GIT Award winner announced this Friday plus new 'One To Watch' prize winner named

Merseyside’s top music prize The GIT Award 2014 is just days away with nominees set to perform at a spectacular specially redesigned Kazimier in the heart of Liverpool city centre on Friday 11 April 2014.

The nominees - All We Are, Evian Christ, Circa Waves, Dan Croll, Ex-Easter Island-Head, Forest Swords, Mad Brains, Ninetails, Outfit, Bill Ryder-Jones, Tea Street Band and VEYU – will feature in live performances plus specially created visuals at the Kazimier alongside one-off performances and DJ sets from a raft of creatives.

As the ceremony approaches, organisers can now reveal the winner of a brand new One To Watch prize  - awarded to one under-18 artist - selected by the GIT Award judging panel.

In just six months, 17-years-old female electronic artist and producer Låpsley has received international recognition with her self-produced track Station.

Receiving almost 500,000 plays on her SoundCloud alone for her two tracks Station and Valentine, Låpsley has  received airplay on Radio 1 and 6Music while being featured in NME and being the toast of the international blog scene.

Låpsley, who has played just one gig on Merseyside, will feature at the GIT Award at the Kazimier and her prize will include 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.

The industry showcase on Friday April 11 is strictly invite only and will include performances from eight of the shortlisted artists plus an aftershow and specially produced set piece produced by the Kazimier team.

The GIT Award host is the High Priest of Party, known only as Howard Be Thy Name. Infamous for his high octane live performance, spectacular human light shows, kaleidoscopic projections and artistic high jinks. He's collaborated with everyone from Mick Rock to Echo and The Bunnymen and his holiness Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama - expect something unforgettable - and explosive array into the fantastical!

This year, the Kazimier will transform their unique venue into a decadent studio of lavish 70s pomp and glitz complete with sequins, navel grazing necklines, ultrasuede leisure suits and all manner of shimmer and sparkle with guests encouraged to dress the part.

Fifty members of the public have also been given the chance to attend the ceremony through a ticket draw on the Kazimier website - http://www.thekazimier.co.uk/ .

Now in its third consecutive year, The GIT (Getintothis) Award, champions the best of Merseyside music providing a snapshot of the year in music, recognising significant artistic achievement across a range of musical styles. 

This year’s shortlist was selected by national industry figureheads consisting of The Quietus editor John Doran, Music Week editor Tim Ingham, former Creation Records’ boss Alan McGee, BBC Radio 6 Music’s Camilla Pia, author and journalist Simon Price, Popjustice editor Peter Robinson, Guardian journalist Jude Rogers, XFM deputy programme manager Mike Walsh and NME radar editor Matt Wilkinson.

The judging panel was completed by respected Merseyside music players including Liverpool Music Week director Mike Deane, Sound City and Club EVOL promoter Steve Miller, Liverpool International Music Festival curator Yaw Owusu, Bido Lito! editor Craig Pennington – and GIT Award founder and Liverpool Echo journalist, Peter Guy.

Dubbed ‘the Scouse Mercury Prize,’ backed by Yoko Ono and the cornerstones of Merseyside’s flourishing cultural community, the winner of the GIT Award 2014 is revealed on Friday April 11 at The Kazimier in Wolstenholme Square - picking up a cheque for £1,000.

Live visuals, the One To Watch Award and mementoes for each nominee will be created by Liverpool architectural design agency ArchiPhonic who have overseen projects in the Baltic Triangle. Meanwhile Liverpool’s Royal Standard Art Gallery director, Mike Aitken will create two specially designed awards for the winners of the GIT Award 2014 and The Inspiration Award.

But who will win this year’s coveted prize? Find out in seven days’ time!

www.getintothis.co.uk

Liverpool Git Awards 2014 shortlist announced

Liverpool’s premier music prize, The GIT Award can today reveal the 12 shortlisted artists for the 2014 edition.

The GIT Award 2014 shortlist is:

All We Are, Circa Waves, Dan Croll, Evian Christ, Ex-Easter Island Head, Forest Swords, Mad Brains, Ninetails, Outfit, Bill Ryder-Jones, Tea Street Band and VEYU.

