The GIT Award teams up with Merseyside Arts Foundation and Liverpool International Music Festival to offer studio and performance time as Royal Standard artist revealed to design this year’s awards.
The GIT Award 2014 has announced a brand new prize for 2014 ahead of the cut off point for entries on 31 January 2014.
The new One To Watch prize will be awarded to one under-18 artist or band selected by the judging panel with the winner announced alongside the main GIT Award at a special showcase event at the city’s Kazimier venue on Friday 11 April 2014.
The recipient of the One To Watch prize will receive studio time at Liverpool’s legendary Parr Street Studios plus mentoring from sponsors Merseyside Arts Foundation as well as support from Liverpool International Music Festival, including a slot on the it’sLiverpool Stage at Sefton Park.
Peter Shilton, from the Merseyside Arts Foundation, said: “We are delighted to support the GIT Award’s 2014 One To Watch prize. As part of our current music development programme we are working with twelve of Merseyside’s best young bands and solo artists with the support of Youth Music, the leading UK charity for providing young people with life changing opportunities in music.”
Yaw Owusu, curator of Liverpool International Music Festival, added: “Sourcing new talent is pivotal to the success of our city’s music scene and Getintothis and The GIT Award do this consistently well.
“Continuing our work the GIT Award, we are excited to support the One To Watch winner within Liverpool International Music Festival.”
The GIT Award‘s 12 artist shortlist will be drawn up following the entry cut off date on Friday January 31 before for its third successive showcase ceremony, this year at The Kazimier on Friday 11 April 2014.
The nomination process is well under way and there isn’t long left to put forward nominations to be in with a chance of claiming what is dubbed the ‘Scouse Mercury Prize.’
The GIT Award is the first regional award of its kind championing new emerging talent within Merseyside’s eclectic arts and music community, pushing innovative musicians right across the world.
National music industry and media powerhouses are joining some of Merseyside’s key cultural figureheads to form the panel of 15 judges who will decide the 12 shortlisted nominees and the eventual winner for this pioneering award.
The GIT Award 2014 winner will be crowned at the Kazimier showcase, scooping £1,000 prize money.
As well as the main GIT Award and the newly launched One To Watch award, there will be a special Inspiration Award presented on the night to recognise significant outstanding achievement in Merseyside’s music industry. Previous recipients of the Inspiration Award include the Hillsborough Justice Collective and the team behind Liverpool’s Kazimier club.
In further GIT Award news, Mike Aitken, the director of Liverpool’s Royal Standard gallery will design and produce this year’s GIT Award and Inspiration Award.
Aitken, whose work draws on manipulating pop culture, art history and smutty teenage humour, follows on from previous award designers former Liverpool Art Prize nominee Jayne Lawless and fellow Royal Standard director Sam Venables to design this year’s two Awards, both of which will be revealed at the Kazimier on April 11.
The GIT Award showcases the region’s rich musical diversity and is open to all artists and bands from or based in Merseyside. But with the closing date for nominations on January 31 there are only a few days left to be put in the running for this highly respected prize.
Musicians, bands and creative types who would like to enter for this year’s prize are asked to send four tracks to [email protected] or alternatively post to Peter Guy, The GIT Award, Liverpool Daily Post & ECHO, PO Box 48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L69 3EB.
Meet the Judges
Mike Deane is Founder and Director of Liverpool Music Week. Mike is also a European Agent at one of the world’s leading independent talent agencies Elastic Artists, working directly with record labels such as Tri Angle, Ninja Tune and Warp.
John Doran
John Doran, editor of the influential internet music magazine the Quietus (www.TheQuietus.com) was born in Whiston Hospital, and had his musical education being humiliated by staff at Probe Records. He also writes for The Stool Pigeon, VICE, NME and Metal Hammer.
Peter Guy is a journalist at the Liverpool Post & Echo – and founder of The GIT Award. For seven years Peter’s blog, Getintothis, has charted the highs and lows of music on a national scale. Peter is a media partner with Liverpool Sound City, Liverpool Music Week and Liverpool International Music Festival.
Tim Ingham
Tim Ingham is editor of respected ‘industry bible’ Music Week. He has written for the likes of The Independent, The Observer, The Evening Standard, Metro and NME.com.
Alan McGee
Alan McGee is a record label owner, manager and music blogger. McGee formed independent label Creation Records in 1983 signing the likes of Primal Scream, My Bloody Valentine and Oasis. In 2013 he formed new 359 label launching it in Liverpool’s District where he holds a monthly new music club night.
Steve Miller is Liverpool-based promoter behind EVOL. For nine years, Steve or ‘Revo’ as he is more popularly known, has showcased the cream of under the radar talent and blockbuster headliners. In 2008, Steve became the programmer for Liverpool Sound City festival.
Yaw Owusu is the Creative Director of youth culture organisation URBEATZ, Director at creative solutions company the playmaker group and NBTMLBL and Music Curator for Liverpool International Music Festival.
Craig G Pennington is the Editor of Bido Lito! Magazine – Liverpool’s monthly new music magazine. For the past four years, Bido Lito! has been championing the city’s burgeoning music scene. Craig is also one of the founding Directors of Liverpool International Festival Of Psychedelia.
Camilla Pia
Camilla Pia is part of the Music team at BBC Radio 6 Music; scheduling music for shows across the network and managing the Playlist. She has booked bands for children’s TV and London club nights, helped launch the BBC Introducing Playlist slot on Radio 1, and has written for NME, Q, Kerrang!, Mojo, and Dazed and Confused.
Simon Price
Simon Price is an award-winning music journalist with three decades’ experience, and also a DJ, club promoter and radio presenter. His CV includes nine years at Melody Maker, twelve as Rock & Pop Critic for the Independent On Sunday, and acclaimed rock biography ‘Everything (A Book About Manic Street Preachers)’.
Peter Robinson
Peter Robinson is the creator of pop music blog Popjustice. Robinson has written for the NME, Guardian and published three books, two for UK pop band Busted, the author for reality TV show Popstars: The Rivals.
Jude Rogers
Jude Rogers is a journalist who often writes about music. Having been Reviews Editor of The Word, On Music columnist for The Guardian, and a Mercury Music Prize judge, she now writes for The Guardian, the Observer, Q, The Quietus, Red and Marie Claire, and broadcasts regularly on the BBC.
Mike Walsh
Mike Walsh was born and raised in Liverpool and has over 20 years experience in music and media. From college radio to working at the Parlophone, with the likes of Coldplay and Blur, Mike has also programmed radio for Capital, Chrysalis and now Global Radio where he is part of Xfm’s management team.
Matt Wilkinson
Matt Wilkinson is NME’s New Music Editor. He looks after the Radar section both in the magazine and online at NME.COM bringing new and unsigned acts to the fore. He also helps co-ordinate various NME live events and tours.
Further reading on Getintothis:
GIT Award 2014 judging panel announced.
Review and pictures from GIT Award 2014 launch at Leaf.
GIT Award 2014 returns with Leaf launch ahead of Kazimier spectacular in April.
GIT Award 2013: Baltic Fleet: To be involved and win will always stay with me
The GIT Award 2013 report, reaction and review from Leaf Tea Shop, Liverpool.
GIT Award 2013 winner announced as Justice Collective win Inspiration Award
GIT Award 2013: picture gallery featuring Baltic Fleet, Nadine Carina, Conan, John Heckle, Tyler Mensah and more.
