GIT Award shortlist for 2016 revealed

The shortlist is an eclectic mix of acts from across the Merseyside scene, including balaclava-clad black metal four-piece Dragged Into Sunlight, Joe Oxley's multi-faceted TVAM project and fast-rising R'n'B outfit MiC LOWRY. 

Scene mainstays Stealing Sheep and Bill Ryder-Jones are each nominated for the GIT Award for the third time, while psych veterans Mugstar are also on this year's shortlist following the release of Magnetic Seasons, their first album for Mogwai's Rock Action label – read our cover feature with Mugstar bassist Jason Stoll.

Clean Cut Kid, Hooton Tennis Club, L U M E N, RongoRongo, Trudy and The Vryll Society make up the remainder of the shortlist; previous GIT Award winners include Forest Swords, Baltic Fleet and Loved Ones.

Announcing this year's shortlist, GIT Award founder Peter Guy of Get Into This said: "When The GIT Award began five years ago, new Liverpool music was sadly under-represented on a national scale with few eyes or ears taking notice – now it’s widely considered to be the focal point for the best emerging UK artists.

"Once again, this year’s GIT Award nominations shortlist goes a long way to prove that, with artists from across all spheres creating music imploring listeners take note. Reaching this year’s shortlist was by far the hardest yet – and it’s a testament to the hard work, creativity and imagination of those musicians who ply their trade on our doorsteps each and every week."

The GIT Award 2016, and the GIT Inspiration Award for services to Liverpool’s music industry, will be presented in a ceremony at Constellations on Saturday 14 May.