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© 2025 2 Promoters, 1 Pod
Description
ArcTanGent and Damnation organisers, James Scarlett and Gavin McInally, discuss the good, the bad and the downright ridiculous of promoting festivals.
117 Episodes
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Damnation’s 20th birthday bash was a metal party for the history books. Jaw-dropping performances, production so good it was head scratching and a guy who shat the bed. James, Gav and Damnation’s trusted lieutenant, Dr Paul Farrington, climb out of their hangovers to discuss the weekend that was. Get your tour tickets - https://www.seetickets.com/tour/2-promoters-1-pod We go again, every Thursday morning.
James is back from his holiday looking sun-kissed and relaxed, Gav on the other hand is deep in the festival tumble dryer. Is it enjoyable to see the world’s least stressed man actually stressed, or is it weirdly disconcerting? Tune in to find out. As well as going deep on the final Damnation plans, the boys cover topics including the Trees & ATG band announcements, the Encyclopedia Metallica and the next manager of Celtic. Blurb written by James (for the first time ever. That’s how st...
Gav and James sit down for their third pod in six days (before the big man left on holiday) and leave no stone unturned in their search for fresh chat. AI bands, end-of-days conspiracy theories, cartoon reviews, football analogues, restaurant bloopers, when people leak the wrong band playing ATG and the importance of music press. What would happen if our festivals collapsed? Who were we before we took our first steps into the promoting circus and did you ever hear the story of J...
Gav and James dive back into the mailbag to address the pressing matters of the day: best and worst festivals, that elusive Mars Volta booking and whether negative reaction to the pod from within the music business could see it killed off. But before all that, there must be an easier and cheaper way to send money overseas in 2025! Also, grab your tour tickets: www.seetickets.com/tour/2-promoters-1-pod We go again, every Thursday morning.
We've heard the stories of chaotic first years of 2000trees as James and his band of merry men tried to find their feet as festival organisers. But what we haven't heard about - until now - was their secret weapon for success: a woman who already had a clue what she was doing in the live music business. That hero is Sarah Gilbert, who now runs the artist liaison teams at both Trees and ATG as well and much, much, much more. Not bad for someone whose favourite metal band is Shania Twain.&nb...
The dreaded clashfinder, followed by the tsunami of complaints. A bleak annual onslaught every festival promoter dreads. But what actually goes into putting that particular puzzle together? Well there's the contractual obligations, and then the obvious genre concerns, followed by logistics you do know about and then those you don't know about. And where in that tangled web of restrictions do you place bands on the same record label? Gav and James attempt to explain why it's not as simple a...
It's been a hectic auld week but Gav and James carve out just enough time to plunder the mailbox to explore the curious minds of the listeners. Ticket sales strategies. Bristol Trip Advisor. Merch pre-sales. Running pod jokes and Xmas jumpers. And why did Gav choose to name the pod after some internet filth and then double down with branded cups? Fore! We go again, every Thursday morning.
With the growing popularity (it's appreciated!) of the pod, some people in the music business are less than delighted with the frank discussions that take place for the listening pleasure of ticket buyers. James was reminded of the fact that not everyone is a fan when he spoke to an irate agent this week. So Gav and James take some time to reflect on the impact of 2 Promoters, 1 Pod and how it's viewed by some people on our side of the fence. Is it possible that they might have a poin...
Damnation is on the horizon and the reality of the outstanding to do list is starting to weigh on the team. But what exactly needs to be done before the gates open at BEC Arena in two months' time? Well there's the marquees to order, the cabins to hire, the laminates to get designed and printed, the backline, the crew, the parking, the traders, the radios, the scanners, the merch, wifi, fencing, security, first aid... and will someone think about the bloody towels!? Oh, and the small issue...
Gav and James plunder the bulging mailbag once more to tackle the topics of the day. Using Oceansize’s Spotify as a publicity stunt. Trying to judge a band’s pull. And the new Deftones record are all on the table. And Gav tries one last time to explain why festivals can’t sell t-shirts for the same price as the local grindcore all-dayer. Tour Tickets We go again, every Thursday morning.
"Hi there, you've reached Rob Scarlett at the 2000trees customer service desk, how may I assist you? "VIP camping was a hike to get to? The beers ran out? And what was with all the bloody wasps? "Well, if you have two hours and 11 minutes spare and the patience of a monk, I'd love to talk these issues over with you..." We go again, every Thursday morning.
We're back with a two-hour slab of 2 Promoters... The 11th ATG is over and it was one for the history books so let's pick over the bones. Did James know that Clown Core would have a video wall crammed with AI dicks? Was VIP oversold or was the festival quieter than usual? And what happens when someone ("Theo") is reported missing the day after the music stops? In true 2P1P fashion, we tear through it all. We go again, every Thursday morning.
Bri, this one is for you. *Please excuse the audio in the opening minute before the sound desk kicks in. We go again, every Thursday morning.
Despite the insane heat, everything at Trees was going just swimmingly until the final night when there was enough drama for an episode of Eastenders. Musicians passing out, letlive. forcing a show stop and an air ambulance causing absolute panic - for Gav at least - in the backstage bar. James relives the Saturday night madness from an organiser's point of view. And with Rob Scarlett unable to join the call from his holiday home (now planned for next week) Gav and James tackle those pesky...
Gav and James take the stage at 2000Trees for the second time, with even more heroes crammed into the sweltering tent on Saturday. How did the scorching sun impact the festival? How did James manage to stay in double denim? And how the hell did pigs invade the site? We most definitely went AGAIN! We go again, every Thursday morning.
Gav wakes up late and James has been hard at work prepping this week's episode (instead of putting up fencing at 2000trees). There's a bit of reflection on the whole Bob Vylan and Radar Festival fallout, the lads keep their tempers in check (just!) In happier news we have some chatter about the Xmas 2Promoters 1 Pod Live, tickets selling like mad and people inevitably asking for guestlists. We go again (only just!) We go again, every Thursday morning.
Pro-Israel lawyers successfully campaigned to have Bob Vylan cancelled from Radar Festival. As a result pro-Palestine bands started cancelling themselves as a show of solidarity. Confused? Us too. Full episode on Thursday. We go again, every Thursday morning.
Following their "Death to the IDF" chants at Glastonbury, punk duo Bob Vylan found themselves in the firing line of everyone from the US State Department to the perpetually applaud Keir Starmer. Unfortunately, Manchester's Radar Festival happened to be the next date on the UK tour schedule and the organisers were targeted by a campaign of hate before being forced to pull the show and carry the can in public. Co-organiser Catherine Jackson-Smith joins the pod to discuss the reasons behind th...
James, his fellow Trees organisers, trusted crew and a small army of 40 volunteers have descended on Upcote Farm in preparation for scores of bands and 15,000 music lovers who will follow suit in two weeks' time. But what exactly goes into prepping a massive outdoor festival? From who puts in the Sainsbury's order to feed and water the entire team on day one, to who clears the sticks from the forest, to counting power points and checking batteries in the power tools, James breaks down...
There's more poor musicians out there than rich ones and depressingly, even being a founding member of the incredible Rolo Tomassi isn't going to pay the bills. James Spence explains how he clawed his way out of the hospitality trade to make a career in the music business work, between booking bands, repping shows and touring. He also spills the beans on plans for Rolo's special 20th anniversary set at this year's ATG. But before all that we have Outbreak to discuss, Damnation's latest ann...
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