Now in its third consecutive year, The GIT (Getintothis) Award, champions the best of Merseyside music providing a snapshot of the year in music, recognising significant artistic achievement across a range of musical styles.

This year’s shortlist was selected by national industry figureheads consisting of The Quietus editor John Doran, Music Week editor Tim Ingham, former Creation Records’ boss Alan McGee, BBC Radio 6 Music’s Camilla Pia, author and journalist Simon Price, Popjustice editor Peter Robinson, Guardian journalist Jude Rogers, XFM deputy programme manager Mike Walsh and NME radar editor Matt Wilkinson.

The judging panel was completed by respected Merseyside music players including Liverpool Music Week director Mike Deane, Sound City and Club EVOL promoter Steve Miller, Liverpool International Music Festival curator Yaw Owusu, Bido Lito! editor Craig Pennington – and GIT Award founder and Liverpool Echo journalist, Peter Guy.

Dubbed ‘the Scouse Mercury Prize,’ backed by Yoko Ono and the cornerstones of Merseyside’s flourishing cultural community, the winner of the GIT Award 2014 is revealed on Friday April 11 at The Kazimier in Wolstenholme Square - picking up a cheque for £1,000.

Mike Walsh, XFM Head Of Music, said: "The GIT Award shortlist proves yet again that Liverpool continues to be one of the most consistently creative and musically rich cities in the world. The strength and diversity of artists on this list reminds us why Liverpool is still the benchmark for other cities to envy."

Since its re-launch in November 2013 up until the closing date at the end of January 2014, the GIT Award received more than 500 entries with the judges carefully whittling them down to just 12.

The industry showcase on Friday April 11 is strictly invite only and will include performances from the shortlisted artists plus an aftershow and specially produced set piece spectacles by the Kazimier team.

This year, the Kazimier team will transform their unique setting into a decadent night of lavish 70s pomp and glitz complete with sequins, navel grazing necklines, ultrasuede leisure suits and all manner of shimmer and sparkle as guests are invited into a gold lame world of an era trying desperately to cling onto its fading grandeur. Fifty lucky souls will also have the chance to log on to the Kazimier website and obtain a pass to this once-in-a-lifetime occasion.

On the night, the overall GIT Award winner will receive a cash prize of £1,000 and a special inspiration Award, recognising services to Liverpool’s music industry (won by The Hillsborough Justice Collective in 2013 and the team behind The Kazimier in 2012), will also be presented.

NME's Matt Wilkinson, said: "The GIT Award 2014 shortlist is seriously impressive. What I like most about it is the sheer variety of the nominated acts. None of them fit together on paper as they're all so different musically, yet each act is pushing the boundaries in their own special way. Liverpool is thriving in its own diversity - and I can't remember the scene being this eclectic for decades."

New for the GIT Award 2014 edition, an under-18 artist will receive the One To Watch Prize receiving studio time at Liverpool's legendary Parr Street Studios, mentoring from sponsors Merseyside Arts Foundation and a slot at the Liverpool International Music Festival.

Live visuals, the One To Watch Award and mementoes for each nominee will be created by Liverpool architectural design agency ArchiPhonic who have overseen projects in the Baltic Triangle.

Meanwhile Liverpool’s Royal Standard Art Gallery director, Mike Aitken will create two specially designed awards for the winners of the GIT Award 2014 and The Inspiration Award.

GIT Award founder and chair of judges, Peter Guy, said: “The 2014 GIT Award reaffirms my belief that there’s no region in the UK that can match the artistic ambition, technical craft and musical innovation that’s currently unfolding across Merseyside. Each of the artists on this year’s shortlist have garnered international press and radio while entertaining sell out audiences in Tokyo, South Africa, Sydney, New York and almost the entirety of Europe – and yet, most exciting of all, the majority are in their infancy. April 11 at a transformed Kazimier is set to be an exhilarating evening.”

Liverpool music lovers know their city is home to some of the finest creative talent in the world.

