MEDIA STATEMENT
February 2nd 2010
Applications open for City Showcase – Finding the Future
The search for new musical talent in New Zealand has begun with registrations now open for City Showcase, the live
musical event taking place in Napier from 25-28 November 2010.
New Zealand has been selected as the first country outside of the UK to host City Showcase – the London music festival
that launched superstars Amy Winehouse, Keane and Razorlight.
New and emerging musicians will be given the opportunity to perform at free gigs in and around Napier’s Art Deco city
centre with the ultimate winner scoring a trip to play City Showcase in Hong Kong or London in May 2011. The winner will
also perform at the Mission Winery Concert in 2011.
A judging panel made up of leaders from the New Zealand music industry will be in Napier to judge the competition and
the public will also have the chance to vote.
The judging panel will include Campbell Smith (CEO of The Recording Industry Association of New Zealand Inc (RIANZ), who
also has his own Management Company, CRS Music Management Limited), Ian James (Managing Director, Mushroom Music
Publishing, Australia and recipient of a Midem Masters Award) and Mike Chunn (CEO of the Play It Strange Trust which
implements music programmes for New Zealand school and former member of the New Zealand bands Split Enz and Citizen
Band)
City Showcase – Spotlight London has been launching new musical talent in the UK since 2003. The event is widely
recognised as being one of the most diverse and high profile festivals in the world with over 200 musicians performing
in central London in 2009, covering a range of musical genres.
City Showcase organizer Nanette Rigg said New Zealand had a wealth of musical talent but musicians needed more high
profile platforms to promote themselves. “This is a chance for talented Kiwis to perform for, not only the public, but
also the leaders of the New Zealand music industry,” Ms Rigg said. “City Showcase – Spotlight New Zealand will become a
key date for music lovers and industry talent spotters, and is a rare opportunity to become a star of the future, she
said.
New Zealand music industry specialist Hamish Pinkham will liaise with headline acts to support the City Showcase -
Spotlight New Zealand event. “City Showcase will provide an exciting opportunity to showcase up and coming acts in NZ.
Providing a stage in front of industry and public alike is something young musicians can strive for and create a goal on
the way to achieving future success.
Want to be part of City Showcase?
If you want to take part in this exciting festival, and showcase your work, please send a web link, a brief biography
and a photo to City Showcase, PO Box 3217, Onekawa, Napier.
Alternatively apply through www.sonicbids.com/cityshowcasenapier. City Showcase submissions through Sonicbids are open
to ALL artists, though there is one slot exclusively reserved for an artist selected through Sonicbids with a travel
contribution for the selected applicant.
The deadline for applications is 1st July 2010.
ends