Next month’s inaugural London edition of the SXSW festival will feature a strand exploring the place of classical music in the wider cultural environment.

SXSW London, which takes place in venues throughout Shoreditch between June 2 and 7, will be the first European edition of the influential American festival launched in Austin, Texas, back in 1987. Promising ‘collisions across music, screen, arts and conference’, it draws on tech, film, music, education, and culture to explore the pioneering ideas hoping to shape the future of the creative sector.

Appropriately enough, the classical music showcases, which will take place at Shoreditch Town Hall, draw on musicians working in interdisciplinary fields where styles and genres mix. Artists include the Gbrl Prkfv Ensemble, saxophonist Jess Gillam, medieval music specialists the Idrîsî Ensemble and pianist and composer Belle Chen, with events being curated by partners Classical:Next (the music conference which took place earlier this week in Berlin), Classical Unlocked and Black Lives in Music, with the latter’s showcase featuring Carleen Anderson.

Meanwhile, a panel on June 3 at Christ Church Spitalfields will ask: ‘How is the classical music industry evolving to welcome new audiences?’ – the speakers will be Apple Music Classical’s Global Director Anjali Malhotra, Managing Director of the London Symphony Orchestra Dame Kathryn McDowell, and Controller BBC Radio 3 and the Proms, Sam Jackson.

Head of Music for SXSW London Adem Holness – previously head of contemporary music at the Southbank – hopes to draw parallels between the programme and the host city: ‘One of the things I love most about London is that you can step out of any tube station and find yourself in a distinct community. That’s exactly how I want our festival to feel - each of our music venues will be a gateway into a different international new music scene. We're collaborating with the most exciting pioneers in underground music movements to present the future of music from their unique perspectives, and I’m beyond excited by the artists they’ve chosen to platform.’

For more information, visit SXSW London.​