Karousel Music presents:

Karousel & Friends Networking with SESAC, GENERATOR, PLAYLIVEARTIST, GREATER MANCHESTER MUSIC COMMISSION and MUSIC EXPORT UKRAINE

Finn Forster (RBF25) + Ruby Duff (RBF25) + The Jacques (RBF25) + KLER (RBF25) + Freak Slug (RBF25) + Brykulets (RBF25) + Porij (RBF25)

Betty, Hamburg, DE

FREE with Delegate Pass or Fest wristband and rsvp
Entry Requirements: DELEGATE WRISTBAND or FESTIVAL WRISTBAND and RSVP

Welcome to the friendliest networking drinks on the Reeperbahn! We're so happy to welcome friends from a range of international organisations from the UK, US and Ukraine. Have a read below and see who will be hosting; and then please do drop in for the Magnificent 7! That's 7 acts from the host countries that will blow your big, beautiful minds into a thousand shards of light. Here is the playlist for the showcase, and below the info on our networking and showcase partners, are the artist videos for you to take a look. Let's get that queue all the way down Hamburger Berg again...Reeperbahn is, without doubt, our favourite international festival, run by the best people year on year, and we can't wait to see you there!

CLICK ON ARTIST PROFILES AT THE BOTTOM FOR FULL BIOS

18:00 • FINN FORSTER

19:00 • RUBY DUFF

20:00 • THE JACQUES

21:00 • KLER

22:00 • FREAK SLUG

23:00 • BRYKULETS

00:00 • PORIJ

YOUTUBE PLAYLIST (ALL ACTS - click the three lines to see playlist)


SESAC

It's our 11th year running the showcase with our great friends at the US's most consistently supportive PRO - SESAC. SESAC also continue to sponsor Karousel's London showcase which is also hosted with the MMF (UK). SESAC Performing Rights, a division of SESAC Music Group, drives efficiency in licensing for music users and enhances value for its affiliated writers, publishers, and composers by providing timely, efficient royalty collection and distribution. The company represents top-tier songwriters and film composers from a broad range of genres including Adele, Burna Boy, Christophe Beck, Rosanne Cash, Neil Diamond, Bob Dylan, Kesha, Gabriel Mann, R.E.M., and many more. From the UK, in addition to Adele, SESAC is proud to represent the creative forces behind artists as talented and diverse as Jockstrap, Disclosure, Sam Smith, Glass Animals, Alt-J, Wolf Alice, Mumford & Sons and many more. Learn more at www.sesac.com


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Karousel Music is a London based music industry CIC running industry showcases and networking events around a boutique publishing and management roster; and label Buried Treasure which acts to shine a light on great artists with magical catalogues that the world has somehow forgotten. This year Karousel celebrated an Ivor Novello nomination as a publisher for one of their writers Tom Richards, for one of his contributions to Raye’s songs. By the end of September they will have given 596 showcase opportunities to artists in front of industry since 2011 where the acts keep 100% of ticket sales and tips. They also run the UK industry's premier social, the MusicBizSpeedQuiz #QuizWar www.karouselmusic.com


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It's a huge pleasure to welcome one of the most talked about companies in London right now. Playliveartist are Direct-to-fan & Digital Marketing Specialists. They help artists, managers, labels and festivals in the music industry navigate the digital world, stand out from the crowd and grow their audience through strategic digital marketing. Recent success stories include Sam Ryder, Joss Stone and Kingfishr.


GENERATOR

Back for their second year, on hot on the heels of the Mercury Prize moving up to Newcastle, it's the Generator team... Generator exist to put the North of England on the global map, empowering talent, communities and businesses, to shape the future of music, culture, and creativity. Decentralising opportunities from London, and ensuring the North of England has a sustainable music industry infrastructure. Great human beings - as you'll see! Come and say hello to Mick and Alice at Generator, as well as Chelsea Wood from Wood Management, Henry Carden at Quiet Crowne Management and Nina Sebastiane of Ying Yang Media, among many others.


