City Showcase, the London music festival that launched superstars Amy Winehouse, Keane and Razorlight, has selected New Zealand as its first host country outside of the UK, and the city of Napier is set to host the event from November 25-28, 2010. City Showcase - Spotlight Napier will take on the same format as the high profile London event, attracting international audiences and providing musicians and performers with public exposure, advice, mentoring, showcase opportunities and other crucial ...
City Showcase, the London music festival that launched superstars Amy Winehouse, Keane and Razorlight, has selected New Zealand as its first host country outside of the UK, and the city of Napier is set to host the event from November 25-28, 2010. City Showcase - Spotlight Napier will take on the same format as the high profile London event, attracting international audiences and providing musicians and performers with public exposure, advice, mentoring, showcase opportunities and other crucial contacts that aspiring talent needs.
City Showcase - Spotlight Napier has a focus on New Zealand-based artists but submissions through Sonicbids are open to ALL artists from all over the world. Over 20 artists were selected for last year's London event, and there is at least one slot reserved for a Sonicbids artist who will be paid $1000 USD (half paid upon proof of travel arrangements to Sonicbids, half paid after the performance at City Showcase). The event covers all types of music from classical to pop, from rock to urban, and all types of performers from bands to singer songwriters, from solo artists to DJ's.
A judging panel made up of leaders from the New Zealand music industry will be in Napier to select acts to perform at the festival's finale, and the public will also have the chance to vote for their favorite acts. The winner of the "Finding the Future" event (November 28 at the Soundshell) will win an opening slot at the Mission Winery Concert and a chance to play in London in May 2011.
New and emerging musicians will be given the opportunity to perform at gigs in and around Napier's Art Deco city centre. Napier's beauty and vibrant cafe culture lends itself to the creative arts and an atmosphere highly supportive of wonderful music.
City Showcase has helped showcase artists, including Keane, Razorlight, Amy Winehouse, Newton Faulkner, Hot Chip, Scouting for Girls, Sway, Seth Lakeman, N-Dubz, Gurrumul, Lady Sovereign, Jay Sean, Mr Hudson and Ray LaMontagne, garnering them all a huge amount of both industry and media attention.
Keane says about their experience at City Showcase: "It's hard to get anywhere as a band, and the City Showcase gig we played in February 2003 was a great opportunity for us to play on a bigger stage than we were used to. At that time we didn't have a record deal, so knowing there was no hope of tour support(!), every decent gig we were offered was a godsend and helped make us a better band."
New Zealand will be the first country to host a City Showcase event outside of the UK. To view the opportunity for City Showcase - Spotlight London, click here.
Please note: Selected artists will be responsible for all associated costs, travel and visas (where required) and must have a valid passport. There will be about one month from the notification date to the start of the festival for selected artists to make travel arrangements (where relevant).