Title photo: Fourtet with Steve Reid (with thanks to Brownswood)

The record label Brownswood has just announced the new round of applications for the Steve Reid InNOVAtion Award.

Set up as a joint effort between the PRS for Music Foundation and the Steve Reid Foundation, the award is designed to develop unsigned artists and is therefore open to anyone writing and performing their own music who are currently unsigned and unmanaged.

Recipients of the award will receive a bursary up to £1,500 and support in their development from trustees such as Four Tet, Floating Points, Theo Parrish and more.

Gilles Peterson, co-founder of the Steve Reid Foundation, said: “It is so exciting to be involved in a project that encourages and develops new talent and gives opportunities to artists who might otherwise never get a break. Steve Reid would be smiling!”

The announcement follows a hugely successful pilot year of mentoring and support which featured artists including Lady Vendredi, recent MOBO Award winning Moses Boyd, Hector Plimmer and recent Ninja Tune signee Sarathy Korwar.

The Steve Reid Foundation was set up by Gilles Peterson, Brownswood Records and a collective of Trustees who worked closely with and were inspired by legendary jazz drummer, Steve Reid. Steve’s musical career was marked by innovation, experimentation and breaking frontiers and he is well known for his work with Miles Davis, Fela Kuti, James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, Sun Ra and Keiran Hebden (Four Tet).

PRS for Music Foundation is an obvious partner for the Steve Reid Foundation because of its long standing commitment to supporting new music and artist development across all genres.

Applicants must simply submit links to their music as well as a three minute video which explains their career to date, and how funding and mentoring would help with their creative development. Artists can apply from today via: www.prsformusicfoundation.com/funding/stevereidaward

Check out this podcast of Fourtet playing and reminiscing about the music of the late Steve Reid which includes a tremendous version of ‘Strings Of Life’.

The final deadline for submissions is Thursday 30th June 2016.