Concerts, Panels & Workshops!

VersoFest is The Westport Library’s annual music and media conference and festival where knowledge is shared and inspiration is discovered — a forum for media creators, artists, and fans to converge.

VersoFest includes panels where experts share their perspective and vision. Intimate workshops provide creators the opportunity to deconstruct, improve, and hone their craft. Performances entertain and inspire.

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3

ALL 5 DAYS

EXHIBIT: Thinking Inside the Box

FREE

THE FORUM

This VersoFest, be sure to explore the Library’s first mixed-media art installation, Thinking Inside the Box, where more than 20 artists from around the area will fill the grandstand in the Trefz Forum with unique and thought-provoking art.


4-5:30 pm

WORKSHOP: Hands on Hip Hop History Presented by TeachRock

FREE

THE FORUM

In this hands-on workshop, participants will explore hip hop technology and the practices on which hip hop music was constructed, investigating what it means to “sample” from another style, who has used sampling, and how. Through their investigation, students will discover how sampling demonstrates a powerful creative expression and can make social and political statements.

SATURDAY, APRIL 6

11 am -
5 pm

VERSOFEST RECORD FAIR, Presented by Record Riots

FREE

THE HUB

Record Riots dealers command The Hub of The Westport Library in VersoFest’s second record fair! A handful of vinyl dealers will wheel and deal, adding to the electricity of Saturday's VersoFest events.


11 am -
5 pm

EXHIBIT: Diamond Dogs at 50: David Bowie Exhibit by Paul Brenton with Set Designer Mark Ravitz

FREE

THE HUB

Collector and curator Paul Brenton brings a "Diamond Dogs at 50" David Bowie exhibit, featuring the original stage models from the 1974 Diamond Dogs tour and other rare ephemera. Pioneering stage designer Mark Ravitz will be in attendance, having designed numerous Bowie tour sets (Diamond Dogs, Glass Spiders, and Serious Moonlight tours) as well as sets for KISS, Whitney Houston, and Backstreet Boys.


11 am -
12 pm

WORKSHOP: Pitch Your Podcast! with Connecticut Public, featuring Meg Dalton, Jack Hitt, and Special Guests

FREE *Registration Required*

THE FORUM

It seems like everyone has a podcast these days. But how will your podcast stand out? Pitch your idea for a podcast to a panel of audio storytellers including Meg Dalton and Jack Hitt , who will give you feedback on everything from the podcast's name and description to potential audience and obstacles. You'll have just a few minutes to make your pitch, whether it's narrative-driven like Radiolab or chat-style like WTF with Marc Maron.

3-4 pm

WORKSHOP: Musician Career Coaching: Know Your Worth, Set Your Rate, and Get Paid with Matt Starr

FREE

BROOKS PLACE

Matt Starr  is a Connecticut-born musician and career coach. He has toured the world and made records with members of KISS, Guns 'n Roses, Foreigner, Whitesnake, and others. 

The number one reason musicians/artists give up is that they are not able to monetize their talents. They end up getting part- or full-time jobs and their passion becomes a hobby. Learn how to set your rate, quote your rate, and get paid what you deserve. 

SUNDAY, APRIL 7

11 am -
5 pm

VERSOFEST RECORD FAIR, Presented by Record Riots

FREE

THE HUB

Record Riots dealers return on Sunday for a second day in The Hub. A handful of dealers will be on hand, with myriad options for fans and collectors of vinyl.


11 am -
5 pm

EXHIBIT: Diamond Dogs at 50: David Bowie Exhibit by Paul Brenton with Set Designer Mark Ravitz

FREE

THE HUB

Collector and curator Paul Brenton brings a "Diamond Dogs at 50" David Bowie exhibit, featuring the original stage models from the 1974 Diamond Dogs tour and other rare ephemera. Pioneering stage designer Mark Ravitz will be in attendance, having designed numerous Bowie tour sets (Diamond Dogs, Glass Spiders, and Serious Moonlight tours) as well as sets for KISS, Whitney Houston, and Backstreet Boys.

11 am -
12 pm

FREE

BROOKS PLACE

This hour-long workshop will provide advice on publishing, royalties, contracts, and more for up-and-coming musicians. Strategize and simplify the business aspects of your creativity.

Marcus Thomas is an educator and entertainment attorney who is also trained as a screenwriter and publicist. During his 25-year career, he has maintained a boutique entertainment law practice and held several in-house positions with entertainment companies, including a major record label, major-affiliated music publisher, and the nation's largest education music print publisher.


12:30-1:30 pm

WORKSHOP: Video Game Music Composing with Tom Salta

FREE

BROOKS PLACE

Learn the landscape, approach, and technique behind video game composing in this hour-long workshop.

ASCAP Award-winning and BAFTA-nominated composer Tom Salta is one of the most versatile and prolific music artists/producers working in film, television, advertising, and video games. Renowned for crafting emotionally engaging soundtracks for multimedia, Salta has received widespread industry acclaim for his world-class-produced hybrid scores featured in film, television, and video games such as Red Barrels’ The Outlast Trials, Arkane Studios’ Deathloop, Machine Games’ Wolfenstein: Youngblood & Cyberpilot, Microsoft’s iconic Halo series, Ubisoft’s Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands and Red Steel (IGN Award for Best Original Score), Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon and H.A.W.X series, as well as the epic theme music for the record-breaking online multiplayer game PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, which has sold more than 75 million units with more than 700 million players. 


2-3 pm

WORKSHOP: Unlock the Secrets of Radio Airplay for Emerging Artists with Peter Gray

FREE

BROOKS PLACE

Peter Gray is a singer/guitarist with a lifelong passion for music. He currently has three songs on the radio in the U.S. and Europe on stations including WFOX, WFUV, WUSB, WAPJ, Sunshine 96.7, OcioNews (in Spain), ExcitementRadio, and others. Gray is currently #12 on WDFN and also #11 on Germany’s NB Radiotreff and #50 on Radio ARA in Luxembourg. 

His songs can be heard not only on the radio and also on Spotify, Apple Music, Amazon, Pandora, Deezer, Tidal, iHeartRadio, and most other major streaming platforms. 

THANK YOU TO EVERYONE INVOLVED!

OFFICIAL VERSOFEST SPONSORS

DARCY TRAVLOS

LES & SAMIRA DINKIN

OFFICIAL VERSOFEST BEVERAGE PARTNER

OFFICIAL VERSOFEST PARTNERS

Westport Chamber Logo

CALISE'S
BAKERY

OFFICIAL MEDIA PARTNERS

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