The winner of the 2020 competition will receive a gig at the next Queenscliff Music Festival.
Aside from the established artists we see year after year, Queenscliff Music Festival stays ahead of the rest by running its own young artist initiative called FOOT-In-The-DOOR, where each night young and upcoming talents can showcase their music.
Supported by FReeZA (a Victorian State Government initiative), the initiative’s purpose is to help emerging young artists showcase their talents, and as the name suggests get a ‘foot-in-the-door’ in the music industry. Normally it gives young artists the chance to perform live in front of an audience at a nationally acclaimed music festival, which is a very valuable and rewarding experience for those selected artists. However, we are not in normal times, not at all.
The 24th iteration of the festival was scheduled to take place from November 27 – 29 this year, but as a result of the disruptions caused by COVID-19, the difficult decision was made to postpone the event until November 26 – 28, 2021.
In a bid to continue supporting young artists, QMF have decided to take the ‘battle of the bands’ style competition online, opening up the usual genre and location restrictions and awarding the winner of the 2020 competition a slot at the festival when it returns in November next year.
Entrants between 12 and 25 years old can apply from anywhere in Victoria, across any style/genre of music, with the only stipulation being that its original music only.
All you have to do upload a new video of their music to YouTube, and fill in their online application form online. Five acts will then be shortlisted and their videos shown on QMF social channels in September, where the winner will then be selected and announced by industry judging panel by 30th September.
Past winners include the likes of Nancie Schipper, Tom Walker & His Band of Sick Individuals, as well as Heath Robertson, among others.
Offering such a wide array of musical acts at a time when the summer season is cluttered with music festivals, what makes Queenscliff so appealing is its community spirit and structure to cater for a wider audience, beginning with this inspiring program.
You can apply for the initiative here.
