Capitol Hill Block Party Announces Speakers for 2017 Panel Series

Late last week, Capitol Hill Block Party released a detailed lineup of orators for their annual panel series. Participants this year will include KEXP, DJ Troy Nelson, Emily Nokes from Seattle band Tacocat, Legendary DJ Marco Collins, and more.

“Our 2017 panel series will feature two timely and interesting discussions with speakers who have great perspective,” says Capitol Hill Block Party Owner Jason Lajeunesse. “Now, more than ever, it’s important to engage in meaningful dialogue and use our platform as artists, musicians and promoters to speak out against oppression, hate and the values we do not agree with. The landscape for musicians to make a living is continually changing as well. Year after year we see the need for a reassessment of our industry’s relationship to its artists.”

Now in its fourth year, the CHBP panel series will offer two panel discussions on Friday, July 21 at Grimm’s on Capitol Hill. The event begins at noon with a networking lunch followed by a 1 p.m. panel designed to help artists navigate today’s music industry and ecosystem. After that, there is a 2 p.m. discussion about artists’ ability to affect change in our current political and social climate. The event is free and open to the public, and will finish just before gates open for the 2017 Capitol Hill Block Party at 3 p.m.

Panel Details

Band Survival and Strategy in a Post-Big Industry World

Moderator: Kelly Fleek –Lo Flux Media / The Spider Ferns

• Jodi Ecklund – MoWave / Pink Parts
• Marco Collins – 107.7 The End/  The Glamour & Squalor/ KEXP/ VH1
• Matt Ashworth – WE Communications / NadaMucho.com / Capitol Hill Block Party
• Leigh Bezezekoff – Tractor Tavern / Macefield Music Festival
• Troy Nelson – KEXP / Killroom Records / The Young Evils

Resistance as Art: Gender, Race, Class and Sexuality as the Artist’s Platform for Change

Moderator: Kelly Fleek – Lo Flux Media / The Spider Ferns

• Carlos Tulloss – Afrocop / Screens
• EJ Tolentino – CHARMS
• Emily Nokes – Tacocat / BUST Magazine
• Irene Barber –Dust Moth/ Erik Blood /XVII Eyes
• Sasha Bolof – STRES

You can RSVP for the event here.

Will you be making your way to Capitol Hill Block Party this year? Which set are you most excited for? Let us know in the comments below.