Biffy Clyro: one of acts awarded Tartan Clef in the past Pic: © Drew Farrell
A new competition will see Scottish bands being offered the chance to play at ‘Scottish Brits’ the Tartan Clefs this November and in New York during Scotland Week 2012.
Music charity Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland and Creative Scotland have teamed up to launch the The Big Apple Award.
The winner will perform at The Scottish Music Awards – The Tartan Clefs, which is held annually in Glasgow in November to raise money for Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland. The charity, which receives no statutory funding, relies on the event as its largest and most prominent fundraiser.
The chosen act will also jet over to New York with the American-Scottish Foundation, which is dedicated to the strengthening of ties between Scotland and the United States, during Scotland Week 2012.
Bands that enter will be shortlisted by a panel of music industry experts over the summer, before the top five are selected to play the final in the 700-capacity Glasgow venue The Garage this September.
The winner will then be revealed at The Tartan Clefs in November, before performing live in front of Scotland’s top music executives at the event. A celebration of the strength of Scotland’s international music industry, the awards numbers acts such as Biffy Clyro, Sharleen Spiteri and Paolo Nutini amongst its previous winners and performers.
The winning band will later be flown out play scheduled shows to US music fans, media and music executives during Scotland Week 2012 - presented in New York by the American-Scottish Foundation.
Donald MacLeod, chairman of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland charity and owner of live music venues The Garage and The Cathouse, said: “The American Scottish Foundation and Creative Scotland are helping us send the winning band to New York for showcase gigs and one special performance with a donation going to Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland.
"This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that every emerging or breakthrough Scottish band dreams of. I wish an opportunity like this had existed when I was in a band.”
For more information on supporting Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland, and about entering the competition, visit www.tartanclef.org.
