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GLASTONBURY EMERGING TALENT COMPETITION 2020: THE FINAL EIGHT


There may be no live final this year but there’s still a final eight. After three weeks of deliberation, the Glastonbury Emerging Talent judging panel has made its collective call which is great news for eight of my Round 1 colleagues who each have an act represented. And, of course, for the artistes themselves. Alas, my own three choices – Tors, Sophie McGeorge and The Lunar Keys – are not among them but each can take a bow for making it this far. I hope they have gained new fans and, not least, timely morale boosts in these dark times from their achievement in reaching the longlist.

The eight finalists are: Ajimal, Courting, Frankie Beetlestone, Hannie, Joshua Burnside, Kathleen Frances, Matilda Mann and R.A.E. You can listen to their entries here.

It’s arguably a narrower pitch this year with solo performers, especially singer-songwriters, holding sway, though as, always, a quality field. Glastonbury's Emily Eavis commented: “There were so many great acts on the longlist, and narrowing it down from 90 acts to 8 certainly wasn’t an easy task. But I’m really happy with the finalists we have, and I very much hope that people will take the time to check them all out.”

One finalist who really stands out for me is AJIMAL. I love the entry on the Google listing for his website -Caution: may contain music it is difficult to dance to. I’ve not heard anything quite as beautiful as “How Could You Disappear” since Sophie McGeorge’s “Dreamrakers” appeared in my own batch of songs to evaluate.

The winner of Glastonbury’s free-to-enter competition will be offered a slot on one of the main stages at Glastonbury 2021, plus a £5,000 Talent Development prize from PRS Foundation while two runners-up will also receive £2,500 PRS Foundation Talent Development prizes. The generous patronage of PRS for Music and PRS Foundation and support of Glastonbury Festival for this annual competition is greatly appreciated by the unsigned music community, never less so than during our current live music vacuum.

There will be no live finals this year, for obvious reasons. Instead, the winners will be selected by Glastonbury’s usual team of live finals judges based on the song and live video each act originally entered. Look out for an announcement soon!

Glastonbury 2019 Photo by Maja Smiejkowska

FIFTY3 champions

outstanding new music

through Fifty3 Fridays and

occasional features 

 

Music is a great passion of mine. In my teenage years I was an avid record collector and concert goer. Stints as a booking agent, running folk clubs, promoting gigs and even a crack at artiste management followed. While it never became my main occupation, music was always on my personal radar.

 

In the past 15 years I have written for leading US music website  Consequence and breakthrough  site, BestNewBands. I am a judge for Glastonbury Festival's Emerging Talent Competition and have reviewed the festival for both sites. I am now pleased to curate my very own music site.

 

Nothing gives me greater pleasure than unearthing great, original new music and championing independent musicians. You’ll find many of them on this site alongside the occasional legend of times past and I hope they will bring  you as much joy as they give me.

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Tony Hardy

UPCOMING GIGS 

 

Selected dates in the London area:

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Tues 1 Oct: Wings of Desire, Bush Hall, London W12

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Tue 8 Oct - Public Service Broadcasting, Pryzm, Kingston upon Thames 

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Tue 22 Oct - FIFTY3 PRESENTS            Silk Cinema + Frances Mistry + The Music of Sound, The Bedford, Balham SW12

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Wed 30 Oct: Berries, The Lexington, London N1

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Sat 2 Nov - Tom Speight, St John's Church, Kingston upon Thames

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banquetrecords.com: See the Events page for all live shows in Kingston

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