MixMaster returns with an eye toward helping local musicians

MixMaster 2023 // Photo by Fally Afani

Local Lawrence musicians are set to be put on a pedestal on Friday, Sept. 19 and Saturday, Sept. 20, as MixMaster—a conference that brings together “musicians, industry professionals, and music lovers for a weekend of learning, networking, and live music” at venues throughout downtown and the Lawrence Public Library.

Originally started in 2014 as a production of the Silly Goose Records music collective, MixMaster was first held at The Bottleneck, and “the day of music industry conversation and networking was followed by a showcase of artists on the Silly Goose roster,” according to Nick Carswell, executive director of the Lawrence Music Alliance—organizers behind the long-running annual event.

That combination of networking and live performances has been at the heart of most years, Carswell continues.

“For several years, the program was held in conjunction with Crossroads Music Fest in Kansas City, as well as several virtual events during COVID,” explains the executive director. “We returned to Lawrence Public Library in 2023 for the first post-pandemic in-person edition. In 2024, we re-introduced the showcase element, with more than 20 artists performing at multiple venues in downtown Lawrence.”

VCMN at MixMaster 2024 // Photo by Shawn Brackbill

This year is much the same, but expands even further. In additions to shows downtown at Replay Lounge, Lucia, and Eighth Street Taproom, and across the river at Northside Social, there will be an outdoor concert on the lawn of the library Saturday evening, which will be free and open to all ages.

With a lineup including (deep breath) LYXE, The Whips, Rudy Love & The Encore, Kat King, Son Venezuela, The Roseline, Eddie Moore, VCMN, Rap Veterans, Hello Biplane, Social Cinema, DJ Jon Sabillon, Zee Underscore, Indra, Malek Azrael, Bad Self Portraits, Teri Quinn, Cheery, True Lions, Tommy Johnson, Frankie Shorez, Blood & Velvet, Paxton Harvey, Foxlin, Kahlulee, and Dylan Guthrie & Friends, the showcases look to highlight local talent, showing off the width, depth, and breadth of what can be found in Lawrence, Kansas City, and beyond.

“We love to partner with local venues to showcase the talent in our region, and to rally the community around supporting live music,” says Carswell, offering that free live music events that are open to all are some of the best ways Lawrence does music, making MixMaster excited to expand into that realm.

For all the live music on offer, however, Carswell says that it’s the conference aspect which has the real, measurable benefits.

“The constant over the years has been the connection that artists and industry enjoy making, and the long-lasting effects of shared learning and networking,” he says. And there are definite success stories to which one can point, such as the Dead Bettys, the Lawrence-based ska-punk cover band that packs houses from Topeka to Kansas City with energetic live performances that fill a niche unoccupied by anyone else.

“After formulating the concept for the band, I didn’t know the mechanics of how to bring my musical vision to life,” The Dead Bettys Founder and bandleader Joseph Vaglio says. “’How do I meet musicians? Where can we rehearse? How do I book gigs? What’s a marketing strategy?’”

Vaglio says that he didn’t know where to begin, but when he heard of MixMaster and attended its 2023 conference, it provided the “ah-ha” moment that he had been looking. Given that the event provided presentations by a multitude of people, who worked in all aspects of the local music and arts scene, they opened Vaglio’s eyes to how musicians navigate the exact challenges he was encountering.

“The event provided ‘speed dating’ sessions where attendees sat individually with each expert presenter,” the bandleader recalls. “I was able to ask questions and seek advice in a nurturing and private setting, which was terrific. The networking contacts I met have proved essential to the formation and success of The Dead Bettys.”

“Sometimes, a little push and direction from the right people can be the nudge that people need,” says Carswell regarding The Dead Bettys’ success. “MixMaster is a space for that.”

MixMaster 2024 // Photo by Shawn Brackbill

The directionality on offer at this year’s conference is varied, offering up panels on how to book gigs and partner with your music venues for gig success, how to maximize and expand your merch offerings, and tips to book, manage and achieve success on tour, among other topics, along with hands-on activities in the recording, podcasting, and production facilities of the library’s Sound+Vision Studio.

AJ Cook, bassist for Lawrence new wave rockers LYXE, is one of the panelists for the “On the Road: Touring” discussion. Cook is excited for the conference, saying it creates real space for musicians to connect beyond the stages, from sharing honest experiences and learning from each other to building something stronger together.

“For my panel, I hope to give artists practical tools to make local and regional touring more accessible. Including booking smarter, researching scenes, and managing expectations realistically,” says Cook. “In return, I’m looking forward to hearing what’s working for others and how they’re adapting. To me, MixMaster brings much-needed momentum to the Lawrence music community. It reminds us that collaboration and knowledge-sharing are just as important as performance when it comes to growth.”

Whether you’re a music lifer or just starting out, there’s something to be gained by attending MixMaster. The discussions which take place off-stage—regardless of whether it’s after a panel discussion or a band’s set—end up being just as informative as those on-stage, as attendees get to meet like-minded individuals interested in expanding their skills and network via real, face-to-face conversations. As Carswell puts it, it’s all about making feel included, regardless of what level at which they might be.

“With the framework of music ecosystem development, we talk about ‘on-ramps’ to the music industry—ways for folks to get involved, get started, or figure out what that important next step is,” the executive director concludes. “MixMaster acts as a very open, inclusive on-ramp for the music community, and it’s always a invigorating and inspiring thing to be a part of.”

The MixMaster 2025 Music Conference takes place at the Lawrence Public Library on Saturday, September 20, with a free all-ages concert following on the library lawn. MixMaster showcases take place Friday, September 19, and Saturday, September 20, at venues in and around downtown Lawrence. All the details can be found at the MixMaster website.

In the interest of full disclosure, the author of this piece was a participant in last year’s conference, for which he received an honorarium.