Centre Stage 2015 Heats - Belgrave Music Hall 28th-30th April (Press Release)

It's year six of Martin House Children's Hospice's prestigious music competition for young, Yorkshire bands and musicians. Three nights of heats, and a music industry panel, will decide 2015’s finalists who will then compete at O2 Academy Leeds, in July, for a place at Leeds AND Reading 2015 and a music video by local film makers, Sodium.

Polo, last year's winner at the heats

Centre Stage 2015 kicks off from the 28th – 30th April, at the Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds, and promises to be swarming with local talent from the region. Whether or not you support any of the contenders, this is an event not to be missed if you care about music and the best up and coming talent in West and North Yorkshire. Previous winners The Mexanines, Polo and King No-One will also be performing throughout the week.

Contending acts include: Mallrats, Mesmer, Atlanta House, Jess Huxham, Lone Guns, Huw Eddy, Taxi for Bob, Bethany Butler, Porl Whos, Rafiki, Encranium, The Velveteens, Lewis Crossley & Harri Pitches, Blyss, Sugar Fury and Osea.

Mike Heaton, of Embrace, who works closely on the project, says “We have an exciting array of contenders so far, both soloists and bands. We can still accommodate a couple more acts, so I’d urge young acts to really seize this opportunity. It has been so satisfying to recently see past Centre Stage winners and finalists signing record deals and gigging the country.”

The competition, which continues to receive involvement and support from Yorkshire bands Embrace, Pigeon Detectives, The Cribs and Pulled Apart by Horses, invites young bands and soloists of ANY genre to enter. Participants must be between 11- 21 years old and from North or West Yorkshire. For one of the few remaining places, contact Sarah on 01937 844569 or at ssmith@martinhouse.org.uk.

Entering Centre Stage 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 last summer’s Glastonbury Festival and previous winners, and contenders, have taken to the road and supported both The Pigeon Detectives and Embrace!

Aiming to hit the big £200,000 fundraising mark this year, the charity are always keen to

Last Year's Runners Up Conflare

hear from any companies or individuals who are keen to be involved and offer sponsorship. “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. We are so grateful to Blacks Solicitors who have extended their support to CS2015” says Centre Stage Organiser, Sarah Smith.

Overall, the competition is about YOUNG PEOPLE HELPING YOUNG PEOPLE!

The Heats will run from 28th-30th April at The Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds. Doors 6.15pm. Show starts 7pm. The event is pay on the door - £4.

Notes: 
To enter, please register online on the Martin House website, ensuring you read the rules and regs! http://www.martinhouse.org.uk/Centre-Stage

“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

Oliver Pinder, media award

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 £180,000 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, or 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 £4.6m this year to run, receiving less than 18% from Government sources. 

Contact: Sarah Smith – Centre Stage Organiser:
ssmith@martinhouse.org.uk // 01937 844569
https://www.facebook.com/centre.stage.5
www.martinhouse.org.uk 


All photos by Shot by Sodium