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Our new friends at GMMC came via the wonderful folks at long running and highly respected Manchester based Talent Development Agency and conference Unconvention. The Greater Manchester Music Commission builds upon Greater Manchester’s rich musical heritage and aims to secure its future as a leading global music region. By providing support, fostering inclusivity, supporting music export initiatives for artists from Greater Manchester, and taking steps to improve infrastructure, the Commission ensures that Greater Manchester remains an accessible and thriving hub for music professionals and audiences alike.


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We are so proud to welcome our Ukrainian sisters and brothers to this wonderful collaboration between countries. This event is about music, fantastic people and a coming together of friends old and new, and we’re especially proud they would choose to join in our showcase and networking. Music Export Ukraine is an independent initiative dedicated to empowering Ukrainian artists to thrive on the international stage. We support emerging musicians in building connections, promoting their work, and developing their careers and talents globally. Since their establishment as a non-profit, non-governmental organization in 2018 in Kyiv, Ukraine, they’ve been committed to amplifying the voice of Ukrainian music worldwide. Additionally, they provide insights into the Ukrainian music industry through our curated playlist, newsletters, and regular updates to keep you informed about the market’s growth and opportunities. Come and meet Alona, Tanya and various members of the Ukrainian industry.


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Line Up

FAO: European Festivals • European PR / Radio • Brand teams • Music Supervisors • Publishing

Independently playlisted for 3 weeks on BBC Radio 2, played on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch and picked as a ‘BBC Introducing One To Watch’ artist, Finn then signed to Interval Records (Universal/EMI North) and One Fiinix Live (Ed Sheeran). He was main support for Stereophonics for their 12 date European tour, and supported at their UK stadium and outdoor shows in April - July 2025. He followed this with his latest EMBERS EP which received playlist support from Radio X and BBC Radio 2 plus spot plays from BBC Radio 1. DSP playlist support also came from Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon Music, VEVO, Deezer and Soundcloud. Finn has just supported JADE and has his own upcoming UK tour in November 2025 including x3 sold out dates in London, Manchester and Bristol.

An advocate for inspiring more arts and culture in his hometown, Finn Hails from the industrial town of Middlesbrough in the North East of England and his songs come from places of real truth, deliver anthemic melodies and shine light on the trials and tribulations of his youth told through captivating vocals.

CURRENT TEAM

Record label - Interval Records (EMI / Universal) Live agent - One Fiinix Live UK national radio - Claire Collins UK Regional radio - Hart Media UK National PR - Halestorm

FAO: Labels, European Bookers • European Festivals • Sync • Signed artist Co writes • Brand Partnerships

Current Team:

MGMT: Chris Sheehan - chris@karouselmusic.com

Live: Steve Zapp - steve@itb.co.uk

Legal: Paul Spraggon @SSB

Publishing: Alex Hehir - Wixen Music UK

"Belong Here is a brilliant, uplifting single, full of heartfelt euphoria" - Record of the Day

“Such an exquisite voice and feel good tune” - Emily Pilbeam BBC Radio 6

“Her honesty remains as elegant as ever and is a true testament to her authentic self with single Belong Here” - FAR OUT magazine

“Represents the joy of finding your tribe, I love that… it takes some of us longer, but I think it’s important to never lose hope. The track is just a big bold brassy sassy ruby duff of a tune!” Christian Carlisle - BBC intro

Welcome to the weird and wonderful world of Ruby Duff: Pop Star, skater, surfer and skydiver! Having been selected by BBC Introducing as one to watch for 2025 following her single Undressed being selected as one of their BBC Intro tracks of 2024, Alt-Pop powerhouse Ruby Duff kicked off 2025 by signing to ITB for live, adding new management via Chris Sheehan at Karousel Music, and confirming 2025 slots at The Great Escape Festival, Reeperbahn Festival and Truck Festival. Ruby played main support for the Hoosiers on their UK Tour in March, following on from last year's support with Twin Atlantic, and has been receiving rave reviews for her set. Leeds Living opining that "Ruby Duff gave a phenomenal set opening for indie cult classics the Hooziers... we loved it!"

