Is your band in need of a makeover? You’ve got the sounds, but now you need the looks?
If so, we’ve got the competition that will send your band from fashion wasteland to style sensations...
Today, for the first time ever, we’re offering an amazing chance for you to win a band makeover and a set of promotional pictures that will make your band look as good as you know you can be.
We’ll whisk you off for a fashion shoot, restyle your look and generally make you look a million dollars. You’ll get to spend the day being pampered, preened and photographed by leading music photographer Mark McNulty.
Liverpool-born Mark is one of the most influential music photographers of his generation. His pictures have graced the pages of The Observer, Vogue, the Sunday Times, The Face and NME and his subject list reads like a who’s who of the Liverpool music scene - The Zutons, The Farm, Space, Echo and the Bunnymen, Cast, and the list goes on.
He is currently exhibiting some of his favourite images in REMIX at the Metropolitan bar on Berry street. The exhibition includes his pictures of Candie Payne, Eva Petersen, The Kooks, The Pipettes and Pop Levi.
“Music portraits are always interesting to do and always very different,� says Mark. “I don’t know how they do it - I couldn’t even go on a stage and speak into a microphone, let alone sing. If they can do that, then they generally like having their photograph taken.
“Sometimes you can take a lot of time over trying different things out - like this picture of Candie [Payne]. She picked this out, and I think it captures her. You can never tell. that’s why I love it.�
Bold Street designer boutique Drome will lend you the clothes, and give you £200 to spend in store. The Zutons, The Twang and Atomic Kitten have all been spotted perusing the rails, creating their signature styles.
If only walls could talk – these ones would have a fair few stories to tell. Granted, a fair few of them would be unprintable in a family newspaper, but you get my gist.
Then your pictures will appear in the ECHO and you’ll be able to use them to promote yourself all over town.
Having a top class set of pictures and an interview with your band in the ECHO could set you on the way to getting more gigs – just make sure you remember us when you’re big and famous.
To be in with a chance of winning, all you need to do is send in a picture or two of your band so we can judge who will make the best use of the prize, along with a bit about you and why you need a makeover (in no more than 150 words). You'll need to be Merseyside based and able to take up the prize, which will probably be on a weekday in September (you'll get advance notice).
Don’t forget to include the full names of everyone in the band and your daytime contact numbers, plus a link to your MySpace page if you have one. I will be sifting through the entries and looking for the stars of the future.
To submit your pictures (don’t worry about the quality, just make sure we can see everyone’s faces clearly), send them to: Jade Wright, Liverpool ECHO Music competition, PO Box 48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool, L69 3EB.
We will not be able to return photos. The deadline for entries is Friday September 7.