The Big Apple Award, a collaborative partnership between renowned music charity Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland, Creative Scotland, The American-Scottish Foundation and Clash, gives one Scottish band the chance to win an opportunity to play at the Scottish Music Awards this November, before being whisked off to New York City to play during Scotland Week 2012 – presented in New York by the American-Scottish Foundation.

The top five short listed bands playing their very own gig in renowned Glasgow venue, The Garage’s G2 this Thursday October 13th are Song of Return, Laki Mera, Finding Albert, Wrongnote and Woodenbox with a Fistful of Fivers. Doors: 6.30pm with first band on at 7pm sharp. Tickets are free and available from www.ticketweb.co.uk The gig is for over 14’s only, and under 16’s must be accompanied by an adult. The competition was only open to artists over 21.

Big Apple Judge - Roddy Hart

The final winning act will be selected on the night by a panel of industry experts including Matthew Rumbold from EMI, Roddy Hart and Yvonne McLellan from Island. Hart states; “The Big Apple Award is an exciting competition to be part of, shining a light on Scottish talent and providing an amazing platform and opportunity for bands and songwriters to be heard and make their mark”.

Whilst in the USA the winning artist/s will also have the chance to audition for Ian Ralfini, president of both Blue Note and Manhattan Records, divisions of EMI in North America.

Scottish Music Awards – Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland

Held to raise money for Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland, the Scottish Music Awards is an important date in the Scottish event calendar, fast making its mark upon the music industry as the ‘Scottish Brits’, and receiving international media attention. The charity, which receives no statutory funding, relies on the event as its largest and most prominent fundraiser.

Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland is the country’s largest specialist music therapy charity (number SC18224) and needs to raise funds of up to £400,000 every year to operate.

The unique combination of music and therapy that Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland offers is both a release and sense of fun for the individual through the power of music. Unique to other forms of therapy, the concept of taking our creative side and combining this with alternative modes of therapy is revolutionary; illustrating that music has strong healing qualities.

Donald MacLeod, Chairman of Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland charity and owner of renowned live music venues The Garage and The Cathouse revealed: “The American Scottish Foundation and Creative Scotland are helping us send the band to New York City for 5 nights of scheduled gigs, including one special night at a large venue which will have 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. The winner will be following in the footsteps of bands like Biffy Clyro and Franz Ferdinand to launch Stateside by playing to New York audiences.”

Caroline Parkinson, Director of Creative Development at Creative Scotland said: “Creative Scotland is thrilled to support this unique opportunity for a Scottish band to play at the national Music Awards and in New York City during Scotland Week 2012. “By partnering with Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland, the American-Scottish Foundation in New York and Clash Music we are delighted to be working with key players in the Scottish music industry to showcase our musical talent both at home and internationally.”

The Big Apple Award is the first international project undertaken by the charity. “We’re looking forward to presenting the winning Scottish band to a new audience in New York City. It’s the Year of Creative Scotland and it is wonderful that the Big Apple Award is a part of it. The American-Scottish Foundation mission is to be a bridge between the two great countries and this is a perfect example of that,” Camilla G Hellman, MBE of the American-Scottish Foundation noted.

Follow @TartanClef

Find www.facebook.com/tartanclef

Support www.tartanclef.org 

Learn www.nordoffrobbinsscotland.org.uk

We are delighted to have the Scottish Music Centre as a sponsor of the MUSIC NEWS Scotland 'Latest News' Blog - please click above to view their website and see what services they can offer Scottish musicians

We are delighted to have the Musicians Union as a sponsor of the MUSIC NEWS Scotland 'Latest News' Blog - please click above to view their website and see what services they can offer Scottish musicians