Nordoff-Robbins Launch Big Apple Award

A new twist for the Big Apple Award sees Clash Music team up as media partner with renowned music charity Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland and Creative Scotland. This once in a lifetime opportunity will see the winning band play at the annual Scottish Music Awards this November, before being whisked off to New York City to play during Scotland Week 2012 in association with the American-Scottish Foundation.

The Award was originally partnered by the now shuttered News of the World, so any entries sent there need to be re-submitted. All entries submitted direct to Nordoff-Robbins office in Scotland are still valid.

Given this latest exciting development, the new closing date for submissions is now close of play Monday 12th September 2011. The competition is open to Scottish bands only; applicants should email info@tartanclef.org or post their demos and images to:

The Big Apple Award,
Nordoff-Robbins Scotland,
Top Floor,
48 West George Street,
Glasgow,
G2 1BP.

A panel of music industry experts (to be announced exclusively right here in Clash Music) will create a short-list from all the entries, and the top five selected will play their very own gig this Thursday October 13th at the 700 capacity Glasgow venue The Garage, whose stage has previously played host to bands including Prince, Kaiser Chiefs, Juliette Lewis & The Licks, Moby, The Zutons, Anthrax and Pulp.

The winner will be revealed on the night and this November will have the honour of performing live in front of Scotland's top music executives at annual The Scottish Music Awards – The Tartan Clefs. The awards are a glittering celebration of the massive strength, and huge diversity, of Scotland’s music industry, with highly successful international acts such as Biffy Clyro, Sharleen Spiteri and Paolo Nutini as well as songwriter John Reid amongst its previous winners and performers.

The winning band will then have a few months to get every note right before being flown out play scheduled shows to US music fans, charity supporters, media and music executives during Scotland Week 2012 - presented in New York by the American-Scottish Foundation.

For more information on supporting Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland log onto www.tartanclef.org.

For more information on the work Nordoff-Robbins Music Therapy in Scotland carries out, log onto www.nordoffrobbinsscotland.org.uk

To find them on Facebook go to www.facebook.com/tartanclef

To keep up with them on Twitter follow www.twitter.com/TartanClef

For information on the American-Scottish Foundation go to www.americanscottishfoundation.org