At the start the 26th with Rock Contest 600 band

At the start the 26th edition of the Rock Contest, il concorso nazionale di musicisti emergenti che registra un ennesimo record, over 600 groups registered to participate, from all over Italy.

“An edition full of novelty in which consecrates and also celebrates the city's soul. A city that is suitable for live music”, come ha tenuto a sottolineare il Vice Sindaco Cristina Giachi.

The Rock Contest is organized by the issuer Controradio and the City of Florence, “che sostiene l’iniziativa sopperendo nei fatti a ciò che negli anni è sparito, the search for new talent that was once the preserve of record”.

Among the most recent examples are The Surveyor Mangoni, Prize winner Ernesto De Pascale 2011 which will be released soon with his first album for the label here Moonbase Gianni Cicchi (manager Cristina Dona, Diaphragm drummer and a founding member of the Consortium Independent Producers).

I Sonalastrana, have recently come out with their first album "Community"; The Whip Hand, Fresh winners of the 2013, have already released their debut album on the label records rock contest, well received by the national press and reviewed by the site Rockit, together with Violacida (rock contest records), among the best 12 Album of the Year.

These days The Whip Hand are engaged in a series of concerts throughout the country. On this last aspect – Live Bands – Rock Contest has formed an alliance with the Association Keep On, circuit which includes more than a hundred of promoter, artistic directors and managers of many local Italians who can count on exceptional testimonials such as Manuel Agnelli and Stefano Boeri.

Thanks to the agreement of the selected groups from the Rock Contest will have the opportunity to perform on stage the most qualified Italian.

Other prizes of the competition are 5 giorni in uno studio di registrazione per la realizzazione dell’album di esordio presso il Sam Recording Studio, the study of reference of the new Italian scene, already used by Zen Circus, Tooth, Virginia Miller, Little Shop of Horrors.

News 2014 is the production of a music video for the group winner will be made by the production company B-Florence.

All finalists and semifinalists will find space inside the CD Rock Contest 2014 and, always eats, Finalists will be available for a one-year mentorship from the staff of the Rock Contest.

As in previous years, thanks to our collaboration with Audioglobe, one of the leaders of the music industry and independent distribution Italian, groups of the Rock Contest will have the opportunity to take advantage of a physical and digital distribution of their works.

The best groups will also have the chance to be published with label Rock Records Contest. And 'this fact the aim of the birth of the label: maximize the creative process and distribution of the most interesting and “ready” for the record debut.

Also this year is called the Prize Ernesto De Pascale dedicated to the memory of the journalist, producer, musician and mentor the Rock Contest, died prematurely.

The President of the Jury of the Prize 2014 Dona Cristina will. After Brunori sas, Tooth, and Mauro Ermanno Giovanardi, another name among the most important Italian music with Joseph Barone (Controradio), Giulia Nuti and Michele Manzotti (The People of the Blues), win the prize for the best song with text in Italian among the participants in the competition. THE 36 groups selected for the 2014 Rock Contest are coming from all over Italy and perfectly represent all the trends of the contemporary independent music.

Of 36 We are in the band, is the large presence of Tuscany, confirmation of the strong roots of the initiative in the region.

The other backgrounds are the most diverse, from Switzerland to the Italian Piedmont, Lombardy, Emilia Romagna, to Lazio, Campania, Puglia and Sicily.

Curious attention of foreigners for the event, in addition to project the Italo-Swiss, race in a British singer-songwriter residing in Tuscany.

Many female voices and many young people who are inspired by the sounds of the 80s, trying to decline in Italian atmosphere of an era considered "mythical" who have not experienced.

Continue to be present projects dedicated to hip-hop Italian, genere ormai in bilico tra mainstream e underground.

Yet this exploration of the territories of folk, between more structured products until vaguely psychedelic experiences and "free form" as it confirms the interest of the youngest to the sounds that were characteristic of the "shoegaze" 90s.

The evening rounds of the Rock Contest will begin on Thursday 23 October TENDER CLUB, Your Alamanni 4 in Florence (hours 21.30 – of the public vote and jury – free admission).

Continue the 30 October, the 5 – 6 – 13 and 20 November.

The two semi-finals 27 November e 4 December always Tender Club.

The Grand Final with the host group and the award ceremony of the juries is scheduled for Saturday 13 December Auditorium Flog in Florence.

Always eats, participation in the Rock Contest is free, there are no fees for groups and refunds and accommodation for groups from outside Tuscany.

All about www.rockcontest.it