Ruby recently represented the Ivor Novellos at the IMPF, and was selected as the UK choice for the SXSW Songcamp in Austin, Texas. Previous singles IDOL and Moon and Back have featured in Love Island in 2025 and 2023 respectively, and her debut EP Where Do Odd Socks go was released via Launchpad (Leeds) in February. Ruby continues to gather an army of fans on the road with a combination of energetic, eclectic alt pop tunes played with her party band (who are YOUR party band!), while bringing the listener close with lyrics that make the listener wonder just how she knows them when they haven't met her yet, giving them a sense of belonging that sees people of all sexes down at the front in equal number. Ruby is currently in Hackeny Road studios recording her debut album with producer Bob Matthews (Alpines).

Spotify: *New Music Friday, New Pop, Fresh Finds (UK): Idol, Waves, Miss U, Belong Here, Dancing Under Lights, Moon and Back, Cake *Radio: BBC Radio 1, BBC Radio 6Music, NPR (US) Brand Partnerships: DC Shoes, Billabong, Lee Jeans, Quicksilver, Santa Cruz, JB Tailoring and Dream Sister Jane TV: Love Island (ITV) - Idol (2025) and Moon and Back (2023)

FAO: Labels • European agents inc France & Germany • European promoters

Current team: Management : John PAVELEY.  Track 88 / Neil o Brien management • Publishing UK: Bucks UK : Sarah Liversedge/ Fatima Jan • Agent: UK : Ross Leslie @ Motion  • Distro: ONErpm • PR: Germany. Grant Box Snowflake PR 

“An indie-rock rebirth built on resilience.” - The Line of Best Fit “They return not just intact—but creatively reinvigorated.” - FAULT Magazine

For a band so young in their years, The Jacques have been through more than most: meeting their heroes, the death of their band mate and best friend, recovery from crippling addiction, and having a dream tour torpedoed. The story of The Jacques is one of resilience and togetherness, and one that they now herald with a new beginning as they release their long awaited sophomore album ‘Make Repetition!’. Listen HERE.

‘Make Repetition!’ is an album which sees the band collectively regain their voice, which had been lost in the tumultuous experiences around the time of their debut and then further restricted during lockdown. It travels the spectrum of scorched but sky-reaching indie between Blur, Modern Lovers, Parquet Courts and Velvet Underground, with songs of loss, survival, self-destruction, self-improvement, catharsis and sticking together. Yet what could have been a morose mood instead takes on an infectious, bittersweet and ultimately optimistic flavour.

Multi-instrumentalist Harry Thomas says, “I want to catch everyone’s attention. Due to the timing and circumstances of the first album, we’ll never know how it would have fared. We were just knocking on the door. Hopefully the knock is a lot louder now.”

And capturing a fresh wave of attention is precisely what The Jacques have been doing in recent months. Singles ‘Via Dolorosa’, ‘Dead Man’s Garden’, ‘All The Other Sinners’ and ‘Ramona’ have been backed with support spanning NME, The Line of Best Fit, FAULT Magazine and ‘Sunday Brunch’ while extensive touring with Public Image Ltd. saw punk legend John Lydon emerge as an unexpected father figure to the band and in particular frontman Finn O’Brien.

Assisted by production from Dan Swift (Biffy Clyro, Kasabian), Jules Apollinaire (Suki Waterhouse, Declan McKenna) and Gordon Raphael (The Strokes, Hinds), the new songs on the album further highlight The Jacques’ growing powers. It commands your attention from the off, from the chirpy indie-sleaze opener ‘White Heat’. That sound is echoed on the next new song, ‘Hard To Know’, but unexpected twists pop up at every turn, such as the way ‘The Vault’ staggers from grunge grind to sludge metal intensity, the faded ‘60s tones of ‘Clung’, and the doo-wop charm and darker underbelly of ‘You Only Want Me When I’m Gone’.

The album closes on a euphoric note with ‘Nothing Amazing’, an affecting and ever-evolving ode to “coming back stronger and carrying on.” It’s also of special personal significance to the band. It was one of the first songs that Harry wrote after Will passed, and was later recorded the day after drummer Elliot O’Brien met his current girlfriend.

The Jacques will put ‘Make Repetition!’ in the spotlight with the time-honoured tradition of hectic touring which runs through to the end of the year. The bulk of the dates are as guests to The Sherlocks, with select headline shows, showcase events, and further gigs with The Twang, Grandmas House and Alabama 3 all on the calendar.

