LAST week Tenement TV and Tennent’s Lager revealed T Break is back, giving an unsigned band an amazing opportunity to open this year’s Tenement Trail festival. Today, festival organisers TTV and partner’s Tennent’s Lager have revealed the panel of expert judges set to dive into the tracks.
Sam Denholm of Distiller Records, Johnny Madden of Public Records, Chris McCourt of Atlantic Records and Sophie Roberts of 13 Artists make up this year’s judging panel all boasting some impressive credentials.
The panel will go through all the 2017 T Break entries to pick a winner who’ll open this year’s Tenement Trail festival. The winning act will also record a legendary Tenement TV session and play at the pop-up TT17 pre party. This year’s Tenement Trail Festival will feature over 50 bands across 10 venues and 12 hours. Bands including The Temperance Movement, The Big Moon, Drones Club, My Baby, The Ninth Wave, Neon Waltz and Louis Berry are among the acts set to play.
Sam Denholm (A&R Manager at Distiller Records) moved to London in 2014 from Glasgow where she completed a degree in Music Performance, technology and Business. Staring her career in A&R as a scout for Virgin EMI, she became Head of A&R at Distiller Music Group in September last year where she looks after eight artists including The Ninth Wave, Anteros and Vangoffey. Catch Distiller acts, Anteros and The Ninth Wave at this years Tenement Trail.
Johnny Madden (Public Records) is the frontman of Glasgow band Baby Strange who’ve toured with the likes of Slaves selling out venues around the UK. He also co-runs independent record label Public Records which will takeover the Priory at Tenement Trail 2017. As well as these musical projects, Johnny also runs a monthly club night called ‘Club Sabbath’ in Glasgow and London which celebrates the most exciting bands on the scene.
Sophie Roberts (Agent 13 Artists) works as an agent and booker at 13 Artists who are based in Brighton and represent not only Radiohead and Arctic Monkeys but also Scottish acts like Paolo Nutini, Steve Mason, JR Green, Spinning Coin, C Duncan, and Simple Minds. She personally works with Rascalton, the winner of last year’s Tenement Trail competition.
Chris McCourt (A&R Atlantic Records) is an A&R at Atlantic Records with nearly 10 years experience in the industry across stints at Island Records and Atlantic records. He’s worked with Bombay Bicycle Club, Frightened Rabbit, The Staves and Rae Morris, amongst others.’’
Unsigned acts have until Tuesday 29th August to apply to win T Break 2017 and can do so via the Tennent’s Lager website.
Check out last year’s winner’s RASCALTON in action at recent shows below:
