Independent
Music Festival
Conference
THE WEST COAST’S GATHERING FOR INDEPENDENT MUSIC FESTIVAL LEADERS
Jan 8-9, 2027
Portland, OR
Norse Hall
111 NE 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97232
Join festival producers, venue operators, event organizers, and music industry professionals for a full day of learning, networking, and collaboration in the heart of the Pacific Northwest’s vibrant independent music scene.
Who Is this Conference For?
Festival Producers & Organizers
Venue & Event Professionals
What to Expect
Keynote Presentations
Learn from established industry leaders and emerging voices shaping the future of independent music festivals in the West Coast and beyond.
Expert Panel Discussions
Dive deep into the challenges and opportunities facing today’s independent music festival landscape, from booking to sustainability and safety to marketing and artist relations.
Networking Opportunities
Connect with like-minded professionals, potential collaborators, and industry experts in structured networking sessions and informal meetups throughout the day.
Why Attend?
Stay Ahead of Industry Trends: Get insights into the latest developments in festival production, technology, marketing, and audience engagement specifically relevant to the West Coast market.
Build Your Network: Connect with festival organizers, venue operators, sponsors, and service providers from across West Coast and the broader region.
Learn from Success Stories: Hear directly from festival founders and industry veterans who have built successful events in our unique regional market.
Discover New Opportunities: Find potential partnerships, venues, sponsors, and collaborative opportunities within the Western United States independent music community.
Support Independent Music: Be part of a movement that champions grassroots music festivals and supports the diverse, creative community that makes our region special.
Schedule
Friday, January 8
|
3:00pm – 3:30pm |
Registration |
|
3:30pm – 3:35pm |
Welcome / Opening Remarks |
|
3:35pm – 4:45pm |
Panel: “So you want to start a music festival, now what?” |
|
5:00pm – 6:00pm |
Ticketing: “The Future of Ticketing” – Ryan Kintz (Afton Tickets) |
|
6:15pm – 7:15pm |
Artist Booking: TBA |
|
7:15pm – 8:15pm |
pFriem Social Hour |
Saturday, January 9
|
10:00am – 11:00am |
Registration – Coffee Hour Meet & Greet (complimentary coffee provided) |
|
11:00am – 12:05pm |
TBA |
|
12:15pm – 1:25pm |
Marketing: “Soundcheck for Your Brand: Getting Your Festival’s Branding Right, With and Without AI” – Kristie Klavenger (K2 Creative) |
|
1:30pm – 2:30pm |
Lunch |
|
2:30pm – 3:30pm |
Sponsorships: Teresa Stas (Green Cactus) |
|
3:40pm – 4:40pm |
Panel – “Managing all the Moving Pieces and People” – Christina Fuller (Waterfront Blues Festival) and Ryan Stiles (Pickathon) |
|
4:50pm – 6:00pm |
Panel – TBA -Eric Gilbert (Treefort Music Fest) and Zale Schoenborn (Pickathon) |
Speakers / Panelists
Eric Gilbert
Treefort Music Festival
Eric Gilbert is a co-founder, CEO and Director of Programming at Duck Club Entertainment in Boise, ID – best known for building Treefort Music Fest. Treefort is a multi-disciplined (aka multi-Forted), multi-day, multi-venue event that has taken over downtown Boise for five days in March since 2012. Duck Club Entertainment also produces concerts in various venues in Boise year-round as Duck Club Presents, and runs a boutique booking agency as Duck Club Touring.
In 2023, Duck Club opened a new state-of-the-art concert and event venue in downtown Boise called Treefort Music Hall and it’s accompanying rooftop bar Hap Hap Lounge, as well as taking over operations of Shrine Social Club. These moves quickly expanded options for people of all ages to experience music and other events in flourishing downtown Boise. Built off of years of DIY touring and being active in the music community at large, Gilbert and his team hold a strong focus on community building, artist discovery and advocacy, and a passion for creating a niche within the business side of music that keeps them inspired.
