Live @ the Empire

A TRANSATLANTIC TALENT COMPETITION TAKES TO THE EMPIRE STAGE THIS SUMMER WITH ARTISTS FROM UK & USA.


Two historic venues, an ocean apart, battle it out this summer to find a star. Hackney Empire and the Apollo Theatre in Harlem will present their local winners on stage at the Empire in a show in July. Each venue will field 4 contestants (16+) and national pride is at stake as the winner takes home ‘a money can’t buy prize’ of a years professional mentoring, a soft release by Black Butter records, a trip to New York culminating with an appearance at the legendary Apollo Theatre in Harlem. Contestants will be chosen at events in the two venues; Live@The Empire in Hackney and Amateur Night at the Apollo in Harlem.

Singers from all over the UK have been uploading audition pieces online and from those a few have been chosen to audition for the semi-final Live @The Empire on 8th June. Live@The Empire will be hosted by Tameka Empson (Eastenders) and Kat B (MTV) and four people will be chosen to represent the UK and participate in the Grand Final of Hackney vs Harlem on 14th July. The audience as well as a team of industry professional judges will choose the winner using text voting; the panel of judges include: Hackney band Rudimental, Kojo (Choice FM) and Jasmine Dutiwala (The Voice). Live performances during the evening will be from Ayanna Witter Johnson (daughter of Waking the dead star Wil Johnson and the first non-American winner of amateur night at the Apollo - she has subsequently worked with the likes of Courtney Pine), Turbo (Got to Dance Finalist 2011) and Discover Young Hackney’s 2012 Alter Ego winner Tolu.

Before the grand final the winners will get professional coaching to prepare them for the international final. The four winners of Live@The Empire will join four winners from the Apollo in Harlem together with 2 under 16 contestants at the Grand Final Hackney vs Harlem in July. Again judging will be done with a combination of audience and a panel of judges, who will include CEO of the MOBOs Kanya King, Hackney’s own Rudimental Henry Village CEO of Black Butter Records and Kojo ( Choice FM). The show will include appearances by Boy Blue and Emi Wokoma, star of the acclaimed Soul Sister, seen recently at the Empire. The show will be streamed live to the Apollo Theatre.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
HACKNEY VS HARLEM 2012

Semi-Final
Live@The Empire, Hackney Empire, Friday 8 June, 8pm

Grand Final
Hackney vs Harlem, Hackney Empire, Friday 14th July, 8pm