Calling New Welsh Music Talent… The Big Gig Is Back!
Cardiff’s most credible music talent competition, ‘The Big Gig’ returns for a sixth year this summer as part of the cities Cardiff Festival, and 2016 looks set to be another hit for the Welsh talent search. Entries open on 29 April for the competition which has helped acts such as Rusty Shackle and Maddie Jones to become established on the music scene and the live semi-finals and final will take place in June and July.
Bands who are shortlisted will get the opportunity to play at legendary Clwb Ifor Bach in front of well-respected music industry professionals.
The overall winner will receive a prize package designed to help them further their career in the music industry including recording and rehearsal time at Music Box Studios working with REM producer Charlie Francis, an interview and coverage with Media Wales, a headline gig promoted by Newsoundwales, a support gig at Clwb Ifor Bach, and new for 2016, £1000 worth of kit kindly donated by the new music store on St Mary Street Cardiff, PMT (Professional Music Technology) and world renowned audio brand Shure.
Mike Podesta, store manager at PMT Cardiff said: “We are really pleased to be able to support the Big Gig and the aspiring musicians that it helps to promote. PMT is the UK’s largest, award-winning musical instrument shop chain and since opening in Cardiff in November 2015 has become synonymous with the incredible, live music scene in South Wales. Providing this prize is a fantastic way for us to give something back to the local musicians who are striving to make a career in the music industry.
There are also plenty of special features in our Cardiff music shop, including a Fender and Gibson guitar wall, an acoustic guitar room, an acoustically-treated guitar booth and an underground drum cave. Plus, we also stock plenty of second-hand instruments, offer part exchange services and can even help you learn to play the guitar too!”
The competition is open to all artists aged 14 and over from across South Wales; applications will be open from 2 May and will at 5pm on 20 May 2016. The 10 shortlisted acts will go on to compete in two semi-finals 22-23 June with the final staged at Clwb Ifor Bach on 15 July.
Over the last five years hundreds of artists have entered the competition which has helped to launch the careers of many popular South Wales’ acts including Albatross Archive in 2014, Maddie Jones in 2013 and Rusty Shackle in 2012, as well as finalists Ellie Makes Music and Palomino Party and has become an important stepping stone for young bands to gain wider attention.
2013 Big Gig winner Maddie Jones, released her new album Colour Me In earlier this year, receiving rave reviews. Her previous album, Vita Brevis was voted one of the New Sound Wales best 50 albums of the year, recognising her as one of the major stars of the South Wales Music scene.
Since winning in 2012, Rusty Shackle have gone on to tour Europe & the USA, playing gigs at Glastonbury Festival, Music City Roots in Nashville, and Wakarusa Festival in Arkansas. The band is now embarking on their second UK tour, coinciding with the release of their third studio album, Dusk. Many other acts who have taken part in The Big Gig have gone on to appear at Sŵn Festival and have been recognised regularly in the South Wales Echo’s top 40 new bands lists.
Judges in the past years have included South Wales Echo music critic Dave Owens, former Coldplay Manger Estelle Wilkinson, Director of Swn Festival John Rostron, Cardiff Council’s Events Development Manager, Heather Brown, Andrew ‘Shay’ Sheehy formerly of Kids in Glass Houses and now DJ on Nation Radio’s Airplay show.
Tickets for the gigs are all £5 and will be available from Clwb Ifor Bach.
To enter and for full ts &cs please visit www.cardiff-events.com/biggig complete the entry form and send it along with two MP3s of your music to biggig@cardiff.gov.uk. At least one entry must be an original song.
Follow us on Twitter @cardiff_events @TheBigGig1
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