Abbey Road turns 90: Iconic London studios to host free two-day festival to celebrate anniversary

Abbey Road Studios

London’s legendary Abbey Road Studios has released details of the celebrations for its upcoming 90th anniversary.

Running across November 11 -12, Abbey Road will host an event entitled Abbey Road Amplify, which will feature the likes of Island Records, Universal Music Publishing, Pitchfork, The Ivors Academy, Spotify, PRS for Music, The MMF, AIM, Sound On Sound and Mix With The Masters.

The studios will also open its doors over those to days for a free, two-day festival featuring masterclasses, interactive sessions, practical workshops, Q&As and live performances.

Alongside the Abbey Road team, some of the music industry’s leading names will share career insights from their personal journeys, as well as advice for upcoming talent and a range of live performances and showcases.

Participants will be able to attend for free by entering a ballot and the festival will also be livestreamed on the Abbey Road Studios website.

Some of the key Abbey Road Amplify workshops and talks include a music production masterclass takeover of Studio Two by Mix With The Masters, Island Records’ How To Get Heard And Signed, The Ivors Academy’s Talking Songwriting, In Conversation With Spotify’s Bryan Johnson and Abbey Road Production Hub’s The Path to Becoming An Engineer.

Speakers include the likes of Steve Mac, Nile Rodgers, Maverick Sabre, Olivia Dean, Gracey, Donae’o, Fiona Bevan, Paul Epworth, Tiffany Calver, Abbie McCarthy, Rachel Chinouriri, Eddie Kramer, Steve Albini, Tony Visconti and Greg Wells, as well as composers Steven Price and James Newton Howard and Abbey Road engineers past and present.

Studio Three’s live room will host the Abbey Road Red Playroom – showcasing what Abbey Road says will be “the latest music tech products, innovations and alumni” from the studios’ tech incubator.

Studio Three’s control room will host a feedback centre, featuring one-to-one mentoring with A&Rs and Abbey Road engineers.

The Gatehouse and Front Room will host the Abbey Road Amplify x Pitchfork London Sessions allowing rising musical talent to record demos across the entire week.

In addition to the Amplify program, Abbey Road will be hosting a variety of broadcasts and live events across week commencing November 8. These include Tim Burgess’ Twitter Listening Party, Edith Bowman’s Soundtracking podcast, a Tortoise ThinkIn music tech special and the Girls Twiddling Knobs podcast, with more to be announced in the coming weeks.

“We are incredibly proud that Abbey Road turns 90 this November.”

Isabel Garvey, Abbey Road Studios

Abbey Road Studios’ Managing Director, Isabel Garvey, added: “We are incredibly proud that Abbey Road turns 90 this November.

“The modern business continues to welcome and enable music creators from across the globe, and we have expanded the brand to include a global music production school and a music tech incubator, so it feels right to use the anniversary to inspire the next generation.”

“We’ve been fortunate to host 90 years of music innovation and creativity within our walls so, along with friends across the industry, we’re sharing our knowledge and experience to help empower emerging talent as they begin their journeys.”

Mark Robertson, Abbey Road

Speaking about Abbey Road Amplify and the studios’ 90th, Head of Brand & Communications, Mark Robertson said: “As Abbey Road turns 90 this year, much of our focus is on the future and creating opportunities to inspire and inform the next generation of artists, songwriters, composers and producers.

“We’ve been fortunate to host 90 years of music innovation and creativity within our walls so, along with friends across the industry, we’re sharing our knowledge and experience to help empower emerging talent as they begin their journeys.”

 Music Business Worldwide