Call for applications: Cape Town International Jazz Festival

To enter the espYoungLegends 2019 online talent search, musical groups of two to eight members should visit the espAfrika official website and submit their entries.

Entrants are encouraged to share their live performance videos and links of their recorded material via social media using the hashtags #ESPYL2019, #CTIJF2019 and #IAMTHENEXTYOUNGLEGEND, as well as tagging espAfrika and CTIJF.

The deadline for entries is 30 October 2018.

Requirements

• Three (3) links to your online live video performances set up on your artist YouTube channel. Please note that entries without three live videos will not be accepted.
• A full band biography.
• A hi-res band photo (no more than 2MB)
• Links to your website, Facebook artist page and Instagram account are essential to assess fanbase.
• Include as many relevant links of your band as possible (this can include reviews, performances etc).
• Remember to save your biography and photos labelled with your band name.
• The band must be able to perform a 45-minute set that must include original and cover songs.

To qualify for the competition, bands/artists must fall into the following genres: acid jazz, Afro-Cuban jazz, Asian-American jazz, avant-garde jazz, bebop and bossa nova. You can view the full genre list here.

Online application forms are available here.

The top 20 finalists will be announced on 4 December and the public can vote for their top 10 favourites. From the top 10 selected by the public, a panel of industry experts will select the top five that will be announced on 17 January 2019.

The final public voting stage will select the winner. Voting closes at midnight on 24 January 2019, with the winner being officially announced on 25 January 2019. The winning band will be crowned espYoungLegend 2019 and go on to perform at the CIJF.

Past winners of the competition include Lana Crowster, VuDu and Jarrad Ricketts.

“We’re looking for undiscovered gems with raw talent and the full package to join our line-up and rub shoulders with international and local heavyweights,” espAfrika said. “Bands with high-performance standards, quality of musicianship and a strong focus on pushing their career forward are welcome to apply.”

CTIJF director and espAfrika chief operating officer Billy Domingo said: “You have to be in it to win it. I’d like to encourage every young aspiring musician to take the opportunity and put your best foot forward when submitting your entry this year. As always, we look forward to seeing the incredible array of musical talent young South Africans have to offer.”

Past winners of the competition include Lana Crowster, VuDu and Jarrad Ricketts.

About CTIJF

The CTIJF is the flagship event of events management and production company espAfrika. Also known as ‘Africa’s Grandest Gathering’, the CTIJF is one of the biggest music events in sub-Saharan Africa. The festival boasts multiple stages with more than artists performing over two nights.

For more information about this call, visit the espAfrika website or email Carenza van Willingh at carenza@espafrika.com.