Today Tennent’s Lager launch T Break 2011; giving unsigned musicians and bands a chance to play on the biggest platform for emerging new music at T in the Park.

Tennent’s has supported Scotland’s grassroots music scene over the last 15 years through T Break, giving 16 chosen acts each year the experience of playing in front of the most passionate music fans in the world on the T Break Stage at T in the Park.

Some of the most influential music industry experts in Scotland sit on the T Break Judging Panel including our Partners at DF Concerts and PRS for Music.

George Kyle, Head of Sponsorship at Tennent’s Lager said:  “The response to       T Break 2010 was extremely impressive with nearly 1400 demos received, giving our panel of industry experts a huge variety of music to choose from and narrow down to the successful 16 acts.  There’s so much great new talent here in Scotland and Tennent’s are delighted to continue to support Scotland’s grassroots music scene through T Break”

Dave McGeachan of DF Concerts said:  “I’m always incredibly excited about being part of the T Break judging panel and the quality of entries gets better year-on-year. Some of the acts who have come through the process have gone on to be globally successful (Biffy Clyro and Snow Patrol) and acts from 2011’s selection could follow in their footsteps. In the past, there has been simply too much talent to narrow down and I’m sure this year will be no different!”

If you’re over 18, live in Scotland, are currently unsigned and have recorded demos of original music then head to www.tennents.com/tbreak for full details on how to submit your demos.  Any genre of music can be submitted before the deadline on Monday 11^th April 2011.  You could be sharing the bill with The Arctic Monkeys,

Foo Fighters, Coldplay and many more T in the Park acts that have still to be announced.

The T Break Stage is the place to catch the best emerging new talent Scotland has on offer.  2010 saw the likes of French Wives, Kobi Onyame, Washington Irving, Make Sparks, Mitchell Museum and The Seventeenth Century perform at T in the Park.

Kobi Onyame said: “A highlight of 2010 was definitely being picked to play the

T Break Stage at T in the Park.  It felt good to know that my music was enjoyed by the industry panel and I was thankful for the opportunity to showcase my material to the    T Break crowd….. Performing at T Break opened my live show to other people and I have since gained interest from a very reputable touring agent, lawyer and management company”

Each year Tennent’s strengthen the support T Break provides emerging Scottish talent by working with a range of key music industry Partners including PRS for Music.

Stuart Fleming, Scotland & Northern Ireland Membership Manager said:

“PRS for Music have been involved in T Break for the last 15 years and it’s always encouraging to hear so much great new and emerging music of all different genres from The Shetlands to Dumfries & Galloway.  We are especially blessed in Scotland with some of the world’s most exciting music.  To be able to play a part in nurturing and advising that talent of how to hone their careers should be a considered a privilege to all involved”

In 2011, Tennent’s have also formed a brand new Partnership with STOW College in Glasgow to provide one student from the Music Business Course an exclusive internship within the T Break team, working directly on the delivery of T Break from March to August:

David Hughes, Head of Dept, School of Creative Industries said:  “STOW College are proud to be working with T Break on this exciting initiative.  Projects of this kind nurture local talent and demonstrate T Break’s commitment to the development of a dynamic Creative Industry in Scotland”

The 16 bands who are invited to play on the T Break Stage at T in the Park will be announced in May.

www.tennents.com/tbreak

Or T Break Press Office team; 0141 204 7970 Ashley Stevenson ashley@materialmc.co.uk, Karen McColl karen@materialmc.co.uk

T Break has been supporting new Scottish talent since 1996 and has become a hugely important and well-respected highlight of the Scottish music calendar.  T Break is a

Tennent’s Lager initiative which supports Scottish music at grassroots level and gives up and coming unsigned talent the support with exposure to play for bookers, A&R representatives, media and label reps and not forgetting the dedicated music fans.

Over the past 15 years, T Break has hosted some legendary performances – it’s where

Biffy Clyro made their T in the Park debut back in 2000.  In 2008 Paolo Nutini decided to showcase his alter ego collective – Snake Derrick & the Vypers and not forgetting

Snow Patrol’s T in the Park debut: “We first played at T in 1997 in the T Break Stage…ten years later and we’re headlining” (Gary Lightbody, Snow Patrol, 2007)