KLER is a rising Ukrainian pop artist blending heartfelt lyrics with funk and disco grooves. Born Valeriia Kolesnyk, she started singing and writing songs as a teenager, later launching her career with producer (and now husband) Anton Kukri. Her 2024 album Yaka Ye (As I Am) earned her the Megogo Music Award’s “New Wave of Pop” and a development grant. Known for her powerful live shows and community work, KLER is now bringing the new wave of Ukrainian pop to international stages.

FAO: Publishing • European Festivalas • Sync • Branding

MGMT: Andy Spence One Helix andy@onlyhelix.com

Freak Slug is the project of Manchester (UK) based artist Xenya Genovese, whose sound fuses ‘90s shoegaze, grunge, and alt-pop. Since her viral breakout with “Radio” (23M+ streams) Freak Slug has carved out a space for raw and emotionally honest music. Her debut album I Blow Out Big Candles is a fearless deep dive into identity, nostalgia, and sonic experimentation—earning praise from NPR, Clash, The Fader, DIY, and Line of Best Fit and a digital cover from Notion

Her song “Sexy Lemon” landed on the BBC Radio 1 playlist, was championed by Jack Saunders and BBC 6 Music in the UK, while U.S. airplay found her being championed by Sirius XMU, KEXP, KUTX and KCRW. Freak Slug has brought her high-energy live show to SXSW (Austin and London), The Great Escape, Blue Dot, Greenman, End of The Road, SŴN, Live at Leeds, Mutations, Favourite Days and Borderline festivals. On her Big Candles tour, Freak Slug sold out dates across a 40 date run of the US, CA, UK and EU.

Brykulets is a Ukrainian artist and producer mixing pop hooks with irony and emotional depth. His songs about love, breakups, and self-discovery balance lightness with sincerity, making his lyrics both personal and universally relatable. His debut album Лучше чим твій бивший (Better Than Your Ex) continues to chart in Ukraine, while his breakout single Ліза earned him a spot in Apple Music’s Up Next Ukraine. Now, Brykulets is ready to bring his fresh, witty pop to international audiences.

FAO: Festivals • European Licensing deals • US promoters • EU promoters

"It’s nebulousness as an LP mirrors the queer experiences that created it – it’s cerebral, constantly in flux, refusing to be defined as any one thing" - Clash (8/10) ** "Porij haven't just cut their teeth here; they've gone straight for the jugular, torn it to shreds, and now reign victorious" - *Dork * (4/5) ** "...confidence that runs through the band’s long-awaited debut, one that paints ‘Teething’ as both the party and the comedown." -** DIY **** (4/5)** “Injected with the thrilling energy that’s become a staple at Porij’s live shows, ‘Teething’ sees the quartet level up their sound without losing what fans have come to love. A swaggering collection of complex-but-catchy cuts, you won’t hear any teething problems here.” - NME ** (4/5) ** "In capturing so many club moods, Porij are one of heartfelt pop's best recent examples" - Record Collector ** (4/5) **

Porij released their debut album 'Teething' in 2024. That album, co-produced by the band and the legendary David Wrench (Frank Ocean, The xx, Young Fathers), won support from across the press landscape, with the likes of The Fader, Rolling Stone UK, The Telegraph and many more all lending praise. Radio support has been no less effusive, with multiple singles playlisted at both BBC Radio1 and BBC 6Music. Since the release of the album, the band have enjoyed a sold-out UK tour, which included a memorable night at London's iconic Electric Ballroom. Looking forward, and as part of Dork's Day Out, they will headline Signature Brew, London, on August 2nd.

MGMT: Chris Bellam - chrisbellam@underplay.co.uk Radio plugger UK: Mike Hale mikehale@underplay.co.uk PR: Dan McCormick dan@overheardpr.com Publisher: mark@secondsongs.co.uk Live agent: Steve.Nickolls@unitedtalent.com Live agent: kayleigh.lawrence@unitedtalent.com US Live agent: erik@arrivalartists.com US Live agent: spencer@arrivalartists.com