Penny Blackham is a music industry and events professional with extensive experience built up during her 30-year career. Penny has worked in all sectors of the industry from promoting, retail, label and artist management, performance and talent consultation, running venues, programming festivals, raising funding and mentoring young women to be confident and knowledgeable within the industry. Penny established Secret Name Management, an artist management company with a client roster of Sheffield based bands including The Crookes, High Hazels and Leeds based Music producer Matt Peel. She also successfully ran her own 2nd hand record shop, Forever Changes for 11 years.
As a concert promoter Penny spent 10 years as the live music manager at the Students Union in Sheffield booking and delivering live music in 4 venues from the 1600 capacity Octagon Centre to the intimate 100 cap Raynor Lounge. She developed ‘Fuzz Club’ a highly successful and influential weekly club night at the SU featuring the cream of new band talent. Penny has been an independent promoter in Sheffield City Centre since 1991 focussing on the DIY touring scene and running many gigs in a variety of Sheffield based independent venues as well as a series of all dayers and weekenders. Penny has performed in many DIY bands including recording a Peel Session.
In her current role as Cultural Engagement Officer at the University of Sheffield Penny has developed a brand called Sheffield Makes Music which aims to showcase the broad variety and quality of music made in the city and to inspire young people to form their own groups, bands, ensembles by getting an early taste of performance on a public platform. Penny is currently a representative member of the Sheffield City Region Music Board.