Liverpool's GIT Award announces 2013 judging panel

BBC 6 Music presenter and son of the legendary John Peel, Tom Ravenscroft and the editor of rock and pop music bible Q Magazine, Liverpool-born Andrew Harrison will join the 12-strong judging panel.

The GIT Award, dubbed ‘the Scouse Mercury Prize’, launched its second annual outing in November after a hugely successful inaugural prize in 2012.

Tom and Andrew join 10 other respected industry experts to decide a winner for this pioneering award in April next year.

Returning to judge The GIT Award are Matt Wilkinson, NME's new music editor, Craig G Pennington, editor of Liverpool music magazine Bido Lito! and John Doran, editor of the music webzine The Quietus.

“Last year’s GIT Award helped to bring Liverpool’s music scene to national attention - I’m pleased to see it back this year and can’t wait to get involved again.” - NME

Other new judges for the GIT Award 2013 are David Lloyd, founder and editor of Liverpool culture blog Seven Streets, Clarry Mowforth, co-founder of Liverpool events and promotions company everisland, and Juice FM Deputy Programme Controller, Johnny Collins.

GIT Award organiser and Liverpool Echo journalist Peter Guy also takes a place on the 2013 judging panel, alongside Liverpool music promoter, Steve Miller, the man behind club night EVOL, and former music journalist Paul Rogers, who is head of content at Liverpool Football Club. Completing the judging line up is Yaw Owusu, music manager and chief executive of award-winning Liverpool youth culture company URBEATZ. 

GIT Award organiser Peter Guy said: "I'm thrilled with the judging panel for the GIT Award 2013. They represent the cornerstones of music on a national scale while their brands are respected throughout the world. The diversity of the Merseyside-based judges shows how communal the GIT Award has become in Liverpool, while those judges based around the country shows how respected, and how serious the industry considers new Liverpool music to be. It's shaping up to be a superb second year."

Launched in November 2011, The GIT award captured the music industry’s attention becoming the first regional award of its kind to champion new and emerging music.

Collaborating with over 80 companies from Merseyside and the national music industry, the Award showcased Liverpool’s rich musical diversity resulting in a showcase which captured the world's music press garnering coverage from the BBC, MTV, the national print and online press, the UK music industry and the cornerstones of Liverpool's media.

“The GIT Award 2012 was one of the highlights of the city’s musical calendar. It showed the strength of the Liverpool music offer, raised the profile of the city’s music scene, and attracted vast positive national coverage.” - Kevin McManus, Liverpool Vision

“Liverpool has long since stepped out of the huge shadow cast by the Beatles. It takes something as good as the GIT Award to let the rest of the country know and make them pay attention." - The Quietus.

Liverpool has long been considered a hotbed of musical talent and The GIT Award is committed to putting the city’s most innovative new bands and artists on the national and international stage.

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 and 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

Liverpool's GIT Award returns for 2013 after putting city's new music on national radar

‘Scouse Mercury Prize’ teams up with MOBO Award winner and former GIT Award nominee Esco Williams for November 16 launch party at Leaf’s Grey Space

Liverpool’s premier new music prize returns on Friday November 16 after the inaugural prize - widely considered as putting the city firmly back on the world’s music map – was hailed a huge success.

Launched in November 2011, The 2012 GIT Award, founded by Liverpool-based blog Getintothis, captured the music industry’s imagination. Dubbed the ‘Scouse Mercury Prize,’ The GIT Award became the first regional award of its kind to champion new and emerging music.

Collaborating with over 80 companies from Merseyside and the national music industry, the Award showcased Liverpool’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 result was a showcase which captured the world's music press garnering coverage from the BBC, MTV, the national print and online press, the UK music industry and the cornerstones of Liverpool's media.

Last year’s GIT Award helped to bring Liverpool’s music scene to national attention - I’m pleased to see it back this year and can’t wait to get involved again - NME.

The GIT Award - what a blast! A great way for a city bursting with talent to show off its wares and make sure it holds its crown as the most innovative and original musical conglomeration in the UK - The Guardian.

The 2013 award, which launches on 16 November this year, is no different. The GIT Award judges, which include The NME, The Quietus, Liverpool Football Club and the cornerstones of the Liverpool music and arts scene, will seek to find the very best new music emanating from within Merseyside’s melting pot of creativity.

For November’s launch organisers have teamed up with one of the big success stories of the first GIT Award, Esco Williams for the launch of his debut single The New Challenger.
 

Since his nomination, Toxteth-born Williams has gone from virtual unknown to a MOBO Award winner and for this year’s GIT Award launch organisers will host a special party in collaboration with Esco at Leaf's Grade II Listed Grey Space on Water Street in Liverpool city centre.

Peter Guy, Liverpool ECHO journalist and editor of Getintothis, said: “The GIT Award is once again open to all. I want the prize to appeal to everyone from bedroom musicians to those with record deals, all we’re asking is for Merseyside musicians to send us their four tracks and who knows who will make the shortlist this year.

“For November’s launch, we’ve teamed up with Esco Williams as he’s a fine example of what the GIT Award aims to do; champion new Liverpool music. Esco went from promising performer to capturing the national media's attention and now he’s won a MOBO Award. His story is mirrored by many of last year's nominees. Let’s hope this year’s GIT Award finds a few more hidden gems.”

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 GIT Award readdressed all that and returns for 2013 to build on this success.

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.

Closing date Spring 2013 with the overall winner of the GIT Award and Inspiration Award to be announced in April 2013.