Holy Thursday
Liverpool makes a strong showing on the longlist for Glastonbury’s emerging talent competition this year, with no less than seven of Merseyside’s own all vying for the top prize, Getintothis’ Patrick Clarke reports.
Still indisputably the biggest festival in the country, almost any unsigned band in the world would bite the hand of any Eavis who should offer them a slot at Glastonbury Festival.
Seven Merseyside bands are on track for such a coup, however, with psych-rockers Holy Thursday, progessive blues-rock outfit Sankofa and emotive alt-folk quintet Cavalry, psych-folkers The Wicked Whispers, hypnotic quintet Baltic States, alternative songwriter Lee Broderick and folk-punk Moxie all making the longlist for this year’s Glastonbury Emerging Talent Competition.
A selection compiled by 40 of the UK and Ireland’s most important music writers alongside Glastonbury organisers Michael and Emily Eavis, the competition takes in only unsigned acts, who were required to submit one original song and a live performance video back in January.
The top prize is a main-stage slot at the festival, with the lucky artists also to receive the £5,000 PRS for Music Foundation development prize to help their progress, with two runners-up each receiving £2,500.
The longlist of 120 will now be whittled down to just eight, who will battle for the prize at the live finals at Pilton Working Men’s Club in April.
A significant prize for all aspiring headliners, previous entrants to the competition have included Stornoway, The Subways and Scouting for Girls, all of whom went on to major record deals. Last year’s edition was won by disco duo M + A.
This year’s Glastonbury Festival takes place from June 24-28. Tickets have (obviously) already sold out, but there’s still plenty of festival action closer to home to get stuck into.
If you’re stuck for ideas we’ve compiled the ultimate guide to Liverpool and the North-West’s unmissable festivals this summer for your delectation.
