The Trip to Birmingham TradFest has announced a new award aimed at traditional Irish musicians in the UK and Ireland, aged 25 and under. The Molloy Award is In memory of Anne and Pat Molloy, who were a staple in Irish Music Pedagogy in Birmingham, the award strives to seek out new musical talent and award excellence and innovation within the idiom of Irish Traditional Music and Song and showcase it in Birmingham, a city steeped in Irish Culture.
Groups of 6 or less and solo performers are invited to submit a recording (no more than ten minutes) of them playing. The first round will be judged by esteemed musicians and friends of the festival, SiobhaÌn Peoples and Kevin Crawford, who will pick 5 acts to put through to the second round.
These 5 acts will be invited to perform in a showcase concert on Saturday 28th November 2015 as part of The Trip to Birmingham. A contribution towards costs incurred will be made by the festival and each artist will receive an artist’s weekend pass to the festival. Of these five acts, one is then picked as the winner of The Molloy Award. Judges, most of whom are artists featured at the festival, will be revealed on the day of the final. The winner will be offered a slot to play at the Festival Club that night and receive a full support slot at the festival in 2016.
To download an application form please click here.
