»Show Me Love – Wie du auf ein Showcase-Festival kommst« (DE)

Showcase festivals like c/o pop, Reeperbahn Festival, and About Pop are launchpads for the music industry – places where new talent is discovered, careers are sparked, and networks are built. Playing one of these events offers a good chance of being noticed by bookers, labels, and media. But how do you get on the line-up? What do curators really look for?
In the panel »Show Me Love«, three key figures behind Germany’s most renowned showcase festivals come together to offer insights into their curatorial practice. In an intimate setting, they share selection criteria, personal experiences, and open reflections – a rare opportunity to glimpse behind the scenes of festival planning and booking. How does the selection process work? What are the visions behind the festivals? And how can emerging artists position themselves effectively?

Ralph Christoph is the founder of c/o pop Festival and curator of the c/o pop Convention in Cologne. In a previous life, he was an editor at Cologne’s Stadtrevue magazine and the music magazine SPEX. He also ran the booking agency Büro Wasserdicht and the club Studio 672.

Ariane Mohr began organising music events during her studies in cultural studies and popular music; she was part of the non-profit, student-run lunatic festival. She is currently Senior Manager Music Programme at Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg. At Pop-Kultur Nachwuchs, she is also hosting a workshop on the day-to-day work of festival bookers.

Manuel Albani is a co-founder of About Pop in Stuttgart. His work includes continually finding new spaces and ideas to spotlight artists and spark impulses for urban pop-cultural development. He is part of the ritual:digital collective and performs under the DJ name Banali.

As a Project Manager at Africa Rising Music Conference and Paradise Worldwide, Jules Spielmann actively supports artists from diverse backgrounds, amplifies underrepresented voices, and fosters global connections across the music industry. She previously gained experience as an Artist Management Assistant at SJN Agency and as a Booking Assistant at XP Music Futures 2023. Beyond her professional work, Jules also takes the stage as a musician with her rock band, Sector 5.