MARTIN HOUSE CHILDREN’S HOSPICE
PRESENTS: CENTRE STAGE 2015
Hot
off the heels of ‘Centre Stage’ winning Hospice UK's 2014 National Award
for 'Innovation in Income Generation', 2015’s
competition is now open for registration.
Martin House Children’s Hospice, together with Leeds & Reading
Festivals, have begun their new search for the act who will ultimately
claim the prize of playing at next summer’s Leeds AND Reading Festivals, and a
music performance video with Shot by Sodium.
The
competition has gone from strength to strength since its inception in 2009 and continues to receive
involvement and support from Yorkshire bands Embrace,
Pigeon Detectives, The Cribs and Pulled Apart by Horses. Now in its sixth year, the competition, which raises vital funds for
the hospice, is inviting young bands and soloists of ANY genre to enter.
Participants must be between 11- 21 years old and from North or West
Yorkshire.
Over
the coming months, registered acts will undertake their own fundraising for
Martin House, who witness the therapeutic benefits of music first hand within
the hospice. Once registered, acts will be automatically entered into the
Heats, which will take place on 28/29/30 April at the Belgrave Music Hall,
Leeds. The lucky finalists will then take to the stage at O2
Academy, Leeds, on 22nd July, following a professional mentoring day.
The
competition hopes to hit the big £200,000 mark next year, in terms of funds raised.
Martin House are currently looking for sponsorship for the year ahead. “Securing this would give us a huge boost and
help us to make even more money for Martin House – we’d love to hear from
people who would like to share our exposure and journey right through to Leeds Festival” says Centre Stage Organiser, Sarah Smith.
The
competition is an invaluable link to the local music industry, especially those
supportive of unsigned, young artists. It has provided connections and
opportunities for many contenders, including those with BBC Introducing and M.A.S.
Records. Impressively, 2012 finalists ‘Carnabells’ played this summer’s
Glastonbury Festival and previous winners have taken to the road and supported
both The Pigeon Detectives and Embrace!
Overall,
the competition is about YOUNG PEOPLE HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE!
To
enter, please register online on the Martin House website, ensuring you read
the rules and regs! http://www.martinhouse.org.uk/Centre-Stage
Notes:
“I’d strongly urge local, young musicians to enter. It really is
an incredible opportunity.” Mike Heaton,
Embrace
“Every year I’ve been impressed by the calibre of the young
artists who participate, and blown away by the commitment and effort they put
into their fundraising. I’m delighted to be involved as Centre Stage has gone
from strength to strength.” Melvin Benn
– MD Festival Republic
- Please
credit photographs to ‘Sodium’ (http://www.shotbysodium.com/)
Centre Stage Background: The premise of the Centre Stage Competition is to give young
bands a fantastic platform and exposure whilst raising vital funds for Martin
House Children’s Hospice. Since its initial launch, by The Pigeon Detectives in
autumn 2009, Centre Stage has so far provided a platform for over 150 young,
Yorkshire acts and raised close to £200,000 for Martin House Children’s Hospice.
The competition has the support of Embrace, The Pigeon Detectives, The Cribs,
Pulled Apart by Horses and Festival Republic. In order to enter,
artists must be under 21 years old and in North or West Yorkshire and must be
committed to undertake their own fundraising for the hospice, ideally with the
support of their school/college.
Martin House Children’s Hospice: Martin House Children’s Hospice cares for children and young
people, throughout Yorkshire, who have a life limiting illness. They support
their families too, through the life of their child and through their
bereavement. On opening in 1987, they were only the second children’s hospice
in the UK. They now have an established teenage unit, Whitby Lodge, which was
the first in the world to open. Martin House needs to raise over £4.5m this
year to run, receiving less than 12% from Government sources.
Contact: Sarah Smith – Centre Stage Organiser:
ssmith@martinhouse.org.uk // 01937 844569
Twitter: @centrestage2015 // @MartinHouseCH
