GIT Awards 2014 entry deadline and new One To Watch award

GIT AWARD LAUNCHES NEW ‘ONE TO WATCH’ PRIZE AS CLOSING DATE FOR 2014 AWARD ENTRIES NEARS

The GIT Award artists represent artists of the future – Yoko Ono

The GIT Award illustrates just how colourful the music scene in Liverpool is today – Domino Records

Liverpool’s GIT Award 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 GIT Award judging panel and 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 getintothis@gmail.com or alternatively post to Peter Guy, The GIT Award, Liverpool Daily Post & ECHO, PO Box 48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L69 3EB. 

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GIT Awards 2014 entry deadline and new One To Watch award