Liverpool Music Awards 2013 Nominations Revealed

The Liverpool Music Awards sponsored by Liverpool City Council hosted their annual nominations party at Eric’s on Mathew Street last night.

The night was hosted by BBC Radio Merseyside's Dave Monks and showcased some of the most exciting emerging artists from the city including Stevie Banks, Me and Deboe, UkeBox, Coffee and Cakes For Funerals, The Ragamuffins, Rumjig and Taylor Fowlis.

The awards nominations were also revealed and voting is now open to the public. Awards director Ellie Philips said; "We're very excited about the nominations which are just as eclectic as last year. We've got a real mix of well known names like Ian Broudie and Clinic to new talent like Tyler Mensah and Lumin Bells."

The awards are part of the inaugural Liverpool International Music Festival. Mayor of Liverpool, Joe Anderson, said: “It’s fantastic that these awards are part of what is already shaping up to be a hugely exciting music festival. The aim of this inaugural event is to celebrate all things music – and this ceremony honours the outstanding talent which can be found in the Liverpool music scene. To have such an eclectic mix of music involved in the nominations party is a taste of what you can expect from the festival itself which caters for mainstream as well as more diverse tastes.  Without a doubt, if you’re a music lover, Liverpool is the place to be in August.”

The Liverpool Music Awards ceremony itself takes place on Sunday 25 August at St George’s Hall. To find out more about the awards and to vote visit www.liverpoolmusicawards.com.

To find out more about the Liverpool International Music Festival or to book tickets, visit www.limfestival.com

LIVERPOOL MUSIC AWARDS 2013 NOMINATIONS:

THE MICHAEL MOLLOY YOUTH MUSIC AWARD (age 16-21)
MIC LOWRY
KATIE NICHOLAS
TYLER MENSAH

MALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
BILL RYDER-JONES
ESCO WILLIAMS
MILES KANE

FEMALE ARTIST OF THE YEAR
NATALIE MCCOOL
EVA PETERSON
ANNA CORCORAN

BAND OF THE YEAR
THE HUMMINGBIRDS
BY THE SEA
CLINIC

ONE TO WATCH (no age restriction)
JETTA
LUMIN BELLS
JOHN ROSS JUNIOR

SINGLE OF THE YEAR
JETTA – START A RIOT
HIGHFIELDS – THE CHASE (OH LORD)
MICHAEL MOLLOY – RISE and FALL

ALBUM OF THE YEAR
CUT FROM A STAR – IAN SKELLY
DON’T FORGET WHO YOU ARE – MILES KANE
TOWERS – BALTIC FLEET

LIVE MUSIC NIGHT OF THE YEAR
LIVERPOOL ACOUSTIC
HARVEST SUN
EVOL

LIVE MUSIC VENUE OF THE YEAR
LEAF
CAMP AND FURNACE
LIVERPOOL PHILHARMONIC

PRODUCER OF THE YEAR
IAN BROUDIE
AL GROVES
CAHILL

DJ OF THE YEAR
ANTON POWERS
GHOSTCHANT
RICHIE VEGAS

MUSIC BUSINESS OF THE YEAR
ELEVATOR STUDIOS
EIGHTIES VINYL RECORDS
3 BEAT RECORDS

GIT Award winner revealed and special award for Justice Collective

A spectacular celebration of Liverpool’s thriving music scene, the GIT (Getintothis) Award Showcase, took place in the city’s Leaf venue this evening, Friday 19 April.

The GIT Award 2013 winner is Baltic Fleet.  He received his GIT Award trophy - designed by Liverpool Art Prize nominee Jayne Lawless - from the Quietus editor John Doran and Merseyside music journalist and former Q editor Andrew Harrison.

Baltic Fleet is the guise of Paul Fleming, touring keyboardist of Echo and The Bunnymen. His debut record was named Rough Trade's album of the year and his latest record Towers follows suit with flawless electronic melodies, breezeblock beats and an effortless futuristic edge. The judges believe Towers captured the sprawling vitality of contemporary music and married this to a sonic landscape which is indicative of its birth; Northern working class cities which thrive on industry and making things happen.

The Inspiration Award went to The Justice Collective who took a version of He Aint Heavy, He’s My Brother to UK Christmas Number One 2012 with all proceeds going towards Hillsborough Families legal costs in their fight for justice.

The Farm’s Peter Hooton who helped organise and appeared on the charity single and accepted the Inspiration Award on behalf of Justice Collective said: 

“I accepted this award on behalf the tremendous team behind the Justice Collective - they were truly inspirational and everyone involved from the music industry gave their time and effort free of charge. But really this is an award for the 24 year campaign for justice by the families and survivors. It was a truly remarkable achievement to get a Christmas No1 within such a short period of time and just shows what people power can bring about when they believe in a cause. I dedicate the award to John Glover and Anne Williams, true campaigners for truth and justice!”

Steve Rotheram MP, one of the chief organisers behind The Justice Collective said: 

“Music has the innate ability to express and even amplify in people a mixture of emotions. The Justice Collective captured the country’s feelings towards the Hillsborough disaster and the establishment-led cover up with a beautifully produced piece of music that rightly took its place at the top of the Christmas charts.  

“The Justice Collective project was a story of solidarity. Everyone who took part did so for free and with the best interests of the victims, families and survivors of one of the greatest injustices of the 20th century at heart. In the year of the London Olympic Games, Diamond Jubilee and a US Presidential Election, it was Hillsborough and the fight for justice for the 96 that dominated the news. I am proud that we played a small part in keeping the topic of Hillsborough at the forefront of the news agenda and in doing so hopefully inspired millions of people through this piece of music to educate themselves on the real TRUTH of Hillsborough and its devastating aftermath.”

Liverpool Football Club, who were present filming the occasion, prepared a special video of the making of the single while Liverpool FC legend Kenny Dalglish made a special video honouring the members of the Justice Collective and hailing their Inspiration Award. There were also special messages on the night from Liverpool FC great Jamie Carragher and Everton FC defender and keen music enthusiast Leighton Baines gave poignant messages of support for the Justice Collective in receiving their Inspiration Award.

Tyler Mensah was crowned People's Choice winner - as voted for by readers of Bido Lito! Getintothis, Seven Streets and Juice FM. Fifteen-year-old Tyler, who records hook-laden urban pop, received his memento from GIT Award charity partner Simon Howes of CALM.

On the night there were live performances from the nominees including Baltic Fleet, metal band Conan, alt-folk rising star Nadine Carina and electronic artist John Heckle.

Among the other live performances were Bill Ryder-Jones, Paulo Isocore, Bird, The Wild Eyes and China Crisis' Gary Daly who performed Wave Machines' Punk Spirit on their behalf as they toured in France. Sense of Sound's a capella choir collaborated with electro artist GhostChant for Jetta's Start A Riot as she prepared to finish recording her debut album in Los Angeles.

GIT Award founder, Peter Guy, hailed the night saying: “The GIT Award champions the unity and team-work that's evident in Liverpool's arts community, it's this ethos which is pushing new, innovative art right across the world - this is a city with the finest new music - and much of it was here tonight in this room. Roll on The GIT Award 2014.”