Adem Holness

Adem is Head of Music at SXSW London, where he leads the music vision for the festival’s European debut. His first edition featured a wide range of artists including TEMS, Erykah Badu, Mabel, Sasha Keable, NAO, Valiant, Bashy, Alice Glass, MONO, and The K’s. Previously, Adem was Head of Contemporary Music at Southbank Centre, curating and delivering over 150 gigs and events each year, including the iconic Meltdown Festival. His programmes featured major artists such as Stormzy, Brian Eno, Chaka Khan, Max Richter, and Honey Dijon. As Music Curator at Horniman Museum & Gardens, he created and led 696, an award-winning festival and programme celebrating Black British music. At Arts Council England, Adem led the Supporting Grassroots Live Music Fund for London, a critical initiative that helped save 135 music venues during the pandemic. He is a Clore Leadership Fellow, part of the first cohort of PRS Foundation’s Power Up, and sits on the Mayor of London’s Cultural Leadership Board.