Glastonbury organisers are again offering up and coming talent the chance to win a place on the festival’s line-up.
New UK and Ireland based-acts from any genre are encouraged to enter one original song along with a video of them performing live.
Entries are open FOR ONE WEEK ONLY from 9am Monday 31st January until 5pm Monday 7th February. Along with appearing on one of Glasto’s main stages this June, the winner will also receive a £5,000 Talent Development prize from the PRS Foundation.
Co-organiser Emily Eavis said: “We’re so happy to announce the return of the Emerging Talent Competition, which is always one of the first big markers that another Glastonbury is on its way. The competition has helped us unearth so much amazing music over the years and I’m really excited to hear this year’s crop of entries!”
As details of this year’s competition were revealed last night, 2020 winner R.A.E. was confirmed for this summer’s line-up after coronavirus forced the cancellation of the 2020 and 2021 festivals. Runners-up AJIMAL and Matilda Mann are also expected to appear.
Once the entries are in, a panel of 30 of the UK’s best music writers will help compile a longlist of 90 acts. These will then be narrowed down to a shortlist of eight artists by judges including Michael and Emily Eavis, before the live finals in Pilton decide the winning act.
Other recent Emerging Talent Competition finalists include 2019 winner Marie White, who has since signed with Decca Records and Universal Publishing; rapper Flohio who won the prestigious Music Moves Europe Talent Award in 2020; R&B singer Izzy Bizu (a 2016 BRITs Critics’ Choice nominee and winner of the 2016 BBC Music Introducing Award); and singer-songwriter Declan McKenna, who won ETC 2015 and subsequently signed with Columbia and has released two successful albums.
The 2017 ETC winner was singer Josh Barry, who has since toured with Rag’n’Bone Man and Gorgon City. Meanwhile, 2016 winners She Drew The Gun have received considerable acclaim for their politically-inspired psych-pop.
Andrea Czapary Martin – CEO at PRS for Music said: “After a long hiatus, PRS for Music is pleased to see the return of Glastonbury Festival and its Emerging Talent Competition. This fantastic initiative shines a light on promising upcoming talent and gives them an opportunity to perform at one of the world’s greatest festivals. We look forward to seeing this year’s entries and can’t wait to return to Worthy Farm”
Joe Frankland, CEO at PRS Foundation said: “We’re very excited about the return of the Emerging Talent Competition. Time and time again, we’re blown away by the response from artists wanting to win a prestigious slot at Glastonbury Festival. Having been lucky enough to attend the live finals in Pilton for a number of years, I know it’s harder and harder each year to choose the winners. But it’s so pleasing that thanks to the support of the Festival, PRS for Music and the talent development bursary from PRS Foundation, so many artists have been discovered and made progress in their careers.
“Thinking back to Declan McKenna, Flohio, She Drew The Gun, Che Lingo and 2020’s winners including R.A.E (who will perform at this year’s Festival), we can’t wait to see who comes forward in 2022.”
How to enter Glastonbury’s Emerging Talent Competition
Choose ONE original song to enter
Upload it to SoundCloud if you haven’t already
Choose a video of yourself performing live
Even if it’s recorded in your bedroom!
Make sure it’s uploaded to somewhere you can link to (like Youtube)
Submit your SoundCloud & video links to enter
Check the Glastonbury website or social media channels – between 9am Monday 31st Jan and 5pm Monday 7th Feb only!
ONE WEEK ONLY! Don’t forget to enter!
Set a reminder on your phone, if you haven’t entered by 5pm next Monday you’ve missed your chance!
As it stands, only Billie Eilish, Diana Ross and R.A.E. have been officially confirmed by Glastonbury organisers as part of the line-up – with 2020 Emerging Talent Competiton runners-up ADIMAL and Matilda Mann also expected to appear.
However, a few other artists have self-confirmed their place, including Crowded House, Craig Charles, Papaphone and Black Dyke Band. The latter will open the Pyramid Stage on Sunday morning.
Billie Eilish will be the youngest ever Pyramid Stage headliner, at 20 years old when she performs on the Friday night. Diana Ross will take the Pyramid’s Sunday afternoon ‘Legends Slot’.
Harry Styles has also been rumoured to appear – as are Oasis, Supergrass, The Chemical Brothers, Wolf Alice and George Ezra.
The full line-up is usually revealed towards the end of May, just a few weeks before the festival, although more artists are often confirmed from February.
Glastonbury 2022 will take place from Wednesday 22nd to Sunday 26th June at Worthy Farm near Pilton, Somerset. Tickets sold out ahead of the cancelled 2020 festival, though a resale of cancelled tickets will take place before the event.
UPDATED DAILY: Every artist confirmed or rumoured for Glastonbury 2022 so far
Image credits:
Anna Barclay
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