initiatives. She facilitates connection and growth for emerging artists in residence, helping them take their first steps into the professional music world.

Melissa Janssen has been working in the music industry for seven years at Trix, an Antwerp-based music centre with multiple venues and an extensive creative workspace. As Coordinator of the Werkplaats, she is responsible for all educational and artist-support initiatives. She facilitates connection and growth for emerging artists in residence, helping them take their first steps into the professional music world.