Sarah Hutton and Pat Fulgoni (Chocolate Fireguard) are organising this event because we feel it is important for Kirklees musicians, technical professionals, music industry professionals and those working in the cultural industries to have a chance to talk to the Carry On Touring campaign to find out how things have changed for touring and trading in the EU post Brexit. The aim of this seminar is not only to cover the issues these changes have caused but to also discuss the solutions.

We are pleased to announce Tracy Brabin will now be attending the whole event.

5.40pm - Registration until the start of the seminar.
6.00pm - Seminar begins.
6.45pm - Panellist discussions 7.00pm - Break
7.15pm - Seminar resumes the Chair opens up the floor for Q&A
8.00pm Seminar concludes - network opportunity begins
9.00pm Event concludes

Carry on Touring is an umbrella campaign which all those who tour – and rely on touring - can support and sit under. This public facing campaign brings together voices from across the touring, cultural and creative industries sectors to secure cross-party support for Tim Brennan’s petition and campaign for the only realistic solution, a pan European EU visa and work permit waiver to be negotiated. The strength of this campaign is that it is inclusive reaching across the sector, industry, and political parties.

This seminar will give you a chance to talk to, ask questions and share your experiences with our panellist of professionals. The panel will be made up of the following industry professionals and we are very pleased to have West Yorkshire Mayor Tracy Brabin join us for the panel:

Tracy Brabin, is a British Labour and Co-operative politician who was elected as the first Mayor of West Yorkshire, and the first ever woman Metro Mayor in May 2021. She was the Member of Parliament for Batley and Spen from 2016 until 2021. As MP, she held appointments as Shadow Early Years Minister, Shadow Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and Shadow Minister for Cultural Industries. Born in Batley, Tracy was an actor and television writer prior to entering politics.

Tim Brennan, who is a Freelance music vision director/engineer and heads up the Carry On Touring campaign. Tim has been working freelance for 30+ years and has worked worldwide with artists such as Lady Gaga, Madonna, Rhianna, The 1975, Peter Gabriel, Meatloaf, Arcade Fire, Lynryd Skynyrd and many more. He started the petition because he wanted to make people aware that we face a very real threat to our livelihoods as touring professionals and to highlight why we all need to be able Carry On Touring throughout the EU.

Ian Smith, is a multi-media arts practitioner for over 35 years and multi-agency owner for 20 years both booking worldwide and managing artists in the UK and Europe extending to the Ukraine and beyond, dual based in the UK and the EU, pan-globally booking over 300 artists from breaking acts to Grammy Winners; Francesca Gagnon of Cirque Du Soleil to Phil Rudd of AC/DC, which gives him experience of working across the industry. He also has 40 years working as a musician, festival & event promoter, arts centre and festival programmer, consultant and activist. Previously national chair of the UK Musicians Union (MU) F.R.T.M. (Folk, Roots and Traditional music) section for 8 years.

Dave Webster, joined the Musicians’ Union in 2004 following a busy career as a freelance drummer, percussionist and teacher. The MU Live Performance department handles a wide range of issues, from international concerns, such as visas and travelling with instruments, to national collective bargaining agreements; busking; building relationships with venues; promoters; festivals and industry bodies. The British Musicians' Union was established in 1893 and represents 32,000 musicians working in all sectors and genres of music. As well as negotiating on behalf of its members with all the major employers in the industry, the MU offers a range of services tailored for the self-employed by providing assistance for professional and student musicians of all ages.

The panel will be chaired by Pat Fulgoni, a long-standing music professional of Kirklees he is a singer across many genres and has been described as able “to sing a pearl from its oyster” by Billboard USA, he has work with artists like Camo & Krooked, London Elektricity, Technimatic, Zion Train, Gary Lucas, Kava Kava to name a few. He’s released his own solo live blues album, played brass for Embrace, and toured the USA, China, and Europe. He's run labels and his compositions have been featured in major US TV shows. Pat's track record includes work for good causes including Love Music Hate Racism, organising community music festivals and regional music development initiatives at music conferences incl SXSW (USA) where he organised the only ever "all Yorkshire" showcases at the British Music Embassy. Pat is an ambassador for Carry On Touring and in his hometown of Huddersfield he won the Examiner Community Award (Music & Arts) for the 3 stage Timeless Festival in Ravensknowle Park.

We look forward to seeing there.

We are pleased to say we will be live streaming this event on the night through our YouTube site: