Blood Red: Liverpool FC backing GIT music awards

Feb 4 2012 by James Pearce, Liverpool Echo

LIVERPOOL Football Club are among the backers for Merseyside’s premier music prize – the GIT Award.

Paul Rogers, former music journalist and head of content at LFC, joins a list of highly experienced judges to find the best new sounds in the city in what has been dubbed the “Scouse Mercury Prize’.

Rogers, who has interviewed the likes of REM, Kylie Minogue and Public Enemy, joins top names from NME, The Guardian and Vice Magazine on the judging panel.

The winning artist will come from across the musical spectrum, reflecting the city’s rich heritage in pop, rock ’n’ roll, country, dance, soul, hip hop and jazz, plus all stops in between.

ECHO journalist and Getintothis Award founder Peter Guy, said: “The judging panel represents the cream of music journalism on a regional and national level. Football and music go hand in hand on Merseyside and with Paul’s passion and background in music journalism he was an obvious choice.

“Since launching the GIT Award at Liverpool Music Week in November, the response has been phenomenal with more than 300 artists applying. The prize has proved what a diverse and creative region Merseyside is – the judges have certainly got their work cut out.”

The prize includes recording time at Liverpool’s Sandhills Studio, and a showcase at this year’s Sound City and Liverpool Music Week.

The 12 nominees on the short list will be announced in the coming months and the winner announced at an awards ceremony in April.

Artists can still enter the GIT Award by sending four tracks to getintothis@gmail.com or alternatively post to Peter Guy, The GIT Award, Liverpool Post & ECHO, PO Box 48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L693EB. For full details log onto Liverpool ECHO blog www.getintothis.co.uk