The GIT Award returns for 2016

Liverpool music prize The GIT Award will return for a fifth successive year, honouring the best music to emerge from the city. Acts can submit their entries from today, with the award open to musicians based in and around Merseyside.

The winners will once again receive a cash prize of £1,000, following on from the success of 2015's victorious All We Are, whose self-titled debut album was released by Domino in February last year. Previous winners include Forest Swords, Baltic Fleet and Loved Ones.

Founded by Getintothis blogger and local journalist Peter Guy, the 2016 GIT Award launches with a free party on Friday 29 January at The Buyers' Club, featuring live performances from three hotly-tipped local artists: Pink Kink, Nelson and The Night Café. 

Of the award, Guy said: "I’m delighted to be relaunching the GIT Award. In an age when award ceremonies have been cheapened by seeking viewing figures, selling tickets and watering down the very reason for which they were set up, the GIT Award has steadfastly remained true to its roots – championing the very best new music from Merseyside, pushing the superlative talents within our city to an audience that matters and collaborating with the creative community to provide an event the region can be proud of."

Picture: Keith Ainsworth

The GIT Award winner will be decided by a panel of hand-picked industry experts. As in previous years, there will be two additional awards handed out on the night. The One to Watch Prize is designed to earmark ermerging talent, as previously picked up by Louis Berry and Låpsley, who later signed to XL Recordings. Read our interview with Holly Låpsley Fletcher here. 

The Inspiration Award, meanwhile, recognises outstanding contributions made to the city's musical landscape, with past awards going to Deltasonic Records' Alan Wills (who passed away in 2014), Africa Oye, The Hillsborough Justice Collective, and the team behind the city's recently-closed Kazimier venue.

The GIT Award 2016 will be presented in a ceremony at Constellations on Saturday 14 May. Artists who wish to enter should send four tracks to getintothis@gmail.com. Listen to a track by last year's winners All We Are below.