APRA AMCOS launch Rocking The Puburbs: Original live acts invited to win headline tour of NSW pubs

From today, pubs across NSW are on the look-out for the next big thing in live music as part of the first-ever Rockin’ the Puburbscompetition.

APRA AMCOS, in partnership with AHA NSWand the Live Music Office, areinvitingNSW-based original live acts to enter for the opportunity to win a headline tour of leading NSW pubs, a dedicated tour publicist, and mentorship from APRA AMCOS Ambassador Mark Lizotte (Diesel) and the team from the Live Music Office. Tokick-start the summer tour, the winner will first perform at the AHA NSW Awards for Excellence on Tuesday 21 November in front of more than 1,000 people.

Mark Lizotte said, “I’ve been playing in pubs since the age of 14, and they’ve played an integral part in my development as a musician, providing an environment in which to work on my craft. Live music in pubs is part of the Australian landscape and in 2017, more than ever, we need to acknowledge and nurture the culture we have created for the future.”

Milly Petriella (Director Member Relations)said, “Thisis the perfect leg up for emerging songwriters in NSW. You only have to look at music icons Cold Chisel and The Angels who started out in pubs across the country to see where this can lead. This is about creating live opportunities and developing the next generation of Australian songwriters, and hopefully something we can open up to other states in the future.”

AHA NSW CEO John Whelan said the next big thing in Aussie music could be performing right now down at your local. “The NSW hotel industry has always been a big supporter of live music – with about 75,000 live music acts in pubs each year,” he said.

The $15,000 prize includes:

• Paid live gigs at NSW pubs oversummer 2017-18
• A dedicated tour publicist
• A one-on-one mentoring session with Mark Lizotte (Diesel)
• A one-on-one mentoring session with the Live Music Office
• A paid performance at the AHA (NSW) Awards for Excellence

Entries will be judged by an industry panel including reps from APRA AMCOS, LMO, AHA NSW and Mark Lizotte.The winner will be announced on 8 November 2017.

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