Darryl Hurs
Toronto, Canada
VENUExVENUE / NATIONxNATION
Programming / Partnerships
Darryl Hurs is a seasoned music industry professional with over 30 years of experience, having worked with renowned brands like Live Nation, CD Baby (as Market Manager, Canada), and Downtown Music. He is the founder of INDIE WEEK Canada, VENUExVENUE, and the DIT online global music community (ditcommunity.com). With a diverse background in artist management, branding, and music-tech innovation, Darryl continues to empower the independent music community through growth, education, and connection.
CONTACT
COMPANY / EVENT
VENUExVENUE Festival
VENUExVENUE is an annual music festival held in London, Ontario—Canada’s UNESCO City of Music. The festival focuses on showcasing emerging and established talent across multiple venues, providing a vibrant platform for live performances, networking, and career development. It has become a must-attend event for artists and music industry professionals seeking to connect and grow. In 2026, VENUExVENUE will feature a NATIONxNATION stage and is currently seeking international partners to participate in this exciting global initiative.
NATIONxNATION Online Music Export Community
Launching in 2025, NATIONxNATION is a global online music export community designed to connect musicians, managers, and industry leaders across borders. Focused on fostering international collaboration, NATIONxNATION supports artist showcases at partner festivals, featuring talent from Canada and abroad. In addition, it offers education to prepare artists for export readiness and provides insights into market development. By helping artists navigate new markets and build international relationships, NATIONxNATION empowers them to expand their reach and succeed in the global music industry.
WHAT I DO
- I look for bands to perform at my shows (e.g. promoter, festival owner/curator, venue, etc.)
I am looking for artists that would fit in markets we are working with (Brazil is one).
We also host a festival in London, Ontario – and we are working on partnering with showcase festivals by hosting a showcase within the festival – looking for festival partners and artists to pitch/present.
LOOKING FOR
- Artist genres
- Mainstream pop type acts
- Band music e.g. rock, indie-rock, indie-pop, etc.
- Hip-hop, Rap, R&B, Soul, Funk, etc.
- Alternative and/or experimental
- World, traditional and/or cultural music
- Overall mostly anything but for each showcase we aim to curate to have the best results
- Artist types
- Up-and-coming acts
- Undiscovered talents
