Amplified - High profile support for Tasmania's music industry

Founder member of the Violent Femmes, Brian Ritchie, has joined a panel of key Tasmanian music industry figures to short-list music tracks for the 2008 Amplified Awards and select tracks for the Amplified CD.

Mr Ritchie, who now lives in Tasmania, will bring to the panel over 25 years of experience in the music industry.

The Amplified Awards are an integral part of the continuing development of contemporary Tasmanian musicians and provide a platform for exposure to a wide audience, here and on the mainland, by highlighting the best of the new music being made in Tasmania.

The number and quality of submissions this year reflects the strength of the local music scene.

Submissions for the Amplified Awards and CD closed on Friday 12 November 2007, with an unprecedented 82 submissions received from Tasmanian acts, a 37 per cent increase from previous years.

From these submissions, 142 songs were listened to by the selection panel.

Enough tracks for a double CD will now be selected and these CDs will be distributed state-wide and free of charge in A Fine Line magazine for the 2008 Amplified festival.

Twenty three Awards will be presented during the Amplified 2008 festival, including the Most Promising Tasmanian Act, Best Up and Coming Tasmanian Act, Best Song, Best Songwriter, Best Solo Artist, Best Live Performance and Best Website/Online Presence as well as others.

Three short-listed finalists to each award will be announced on 25 January 2008, and will be listed on the Arts Tasmania website at www.arts.tas.gov.au for the public to vote and decide on the eventual winners.

Public voting will be open for five weeks and closes at 5pm, Friday 29 February 2008, with the winners announced during the Amplified 08 festival.

Assisting Mr Ritchie on the selection panel is; Genevieve Claringbold (Marketing and Sponsorship Manager, The Falls Festival), Mel Page (Acting Station Manager, Edge Radio), Matt Elmer (The Dwarf and A Fine Line), Clayton Hawkins (University of Tasmania and member of Arts Tasmania's Assistance to Organisations Panel), Emma Hope (Journalist, The Advocate), Kane Young (Journalist, The Mercury) and Jo Glover (Journalist, The Examiner).

Amplified 08 will be held from Friday 14 March 2008 until Sunday 16 March 2008, and will consist of a music industry conference, live showcases, awards, a compilation CD and networking opportunities.

Bookmark this page   
http://www.arts.tas.gov.au/amplified and come back on 25 January for the announcement.