One of these Aussie bands is about to get $50,000 richer after the shortlist for the second Carlton Dry Global Music Grant was officially announced, off the back of the AIR Awards nominations.
Established in 2013, the $50,000 Carlton Dry Global Music Grant was created in conjunction with AIR to help fund an international tour for an independent, emerging Australian act to boost their profile and further a career overseas.
The shortlist for 2014 is Fractures, the mega buzzed Remi, SAFIA, soul slayers Saskwatch, and punk heroes The Smith Street Band. AIR and Carlton Dry chose the 5 artists to be shortlist in recognition for their remarkable achievements over the last 12 months as well as their potential to achieve great things overseas.
Seven-piece garage rock gang King Gizzard became $50,000 richer after winning the inaugural Carlton Dry Global Music Grant at the 2013 AIR Awards last October.
The Grant funded King Gizzard & The Lizard Wizard’s tours of the USA, with shows in Dallas, Chicago, Washington, residencies in New York City, a slot on Austin’s the legendary Psychfest plus shows in Canada, China, Iceland, Netherlands and the UK.
The prize money was also used to rent a ranch for a month in upstate New York where the band recorded an album that has been signed to Castle Records in the USA and Europe’s Heavenly Recordings. This October will see King Gizzard return to the US to tour in support of their new album.
“There is so much talent in Australian music right now and the grant is a way we can support young artists and give them the opportunity to take their music overseas,” says Rob Elder, Brand Manager for Carlton Dry.
David Vodicka, Chairman of the Board for AIR said “this Grant is something that AIR is very proud of. We can’t think of a more direct way to help a great emerging artist in their career. The fact that the whole thing was instigated by Carlton Dry shows the value of our partnership with them.”
The winner of this $50,000 Grant will be announced at the 2014 Carlton Dry Independent Music Awards Wednesday October 8th at North Melbourne’s Historic Meat Market.
