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Red Stripe Music Award

Posted: Sun, 03 Jan 2010

Storming into its fourth year, the Red Stripe Music Award 2010, supported by Last FM, is hitting the streets of Reading once more, giving local talent the chance to share a platform with the rest of the country.

A showcase has been confirmed at the Purple Turtle in Reading on Friday 12 March. Last year, Reading rock band Junkyard Scientists made it onto the shortlist for the final but just missed out on playing at the HMV Forum in London where Gomez headlined in May.

Gigs will take place around the country from January to April, across 30 of the country’s best live music venues – with even more partners and music industry muscle on board for 2010.

The prizes for the winner of the whole competition include:

At least 3 festival slots
Fender equipment
A gig at The HMV Forum with at least 2 national names
Merc clothing
Support from Arising Artist who can help you out with A&R, promo, publicity, management
£15,000 worth of advertising on Last FM
Coverage in The Fly

Sign up now

Bands and artists are invited to enter details via www.redstripe.net and if selected will play for the chance to win spots at some of the UK’s best loved festivals, including The Great Escape.

Fender equipment and Merc clothing will also be up for grabs as well as hours of free consultancy with Arising Artist, a group of music industry professionals who advise on A&R, Promotion, Publicity, Marketing, Management and general business management.

Paul Brazier heads up the Red Stripe team and is keen to give something back to fans of the Jamaican lager beer; "The Red Stripe Music Award is about providing emerging artists with an appropriate platform to be heard, so the Purple Turtle is absolutely ideal."

Extra support in the way of Last FM and The Fly magazine will see emerging talent exposed to music lovers across the country, so get involved and sign up now!

Open to bands playing any manner of music, utterly unbiased to trend or leaning, Red Stripe asks only that applicants are over 18 years old and perform original tracks with the heart and soul they deserve.

Check out www.redstripe.net for more about venues and dates and see what last year’s winner, Ben Howard, has been up to on http://www.muzu.tv/redstripe/ben-howard-talks-rsma-ben-howard-music-video/501651/hq

With slots at three of the summer’s major festivals including The Great Escape guaranteed for the winner, The Red Stripe Music Award is described by many promoters as live music’s answer to the Mercury Music Prize.

Over 1,500 applicants are expected to apply for 2010, from which 150 bands will be selected to play at one of over 25 regional gigs.

Shortlisting

In April 2009, 20 bands will be shortlisted and considered by a board of A&R, music journalists and industry specialists – finally resting on 4 finalists who will play at a top London venue in May and judged by a panel of four, previously made up of music big wigs including Elbow’s Guy Garvey and XFM’s John Kennedy.

Last year’s winner, Ben Howard, has since toured Europe and America supporting Fink and Jason Mraz as well as playing a number of festivals including Lovebox, Glastonbury and The Great Escape.

Red Stripe Music Award 2010 confirmed venues and dates

15 January (Fri) London, Flowerpot (Kentish Town)
22 January (Fri) London, Windmill (Brixton)
28 January (Thu) Bristol, Croft
29 January (Fri) Cardiff, Barfly
4 February (Thu) Wedgewood Rooms Southsea, Portsmouth
4 February (Thu) Edinburgh, Cabaret Voltaire
5 February (Fri) Glasgow, Box
10 February (Wed) Exeter, Mama Stones
11 February (Thu) Cornwall, Bunters
12 February (Fri) Cornwall, Blue
17 February (Wed) Leeds, Cockpit
17 February (Wed) Manchester, Moho
18 February (Thu) Newcastle, End Bar
19 February (Fri) Sheffield, Harley
19 February (Fri) Liverpool, Zanzibar
20 February (Sat) Accrington, Attic
4 March (Thu) Brighton, Freebutt
4 March (Thu) Birmingham, Rainbow
5 March (Fri) Bedford, Esquires
11 March (Thu) London, 93 Feet East (Brick Lane)
12 March (Fri) Reading, Purple Turtle
18 March (Thu) St Albans, Horn
18 March (Thu) Oxford, Cellar
19 March (Fri) Remix, Hitchin
20 March (Sat) London, Hootananny (Brixton)
25 March (Thu) London, Dublin Castle (Camden)