Liverpool International Music Festival has proudly announced the Class of 2017-2018 for the award winning LIMF Academy. Providing an unparalleled platform for emerging and unsigned young music talent around Merseyside, each will have access to professional career advice, training, workshops, as well as the opportunity to perform at the LIMF Summer Jam which will see over a hundred-thousand attendees.
The three ‘most ready’ artists, which boasts an all female roster, including Gazelle, Mary Miller and Remée, have been hand picked for a place on the award winning LIMF Academy Elite Talent Development Programme that offers career support and musical development proven to take music careers to new heights. For more information on LIMF Academy, visit www.limfestival.com/about-limf-academy-2017/
The LIMF Academy artists will perform at the LIMF Summer Jam which takes place 20th -23rd July, for more info visit www.limfestival.com.
LIMF Curator Yaw Owusu has been developing and building the LIMF Academy since 2013. The programme has successfully showcased elite talent such as MiC Lowry (Polydor Records), XamVolo (Decca Records), Eleanor Nelly (Decca Records), Jalen N’Gonda and SUEDEBROWN go on to launch careers, with many picked up by major labels and leading management companies as well as achieve national and international radio support.
This year the Elite Talent Development Programme has been awarded to three of the ‘most ready’ artists; female singer/producers Gazelle, Mary Miller and Remeé. With singer/songwriter Astles receiving the ‘one to watch’ accolade. The Most Ready programme includes career investment, mentoring, regional and national performance opportunities and numerous other benefits including professionally produced biography, press shots and music development.
The trio of artists picked for the programme are a testament to the fresh up and coming talent that Merseyside has to offer. Gazelle, influenced heavily by Jazz and Soul music is already hugely supported by BBC Introducing in Liverpool not to mention 6 Music and 1Xtra, whilst LIPA student Mary Miller, singer, songwriter and producer has already featured in Bido Lito. RnB up and comer Remeé has also featured on BBC Introducing Liverpool as well as BBC 1Xtra, with one-to watch Astles receiving critical acclaim from the likes of BBC Introducing and Bido Lito.
For the three most ready artists, the LIMF Academy will offer:
• Financial investment in their career
• A live session for BBC Introducing
• Studio time with Steve Levine
• Creation of professional press assets
• Monthly masterclass sessions with industry leaders
• Year round mentoring by an industry professional
• Showcase opportunities to key press in both Liverpool and London
• Plus much more
LIMF Curator Yaw Owusu has been developing and building the LIMF Academy since 2013 was impressed by the high standard of applications this year, commenting “Again, the standard of applicants was outstanding and meant that our selections are really the cream of the crop, especially our set of Most Ready artists for 2017-2018. To have the most ready group made up of 3 outstanding, diverse and emerging female artists is testament to a change in tide here in the city and we are looking forward to really working with them over the next year”
For the other artists and bands selected for the Academy, as well as a spot on the LIMF Academy stage at LIMF Summer Jam, they will also receive workshops in songwriting, vocal training and music production. Additionally they will attend the LIMF Masterclasses, which includes sessions led by music industry professionals focused on being heard, securing gigs, funding and doing it independently.
The full LIMF Academy class of 2017-2018 includes the three Most Ready artists, Gazelle, Mary Miller and Remée, One to Watch Astles and finalists Daisy Gill, Raheem Alameen, 50 ft Warrior, Karuna, Generation, Joseph Mott, Shak Omar, We Were Glue, Lilium, Kallo, Grey Areas, Weekend Wars, Tori Cross, TABITHA JADE, HICARI and To Eva.
Organisations involved include PRS For Music Foundation, Musician’s Union, BBC Introducing, Ditto Music as well representatives from labels, publishing companies and media outlets.
BBC Introducing presenter Dave Monks says ‘It’s been fantastic to be involved on the judging panel of the LIMF Academy again this year and contribute some of my knowledge of what music has been getting supported by BBC Music Introducing Merseyside. It was probably the toughest selection process since we started, but that also demonstrates how rich this region is for music at the moment. The top 3 this year is really strong, and also pleasing to see the panel select three female voices all with different qualities but equally all three have great songs and ideas. Having been at some of the recording sessions and heard early tasters of each track, I can’t wait to play them out exclusively on BBC Merseyside this Saturday’.
Taking place between Thursday 20th and Sunday 23rd July 2017, LIMF is a grand-scale celebration of Liverpool’s rich musical history, diversity and continued relevance, reflected in its title as a Unesco City of Music. LIMF is made up of LIMF Summer Jam, a series of ticketed events LIMF Presents and the award-winning LIMF Academy. For more information, visit www.limfestival.com.
LIMF is an inherently different music festival representing the next chapter of a global music city. 2017 will see its most inspired and electric line up to date, with an unbeatable day and night programme showcasing artists, music and projects that celebrate the past, present and future of music, limited not just to Liverpool but across the world.
