Local bands urged to enter Tennent’s Untapped competition

TENNENT’S Lager has launched a major initiative to unearth the best new and emerging music talent in Northern Ireland.

Tennent’s UnTapped will give up and coming musicians based in Northern Ireland the chance to perform at Tennent’s Vital 2012 and play alongside some of the world’s biggest stars.

Tennent’s UnTapped continues Tennent’s Lager’s rich heritage in supporting new music talent.

In Scotland, its new grassroots initiative T Break is in its 17th year and has helped many now well established bands at the outsets of their careers including Biffy Clyro, Twin Atlantic and Snow Patrol.

To enter Tennent’s UnTapped, unsigned musicians aged 18 and over, residing in Northern Ireland and making original music are invited to submit their tracks via tennentsvital.com/untapped by Friday, March 9.

The entries will be whittled down by a jury of senior music industry figures including representatives from Tennent’s UnTapped promoter partner MCD, music critics, record label reps and more.

Sixteen acts will be chosen to play in front of audiences at a series of live showcases in May. The winning bands will play Tennent’s Vital 2012.

Following the successful re-introduction of Tennent’s Vital last summer, Tennent’s UnTapped represents yet another major new investment by Tennent’s NI in Northern Ireland’s music scene.

Aisling Duffy, Marketing Manager for Tennent’s Lager NI, said: “Northern Ireland’s grassroots music scene is thriving. We wanted to celebrate this vibrancy and diversity and give our young bands a great platform to reach new audiences and make valuable connections within the music industry.

“We think Tennent’s UnTapped can replicate the success of T Break in Scotland and help find Northern Ireland’s answer to Biffy Clyro.”

Ireland’s leading concert promoter MCD Productions are the official promoter partner for Tennent’s UnTapped.

As one of MCD’s bookers, Niall Morris has been involved with bringing the likes of Kasabian and Elbow to Belfast.

He believes that Tennent’s UnTapped will give a significant boost to the local music scene:

“I think Tennent’s UnTapped is a great idea. It gives young local unsigned bands a chance to get noticed and play on the bigger stages with established acts,” Niall said.

He added: “I’m looking forward to seeing some amazing new talent play live at the showcases and it’ll be great to see some of these bands line up alongside the headliners at Vital this year.”

Charlotte Dryden, creative development co-ordinator at The Oh Yeah Centre in Belfast, said: “It’s an exciting time for music in Northern Ireland, and here at Oh Yeah we have seen some really exciting opportunities arise for some great bands. The Tennent’s Untapped programme looks like another great initiative aimed at allowing new music a platform, and we look forward to being exposed to even more emerging talent over the coming year.”

For more information about Tennent’s UnTapped please visit tennentsvital.com/untapped and facebook.com/tennentslagerni

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