If you haven’t caught wind yet, entries for the 2023 Needle in the Hay competition are now open.
This prestigious event stands as Australia and New Zealand’s premier independent music competition, offering the potential for your music to be immortalised on vinyl. But here’s the gold: there’s more than just the grand prize up for grabs.
Needle in the Hay is dedicated to propelling emerging musicians into the spotlight, providing them with a platform to showcase their talent to industry insiders and a wider audience.
Of course, the ultimate prize remains the vinyl press, as demonstrated by last year’s winner, Beckah Amani, whose single “Smoke And Mirrors” was enshrined in vinyl by Zenith Records.
Yet, for those entering NITH, the bounty of prizes extends beyond the grand accolade. We’ve collaborated with publishers, studios, and equipment companies, among others, to present an array of unparalleled rewards in the history of Needle in the Hay.
Case in point: Dendy Cinemas has generously thrown a trove of movie vouchers into the mix to cater to your cinematic cravings.
Dendy, a local gem in our neck of the woods, and likely in yours too, given their presence in Canberra, Southport, Portside, Coorparoo, and the beloved inner West denizen, Newtown, stands as a cultural cornerstone, eternally dishing out top-notch cinematic experiences.
There are enthusiasts who won’t settle for anything less, and for good reason. They know how to put on a show, be it with spine-tingling Halloween specials or nostalgic classics like “Jurassic Park” or “Midnight Cowboy.”
From September to December, there is the authentic reel-to-reel film experience with 35mm screenings gracing the big screen as part of their Celluloid Dreams program, celebrating 50 years of Scorsese featuring “Mean Streets” and just because Dendy know how to do cool, they are also showing the cult classic “Leon the Professional,” and Kubrick’s iconic “Clockwork Orange.”
Frankly, we shudder to think where we’d be without their inimitable cool factor.
Could we keep rhapsodising? Most certainly, but if our aim is to encapsulate bliss in neat 90-minute cinematic segments, then it’s only fitting that Dendy joins us in our venture to celebrate the finest musical creations—a musical journey that mirrors the length of a film.
It’s a pairing like no other. Who better to be a partner in the annual Needle in the Hay Competition? Here, we get to spotlight the cream of the crop in new music and extend a hearty dose of support to the rising stars this generation has to offer.
And after hearing about this particular gem, would you believe the wildest part? There’s a treasure trove of prizes yet to be unveiled! This is just the opening salvo of prize revelations, so keep those peepers peeled for what other riches might await you.
So, how do you seize the chance to claim this treasure trove of goodies? Simple. Head over to the NITH entries page here and drop a streamable URL for your music, whether it’s been released or is still under wraps. Then, handle the entry fee, and you’re in the running!
