Rising musician Robbie Boyd plays an intimate gig today at the top of The 02, becoming the first British musician to perform at the summit of the iconic structure. The exclusive performance launches the live phase of Gigs Big Busk 2013, which is organised by the Mayor of London and is one of the biggest music competitions in the UK.
Kicking off this Saturday (20 July), more than 500 young musicians and singers will battle it out to be named Gigs Champion 2013, an accolade that Robbie Boyd, who comes from Shepherd's Bush, won two years ago. Since winning the title he has built a reputation as a live performer, playing across the UK and overseas, and as a recording artist. With three EPs under his belt, the latest, 'Painted Sky', is already enjoying chart action.
Gigs gives young Londoners aged 11-25 the chance to gain exposure and performing experience. Londoners and visitors to the capital will be able to catch this year's entrants at locations around the city from Saturday 20 July to Saturday 10 August. They are playing at a variety of locations, including the London Underground, mainline railway stations, St Paul's Cathedral, The O2, Westfield London W12 and in Green Park, when the Prudential RideLondon cycling event takes place.
This year's competition attracted over 1,800 entries, more than three times as many as in 2012 and the biggest number in the competition's history. Soloists, groups and even choirs entered, covering a many styles, from pop to classical and country to hip hop.
The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said: 'We are stunned by the number of entries for this year's Gigs competition – it makes the contest even more exciting. I'm delighted that we can give some of London's fine young musicians the opportunity to gain experience by playing to new audiences around the capital. Our city has a musical heritage that is second to none and it is vital that we nurture budding talent to help them scale the heights – there might even be an Adele or Mumford and Sons in the making.'
As well as Robbie Boyd, Gigs has provided a launch pad for other emerging London artists, including Jamie West, Natalie Shay and James Riley. and is increasingly seen as a go to event for music industry talent scouts.
Robbie Boyd said: 'Being the first ever Londoner and only the third performer, after Bon Jovi and 30 Seconds to Mars, to play on the roof of The O2 is a real honour. It will be an amazing experience to play my own songs up there, against the backdrop of one of the greatest cities in the world.'
Jeremy King, Communications Director, The O2, said: 'We are delighted to be hosting the launch event for the Mayor of London's Gigs Big Busk competition. As the world's most popular music venue it is important for The O2 to help support, and provide a platform for the next generation of musicians. It's very exciting to have Robbie following in the footsteps of Bon Jovi and Thirty Seconds to Mars and performing on the roof.'
Whilst bidding to be crowned London's best young musician of the year, there are also great prizes up for grabs, to help winners develop their music careers. These include a highly coveted licence to busk on the Tube, courtesy of Transport for London; a one-year course specifically designed for them at the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance; recording time at a top studio; equipment; mentoring from industry professionals; and further performance opportunities. One winner will also get the chance to head to Paris to busk around the French capital, courtesy of Eurostar. New for 2013, there will be a prize for best original song, with the winner receiving support from a top writer and producer to develop their song-writing skills.
Londoners and visitors to the capital can catch this year's entrants playing at locations around the city from Saturday 20 July to Saturday 10 August. They will play every day except Mondays. The public can go online at www.gigsbigbusk.com to vote for their favourite artist until 31 August. Videos of all performers will also be posted on the website from 12 August.
The grand final takes place on Sunday 8 September from 12pm at Westfield London W12. 18 finalists will compete on a specially built stage in the main atrium before a panel of industry judges and thousands of Westfield visitors. There will be a winner in each category and one act will be crowned Gigs Champion 2013.
There are three categories: Soloists and Duos for people aged 16-25; Youth, for people aged 11-15; Groups, for up to 20 members.
Gigs 2013 partners are: City of London; Eurostar; Institute of Contemporary Music Performance; London Underground; MidTown Business Improvement District; Musician's Union; Network Rail; Roland; The 02; Wendyhouse Productions Ltd; Westfield London W12.
