UK: Liverpool International Music Festival’s award-winning LIMF Academy has announced details of a special London showcase event to take place on April 27 at Proud Galleries, offering a chance for industry folk and London-based music fans to see performances from some of the artists discovered by the award-winning LIMF Academy programme in 2015. The night, which is free to enter, is hosted by BBC Introducing presenter Dave Monks and BBC Radio 1 and 1Xtra’s DJ Target, both champions of new music in their respective areas.
In 2015 the LIMF Academy saw 2,000 budding Merseyside musicians attend the free masterclasses and workshops, of which 20 performed at showcases and three lucky winners were signed on to the Elite Talent Development Programme. Those three – Michael Seary, Jalen N’Gonda and Amique – will perform at Proud Galleries this April.
LIMF Curator Yaw Owusu, who has written for Insights about his role in the past, has been developing and building the LIMF Academy since 2013. Owusu said: “New talent is the life blood of this city. It’s brilliant that the Academy has been able to showcase, develop and help a lot of the key new artists and bands coming through at the moment. It is such a central part of what we are trying to achieve with LIMF.”
BBC Radio 1 & 1Xtra’s DJ Target commented: “I’m always looking out for and supporting new music, the LIMF Academy consistently unearths some of the most incredible new music bands and artists from Liverpool, many of who I’ve gone on to play on my show, so I’m happy to be involved in their first London showcase.”
The LIMF Academy is one of the leading music development programmes in the North-West offering performance opportunities, training, workshops and investment to Merseyside’s emerging music talent. The scheme offers the opportunity for budding artists and bands between the ages of 13 – 25 to perform on the LIMF Academy stage at Europe’s biggest free music event, LIMF Summer Jam, as well as free access to professional career advice, training and development.
In 2016, a 12 month Elite Talent Development Programme will again be awarded to three of the artists or bands which includes career investment, mentoring, regional and national performance opportunities and numerous other benefits including professionally produced biography, press shots and music.
