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Your chance to play the capital...

The search is on for bands and artists to perform at City Showcase: Spotlight London, the capital’s annual festival of new music taking place 4 - 8 May 2011.

Since 2003, City Showcase has been nurturing new music talent and giving some of today’s leading artists their first major break. Amy Winehouse, Keane, Gabriella Cilmi, Razorlight, Mr Hudson, Laura Marling, N-Dubz and Scouting for Girls are just some of a growing list of alumni who performed their first live gigs on a City Showcase stage.

Now the search has begun for the new generation of City Showcase artists. Performers and bands who take part in City Showcase: Spotlight London will be performing in the music venues, shops and stores of London’s West End, in front of talent scouts, industry executives and the capital’s most discerning music fans. All types of performers of all types of music can apply.

City Showcase events provide unique opportunities for musicians and artists to grow a loyal fanbase and gain valuable experience performing before a live audience.

City Showcase Director Nanette Rigg says they are the two things musicians can’t easily achieve for themselves: “Time and time again we see great artists who just need the confidence to move on to the next phase of their career. City Showcase gives them that confidence by providing a stage and a nurturing performance environment. Within a short time, their confidence levels are soaring and they’re commanding the ear of the industry.

“For City Showcase: Spotlight London, we host a unique combination of daytime gigs in top West End fashion stores and evening gigs in established live music venues. We provide a focal point for London’s new music fans, and a tried-and-tested space for industry A&R to drop by in search of the next big thing.”

If you’d like to take the capital by storm, get in touch with City Showcase. Details of how to apply for Spotlight London 2011 are on the website below.

This year, City Showcase: Spotlight London has again partnered with Sonicbids, the website that helps bands discover and book gigs, and connect promoters with the right bands. Two City Showcase: Spotlight London places will be reserved for artists submitting applications via Sonicbids. One of these slots is specifically reserved for a Sonicbids North American artist, who will also receive a US$1000 travel stipend. One of the artists selected via Sonicbids will be announced before Christmas, so it pays to apply early. And for a limited period (4 Nov – 25 Nov 2010), UK-based artists can also submit their application for $2.50 (£1.50) and receive a free Sonicbids two-week trial (if they’re not already members), by identifying their location during the application process at www.sonicbids.com/CityShowcaseLondon


About City Showcase
City Showcase is the year-round festival of new music that is unique in offering aspiring musicians a stage to play on and a live network of professionals to socialise with.

As well as the annual Spotlight London event, City Showcase runs regular open mic nights (City Showcase: Rising), masterclasses with big names providing their expertise for free (City Showcase: Sessions) and real live social networking, face to face, at the City Showcase: Club.

City Showcase is a non-profit making venture.
 
About Sonicbids
Sonicbids is the website the helps bands get gigs and promoters book the right bands. Our community includes more than 280,000 bands and 24,000 promoters and licensors from all around the world. With festivals, clubs, colleges, music licensing and much more, Sonicbids offers a diverse range of gigs for every kind of musician. In fact, last year alone, more than 71,000 gigs were booked on the site. The company was founded in 2001 by Panos Panay and continues to focus on its core mission of empowering the artistic middle class.

Related Links

http://www.cityshowcase.co.uk

http://www.sonicbids.com/CityShowcaseLondon

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Tags

city showcase, unsigned bands, unsigned artists, sonicbids