Acoustic Routes has established the Joan Prior Young Performers Award to promote folk and acoustic music among young musicians.
The award, with a $500 prize, is open to performers from the ages of 15 to 25.
The inaugural award has received 10 entries from young Wellington performers, all of a high standard and encompassing a wide range of musical styles. Most are solo singer-musicians and song-writers as well, but there are also two duos, one of them instrumental.
Eight of them will perform at this very special concert and a panel of judges will select three finalists to perform at the Wellington Folk Festival, where the winner will be chosen.
This will be a big evening, so be there for the 7.30pm start to enjoy (in alphabetical, not playing order):
Jessica Howard
Shan Jordan
Peter Mitchell
Irihapeti Moffat
Jordan & Josh Morrice
Nadia Reid
Flix Rose
Rupert Snook & Stephanie Cairns
NOTE: JOAN PRIOR was an inspiration to generations of singers, musicians and dancers around Wellington from the late 1950s. Originally from northern England, she was dubbed 'The Johnsonville Songthrush', and had a huge repertoire of mainly British folksong, including a generous sprinkling of bawdy songs. After she died in 2010 her family donated her collection of instruments, recordings and memorabilia to Acoustic Routes, and this enabled us to set up the award in her name.
