Peter Guy, founder of the The GIT Award, discusses the 2012 nominees with Liverpool Post music columnist Jamie Bowman and Mike Pinnington, co-founder of The Double Negative. For more details, music interviews and up to date information visit www.getintothis.co.uk

The GIT Award, named after Liverpool music blog Getintothis and dubbed by the national music press as the Scouse Mercury Prize, celebrates the finest new recordings in the last 12 months on Merseyside.

The GIT Award 2012 shortlist is:

Bang On
Ex-Easter Island Head
Forest Swords
Loved Ones
Miss Stylie
Mugstar
Outfit
Ninetails
Bill Ryder-Jones
Stealing Sheep
The Tea Street Band
Esco Williams

Since its launch at Liverpool Music Week's closing party in November 2011 up until the closing date at the end of February 2012, the GIT Award received more than 380 entries.

The shortlist was then decided by a judging panel comprising top names from Liverpool Football Club, NME, Vice Magazine, The Quietus and The Guardian alongside the cornerstones of the region's music scene - Getintothis, Bido Lito Magazine, Waxxx and EVOL.

The overall winner will be announced at The GIT Award 2012 Show on Friday April 27 at Leaf on Bold Street, where each of the shortlisted artists is expected to perform while being filmed exclusively by Mocha and Liverpool Football Club TV. Journalist and Goldblade musician John Robb will host the evening.

The winner will receive an incredible prize which includes recording time at Liverpool's Sandhills Studio and a showcase at this year's Liverpool Sound City and Liverpool Music Week.

The winners will also play a gig at Vice Magazine's London bar The Old Blue Last, as well as having a promo shot by Virgin Media Shorts filmmaker of the Year nominee Ian Gamester to be screened at FACT, the city's art house cinema and creative technologies centre.

The GIT Award 2012 podcast

Some bro listening, writing and supporting Liverpool music. 

Getintothis.co.uk