Maintaining a home in the cultural frontier of Idaho has proven fertile ground for their fresh and collaborative approach. Gilbert also hosts a weekly radio show called Antler Crafts on community radio station Radio Boise 89.9 FM, is back to being an active musician playing keyboards in a new band called Floating Witch’s Head, and is a father of a crafty 13-year-old daughter named Vera in his latest collaboration with his former bandmate and life-partner Lisa Simpson.
Christina Fuller
Waterfront Blues Festival
Christina Fuller is the co-owner of Fuller Events and Festival Director of the Waterfront Blues Festival. The Waterfront Blues Festival—Portland’s largest and longest-running downtown music festival—is internationally recognized and has raised over $10 million for local nonprofits.
Fuller Events produces and consults on many of Oregon’s premier festivals and cultural moments, including Pride Northwest, Rockstar Energy Open, and the Opera in the Park. Christina’s past event experience includes the Portland Rose Festival, Hood to Coast, Feast Portland, and more.
Zale Schoenborn
Pickathon
Teresa Stas
Green Cactus
Teresa Stas is a national speaker, author, and CEO of award winning Green Cactus Event Sponsorship Agency. Her book “Sell Your Event!” was named one of the best new sponsorship books to read in 2022 by BookAuthority, and landed #1 in three categories on the Amazon Bestsellers List upon its debut.
Teresa has brokered millions of dollars in sponsorships for her clients working with both national and regional brands. She has handled partnerships for independent events for 17 years now, including the national relay Hood to Coast, Oregon Jamboree, the Oregon State Fair, Country Fan Fest, Kilby Block Party, and most recently RedWest Music Festival in Salt Lake City.
Ryan Stiles
Pickathon
After graduating college with a degree in music in 1997, Ryan entered the music business as a promoter in Denver, Colorado.
Following a stint in the film industry, Ryan returned to music, ultimately building a world-class music festival. Nearly 20 years later, Pickathon continues to set the standard for what a music festival can be.
Susie Griang
Ground Control Booking
Ryan Kintz
Afton Tickets & Afton LiveStream
Ryan Kintz experience as is the founder and CEO of Afton Tickets and previously Afton Shows, has given him a rare, practical understanding of what makes live events succeed – not just on spreadsheets, but in the real world where lines, staff, cash flow, and customer experience decide whether people come back.
He teaches event creators how to design events from the attendee’s point of view and turn admissions and ticketing into the “central nervous system” of the entire operation. His approach is simple: happier attendees spend more money, stay longer, and become your best marketing tool.
Ryan Crowther
Fisherman’s Village Music Festival
Ryan Crowther is the Founder of Everett Music Initiative and Fisherman’s Village Music Festival, where he has produced over 600 shows and events in Snohomish County since 2012. Since landing in his first role in Everett in 2008, he brings a fiery passion for community building and destination development, and is well known for his work in public and community relations, nightlife/music and placemaking.
Since 2022, Crowther has been the President & CEO of the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce where he oversees operations, signature community events and over 470 members. He currently chairs the Everett Public Facilities District Board, overseeing Angel of the Winds Arena in Downtown Everett.
Kristie Klavinger
K2 Creative
Kristie Klavinger is the Founder & CEO of K2 Creative, a woman-owned single-source branding company in Salem, Oregon. She has spent more than 30 years in commercial print, graphic design, promotional products, apparel, signage and vehicle graphics, and has carried that work into websites, social media, SEO, GEO and AI-driven business discoverability. K2 Creative was built on one idea: a business should be represented the same way everywhere a customer meets it.
Unlike large-scale industry conferences, the Independent Music Festival Conference focuses specifically on the needs, challenges, and opportunities of the Western United States independent music scene. Whether you’re launching your first festival, managing a community event, or looking to expand your existing festival, this conference is designed to provide practical insights and meaningful connections within our regional community.
Save Your Spot
Tickets are now available!
Contact
For questions and media inquiries, please email [email protected]