SUMMER MAY AUTUMN | COVER | COVER | ANNIVERSARY FEATURE FEATURE FEATURE MAY | COVER FEATURE
Steve Tilley
Monkey business Kilimanjaro began as a joint venture with AEG , which Galbraith says was a hugely important partnership in the early days : “ Like many small startup companies , we were not profitable in the first few years and AEG helped us get through those cash flow points .
“ From AEG ’ s perspective , one of the primary reasons for going into the joint venture with Kilimanjaro was to deliver content into what was then the brand new The O2 arena . In the first four years we put 40 shows in that venue , including six nights of The Eagles , and Ozzfest . It was a good symbiotic partnership .”
That close relationship with AEG has stood the test of time . On 10 August 2021 , Kilimanjaro was behind The O2 arena ’ s first major post-pandemic concert . The venue had not seen a full capacity show for more than 500 days , and the Gorillaz gig exclusively for NHS workers and their families proved an emotional moment for all involved . The band returned to the arena the following night with a show open to the general public .
As well as having many strong relationships with long-established acts such as Gorillaz , Andrea Bocelli , Simply Red , Hans Zimmer and Stereophonics , the promoter has played an integral part in helping acts such as Sam Fender and Ed Sheeran go from clubs to stadiums .
Since the outset , Kilimanjaro Live ’ s promoters have proven astute at spotting fledgling talent and working
Ed Sheeran
closely with agents , managers and record labels to nurture their careers .
Stages of development A former journalist , DJ , and musician , Steve Tilley was a regional promoter and venue owner in Stoke-on-Trent before he relocated to London in 2008 to join Galbraith at Kilimanjaro Live . Since then , he has been instrumental in the company ’ s success , not least
[ Kilimanjaro ’ s ] work alongside Ed Sheeran , and others , to combat ticket scalping has been exemplary and when the pandemic hit the UK , Stuart was also front and centre in pulling the live industry together when LIVE was formed . All of this is only possible because of the great team at the company . There is a passion for music and the business of music at Kilimanjaro Live that is tangible . Here ’ s to the next 15 years .
– CAA Emma Banks
because of his enduring partnerships with acts including Sheeran and Fender .
Tilley was first struck by Sheeran ’ s on-stage prowess while watching him perform a support slot for Just Jack at London ’ s Shepherd ’ s Bush Empire one November night in 2009 . Also at that gig was Jon Ollier , who would go on to become Sheeran ’ s agent and run One Fiinix Live . Like Tilley , Ollier has worked with Sheeran ever since .
“ It ’ s been fantastic working with Steve ,” he says . “ I remember when he joined Kili , I was standing next to him at the Borderline and he said to me , ‘ I ’ m setting out on this journey now to be a national promoter and I want to show people that you can do it and still be a nice guy ’. That has really stuck with me . With Steve there is no bullshit , no bravado , everyone knows what we ’ re trying to achieve , and we can really pull in the same direction in a way that is impossible with a lot of other people . That shows in the work that he ’ s done with Ed at a stadium level , in a co-pro partnership with FKP Scorpio .”
2428 25