Final Call for Red Stripe Music Awards
By: Thomas Hannan
Rockfeedback (responsibly, of course), enjoys a Red Stripe. Sponsors of our Channel 4 television show, their dedication to encouraging new music is a thing to be admired, and shouted from the rooftops. So hear us yell, as we inform you of this fine opportunity...
Though the Red Stripe Music Awards begins its search for new talent this Friday (Jan 16th) in Cardiff, and despite the line up having been picked at over 15 regional live music venues, there are still some places up for grabs for gigs taking place in March. We suggest, if you're making great new music that you want to actually be heard by people, that entry might be a good idea.
Every weekend from January until April this year Red Stripe will be running a series of shows dedicated solely to new talent. Come April, when a combined total of 150 artists will have plied their wares for the judges, 20 bands will be shortlisted and considered for the final by a board of A&r, music journos and industry types deemed clued up enough about this sort of thing to select four of 'em to play at the final - a huge blowout of a show at London's Kentish Town Forum in May. Last year's gig was a hoot, headlined by Dirty Pretty Things, which saw Klaus Says Buy the Record [pictured above] claim the winner's medal. Quite rightly too. He was very good.
If you get through, there's not only that to look forward to, but also slots at some of the summer's major festivals, including Brighton's Great Escape knees up. Want to take part? Head to www.redstripe.net, where entry is explained in meticulous and exciting detail.
Those March dates still available (if you're struggling, just imagine your band's name next to the date and venue, and think, 'oooh...'):
5th March (Thu) Cornwall, Bunters
6th March (Fri) Cornwall, Blue
7th March (Sat) Venue TBC
12th March (Thu) London, Dingwalls (Camden)
13th March (Fri) Sheffield, The Harley
14th March (Sat) Newcastle, The End Bar
20th March (Fri) London, Halfmoon (Putney)
20th March (Fri) Birmingham, The Rainbow
21st March (Sat) Norwich, B2 Venue
28th March (Sat) Manchester, Moho
18th April (Sat) London, Hootenanny (Brixton)
Good luck boys and girls. Let us know how you get on, yeah?