KME – Karel Music Expo is the first musical meeting in Sardinia entirely dedicated to the indie universe.

Enriched with workshops, showcases and gigs, as well as literary and cultural events, its first edition (2007) immediately caught the attention of both press and public. It involved four national labels (Urtovox, Aiuola Dischi, Cinico Disincanto, Unhip) who had the chance to present their top bands (respectively Les Fauves, Nonvogliocheclara, Ultimavera and Discodrive), together with all the local labels (Desvelos, K-Factor, Quinto Moro, Here I stay, Transponsonic).

The second edition (2008) opened to a more international dimension, and had artists such as Tambours du Bronx, Tricky, Zitaswoon, Joe Lally, Ben Parker, Offlaga Disco Pax, Meg, Luci della centrale elettrica and lots more (thanks also to the partnership with Sonicbids) alternating themselves on electric and acoustic sets throughout a selection of venues including the Civic Theatre in the breathtaking Castle area in Cagliari.

KME was born to create an effective connection between the local and the international independent reality, through a direct comparison among labels, media, artists and every other element related to the new-global music scene. All this and more has been realized through – up to now - more than 60 performances, over 200 artists on stage, 20 indie labels’ showcases, expo area, lab area (featuring a whole lot of unmissable seminars about production, scenic presence training for musicians and John Parish himself revealing the tricks and treats of the producer’s mission). John Parish actually played the godfather of KME on the very first edition, whom he and his band donated a genuinely fascinating performance, live from the Ecoluce stage, the cleanest way to play music.

Since last year, KME also hosts Sottosuoni, the contest that’s been bringing Sardinian emerging bands to fame in the past 14 years. Sottosuoni is realized in co-operation with Musikarel, the Music Bureau created by the City of Cagliari to support young musicians from all over Sardinia. Thanks to this co-operation, the winner of each edition will have the chance to play live at M.E.I. – Meeting delle Etichette Indipendenti – in Faenza.

KME 2009 programme will be on line really soon, now… so get ready to cry your eyes out if you won’t be around in Cagliari between October 8th and October 25th, 2009!

KME 2009 PROGRAMME