A Triumphant Eighth Edition for AVA London
Celebrating Innovation in Music, Culture & Visual Arts for thousands of attendees across all events

AVA London returned for its eighth year, gathering thousands of leading artists, creators, thought leaders, industry professionals & fans across three dynamic days of conferencing, cutting-edge live music events and global debuts. AVA delivered a hybrid programme of keynotes, industry forums, masterclasses, and raves beyond boundaries.

Quotes from Speakers
“Superserve your superfans” – Tom Schroeder on The Game Changers

“Queer is an orientation and a political practice that extends beyond dancefloors” – I.JORDAN on Re-queering Dancefloors

“Born Slippy is the name of a racing dog from Romford Stadium” —Karl Hyde on 30 years of the timeless Underworld anthem

“Compartmentalisation is Key: the things you can get done while they’re having a nap: it feels like a superpower”— Jayda G on balancing motherhood with music
“I’m trying to hit this perfect arc of being hot and not an idiot anymore” – FKA twigs

“The sharp programming at AVA Conference and the network it naturally attracts is unlike anything else in the UK. I caught up with – and met – brilliant people from every part of my world: artists, senior industry figures across multiple disciplines, creatives, labels, platforms, brands and more. From emerging voices to major players, the mix of speakers and delegates was spot on. The setting across the British Library and The Standard made it easy to have proper conversations. It didn’t feel like work – just excellent conversations, clear perspectives, and the right people.” – Toshiki Ohta, Consultant, Stajio O

Thursday Highlights
Underworld opened AVA with an inspiring keynote reflecting on 30 years of Born Slippy, setting the tone for a weekend of thought-provoking discussions.

FKA twigs joined Resident Advisor for a live Exchange, offering insight into her creative evolution, while Annie Mac and Jayda G explored the intersection of motherhood and artistic identity. Munroe Bergdorf led Re-queering Dancefloors, a powerful conversation on gender, identity, and reclaiming spaces in electronic music.

Jarvis Cocker delivered Biophobia, a lecture on overcoming his fear of nature co-presented with EarthPercent, bringing a unique perspective to the programme.

The Game Changers panel spotlighted industry disruptors, including Zeon Richards, Tom Schroder, Munroe Bergdorf, and Maria May. MUBI’s panel, Music’s Leading Role in Film, featured Raffertie (The Substance), Lucy Bright (Aftersun), and Naqqash Khalid (In Camera), exploring the crucial role of music in storytelling.

Thursday @ Earth Hackney – Erika de Casier, Kojaque & Mechatok delivered intimate, genre-blending live performances – and a global show debut from Mechatok.

Friday Highlights
Emerald hosted a panel on the Future of Music & Clubbing, featuring industry leaders from fabric, FOLD (London), Tresor (Berlin), the London Nightlife Taskforce, and BBC Radio 1, exploring the evolving landscape of nightlife.

Dan Lambert (Kneecap Manager) and Kneecap film director Rich Peppiatt discussed the challenges and triumphs of managing Kneecap, one of today’s most unique and unpredictable musical acts. Meanwhile, horsegiirL sat down with Gay Times for a deep dive into identity, self-expression, and anonymity.

NONOTAK and Yinka Ilori explored pushing the boundaries of visual languages in separate sessions, while cultural leaders from ICA London, Barbican, Serpentine, and House of Dread shared insights on curating contemporary culture. Major League DJz examined Amapiano’s rise to global success through social media, joined by TikTok’s Toyin Mustapha.

Ned Beckett (LittleBig Agency) provided key insights into talent discovery and artist development, and No Tags podcast (Chal Ravens & Tom Lea) recorded a live episode with special guest Paul Woolford. Lorenzo Senni hosted an extended masterclass, The Architecture of Intensity, dissecting his creative process.

Marcel Dettmann sat for an exclusive interview about his new live project, My Own Shadow which had it’s global debut at AVA London alongside Ryoji Ikeda’s immersive live AV show at HERE at Outernet.

Ryoji Ikeda, Marcel Dettmann & EMA took over HERE at Outernet on Friday night with experimental soundscapes, techno and ambient mastery. Alongside the global debut of Dettmann’s ‘My Own Shadow’ Live project.

AVA curated high-energy finale with Origins at The Cause on Saturday with X CLUB, LSDXOXO, Juicy Romance, Body Clinic, Marion Hawkes & Inside Moves closing the weekend with a bang.

AVA BELFAST – UP NEXT
AVA’s flagship event in Belfast is just over two months away – a celebration of music, & audio-visual arts, culture & community in the heart of the city’s docklands. The 11th edition will host over 10,000 guests with more than 70 local and international artists and hundreds of local creatives. Community is at the core of AVA’s values, which is more important today than ever. AVA uses its platform to unite audiences, artists and friends from around the globe.

Taking place 30th – 31st of May 2025 at the Titanic Slipways, AVA Belfast enters a new era of innovation for 2025. Festival tickets available HERE

The AVA Creators Forum returns to London in 2025, continuing its mission to empower the next generation of electronic music makers. In partnership with pointblank Music School, the Forum offers ten emerging musicians and producers a unique opportunity to enhance their craft through an advanced artist development program. The program is designed to nurture creativity and music production, foster professional growth, and build essential industry connections.

Here are our ten talented emerging electronic musicians and producers selected from hundreds of applicants. Each brings their unique sound, vision, and passion to the programme – and we’re excited to support them on the next step of their creative journeys.

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BEKEFI is a Hungarian born electronic music producer and DJ based in London who seamlessly blends old-school influences with modern energy. Her music is an exploration of both nostalgia and innovation, with every track reflecting her deep love for the underground and her unwavering commitment to the craft.

