UnConvention Belfast Blog 4 - The End

UnConvention Belfast has drawn to a close. Here, Louise gives us some perspective on the whole event:

It’s Sunday evening, and it’s all over. Everyone who descended upon Belfast for UnConvention are slowly making their way home, braving the plane delays, the soggy shoes and the infuriating Sunday drivers in search of one thing: their lovely warm beds. Being a Northern Irish lass myself, I’ve already found mine, and I’m curled up in my PJs typing away furiously. Because as soon as I finish writing this, I plan to sleep for 12 solid hours.

So as the dust settles on UnConvention Belfast, I’ve been pondering the future of music in Northern Ireland, and the destiny of the people that I met over the last two days. There’s no doubt that there’s a wealth of talent in this tiny wee country of less than 2 million people. And the major players in the industry, whether they be musicians, promoters, managers or whatever, are certainly committed to music. Actually scratch that – they’re nothing short of obsessed. In this business, that’s no bad thing. But whether that fiery enthusiasm will translate into abundant success remains to be seen. After years of Northern Ireland holding the title of Cultural Black Hole of Britain thanks to our, ahem, interesting political climate, our music scene is now in the embryonic stages of greatness. And while we have the potential to emulate the success of the likes of Madchester, it’s by no means a done deal.

Sitting in on the floor debates on both days of UnConvention (not to mention doing a fair bit of shooting my own mouth off…), I became aware of the hazards that NI music will face as it evolves. While regional music scenes are always adamant that they are the friendly all-embracing alternative to London, there is always the danger that one place will become the self-styled ‘capital’ of music to the detriment of everyone else. Friday’s floor debate revealed tensions between Belfast and the rest of the country, and mutual disappointment that there isn’t more co-operation and communication between the north and south of Ireland. And although not a single person in the room regarded this state of affairs as a good thing, I wonder whether there isn’t a reticence to share the secrets of success, the knowledge, the contacts, with all and sundry in a business like this. Just in case there’s only a finite amount of success to go round and someone else takes it before you. It’s that same insecurity that is responsible for the formation of cliques, and the championing of exclusivity over community in music. And if that ever happens in NI, then we be screwed.

But if the UnConvention attendees are a microcosm of the country’s music community, then there’s life in the old dog yet. Friday’s debate ended in a pact to go forward and deal with potential pitfalls in the spirit of collaboration and mutual self-belief. By Saturday’s floor debate, people were using their mic-time to announce who they were and what services they had to offer. Bands conversed with web designers, southern Irish attendees batted round ideas about an UnConvention Dublin, indie labelheads and media monkeys exchanged digits. Even I got in on the action and chatted with a smashing guy called Keith about starting up a new NI music blog. It was a sight beautiful to behold. Most importantly of all, the whole room was imbued with a vibe that something was really being achieved. And if that feeling lasts even into next week, long enough for any of the participants to take action and make things better for Northern Irish music, then UnConvention will have been an unbridled success. I for one can’t wait to see how it all pans out.