Christopher BarrettSoundcrash Music founder and former Live Nation senior promoter Rob Waller has joined the senior team at independent promoter DHP Family.
Known for launching festivals, owning venues and promoting large-scale outdoor live shows, featuring major headline talent, at unusual venues in regional locations, Waller has more than two decades of experience.
Waller’s career as a promoter has seen him co-found and programme festivals including Soundwave Croatia, Nova Batida in Lisbon, The Funk & Soul Weekender, and Paradise Island Festival in Thailand.
His Soundcrash operation produced more than 300 London shows annually featuring acts including Bonobo, MF DOOM, Jon Hopkins, George Clinton, Cinematic Orchestra, Roy Ayers, Mos Def, Flying Lotus, Autechre and Tony Allen. It was acquired by Live Nation in 2018.
A member of the Access All Areas 100, Waller spent his time at Live Nation leading the development of outdoor concert series including Margate Summer Series, South Facing at Crystal Palace Bowl, the Cardiff Bay Series and most recently launched the Colchester Castle Summer Series.
Having stepped down from Live Nation last year, Waller is now working on new events and concepts as part of the DHP team that is behind more than 1000 shows a year with artists such as Kneecap, Lewis Capaldi and James Blunt. The independent promoter’s projects include the 15,000-capacity Bearded Theory festival in Derbyshire and multi-venue Dot To Dot event that runs in Bristol and Nottingham.
Waller said that at DHP he plans to build a diverse programme of new events spanning hip-hop, bass, electronic, jazz, soul, reggae and pop, alongside bespoke touring projects featuring both established and emerging artists.
“Spending eight years at Live Nation was an incredible journey,” he said. “Over the last five years I had the opportunity to build multiple outdoor concert series from the ground up, working with a fantastic team and helping bring world-class live music to audiences across the UK. I’m immensely proud of what we achieved together.
“Ending that chapter with the launch of Colchester Castle Summer Series felt like the perfect way to sign off. However, my heart has always belonged to the independent music world, where creativity, innovation and entrepreneurial spirit can thrive.
“I’m excited to be returning to those roots working with DHP Family. We’ll be developing unique new live experiences and fresh ideas that bring artists and audiences together in memorable ways. There are some very exciting announcements on the horizon.”
DHP Family MD George Akins said, “We’re delighted to be welcoming Rob into the Family. His love for creating innovative events, and especially his passion for the independent live music sector, are a solid match to our core values as a business, and we look forward to working together. It’s heartening to see the beginning of a renewed interest in independents across the industry.”
Pictured: DHP’s George Akins (left) and Rob Waller (right).