KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD SET FOR FIRST US TOUR THANKS TO CARLTON DRY GLOBAL MUSIC GRANT

KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD SET FOR FIRST US TOUR THANKS TO CARLTON DRY GLOBAL MUSIC GRANT

The winners of the inaugural CARLTON DRY GLOBAL MUSIC GRANT, seven-piece outfit KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD are ready to utilise their prize money with both an international tour and a writing sabbatical slated for the remainder of the year.

Eric Moore, the band’s drummer / multi-instrumentalist said, “We plan to make several international trips in the next 12 months to help establish our career globally. Our first trip is to the USA and Canada in May which will be our first performances outside of Australia.”

The $50,000 grant awarded to the band last October will help fund their performances overseas which will see the band tour the US performing in Dallas, Chicago, Washington with a slot also confirmed on the legendary Psychfest in Austin before the band head to Canada. The prize money will also be used to rent a ranch for a month in upstate New York where the band will begin work on a new record.

Before heading off, the band recently finished a highly successful Australian tour, playing “weird shows in each city so they could get used to playing several nights in a row,” according to the group. All of the shows had great crowds including five sold-out shows at venues in Melbourne.

In 2013, CARLTON DRY established the CARLTON DRY GLOBAL MUSIC GRANT. The grant was created to help fund a trip overseas for an emerging Australian artist or band as a way to boost their profile overseas. The grant will be awarded by CARLTON DRY each year as part of their sponsorship of the Australian Independent Record Labels Association (AIR) Awards.

As the Australian music scene has more diverse talent than ever before, artists are now competing in a global music market and the resources required to give them a leg up onto the world stage cannot be underestimated. The CARLTON DRY GLOBAL MUSIC GRANT has been created to ensure that current and future generations of emerging Australian artists have the opportunity to take their music careers abroad.

Commenting on the benefits for KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD, Moore said, “Having the opportunity to travel and perform overseas will be a huge help to our band. We are a self-sufficient seven piece that has a lot of expenses. Without the grant I’m not sure we would be able to take the wonderful opportunities that have been offered to us.”

Conditions for entry are that the band or artist must be emerging, Australian, self-released or released by an independent label and that the prize money must be used exclusively to help tour, showcase, record or relocate overseas to further their careers.

Should talented emerging Australian Artists consider applying for the 2014 CARLTON DRY GLOBAL MUSIC GRANT?

Final words of encouragement from Moore, “Absolutely – this grant is an incredible opportunity for any young Australian band trying to build an international career. There are so many world-class independent bands in this country that just don’t have the financial resources to tour extensively and play in different markets. This grant makes that possible.”

For more info on the Awards, Charts and Independent music check out www.air.org.au

Category: News