Shane
“We want to support, encourage, mentor and resource aspiring unsigned artists in the Americana / alt-country scene in Australia and this is a great way to kick start a career,” says Shane Nicholson of his latest initiative to support the genre that he has become so recognized for.
Launching today as a joint initiative of Shane Nicholson / The Sound Hole, Forbes Street Studios and Lost Highway Australia, The Americana Music Prize of Australia is an annual grant to support up-and-coming artists in the genre.
Shane Nicholson
Judged by a select industry panel, the winner receives a career-boosting $10,000 prize pack with work undertaken by some of the best in the industry:
- Recording and production of an EP at Forbes Street Studios (1 day) & The Sound Hole (2 days). Produced, recorded and mixed by Shane Nicholson
- Mastering by Jeff McCormack at Music Cellar
- Professional Photo Shoot with Glen Hannah
- Artwork design and collaboration by Goonga Design
- Professionally filmed and edited EPK with MC Imaging
- Artist Bio written by Michael Dwyer
- Management consultation/career advice session with Graham Thompson Management
- Touring/Promoter consultation session with Zenon Els of Artist Network
- Specific press opportunities, including a piece in Rythyms and
- An offer from Lost Highway Australia/Universal Music for distribution of the EP.
The judging panel have been hand selected by Nicholson and includes Rod Yates (Editor, Rolling Stone), Brian Taranto (Love Police), Bernard Zuel (Joburnalist), Chris Familton (Post To Wire), Tim Daley (Country Music Channel), Michael Taylor (Lost Highway/Universal), Tracey Griffiths (Dashville Skyline), Graham Thompson (Artist Manager), Matt Fell (Record Producer), Alison Avron (The Newsagency), Jeremy Dylan (Filmmaker), Henry Wagons (Artist), Brian Wise (Rhythms magazine founder and music writer), Jane Gazzo (Triple M), Denise Hylands (RRR-Twang)
Entries for the prize open today and close 5:00pm on Friday 2 March 2018. The application process requires submission of a song demo, artist synopsis/overview, and other available material such as bio, photos, videos, etc.
The winner of the inaugural Americana Music Prize of Australia will be announced on Saturday 24th of March, 2018 at Crossroads in the Vines Country Music Festival.