The Top Five finalists for this year's Louisiana Music Prize will be announced Friday at Twisted Root.

The stakes have been raised for this year's Louisiana Music Prize with a prize of $5,000. In addition, the judges panel is star-studded. Chris Riemenschneider with the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Jerry Harrison from the Talking Heads will be on the panel.

From Louisiana Music Prize:

The Louisiana Music Prizes Announces its Finalists

The Louisiana Film Prize adds more money to the grand prize and adds another showcase.

SHREVEPORT-BOSSIER, La. – The Louisiana Music Prize announces the Top 5 musicians that will compete at the Music Prize event for their chance to win cash/in-kind prizes at Twisted Root on Friday September 12 from 8pm-10pm.

As part of their new affiliation with the National Recording Academy, this year, the Louisiana Music Prize and Blade Studios are offering all musicians a free night of education, networking and feedback from their Music Prize gurus. This year, the judges were drawn from a pool of industry producers, technicians, and members of the music press. Chris Riemenschneider with the Minneapolis Star Tribune and Jerry Harrison from the Talking Heads are set to help determine the $5,000 winner.

“This is going to be a raucously amazing year for the Music Prize,” said Kallenberg. “Our goal has always been to make this event a world-class celebration of indie music. This year, we take another important step towards that goal.”

The Music Prize will announce two sets of finalists. The first set of finalists will be the five bands playing the Music Prize’s “Locals Only” showcase at the Red River Revel on October 4. Each of these bands will receive $500. The second set of finalists will play at the Music Prize. Each of the bands picked as a finalist will receive $250. The winning band of the Music Prize 2014 will receive a check for $5,000 and will also receive two days of recording and producing at Blade Studios with Brady Blade as their producer (a $13,000 value!).

NEW THIS YEAR, the audience will also have the opportunity to choose their favorite band, and help them walk away with some extra touring money. The Music Prize will sell $20 tokens, and the audience will have the opportunity to use them to fill the band’s Music Prize Tip Jars. The band will keep all the money in their jar and, if they raise the most money, the Music Prize will match the funds (up to $1000).

The Music Prize will take place on October 9th at Voodoo Cafe: An Art Bar in Shreveport, La from 7pm to 1am in conjunction with the Louisiana Film Prize. The evening of the Music Prize will consist of 5 bands that will be curated by a panel of expert judges. These bands (who will play in the order of a pre-show lottery) will perform one 20-minute sets and compete for the Music Prize.

Contact Sabrina Adsit 318-213-6437 or visit www.LaMusicPrize.com to enter and learn more information about the La. Music Prize.

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