Getintothis' Peter Guy has today announced the shortlist for this year's GIT Award, celebrating the best music coming out of Merseyside, and it's perhaps the strongest we've seen so far. The 12 acts on the list are All We Are, Circa Waves, Dan Croll, Evian Christ, Ex-Easter Island Head, Forest Swords, Mad Brains, Ninetails, Outfit, Bill Ryder-Jones, Tea Street Band and VEYU. Says Guy: “The 2014 GIT Award reaffirms my belief that there’s no region in the UK that can match the artistic ambition, technical craft and musical innovation that’s currently unfolding across Merseyside. Each of the artists on this year’s shortlist have garnered international press and radio while entertaining sell out audiences in Tokyo, South Africa, Sydney, New York and almost the entirety of Europe – and yet, most exciting of all, the majority are in their infancy.”

The GIT Award, alongside the Inspiration Award and the One To Watch Prize, will be presented at The Kazimier on April 11. Ahead of that, we'll have features with All We Are and Evian Christ and you can read our interviews with Forest Swords, Outfit and Ex-Easter Island Head, and stream a mix the latter put together for the Quietus last year:

Ex-Easter Island Head Quietus Mix by The Quietus on Mixcloud