Metaltalks: From Underground to Main Stage

Dreaming of seeing your band’s name on a festival poster? In this panel, you’ll meet representatives from Buktafestivalen (NO), The Spanic Wave (ES), Mystic Festival (PL), and Inferno Metal Festival (NO), and hear what rock and metal festivals are looking for when scouting the headliners of tomorrow—and what it takes to get on their radar.

You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look and tips on how to work your way up from sweaty club shows to the big festival stages. Bookers and organizers will share how they discover new talent, what makes them stop and listen, and how they work long term to build artists’ careers.

Panelists:

Cesar Andion (Live Nation / The Spanish Wave)
With nearly four decades in the industry, Cesar Andion has worked in artist management, live promotion, and label distribution (working with labels like Sub Pop, City Slang, Epitaph,+++). Since 2006 he has been Head of PR and Talent & Export at Live Nation Madrid, as well as director of The Spanish Wave showcase export program. Cesar also directs several festivals and projects, and lectures at music industry academies across Europe.

Isak Harbitz (Bukta Festival)
Isak Harbitz is Head of Program for Bukta Festival and Blå Rock Café in Tromsø, and works as an agent/promoter for FKP Scorpio Norway. With more than seven years of experience booking festivals and clubs, he has worked to bring forward new talent both nationally and internationally. Since 2019, Bukta Festival has hosted international acts such as Weezer, Shame, Turnstile, IDLES, and Bob Vylan. As an agent, Isak represents artists including Fieh, Heave Blood & Die, Hammok, and Emil Kárlsen.

Jarek Szubrycht (Mystic Festival)
Jarek Szubrycht is a music journalist for Poland’s largest daily newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza and Head of Communications at Mystic Festival. He is also a radio host for Polish public radio Trójka. Jarek has authored numerous books on music, including the world’s first biography of Slayer. A former metal vocalist with Lux Occulta, Jarek continues to contribute lyrics for the band Decapitated.

Erin Lynch (Inferno Metal Festival)
Erin Lynch is Head of Conference at Inferno Metal Festival. She has over 30 years of industry experience, including roles as label executive, radio music director, tour manager, production manager, artist liaison, backstage manager, and all-around live coordinator. She owns and operates FlyingFox AB, a Band/Artist Management, Production, Tour and Event Management, and Consulting Company based in Stockholm, Sweden. She manages bands such as Sólstafir, Oranssi Pazuzu, and Hamferð.

Moderator:

Linda Melsom (Indie Recordings)
Linda Melsom has worked at Indie Recordings since 2014 as A&R and project manager, collaborating with artists such as The Good The Bad and The Zugly, Ida Maria, Kampfar, and Gåte. She also managed the Norwegian Grammy Awards (Spellemannprisen) in 2023/24 and has extensive experience across festivals, events, and development and strategies in the fast evolving music landscape.