The Teskey Brothers Win $30K Levi’s® Music Prize

13/05/19

A panel of international judges have awarded the latest round of the Levi’s® Music Prize to Victorian soul/blues four-piece, The Teskey Brothers.

Now in its third year, the coveted prize provides $25,000 cash plus an additional $5,000 in travel from Stage & Screen to financially assist Australian and New Zealand acts achieve their export goals.

Showcasing at BIGSOUND 2017, The Teskey Brothers have gone on to build a solid global network of labels, agents, promoters including Ivy League, Decca, Vertigo and Glassnote Records to facilitate the international release of their debut self-produced album Half Mile Harvest. Shadowed by extensive touring, the band have completed eight international and nine Australian headline tours in the past three years.

Last week, The Teskey Brothers announced their sophomore record Run Home Slow will be released in August 2 ahead of multiple festival appearances booked in the US, UK and throughout Europe.

“The Teskeys are absolutely thrilled to receive the Levi’s® Music Prize. This year we’ll be touring through UK, Germany, Netherlands, Canada and USA, and we guarantee no dollar of this incredible prize will be left unspent. Thanks so much to Levi’s and BIGSOUND for this huge leg up.”

The Teskey Brothers

The decision was made by a panel of respected music industry executives from across the globe, coordinated by Sounds Australia that included, Jon Coombs (VP, A&R Secretly Group US), Emilie Davaine (Caramba, France), Dean Bein (True Panther Sounds, US), Ivano Maggiulli (Brace Yourself PR, UK) and Joe Schiavon (Live Nation, UK).

Previous winners include Amyl & The Sniffers, Stella Donnelly, Alex Lahey, Rolling Blackouts Coastal Fever, Hatchie & Emerson Snowe. The prize supports artists that have built significant initial career momentum via their BIGSOUND experience, but who need a financial leg-up to keep moving forward on the international stage. Administered by QMusic in conjunction with Sounds Australia, the prize provides multiple opportunities for BIGSOUND artists as they build their international careers post-BIGSOUND.

“Congratulations to The Teskey Brothers on their win of the Levi’s® Music Prize. The Teskey Brothers have garnered critical acclaim and a loyal fanbase in Australia and this prize will help them on their international tour supporting their sophomore album, Run Home Slow,” said Angela Samut, CEO QMusic and Executive Producer BIGSOUND.

“We’d like to pay tribute to Levi’s® who have been supporting artists like The Teskey Brothers via BIGSOUND since 2017. The Levi’s Music Prize has funded over $175,000 which has so far helped 7 artists go on to become great Australian music exports.

“Thanks also to our partners Sounds Australia and Stage & Screen Travel,” said Ms Samut “We wish The Teskey Brothers every success on their tour and album release.”

Australian and New Zealand acts who have performed at BIGSOUND within the last five years (2014-2018) are eligible to apply by heading to www.bigsound.org.au/levis.

Applications are now open for Round 4 and will close June 11, 2019. This is the last chance for artists who showcased in 2014.

Artists accepted to play BIGSOUND Festival, 3 – 6 September, 2019 are automatically eligible for Round 1 2019/20 of the Levi's® Music Prize with the winner to be announced on the final day of BIGSOUND 2019. Artist showcase applications are still open for this year’s event – apply before May 16 for your chance to perform in front of some of the most influential figures in the international music industry. Visit the www.bigsound.org.au for more information.