The annual Getintothis (GIT) Award is set to return for 2013 after putting the city’s new music firmly back on the nation’s musical map after their inaugural prize in 2011.
The original Getintothis Award was a platform that enabled the independent music scene to thrive in 2011/12, mustering support already from a wide array of esteemed music industry professionals and Liverpool FC.
Lauded by the NME as ‘Liverpool’s answer to the Mercury Prize’, last year’s award galvanised musicians from across Merseyside to enter, gathering support from every creative corner of the city.
Resident music blogger for the Liverpool Echo and Daily Post, Peter Guy, founded the awards in 2011 after noticing there was a dearth in coverage of independent music in Liverpool.
Having been writing his music blog – ‘Getintothis’ since 2007 he decided it was about time someone provided an award that celebrates the best of Merseyside music.
He told JMU Journalism: “I’d been writing Getintothis for five years, and every year I do my round up of the year and write tongue in cheek jibber-jabber about the best of what’s happened musically on record and on stage.
“However, as I approached five years of blogging, I noticed just how much quality music there was happening in Liverpool and yet there was so few media channels reporting on it, so I came up with the idea of The GIT Award – to hopefully spread the message far and wide and give Liverpool music more recognition.”
Now the GIT Award is set to return next year after putting the city’s most exciting new music on the national radar with entry for applicants officially opening on November 16th, which is the launch date of the 2013 awards.
November 16th is also set to mark the launch of the 2013 Awards. The organisers have curated a special party in collaboration with recent MOBO Award winner and former GIT nominee, Esco Williams, to commemorate the occasion.
The launch party will take place at Leaf’s Grade II Listed Grey Space on Water Street in Liverpool city centre.
The award is open to music of all genres; from punk to folk, electronica or metal. It showcases Liverpool’s rich musical diversity. Entrants can apply by submitting a minimum of four tracks for consideration by judges that all have a direct link to Merseyside.
The judges include Andy Capper, global editor of Vice magazine, Alexandra Topping, a Skelmersdale-born journalist for The Guardian and Matt Wilkinson from the NME.
Peter Guy said: “I’m just excited. There’s a lot of great music around these parts and even more people wanting to get involved this year – it’s a special time for the city.”
Musicians, bands and creative types who would like to enter for this year’s prize are asked to send four tracks to [email protected] or alternatively post to Peter Guy, The GIT Award, Liverpool Daily Post & ECHO, PO Box 48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L69 3EB.