Artist News Awards

Forest Swords wins 2014 GIT Award

By Andy Malt | Published on Tuesday 15 April 2014

Forest Swords, aka Matthew Barnes, has been named the winner of this year’s GIT Award, with his debut album ‘Engravings’ deemed have been the finest release by a Liverpool musician of the last year. The award was accepted at Friday’s ceremony at the city’s Kazimer venue via a video message from Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry, who Barnes has been collaborating with.

Explaining his no-show – in person and in the video – Barnes said via a written message: “Although I am unable to attend tonight, I’m honoured to be nominated alongside so many great local artists. I was lucky enough for the legendary Lee ‘Scratch’ Perry to remix of a track of mine earlier in the year. I was uncomfortable with the idea of doing my own acceptance video for this award, so I asked the master himself to do it for me. I know he also feels a love for Liverpool. Thank you so much”.

In addition to the main prize, two new awards were also given out this year. The previously reported One To Watch prize went to Låpsley, while the Inspiration Award was given to Liverpool’s Africa Oye festival.

Talking up the event, founder Peter Guy said: “There’s no region around the world to match new music emanating out of Merseyside right now – [this year’s award ceremony] justified the hype with industry heads from across Europe heading to the Kazimier to watch the talent unfold. It’s been a tremendous team effort from a small but passionate group of individuals – and not forgetting the awesome music from not just the twelve shortlisted artists but the hundreds across Merseyside making it happen”.

How better to finish that with a song from Forest Swords. Here’s ‘Thor’s Stone’: