Merseyside music prize, The GIT Award, can today reveal the 12 shortlisted artists for the 2017 edition.
All 12 plus the 2017 One To Watch winner, to be revealed in due course, will feature at a special all-day event at Constellations in Liverpool’s thriving Baltic Triangle on Saturday, May 13, 2017.
The GIT Award 2017 shortlist is:
Aystar
Baltic Fleet
Louis Berry
The Coral
God Colony
Immix Ensemble
Ohmns
Or:la
She Drew The Gun
Suedebrown
XamVolo
The Vryll Society
As in previous years, the winner will receive a specially commissioned trophy along with a cheque for £1,000 and recording time at Parr Street Studios. Each nominee will also receive a beautifully-crafted memento.
British Music Experience curator, Cath Hurley, said: “Moving up to Liverpool to work for the British Music Experience initially meant that I was looking back at the heritage of music, but sitting on the panel of the GIT Award alongside the amazing judges and talking through the 8 pages of bands that were eligible to win the award allowed me to look forward.
“The sheer volume of exciting Liverpool acts that we deliberated over meant that bringing the long list down to a very short 12 was an intense process over many pizzas, many pints and many weeks.
“I’m delighted with this shortlist, though. Although some real contenders unfortunately didn’t make it through, it really shows the standard of Liverpool music and we have ended with a truly amazing 12. Hopefully the GIT Award will help put the spotlight on this great musical city.”
The GIT (Getintothis) Award, champions the best new Merseyside music providing a snapshot of the year while recognising significant artistic achievement across a range of musical styles.
Mike Deane, Liverpool Music Week director and GIT Award judge, said: “Another year, another brilliant final 12 GIT Award nominees – with arguably the best and certainly the most diverse music selection to date.
“2017 was possibly the most intense the process has been for the judging panel – there are some artists and music I still can’t quite believe haven’t made the shortlist – but there is no question that every one of this final 12 deserves their place.
“I think how tough the decisions were this year definitely reflects just how healthy Liverpool’s current music scene is right now – it’s certainly one of the freshest shortlists we’ve had for The GIT Award since the very beginning with lot of new names for people to discover.”
This year reaffirms both the diversity and breadth of the region’s talent, with the list of nominees containing a mix of newly emerging talent alongside more established names. Although containing a former award winner in Baltic Fleet, only three artists have previously been nominated for the main award.
Indeed, excepting The Coral, who returned triumphantly to the forefront of Merseyside music in 2016 with their album Distance Inbetween, the 2017 GIT Award largely celebrates under-the-radar talent, revealing the current buoyancy of Liverpool’s thriving new music scene.
Included in the list of nominees for the first time is Louis Berry, with the winner of the 2015 One To Watch Award revelling in a thrilling career trajectory that looks set to take him to the very top. Former nominees XamVolo (2015) and The Vryll Society (2016) make a return to the fold.
Elsewhere it’s very much a case of out with the old and in with the new.
Emphasising the diversity of the 2017 award, emerging rap artist Aystar makes the cut as does experimental production duo God Colony.
Having collaborated previously with 2016 award winner Bill Ryder-Jones, acclaimed neo-classical ensemble and Erased Tapes‘ signees Immix Ensemble celebrate the launch of their third season with a well-deserved nomination.
With already an enviable reputation for the frenzied ferocity of their live shows, Ohmns make the cut alongside Merseyside-based DJ and label owner Or:la, fresh from her all-night set at Liverpool’s 24 Kitchen Street venue.
Completing the bill are the winners of Glastonbury’s 2016 Emerging Talent competition, She Drew The Gun and Liverpool based electronic musician, producer and DJ Suedebrown.
The Quietus‘ founding editor John Doran said of the GIT Award: “It’s always a pleasure and a privilege for The Quietus to be involved in The GIT Award judging process. Liverpool’s always buzzing and I always come away from being a judge with a clutch of new bands I’m really into. I’m looking forward to the main event in May.”
This year’s shortlist was selected by international industry figureheads consisting of:
• Heavenly Recordings founder Jeff Barrett;
• Sonic Cathedral founder Nathaniel Cramp;
• Founder of Liverpool Music Week Mike Deane;
• Editor of the music industry bible The Unsigned Guide, Louise Dodgson;
• General manager of Liverpool’s O2 Academy and Arts Club, Patrick Doherty;
• Editor of The Quietus, John Doran;
• Music editor of The Skinny Will Fitzpatrick;
• DJ and cultural commentator Daver Haslam;
• Marketing manager of British Music Experience, Cath Hurley;
• Editor of The Music Manual, Lauren Jones;
• EVOL promoter Steve Miller;
• Venue and Operations Coordinator for VMS Live, Aoife Niblock;
• Liverpool International Music Festival curator Yaw Owusu;
• Membranes frontman and Louder than War editor John Robb;
• Bido Lito! editor Chris Torpey;
• General Manager of 4AD Records Rich Walker;
• plus GIT Award founder and Liverpool ECHO journalist Peter Guy.
Backed by Yoko Ono and the cornerstones of Merseyside’s flourishing cultural community, the winner of the GIT Award 2017 will be revealed on Saturday May 13 at Constellations on Greenland Street in Liverpool’s thriving Baltic Triangle.
Having relaunched for its sixth year last November at a specially-hosted stage at The Northern Troubadour as part of Liverpool Music Week‘s closing party, the GIT Award judges met on eight occasions from December 2016 until March 2017, discussing 493 eligible artists and bands, before carefully whittling them down to just 12.
Those 12 will now feature at the industry showcase on Saturday May 13, 2017 and will include performances from some of the shortlisted artists plus DJs, an in-house jam band and specially produced set piece spectacles.
In addition to performances from the nominated artists, May’s event will also see a series of special performances as part of Getintothis’ ongoing celebrations to mark the 10-year anniversary of the website’s launch. Performances will take place across a number of stages, making full use of Constellations courtyard. Alongside the live music will be a DJ set from GIT Award judge and founding editor of The Quietus, John Doran.
Also on the night, a special Inspiration Award, recognising services to Liverpool’s music industry will also be presented. Previous recipients are Kevin McManus (2016), Alan Wills & Deltasonic (2015) Africa Oyé (2014), Hillsborough Justice Collective (2013) and The Kazimier (2012).
Reflecting on the process to arrive at the final shortlist, Peter Guy, GIT Award founder, said: “In what was the toughest decision process yet, the GIT Award 2017 shortlist reflects a new cycle in Merseyside music – one which covers artists from all spheres of music; be it grime, techno, psychedelia, orchestral instrumentation through to pop, folk and rock & roll – each at the top of their game.
“While certain names on the shortlist will be familiar to some listeners, there’s a whole raft of new artists to discover, and that’s what The GIT Award has always aimed to do from its very beginnings – bring the very best of Merseyside music to new audiences.
“This year’s 12 challenge, innovate and make quite superb music, I can’t wait for Saturday May 13 at Constellations when it all comes together.”
For all other details: www.getintothis.co.uk
MORE ABOUT THE GIT AWARD SHORTLISTED ARTISTS:
Aystar
Originating from the streets of Wavertree and Toxteth, Aystar is one of the UK’s hottest prospects in hip hop. Championed by the Godfather of Grime, Wiley and mentored by London MC K Koke, Aystar has been making waves through his deft lyricism, streetwise imagery and distinctive Scouse intonation. Aged 21, he guested on The Best a track on Giggs‘ UK number one album, The Landlord while his burgeoning reputation saw him rack up more than 3 million YouTube views on his own SBTV and Trendsetter videos. His Scouse Matic mixtape took him to nationwide prominence circulating plays on 1Xtra and Westwood but it was his February 2016 Fire In The Booth appearance for Charlie Sloth which cemented Aystar as a Grade A star clocking up more than one million views and rising. In late 2016 he teamed up with Toronto lyricist Geezy Loc on single Been Gettin It and he’s now working on Scouse Matic 2. Get ready as this real-life storyteller is about to get a whole lot bigger.
www.facebook.com/aystarmusic/
Baltic Fleet
Baltic Fleet is the moniker of multi-instrumentalist and producer Paul Fleming who released his third album The Dear One in November 2016. Named 6 Music Album of the Day, The Dear One follows his critically acclaimed eponymous debut (a Rough Trade Album of the Year) and his second album Towers which saw him win the GIT Award 2013. The victory saw Baltic Fleet selected by Yoko Ono to perform at her 80th Birthday celebrations at the Southbank’s Meltdown Festival. A staple on UK national radio, Baltic Fleet‘s music was used in Amazon’s The Grand Tour while being nominated for a MusicWeek Sync Award in 2014. Rare live outings saw the band perform alongside Public Service Broadcasting and at festivals including Liverpool Sound City, Sheffield’s Sensoria and Rough Trade East’s Birthday Celebrations. Having played at Liverpool International Festival Of Psychedelia in 2012, the band will once again return to Camp & Furnace later in 2017.
www.balticfleetmusic.com/
Louis Berry
2016 may come to be seen as the year that Liverpool firebrand Louis Berry made good on his undoubted potential with a string of career-defining achievements to his name. The 2015 GIT Award One to Watch winner headed to Nashville to record tracks that will form the basis of his forthcoming debut album. Restless generated in excess of one million plays on Spotify thanks in part to Annie Mac making it her Tune of the Week on BBC Radio 1 as well as it having been added to the BBC Radio 1 C list. 2016 also saw Louis Berry further establish his reputation as a live performer. Having conducted a small nationwide tour in the spring, he hit the road again in October playing among others London, Glasgow, Brighton and Leeds. Berry played Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Exeter while his final show of 2016 at London’s Old Blue Last sold out within an hour of the tickets going on sale. The ferocity of his live show drew seasoned observers to proclaim his gig at Leaf to be the standout performance of 2016’s Liverpool Music Week. 2017 has begun with a bang. Having performed at the Cavern Club‘s 60th birthday party in January and released new single She Wants Me he will head out on another headline tour later this month, already having to add an extra London date to satisfy the clamour for tickets. 2017 festival season will see Berry keeping busy with dates at Dot to Dot, Camp Bestival, Wilderness and Reading and Leeds already in his diary.
www.louisberryofficial.com
The Coral
Announcing their return from hiatus in the autumn 2015, The Coral enjoyed a spectacular renaissance in 2016, marked by the release in March of Distance Inbetween, their seventh studio album. The Wirral-based band premiered new material at the beginning of the year on BBC Merseyside Introducing programme, with James Skelly and Paul Molloy performing It’s You live in session. In advance of the release of the album the group enjoyed a session on Steve Lamacq‘s BBC 6 Music show where they performed tracks from the Richard Turvey-produced LP. Choosing to work with the Clean Cut Kid producer to add a youthful freshness to their work, the album was recorded largely live in three weeks at Liverpool’s Parr Street Studios, peaked at number 13 in the UK charts and garnered high praise in the national press including a 10/10 review in The Independent and inclusion in Rough Trade‘s album of the year list. 2016 saw James Skelly, Ian Skelly, Paul Duffy, Nick Power and Paul Molloy return to the live arena with a nationwide tour in the spring, an appearance on Later… with Jools Holland, a high profile slot supporting The Stone Roses at Manchester’s Etihad Stadium and an unforgettable set to close out Liverpool’s Sound City festival at Bramley Moore Dock alongside a string of other festival appearances in the UK and beyond. The band saw their artwork feature in an December exhibition at Redhouse Originals Gallery in Harrogate before taking to the road on a pre-Christmas tour that saw the band play their first Liverpool headline show in six years at Olympia. 2017 will see The Coral remain active as high profile shows alongside Blossoms at Manchester’s Castlefield Bowl and The Libertines at Prenton Park await Hoylake’s finest.
http://thecoral.co.uk/
God Colony
Relative newcomers, God Colony is the work of Liverpool-raised, London-based duo Thomas Gorton and James Rand. Having cut their teeth performing in various bands and on the DJ circuit, Gorton and Rand relocated to the capital and released their first God Colony material in late 2015 gaining press in the likes of Fader, Mixmag, Noisey and Dazed. Combining intense beats with soulfully evocative textures, they’ve teamed up with the likes of South London MC Flohio for their debut Steady before following up with Massachusetts-based rapper Stash Marina on Where I Was and Turn My G Down. They say: “Our music tells stories about cities and the lives inside them – it was created in Liverpool, London, Boston, and New Orleans, so we needed to communicate that sprawling, chaotic sense of place.” Teaming up with NTS Radio new work is set to feature more vocal collaborations from the likes of Kojey Radical, Flohio and BBYMUTHA.
www.facebook.com/godcolony/
Immix Ensemble
Immix is a new music ensemble who collaborate with innovative musical voices from across the UK with a focus on artists from the Merseyside area. Drawing on the talents of some of the country’s finest instrumentalists, Immix was founded by saxophonist Daniel Thorne and signed to Erased Tapes in 2016. Immix released their debut EP Transition in collaboration with UK producer Vessel in what Fader described as a “a sax-led composition with a deeply contemplative feel“. It is in the live performance arena that Immix come into their own blending cello, clarinet, violin and oboe touring their work in Bristol, Manchester, London and WOMAD festival while on Merseyside they staged a series of concerts in the Bluecoat and at FestEVOL. Immix have collaborated with the likes of Stealing Sheep, Bill Ryder-Jones, Vessel and twice GIT Award nominated Ex-Easter Island Head. They are readying new music for 2017.
http://immixensemble.co.uk/
Ohmns
Comprised of guitarists Michael Quinlan and James Kendall, bassist Alex Smith and Chris King on drums Ohmns formed in 2014, began playing live consistently in 2015 and burst into the consciousness of many with a performance at Buyers Club in January 2016 to launch the GIT Award 2016. Known for the unhinged ferocity of their performances it is as a live band that they have forged their initial reputation, fusing elements of primal garage blues with kraut-influenced propulsion and hardcore punk pummelling into something viscerally compelling. Forming part of a fertile scene alongside contemporaries such as Strange Collective, Bad Meds and Sheer Attack the band have gigged relentlessly across Merseyside and the North West in 2016 supporting the likes of Protomartyr and The Parrots at The Magnet, Toronto‘s Fucked Up at EBGBs and The Fall as part of the Club the Mammoth all-dayer at the Arts Club in January of this year. The band played at Strange Collective‘s record launch at the Invisible Wind Factory in July, a Buyers Club-hosted benefit night called The Lunatic Fringe for South Liverpool Food Bank and No Homers Club‘s second Simpsons-themed exhibition at Constellations. The band have recorded some songs with Bad Meds‘ Paul Rafferty which has been released on cassette entitled The Rice Tape.
www.facebook.com/ohmnsuk/
Or:la
Born in Derry, Or:la, aka Orlagh Dooley, has spent the last five years cultivating a one-woman dance community. Having studied at John Moores University, Or:la went on to found club night Get Down with fellow DJ Tom Davies. In 2015, she set up Meine Nacht, a multi-faceted label, production company and happening which hosted its own secret parties across Liverpool and the north west. With her DJ sets becoming the stuff of underground legend, Or:la has become a staple at the likes of the Warehouse Project and Liverpool nights Less Effect, The Wonder Pot and Zutekh in Manchester while her mixes have premiered across dance titles Thump, Dummy and Crack Magazine. In 2016, she released her debut EP UK Lonely via Hotflush while the adopted Scouser’s all night long sets at 24 Kitchen Street are set to become the stuff of legend.
https://www.facebook.com/orldooley/
She Drew The Gun
2016 was a whirlwind year for Louisa Roach, Sian Monaghan, Jack Turner and Jenni Kickhefer who collectively make up She Drew The Gun. Before winning the Glastonbury Emerging Talent competition and playing on the John Peel Stage at the June festival, the band released their debut album, Memories of the Future in April 2016 on James Skelly‘s Skeleton Key label, which was immediately installed as BBC 6 Music‘s Album of the Day as well as the featured album of the week at Steve Lamacq‘s Round Table. The LP was included in Huffington Post‘s album of the year round-up alongside the likes of Radiohead and Car Seat Headrest and will shortly be given an extended reissue with new artwork and three new tracks. Since performing a BBC Introducing live session at Maida Vale in 2015 the band have been invited for interview by Lamacq while Pit Pony has been played by Huw Stephens on BBC Radio 1 as well as a soundtracking a Soccer AM highlights montage in advance of a subsequent live performance on the show. The band were busy on the 2016 festival season, including a Sound City-sponsored trip to South Korea for Zandari Fiesta, as well as multiple slots supporting The Coral in the spring and autumn, performing two headline tours of their own and playing at a Labour Party Conference event in Liverpool in September. 2017 sees the band as busy as ever. A cover of Malvina Reynold‘s politically charged No Hole in My Head has been included on BBC Radio 1’s Best of BBC Music Introducing Playlist as well as the Other List Spotify playlist. International Women’s Day saw a performance in-store at London’s Rough Trade while the band have headed on a PRS Foundation-funded trip to Austin to perform at SXSW for a BBC 6 Music Presents in association with AIM showcase alongside Meilyr Jones and Big Moon. On their return they will head out on tour at the end of March before attention turns to Liverpool Sound City 2017 and Live at Leeds.
www.shedrewthegun.com/
Suedebrown
Fusing grime, hip hop, trap and soul, Paris Harding aka SUEDEBROWN is one of Liverpool’s most exciting new producers and DJs. Having risen to prominence in late 2015 through a series of self-released tracks online he cemented live spots at Chibuku alongside the likes of Stormzy and Section Boyz while his versatility in production and remixes saw him collaborate on tracks for Yolanda Be Cool, Steve Aoki/Iggy Azealia and Sneakbo. His debut single proper, Nightcall, caught the attention of 1Xtra’s DJ Target, Ronnie Herel and BBC Introducing while 2016 saw Suedebrown feature on Redbull’s Culture Clash, Rinse FM and produce one of the stand out sets at Liverpool International Music Festival. A go-to on the live circuit, Suedebrown has played alongside the likes of MJ Cole and Flava D while his his latest single TONIGHT featuring Lauren Faith has been supported by Mistajam, Target, Jamz Supernova and Complexion.
https://www.facebook.com/Suedebrown-592124827594290/
XamVolo
Since arriving in Liverpool to study an architecture degree in 2012, Sam Folorunsho, better known as XamVolo, has increasingly become a name to take note of in the field of soulful R’n’B. Although first having been nominated for a GIT Award back in 2015, 2016 may come to be seen as something of a breakthrough year for the talented artist. He released his second EP, The Closing Scene in February 2016 which was produced by Grammy Award winning producer Steve Levine. Helping to forge his own style, his autumn-released self-produced follow-up EP Chiralty drew broad praise, while single Down has had in excess of 250,000 streams on Spotify. First ever headline gigs followed, including at Liverpool’s The Magnet and a sell-out show at London’s Waiting Room in September before completing a nationwide tour in October supporting Aurora. XamVolo‘s music has been long-championed by the likes of Annie Mac and Huw Stephens on national radio; the former premiered Down on her Radio 1 show in July while he performed in-session for the latter in December. Additionally he signed a record deal with Decca during the year, played a spellbinding Saturday night slot at Liverpool International Music Festival, and his collaboration with WiDE AWAKE has resulted in over 3.2m hits on YouTube. 2017 promises a debut album, with XamVolo having been working with Frank Ocean producers Paul Phamous and Malay, while dates have been announced for Ditto Live, Festival No.6 and Brighton’s The Great Escape.
www.xamvolo.com/
The Vryll Society
The Vryll Society are the only one of 2016’s nominees to receive follow-up nomination in 2017. Culminating in a huge homecoming gig at Liverpool’s Invisible Wind Factory, 2016 was a big year for Michael Ellis, Ryan Ellis, Lewis McGuiness, Benjamin Robinson and Lloyd Shearer who make up the band. Famed as the last discovery by Deltasonic‘s Alan Wills, the band spent their formative years honing their craft, only releasing their debut single Deep Blue Skies in July 2015 closely followed by their EP Pangea. 2016 saw the band release, to rave reviews, a double A-side La Jetée and Self Realization. The band toured extensively with Blossoms before following up their own headline tour and a blistering show at FestEVOL with a performance at Glastonbury Festival on the BBC Introducing stage. 2017 sees the band gathering additional momentum. January saw a string of sold-out shows including at London’s Sebright Arms and Manchester’s Night and Day Café, while BBC Radio 1’s Huw Stephens showcased the band’s new single, Sacred Flight before inviting the them to perform in session at London’s Maida Vale Studio. This month sees the quintet head to Austin to play world-leading industry get-together SXSW, where they have been singled out by Steve Lamacq as one of the must-see bands. There will be little rest on their return as they hit the road for a brief tour at the end of March before, in May, playing the tenth anniversary of Liverpool’s Sound City and supporting Skunk Anansie in Bristol and Manchester.
www.facebook.com/TheVryllSociety/
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GIT Award summary of achievements since launch in November 2011:
• National coverage - for four years the Award has been featured consistently on Radio 6 Music, NME, Music Week, MTV, The Guardian, The Skinny, Vice Magazine, Q Magazine, The Quietus, BBC TV, Financial Times, BBC news online, MOBO Awards, UK Music Magazine and more.
• Music Industry coverage from PRS Foundation, UK Music, Music Week, CMU Daily (music industry newsletter), The Unsigned Guide.
• Blanket regional coverage - Upwards of 60 page leads in the Liverpool Echo & Daily Post, features on Radio Merseyside, City Talk, Best of Liverpool mag, Open Mag, Liverpool Vision, itsLiverpool Magazine, Culture Liverpool, Bido Lito!, City Central Bid Magazine and many more.
• In 2015, founder Peter Guy was nominated for Independent Music Champion of the Year at the Association of Independent Music Awards.
• All 48 nominees from the four years have gained national press via GIT Award. In 2013-2015 all 12 nominees were featured in exclusive radio packages on BBC national radio.
• Partnerships with Liverpool Sound City, Liverpool Music Week, FACT, Liverpool City Council, Liverpool Vision, ACME, The Bluecoat, plus around 90 independent businesses within Liverpool.
• The GIT Award & Getintothis has been invited to host a stage for seven consecutive years at Liverpool Sound City and five years at Liverpool Music Week - and two year partnership with Liverpool International Music Festival.
• The GIT Award has provided artists to play The Grand National Liverpool Stage for three consecutive years plus a special celebration of Merseyside musician's pop videos in conjunction with FACT's the Art of the Pop Video.
• The winner of the 2013 GIT Award was asked to support Yoko Ono at her 80th Birthday self-curated Meltdown festival at London's Southbank Centre.
• The GIT Award has held launch parties at Leaf on Bold St, Oh Me Oh My on Water Street, 24 Kitchen Street, The Buyers Club and at Liverpool Music Week.
GIT Award previous nominees - winners in bold:
2012: Bang On, Ex-Easter Island-Head, Forest Swords, Loved Ones, Miss Stylie, Mugstar, Ninetails, Outfit, Bill Ryder-Jones, Stealing Sheep, Tea Street Band and Esco Williams.
2013: Baltic Fleet, Barberos, By The Sea, Nadine Carina, Clinic, Conan, Dan Croll, John Heckle, Jetta, Tyler Mensah, Stealing Sheep and Wave Machines. Tyler Mensah picked up the People's Choice Award
2014: All We Are, Circa Waves, Dan Croll, Evian Christ, Ex-Easter Island Head, Forest Swords, Mad Brains, Ninetails, Outfit, Bill Ryder-Jones, Tea Street Band and VEYU.
2015: All We Are, Circa Waves, D R O H N E, Gulf, Hooton Tennis Club, Roxanne Jones, Låpsley, Esa Shields, Sundowners, Xam Volo, Jane Weaver and We Are Catchers.
2016: Clean Cut Kid, Dragged Into Sunlight, Hooton Tennis Club, L U M E N, MiC LOWRY, Mugstar, RongoRongo, Bill Ryder-Jones, Stealing Sheep, Trudy, TVAM and The Vryll Society.
