Internationally renowned record label bosses, leading industry brands and acclaimed UK journalists are among the judging panel to preside over Merseyside new music prize The GIT Award 2016.
For the second successive year, The GIT (Getintothis) Award panel features founders of three iconic record labels and for its fifth edition is bolstered by figures from industry cornerstones including VEVO, the Unsigned Guide and BBC Radio 6 Music.
Returning for the 2016 edition are ex-Cocteau Twins member Simon Raymonde, founder of Bella Union Records who signed acts such as Flaming Lips, Fleet Foxes and The Walkmen; Rich Walker, General Manager of 4AD Records, home to critically-acclaimed Grimes and Bon Iver; and founder of Heavenly Recordings (Doves, Saint Etienne) Jeff Barrett.
Joining the judging panel for the 2016 are Dot Levine, communications manager at global video, BBC 6 Music DJ Gideon Coe and editor of music industry bible The Unsigned Guide, Louise Dodgson. Also new for 2016 are BBC 6 Music and Amazing Radio DJ Jon Hillcock, award-winning Merseyside music blogger Lauren Jones of The Music Manual and Simon Pursehouse at Sentric Music – an independent publisher in Liverpool which looks after tens of thousands of songwriters securing TV, film and video game sync deals.
Back to judge the 2016 edition are Amazing Radio presenter Shell Zenner, Chris Torpey, editor of monthly Liverpool music paper Bido Lito! Mike Deane, the founder of Liverpool Music Week, John Doran, editor of acclaimed pop culture webzine The Quietus, Liverpool music don and EVOL promoter Steve Miller.
Completing the 16-strong panel are Yaw Owusu, music manager and curator of Liverpool International Music Festival plus GIT Award founder and Liverpool Echo journalist Peter Guy.
Judging is under way for The GIT Award 2016 with the official launch party on Friday 29 January 2016 at new Liverpool city centre venue The Buyers Club, on 24 Hardman Street, at 7.30pm. The event is free and open to all.
In keeping with the GIT Award’s ethos, the event features some of Liverpool’s finest new talents:
Pink Kink – Having packed out the Kazimier on their debut outing, these much-hyped psycho art-rockers update the riot grrrl movement packing a tropical bubblegum punch.
Nelson – Making his Liverpool debut, this jazz-infused hip hop fusionist has been on Europe’s blog radar for several months – now you can get to see him in the flesh for the first time.
Ohmns – Liverpool’s most ferocious riff-makers combine raw melodic simplicity with primal head-wrecking riffs marking them out as one of the city’s best new live bands.
Harvey Brown – Another making his Liverpool debut, producer and electronica artist, Brown specialises in seductive ambience and refined melodic beats.
Trudy – The hotly-tipped trio have been the toast of the national new music press earning rave reviews following dates with Hooton Tennis Club and Bill Ryder-Jones.
The aftershow at The Buyers Club will feature music from Bido Lito! DJs.
Once all 12 nominees for The GIT Award 2016 have been decided the prize culminates in a spectacular event at Constellations in Liverpool’s thriving Baltic Triangle on Saturday 14 May 2016.
The fifth GIT Award recipient will follow in the footsteps of previous winners Loved Ones (2012), Baltic Fleet (2013), Forest Swords (2014) and last year’s winners All We Are.
The overall winner of the GIT Award 2016 will once again receive a cash prize of £1000.
Founded by Liverpool music webzine Getintothis, The GIT Award remains the only prize of its kind in the UK, championing vital new talent within Merseyside’s eclectic music community, pushing the region’s innovative talent across the world.
Since launching in November 2011, The GIT Award has received more than 1800 entries, included 38 different nominees, and staged more than 75 of Merseyside’s most vital new artists and bands across its events.
A special Inspiration Award, recognising significant outstanding achievement in Merseyside’s music industry will also be presented.
The 2015 Inspiration Award was in recognition of Alan Wills and the label he founded Deltasonic which launched the careers of The Coral, Zutons and many more. The 2014 Inspiration Award went to the team behind Africa Oye while previous recipients include Hillsborough Justice Collective (2013) and the directors of the Kazimier club (2012).
Rock & roller Louis Berry won the second One To Watch Prize following on from inaugural recipient Låpsley and a third hotly-tipped young musician will be crowned at Constellations on May 14.
Each year the GIT Award & Inspiration Award trophies have been made by a Liverpool-based artist; Sam Venables (2012, director of the Royal Standard), Jayne Lawless (2013 Liverpool art prize nominee), Mike Aitken, (director of Royal Standard 2014) and David Bannister (2015).
Musicians, bands and creative types who would like to enter this year’s prize are asked to send four tracks to getintothis@gmail.com
Businesses who would like to get involved with The GIT Award can email peter@getintothis.co.uk