While Apulian Maria Mazzotta is showcasing, Puglia Sounds and Apulian professionals will be participating in a networking session with the Emilia-Romagna Music Commission and ATER Foundation.
MENT Ljubljana is a music discovery festival facilitating, in symbiosis with the conference, the presentation of music performers from all over Europe in front of international music professionals and audiences. The festival serves as a meeting point for artists, music professionals and music lovers. Its primary focus is on promoting emerging talent, fostering creativity and facilitating networking opportunities within the independent music industry. At the eleventh edition (February 2025) 82 artists from 27 countries performed across four days on 13 stages around Ljubljana.
The next edition will take place from 18 to 21 February 2026.
The international conference focuses on the music industry and creativity. The conference was attended by 700 foreign and local music professionals (festival organizers, concert promoters, booking agents, managers, journalists, representatives of record labels, networks, and others). The participating delegates came from more than 30 countries.
Maria Mazzotta showcase at MENT
At MENT, on February 20th at 10:00 PM at Ljubljana Castle, Hribar Hall, the versatile and captivating voice of Maria Mazzotta will be showcased.
– More information here
https://ment.si/en/artist/maria-mazzotta/
Networking session: Meet the Puglia and Emilia-Romagna Music scenes
On the afternoon of February 20th, Puglia Sounds and Apulian professionals, along with the Emilia-Romagna Music Commission and the ATER Foundation, will host a networking session to meet and discover the Apulian and Emilia-Romagna music scene. Registration is required for this networking session.
– Link to the registration form
https://forms.gle/rdXB7dhj2THTz1z46
The Apulian delegation
The Apulian delegation—committed to promoting projects that spread Apulian musical culture thanks to a specific public call that encourages participation in international music fairs—in addition to the Puglia Sounds staff, is made up of record labels, booking and management agencies, festivals, and artists.
AltreMenti Labs
Vito Samuele Sblendorio (Project Manager) – Acquaviva delle Fonti (BA) – Italy
commerciale@altrementilabs.it
AltreMenti Labs is an organisation based Southern Italy, active in live music promotion and production services. In four years it has produced over 150 concerts in Italy and abroad, spanning genres from post-punk and alternative rock to classical music. Its flagship project, Distorsioni Fest, has welcomed more than 7,000 attendees from 13 countries across three editions, becoming a reference point for alternative music in Southern Italy. AltreMenti also supports a roster of artists through record productions and international touring.
altrementilabs.it – instagram.com/altrementi_labs_aps
Faro Records
Luigi Fasanella (Label Manager) – Bari (BA) – Italy
music@farorecords.com – 0039-3934685533
Kallax Records is a DIY label with an alternative and punk attitude, dedicated to discovering and developing emerging talents. Over the years, the label has brought its artists to renowned international showcase festivals such as Eurosonic, MaMA, Reeperbahn, and The Great Escape, supporting their professional growth and facilitating their circulation on the global live music circuit. Its current roster includes The Pier, COMRAD, WISM, Perenne, Verogna and A Morte L’Amore.
kallaxrecords.bigcartel.com – instagram.com/kallaxrecords
Ipe Ipe
Domenico Coduto (CEO) – Benevento (BN) – Italy
info@ipeipe.com – 0039-3398662760
IPE IPE is an independent company active in management, booking, development of projects and festivals, training, and as a label. With a strong international focus, it promotes Italian artists in world music and folk, producing tours and projects at major festivals and cultural platforms worldwide, while building long-term, solid relationships and collaborations. Artists it has worked with include Alessia Tondo, BabelNova Orchestra, Canzoniere Grecanico Salentino, Bandadriatica and many others.
ipeipe.com – instagram.com/ipeipemusic
L’Alternativa
Ettore Folliero (Administrator) – Bari (BA) – Italy
sziget08@gmail.com – 0039-3477752387
The Festival Pass Talent Selection is a national contest designed to identify and promote emerging bands within the festivals that are part of our network. It currently involves the Sziget Festival in Budapest, AteneiKa in Cagliari, Chroma Festival in Perugia, Mind Festival in Montecosaro (Macerata), and Primo Maggio Barese in Bari. Conceived and organized by L’Alternativa srl, the contest receives around 500 applications each year, along with more than 100 additional submissions from our long-standing partner Rockit Pro.
alternativaevents.it – instagram.com/alternativaevents
Mosho
Andrea Capurso (Artistic Director) – Acquaviva delle Fonti (BA) – Italy
amministrazione@mosho.it – 0039-3336798999
Mosho Agency is an Apulia-based organisation working in live promotion, artist management and music publishing. Built on years of experience in the independent music sector, it produces concerts and original formats and supports a diverse roster through its label Mosho Dischi. With a strong focus on rock in all its forms, while spanning multiple genres, the agency works with both Italian and international artists, developing releases, touring strategies and cross-border collaborations, and connecting Southern Italy to wider European networks.
mosho.it – instagram.com/moshoagency
Sud Sonico
Ludovico Esposito (President) – Muro Leccese (LE) – Italy
sudsonico.associazioneculturale@gmail.com – 0039-3247724683
The project involves activities aimed at strengthening and developing our European network and consolidating our position in the Netherlands, following the launch of the collaboration between Sud Sonico and Stichting Nederlandse Muziek Export (https://www.bumacultuur.nl/event/dutch-music-export/). In particular, the aim is to strengthen the positioning of AVANT Festival as a cultural tourism event and a platform for innovative capacity-building for young local and international music operators. Sud Sonico is also registered to ICE Agency event.
sudsonico.it – instagram.com/sudsonico