John Rostron appointed Making Music Wales Manager

Sŵn Festival co-founder to provide fresh voice for leisure-time music in Wales.

Making Music is delighted to announce the appointment of John Rostron as Wales Manager. While continuing to serve as Chair of the Association of Independent Promoters, Rostron will support Making Music member groups in Wales and undertake campaigning and advocacy for Making Music members and the Welsh leisure-time music community in general.

Barbara Eifler, Making Music Chief Executive, commented:

“We are thrilled that John, with his wide-ranging knowledge and experience of the Welsh music scene, is joining us to support and represent Making Music members in Wales. His senior-level experience, combined with a track record of providing a national platform for grassroots music, presents an exciting new chapter for our current, and future, Welsh membership.”

Rostron commented:

“Leisure-time musicians are the greatest contributors to the music ecology of Wales, numbering in their many thousands of groups, collectives and individuals. Making Music is a fantastic membership organisation, providing so much invaluable support to help them do what they do. I’m delighted to now be a part of the team.”

A promoter in Wales for over a decade, Rostron recently completed his role as a consultant for Sound Diplomacy, supporting their authorship of the Cardiff Council Music Strategy. He helped to deliver the growth of Independent Venue Week in Wales and continues to run the Welsh Music Prize supporting new music in Wales. 

Previously, Rostron co-founded the award-winning Sŵn Festival with BBC DJ Huw Stephens, taking artists from grassroots music venues to Cardiff’s Motorpoint Arena. Until recently, he was Vice-Chair of the Association of Independent Festivals and served as Chief Executive of the Welsh Music Foundation from 2012-14, helping to deliver the World Music Expo (Womex) to Cardiff in 2013.

Follow John Rostron on Twitter.

Follow Making Music on social media:

Twitter @MakingMusic_UK 
Facebook @makingmusicuk 
Instagram @makingmusicuk