News: GIGCO

A team of North-East entrepreneurs are launching the GIGCO App, which it hopes will support venues and artists through the cost of living crisis. 

The app was founded by Ben Kindlan and Frank De Vrijer, who originally met while managing hospitality venues in South East Asia and then returned to their North East roots to develop the project thanks to the vibrant  technology start-up scene in the region.  

Open to venues, musicians and fans, GIGCO will allow artists across the music industry to take bookings, sell merchandise and interact more directly with an audience through the app. It will also support venues to source and locate artists to fill their live event calendar as well as acting as a what’s on guide for customers for those looking for live music in local venues.

Founder Ben, who is from Whitley Bay, adds, “We are true music lovers at heart. Our initial product on the GIGCO App is our comprehensive what’s on guide. All live music gigs and DJ shows, for the first time, will be in one place. Fans, venues and artists are being let down by social media platforms and ticketing sites. Venues and artists can build a following of thousands  only to find the platform’s algorithms only inform a small number of these followers about events. And ticketing sites only promote the events they profit from selling. Our platform features all gigs in any city. You can share your discoveries with friends. You can buy tickets  from the host’s ticket site. The live music landscape has been hit incredibly hard by Covid restrictions and the rise in energy bills and cost of living crisis is expected to impact venues  hard. We want to do what we can to reignite this sector by removing some of the difficulties in  discovering what is happening in your neighbourhood.” 

The GIGCO App is set for launch in November 2022 with plans to initially launch in the North  East, followed by a series of strategic regional launches throughout the UK. Pre-registration for venues or artists is now available. To register, click here.