However, eyes and ears elsewhere may need convincing. The inaugural 2012 GIT Award readdressed all that and its 2014 edition is set to spread the message even further.

Limited tickets & event link, Monday March 3: http://www.thekazimier.co.uk/listing/00000000280/

For all other details: www.getintothis.co.uk

Merseyside's GIT music Award set for November Leaf launch ahead of 2014 Kazimier spectacular

Liverpool’s premier new music prize The GIT Award returns on Saturday November 16 2013 for its third successive year.

The process to find the 12 GIT Award shortlisted nominees opens today ahead of the special showcase ceremony at The Kazimier on Friday 11 April 2014.

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.

The overall winner of the GIT Award 2014 will receive a cash prize of £1000 when revealed at the Kazimier next April.

A special Inspiration Award, recognising significant outstanding achievement in Merseyside’s music industry will also be presented. The recipients of the 2013 Inspiration Award was won by the Hillsborough Justice Collective while in 2012 the team behind Liverpool’s Kazimier club picked up the honour.

Sam Crombie, from the Kazimier said: “We’re excited to play host to the GIT Award as it takes an ambitious step forwards in 2014.”

Launched in November 2011, the GIT Award, founded by Liverpool-based blog Getintothis, is now an annual fixture on the Merseyside music scene, supported by musicians, industry figures and national media.

Among the judging panel during the GIT Award’s first two years were NME, 6 Music’s Tom Ravenscroft, The Quietus, The Guardian, Liverpool Football Club, Q Magazine, Vice Magazine and the cornerstones of Liverpool’s music scene.

Matt Wilkinson, New Music Editor at NME said: "The Liverpool music scene is as thriving and eclectic as it's ever been, but it's vital The GIT Award recognises the artists who are striving to make such a difference. Once again I'm proud that NME is playing our part in the Award process."

Open to all artists and bands from or based in Merseyside, the GIT Award has showcased the region’s rich musical diversity, from the thriving hip hop scene to its electronica artists, from its long-established country and roots community to punk, folk and metal.

The 2014 Award, which will be officially launched on Saturday November 16 at Leaf on Bold Street, is no different.

The GIT Award 2014 launch event at Leaf on the evening of Saturday 16 November – which is open to the public and free to attend – will premier new artists and unique collaborations by some of Merseyside’s hottest artists.

On the night, there will be an exclusive collaboration between Liverpool gothic-pop band Bird and singer-songwriter Natalie McCool.

Both artists have received huge national acclaim and will take time out from their debut UK tours to collaborate for a GIT Award exclusive.

The evening will also include a performance from Wirral band VEYU. First tipped by Getintothis, the band have played just two gigs yet have already received national attention including plays on 6Music. Two brand new Liverpool electronic artists Kalax and Nights will also play sets, the former specialising in cinematic ambience, the latter dark progressive beats. The night will also include a DJ set from Club EVOL founder and GIT Award judge Steve ‘Revo’ Miller plus Waxxx resident and Liverpool cosmic disco staple Paul Hutchinson.

Peter Guy, Liverpool ECHO journalist and editor of Getintothis, said: “When the GIT Award was established two years ago we had no idea how it would snowball, placing new Liverpool music at the forefront of the national consciousness and have the impact it has had.

“From the first year when GIT Award nominee Esco Williams had a MOBO Award created in his honour, to coverage of all 12 nominees across the BBC, MTV and the national print press, to last year's blanket national radio and online coverage - the GIT Award has provided a multi-media platform for Merseyside music to thrive.

“Last year we were hugely honoured to have Yoko Ono personally invite the 2013 winners Baltic Fleet to support her at Meltdown Festival as part of the GIT Award prize - an event she curated as part of her 80th Birthday – we hope this year’s Award is equally as special and continues to place the focus on the incredible musicians working within our community.

“This year's launch at Leaf – a venue which has supported the GIT Award since the beginning - will be a fantastic night of new music, while the Award night itself next April in the Kazimier will be one not to miss.”

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.

Businesses who would like to get involved with the GIT Award can email getintothis@gmail.com for more information