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DR MYSTERY is a Manchester-based producer, DJ, and radio host. In her productions, she navigates the space between dancefloor energy and deep introspection, weaving together intricate percussion, bass, and her ethereal vocals. With releases on labels like 3024, Left, Right & Centre, and INDEX:Records, she continues to push genre boundaries, establishing herself as a serious one-to-watch. Known for high-energy, genre-fluid DJ sets, MYSTERY blends percussive techno, UK bass, dembow, footwork, and jungle while emphasizing narrative and sonic flow. She is also the co-founder of Juke Joint, Manchester’s first footwork event series, which has brought global talent to the city while supporting local artists.

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A Passionate Advocate for Brazil’s Musical Heritage Gerah is a dedicated researcher and curator of Brazil’s rich musical landscape, blending its diverse styles with global rhythms to create a dynamic and eclectic fusion. As a member of Onda Bacana, a UK-based collective of Brazilian DJs, he shares a deep passion for unearthing and showcasing Brazil’s vast musical heritage. His production ethos merges organic percussion with electronic elements, crafting a distinctive sound that honours the country’s lesser-known musical treasures.

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LWS is an Edinburgh based DJ, with releases on esteemed labels such as Call Super and Parris’ ‘can you feel the sun’ imprint, TraTraTrax, and Peder Mannerfelt Produktion. His sound can be described as a unique take on techno, with deep roots in the UK’s rich history of soundsystem culture. LWS’ most recent single ‘Gum Seleks’ was released on the TraTraTrax ‘no pare sigue sigue 3’ compilation in November last year, garnering attention from Mixmag and The Quietus, who both included the track in their ‘Best Electronic Music of 2024’ lists.

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POSER is an innovative electronic music producer originally from Wicklow, Ireland. Now based in London, he is carving his own lane in electronic music through his sample-based productions. Since being selected as a Roundhouse resident artist for 2025, he has been working on his debut mixtape which soundtracks styles that vary from relaxed jazz house to upbeat and more break-focused house and garage designed for clubs. His music has seen support from BBC Radio 1, BBC Introducing & RTE 2FM. ALongside recent support slots for artists such as Oden & Fatzo and O’Flynn, POSER is building his live show that is set to be debuted at Roundhouse ThreeSixty Festival in April.

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REGER is a Belfast-based DJ and producer shaping Northern Ireland’s electronic music scene with a penchant for innovative experimental techno. His Boiler Room DJ debut at AVA Festival and performances alongside Ben UFO, Call Super, and Objekt highlight his rising international profile. A graduate in Music & Sound Design, he fuses hardware and software and is currently developing an EP and live show with his custom Eurorack system.

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Rory Sweeney is hard to define, being one of the key artists in the Irish Underground. His music both dazzles and overwhelms, with glitchy electronics and cinematic balladry. Known also for acclaimed production work for artists such as Sello, Curtisy, Sloucho, Lord Apex, Mavi and Gemma Dunleavy, Rory seamlessly traverses mainstream and experimental sounds.

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East London native Slxm Sol, a producer, DJ, sound engineer and co-founder of Soul Quest Records known for his signature sound of deep, soulful house and jazzy chords. His debut EP, SQR006, garnered widespread attention, featuring on platforms like MixMag, EELF, and Délicieuse Musique. The release was met with high praise from The Club Map, Apparel Music, Juno Download, and DJ Mag, who named him a must-hear emerging artist for 2024.

Slxm Sol brings a fresh and distinctive groove to the global electronic scene that’s not just limited to house music. He’s collaborated with artists like Rudimental, Dream Mclean, and House Gospel Choir, and his skills have earned the trust of brands such as Patagonia, British Airways, and The Bar.

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Stella Z is a London-based artist, producer, and DJ whose music bridges cultural roots with contemporary electronic experimentation. Growing up in a mountainous seaside town in China, she was immersed in Mandarin and Cantonese pop, post-punk, and world music—an eclectic foundation that continues to shape her sound. An emerging voice in underground music, she was named a Mixmag “Artist to Check Out” in November 2024, selected as a Rhythm Section Future Proof mentee in 2023, and is a resident selector at London’s legendary Jumbi bar.

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VERA SACRA is cellist and producer Emily Marks from Sheffield, UK. Creating music that feels as ethereal as it is intimate, she blends cello and synth ambience with whispery vocals inspired by her classical background and introverted tendencies. Intrigued by spirituality, devotion and obsession in a world that frequently feels dark, she writes about the fragility of relationships and searching for a sense of home.

Thinking about how to break into the music industry?

AVA London 2025 offers essential sessions to help emerging artists, managers, promoters, and creatives navigate the industry, land their first opportunities, and build sustainable careers.

Here are some of our favourite sessions to gain insights, connections, and strategies to get started.

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Learn how artists and labels expand beyond local scenes to reach global audiences through streaming, PR, touring, and brand partnerships.

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Industry professionals from Doors Open share practical advice on landing your first opportunities, networking, and developing key skills to launch your career.

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What does a music publisher do, and why is PRS important for electronic music creators? This session covers copyright, royalties, and industry essentials.

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Two of the most influential names in dance music share their experiences navigating the industry, balancing creative and personal life, and carving out a lasting career.

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In this exclusive keynote, hosted by Séamas O’Reilly, Underworld discuss their evolving creative process and the continued inspiration offered by their seminal anthem, Born Slippy, celebrating 30 years this year.

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These are just some of the sessions that will provide valuable insight into finding your home in the creative industries.
To view the whole three day & night programme check out the full schedule here.

If you haven’t already secured your place at AVA London you can see the remaining ticket options here.
Be warned – with one week to go all tickets are moving fast. You risk disappointment by delaying.

See you at AVA London 20–22 March 2025