WIRRAL born musician Andy McCluskey has been announced as special guest for this year's Sound City+ conference.
OMD frontman Andy, originally from Meols, has earned 60 gold and platinum album and single awards while selling more than 15 million albums and 25 million singles all over the world.
He is set to join the award-winning Sound City festival conference on Saturday, May 4 and will talk about his career in the industry.
Running from Friday, May 3 until Sunday, May 5, Sound City is set to return to the Baltic Triangle, Liverpool for another year of championing new artists.
It's conference, which runs alongside the main event, aims to inspire the future of music, arts and creativity.
Joining Andy on the in conversation line-up announcement is American singer-songwriter Chrissie Hynde and New York based engineer Erin Tonkon.
Other panels at Sound City+ include Getting signed...Who, how and why?; In Association with Distiller TV and SOTN, BPI Presents: Streaming & Playlists Explained; The Levi’s Music Project: Creating Community Impact Through Brand and Music Partnerships; and How to build your A team: An artist’s guide to budgets, contracts and law In association with YM&U, all featuring guests from around the world debating the key issues challenging the music world today.
New for this year will be Trashed TV who will be interviewing some special guests while talking to some of the brightest young bands and giving conference attendees the chance to experience insights into the music industry.
PRS for Music and PPL will host a delegates' drinks reception at Love Lane Brewery Delegates Lounge, sponsored by Bruntwood, to close Sound City+ and to kick off the live festival
Elsewhere at Sound City, Welsh star Gwenno will join the line-up to perform a special one-off performance of new work and the material will be created at a five-day residency as part of Both Sides Now.
Late-night parties will also take place across the weekend including live action from Bella Union, DIY, Gigwise, Fiesta Bombarda and Positive Vibrations.
For more information and to buy tickets visit www.soundcity.uk.com or www.plus.soundcity.uk.com
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here