Category: Meet the Team

Joe Roberts

Looking for a reason not to attend lectures whilst at University, Joe entered the industry as a member of the old skool Entertainments Committee. Taking full advantage and still not wanting to go to lectures, he immersed fully in the entertainment industry becoming Technical Manager, Assistant Manager and then Entertainments Manager of Liverpool Guild of Students. From there Joe joined Academy Music Group following the same path from Technical Manager to General Manager of Oxford Academy. He also has comprehensive experience of tour management, promoter repping, and makes a great coffee and bacon butty. Focussing on his love of all things tech, Joe became Production Manager for a national venue and outdoor event operator advancing and producing shows from 200 – 20,000 capacity. Joe now heads up our Production Department working closely with Gemma and Richard to deliver all events across Live After Racing, Pink Dot, our partner venues and large-scale outdoor events. He enjoys drawing site plans, loves his van and drives a mean telehandler!

Top Five Albums

Ben Folds – Ben Folds Live Counting Crows – This Desert Life Neil Diamond – Greatest Hits Garth Brooks – Double Live The Stone Roses – The Stone Roses

Gemma Shamah TechIOSH MIIRSM

An excellent communicator with a genuine and detailed knowledge of all facets of the industry Gemma has proven herself to be an extremely capable individual. Her professional history is a rich tapestry of experience of both indoor and outdoor events. A former manager of many established venues including The Forum (London) along with outdoor experience as varied as bar management to being in overall control of large-scale events. Gemma was DPS & Operational and Events Manager for the 15,000 capacity classic rock camping festival Ramblin’ Man Fair and designed and delivered 5 on the Farm Festival in partnership with Viacom CBS and Channel 5. With specialisms in large-scale outdoor events across feasibility, site design, health & safety, supplier procurement and supplier diligence, she leads on our speciality projects as well as the onsite delivery of the Live After Racing series and Royal Holloway Students’ Union Summer Ball.

Top Five Albums

Incubus – S.C.I.E.N.C.E Creedence Clearwater Revival – Best of Gil Scott-Heron – Pieces of a Man Hatebreed – The Rise of Brutality American Head Charge – The War of Art

Carl Bathgate

With extensive experience at a senior level in both the independent and corporate sector, Carl oversee the commercial aspects of the company. Having a well-rounded pedigree including roles such as Head of Academy Events (Academy Music Group’s promoters division) senior venue management positions and Commercial Director of a multi venue and outdoor large-scale events company he is equally comfortable with indoor and outdoor activity. Carl enjoys working closely with our clients and partners on areas from strategic and concept development to content procurement and delivery. He is an established promoter in his own right working with a wide variety of artists including Ed Sheeran, Snow Patrol, Alice Cooper, Kasabian, Jess Glynne, Madness, James, McFly, The Wombats, Flaming Lips, Nile Rodgers, Paloma Faith, Katherine Jenkins, Gary Numan, Rag ‘n’ Bone Man, Keane, Blondie, Kaiser Chiefs, Rita Ora and Tom Jones to name but a few. He likes nothing more than an innovative solution or the development of a new model that offers our promoters, operators, partners and clients a viable and commercially sound approach to any given project or event. Oh yes and Diet Coke (and chocolate!).

Top Five Albums

Arctic Monkeys – Whatever you say I am, I’m not Fleetwood Mac – Rumours Sam Fender – Seventeen Going Under Radiohead – The Bends Stone Roses – Stones Roses