Wayne Coyne heads up keynote speakers at Liverpool Sound City
Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne has been announced as a keynote speaker at this year's Liverpool Sound City Conference.
Taking 'The Unsing Hero' as its theme, the programme will also feature two post-punk icons – former Slits guitarist Viv Albertine, whose critically-acclaimed memoir Clothes, Clothes, Clothes. Music, Music, Music. Boys, Boys, Boys was published last year, and Julian Cope, who famously began his career in the city with The Teardrop Explodes and the notorious Crucial Three.
Hosting venue The Titanic Hotel will also house a discussion series entitled In Conversation, with Cream founder James Barton, former Ramones manager Danny Fields and Mark E. Smith of The Fall among those taking questions.
Sound City CEO Dave Pichilingi said, "We have made a seismic change to the whole profile of Sound City this year and that includes the conference. Our aim is to spark debate, to explore the controversial and for people to leave inspired, energised and entertained."
The conference takes place on 21 - 22 May, with the festival to follow at the new Stanley Dock site between 22 - 24 May. Headliners include Belle & Sebastian, The Vaccines and – indeed – The Flaming Lips. For further information, head to the Liverpool Sound City website.
Videography from Stuart Edwards & Peter Marsden.