Event: Gigs Big Busk 2013 Date: Saturday 20 July – Sunday 8 September 2013 Time: Various dates and times Locations: The O2, Peninsula Square, London, SE10 0DX London Folk Festival at The Bedford, 77 Bedford Hill, Balham, SW12 9HD Westfield London W12 London Underground – Westminster, Waterloo, Piccadilly Circus, Liverpool Street City of London – St Paul’s Churchyard, Royal Exchange, EC4 Network Rail – London Bridge, Charing X, Euston, Kings Cross, Victoria, Waterloo, Paddington, Liverpool Street Central St Giles, WC1 Prudential Ride London Green Park Stage W1 Regent Street - 'Summer Streets', W1 Information: www.gigsbigbusk.com www.facebook.com/gigsbigbusk @gigsbigbusk #gigsbigbusk
Notes to editors
1. Gigs Big Busk 2013 is London's annual competition to find the capital's best young musicians, as part of the Mayor's commitment to supporting musically talented young Londoners. It gives musicians the opportunity to perform at landmark locations around London, and compete for a host of music prizes including a coveted official London Underground busking license and studio recording time.
Since 2009, over 1,000 young London musicians have taken part in Gigs and over 100,000 public votes have been cast online Last year 500 young musicians performed during the Olympic Games in the Gigs 2012 busking competition. Between them they played over 2,000 hours of music to over 750,000 people. Gigs winners and finalists are regularly talent scouted by promoters. In 2012, three Gigs acts were signed up by Live Nation's new artist department. A Gigs performer playing on the Olympic Park last year was spotted by Joan Armatrading and asked to open one of her concert.
The public can vote for their favourite artist from 20 July. From 20 July to 10 August, buskers will be performing at landmark spots around London. From 27-31 July the competing buskers will have a music video filmed at The O2, which will be posted online for the public to see and vote. Voting closes at the end of August. The grand final will take place on Sunday 8 September at Westfield in Shepherd's Bush.
2. Mayor's Fund for Young Musicians: Music has the power to change lives. The Mayor’s Fund for Young Musicians makes this a reality for thousands of young Londoners from disadvantaged backgrounds. We address a gap in music provision in primary schools across the whole of London through our music programmes, which include four-year scholarships, in the knowledge that good music education can have a transformative impact on a child’s personal, social and academic achievements. We need to raise over £1million a year to support our charitable activities. In just two years we have directly worked with 6,500 young people across the capital. For more information, please visit www.mfym.org.uk Registered charity no. 1141216
3. Making Music Matter In 2010 the Mayor published Making Music Matter, London’s first music education strategy. He set up the Mayor’s Music Education Group, consisting of leading people from the music and education sectors to advise and guide his work. Darren Henley OBE, Managing Director of Classic FM and author of the Government’s Henley Review of Music Education, chairs the Group.
The Mayor's support for young musicians includes:
- Setting up the Mayor’s Fund for Young Musicians. The Music Fund has awarded 230 scholarships to talented primary school children whose families can’t afford the cost of lessons. It has also given nearly 20,000 young musicians the chance to learn and perform with London’s top professional musicians such as the London Symphony Orchestra and Bollywood Brass Band. - Carrying out a major music education survey which revealed that over 200,000 children (1-in-6) are learning instruments across London. - Securing music industry sponsorship for a brand new Music Rehearsal Space for young people in Tottenham which is due to open in early 2014. The Space will be supported by music publishers Beggars Group and the London Borough of Haringey. - Showcasing London’s most talented young musicians through Gigs – the Mayor’s annual young buskers competition for 11-25-year-olds. In 2012 Gigs performers played to an audience of ¾ million people in iconic locations across the Capital, from St Paul’s to The O2. - Next year the Mayor’s music programmes will see £1million being invested in music education, benefiting tens-of-thousands of young Londoners - www.london.gov.uk/priorities/arts-culture/access-participation
4. Gigs Big Busk 2013 Partners: City of London; Eurostar; Institute of Contemporary Music Performance; London Underground; MidTown Business Improvement District; Musician's Union; Network Rail; Roland; The 02; Wendyhouse Productions Ltd; Westfield London W12.